Giveaway finishing in less than 24 hours!

At last, some sun today to take some more photos of the giveaway bags. Please comment on the previous post to enter. I am overwhelmed & humbled by the response to my giveaway. Thank you, each & every one of you. I am having a lovely time reading all your comments & visiting your blogs. So much fun!

I will be back tomorrow to draw the winner. Stay tuned!

Give them away Bloom!

Awww, do I have to?! I've yet to make a Frilly Dilly bag that I haven't loved, and these are no exception. But give them away I must! Here is the deal for my giveaway: 1. The winner will choose one of the two bags I have made. 2. The remaining bag will be auctioned on eBay, with the proceeds to be donated to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire appeal. 3. The giveaway winner will be chosen at random, 4pm, Saturday 21st February. To enter, please leave a comment on this post, telling me where in the world you live and one thing that makes you happy! Choice #1 - Winter Frilly Dilly, made from reproduction fabrics, The Old Sturbridge Village Collection by Judie Rothermel.

Choice #2: Spring Frilly Dilly, lots of spots, stripes & checks, including a very cute Woodland Bloom print by Lila Tueller. The photos are not very good as it is a grey & miserable day here. I will replace them when the light is better. Something that makes me happy? Fresh flowers ... preferably in a clean house!

Frill seeker!

No shortage of frills to be found at my place today. I am cooking up a giveaway. Watch this space!

Valentine flowers for me ...

... and for you! Enjoy.

These are the only flowers I will see for Valentine's day! Yes, I am married to a man who thinks it is all a lot of commercial rubbish! But that's OK. I'd rather have a man who sticks to his principles, than one who bows to pressure. I gave him one of these cards, just for a stir!

1. Pin Heart, 2. waiting, 3. Embroidery on linen, 4. Untitled, 5. Magnolia, 6. stitch by stitch, 7. Pink Hydrangea, 8. Amazing colors, 9. Pure White, 10. Flora Wall Wear - 2, 11. Thinking "June", 12. Quilt Festival, 13. Astronomia

Journal cover tutorial

Thank you for your interest in my tutorial. The tutorial has moved and is available in its entirety at this link. Best wishes, Bloom.

Victorian bushfires - ways to help

I find myself wandering aimlessly about the house today, unable to focus on anything as my mind keeps returning to reports of the horrific loss of life in the Victorian bushfires. Authorities are saying the most immediate way of helping is to contribute financially and to give blood. There is also desperate need for spare generators and fuel. Red Cross is adamant that 'items' not be donated purely because distribution is logistically difficult at this stage.

For stitchers keen to help, there are many plans afoot amongst the wonderfully generous Australian blogging community:

• Melly & Rosie of Melly & Me are auctioning many of their beautifully handcrafted samples here, the total proceeds of which will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal.
• Gillian of Silly Gilly is offering to coordinate a combined auction of handmade items on Ebay on Friday 6th March. Details here.
• Cindy of bugandpop has set up a blog called Handmade Help which will list handmade items being auctioned on Ebay or sold through Etsy for the Appeal. Click on the Handmade Help button to the right to take you there directly.
• Janet of Wildcraft Farm is selling stitchery patterns & kits, the entire proceeds of which will be donated to the CFA (Country Fire Authority. Details here.

Thank you for your kind concern for me & my family expressed in your comments. How lovely you all are! I am many hours from the fires, but the smoky haze when I go outside is a constant reminder of the suffering further south.

Victorian bushfires

It somehow seems inappropriate today to prattle on about stitching or gardening when so many in Victoria are suffering such loss of loved ones or property in horrendous bushfires. My thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have been affected. Hoping for a change in the weather soon to alleviate the atrocious conditions.

Dear Jane returns ... to a mess of fabric all over the lounge room floor

I am back to my Dear Jane blocks after months of inactivity. Now that the kids have returned to school, it is a little easier to find some stitching time.

F13 Tour de France

I used my new silk threads to needleturn this block and it really is very beautiful to work with. The silk 'disappears' into the fabric wonderfully.

A8 Florence Nightingale

And this is the fabric mess on the lounge room floor! In a mad rush of enthusiasm, I cut fabrics for this quilt immediately after my visit to Hatched & Patched with Chookyblue two weeks ago. It is my version of Anni's new pattern 'Ava Rose'. I am using these 'Barefoot Roses' fabrics by Tanya Whelan. And here it sits, strewn on the floor, waiting for me to be happy with the 'random' placement of the fabrics! It takes me a long time to 'do random'!! Hopefully, more progress on this front soon!

Linen + anything = success!

I made up this quick & easy little journal cover this week, using linen & scraps.

 

I took lots of photos as I stitched, so hope to have a tutorial up for it soon.

I love linen!

Warning: Heavily bloom-laden post

Chookyblue's recent visit to town happened to coincide with some local Open Gardens, so in addition to visiting Hatched & Patched, we also gallivanted about gardens together.

There were stunning vistas to enjoy ...

... the gentle & soothing splish spashing of water on a hot day ...

... majestic stands of silver birches to cool ourselves beneath.

And then there were blooms! Fiery red dahlias in the summer sun, wafting about above gorgeous chocolate brown foliage ...

... dahlias of a different form, spiky & showy ...

Oooh, and then there were hydrangeas, a sentimental favourite from my childhood. And in the most delicate and pretty of colours ...

And even the roses looked lovely mid-summer,

apparently untouched by hot winds.

Sweet pots of evening primrose lined stairways ...

as did ruby red penstemon:

There were little retreats for friends only to stop to rest (sign reads 'Friends Welcome, Relatives by Appointment!):

and seats of a different type, perhaps not for sitting these days! Can you see what this little red chair once was? Now that's what I call repurposing!

We saw hardy succulents flowing carelessly from pedestals ...

... and the most amazing use of echeverias for bordering vegetable beds!

And this was one of my more gob-smacking finds: a stunning lilium standing boldly & beautifully upright against a reed fence ... WOW!

And all the while, the sheep next door grazed peacefully & nonchalantly ...

 except for this one ...

... who was obviously called upon to be the showman of the mob. "Baaaa-ha-ha ... how I love an audience"!