Twines in Nature - Available for Download

Have finally been able to convert this to a downloadable tutorial.  Here is the link directly to my Etsy Store.

Catching up

-->Now that the new year has passed and we approach Autumn and cooler months I had best catch you all up.

Well we left Coffs Harbour December 22^nd. We move on down to Wauchope to Jan (Michael's mum) for Christmas. Our sit in Coffs Harbour had finished early due to the owners coming home early due to illness. We have secured another house sit in Hervey Bay from late January to late October next year. This is another area we both really want to explore. We also had a short one near Bundaberg for a week, which also gave us the chance to check out the area.  Yes I know we're suppose to be going south, but when opportunity knocks we took it.

So what has happened since the last update, well we have a new home on wheels. We traded the caravan in on a Travelhome Macquarie Fifth Wheeler. She’s 29 feet long and luxurious.

She unfortunately doesn’t have the internal storage as the caravan had, but she makes up for what can be stored outside.

I finally got my electric bike back after the controller packed it in again. We’ve also now discovered the battery is on the way out, Michael thinks it’s sat too long at the shop and has deteriorated over time.  We had both gotten involved with the Coffs Cycle bug group and regularly rode more than 50km’s a week. Certainly makes it easier to keep up with them with the electric bike.  I’d found a couple of craft groups and enjoy regular catch-ups.I have also managed to get a couple of classes organised.

We spent new years with my brother Peter’s place near Warwick to de-clutter some more and re-sort the container again. As when we put Chris’s stuff in there we just placed his stuff on top of ours, so not secured. Speaking of Chris, he and Rachel have enjoyed 4 months touring through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma).  They will arrived in the states mid December, spent Christmas with Rachel's family and went up to Stow in Vermont for some snow skiing after Christmas and new year.  

Getting use to have Rosey around again, I think she is enjoying the caravanning side of it all.  The house sitting side gets her out and about without the lead, which can be a pain at times.

We bought her a new bed, which doubles as her travel caddy. She travels exceptionally well, I put her harness on and she goes into the caddy and goes to sleep. 

She's going blind now so keeping a close eye on her as she is starting to bump into things.

We are now settled in our house sit at Hervey Bay and as usual haven't taken long to get into the swing of things. Michael is enjoying here immensely as the wind has been kind to him and stuck around for weeks. As well as kiting he's been 'yogaering'(is that such a word) and has again started to Ref the Touch Footy. He's also gone for a couple of rides with the local groups, I hope to start once my new battery arrives (which it finally has).  I have gotten involved with a craft group and will be doing three workshops whilst we're here. I am also helping with a local Community support group two days a week. No rest for the wicked.
We ducked up to Rockhampton a couple of weeks ago and visited my sister and my nieces for a couple of birthdays in the family, was nice catching up with family.
I have been stitching and have almost finished four of my blocks for my 'outback quilt', can't rush these things.  I'm also working on getting more of my tutorials I did on Joggles into my Esty shop so everyone can access them now. I am almost finished my 'Twines of Nature' and ' Cheerful Flutters', they should be up soon. And if you missed it my Beetle is still up at the moment.

Well that's about it for now, happy stitching.

StitchMAP Hexagon Challenge.

In February this year StitchMAP started a year long challenge of Hexagons.  Here are my designs and some of the other designs which I've completed as part of the challenge. Along with these designs there would be two other designs to choose from most months.

 

February, March and April's Hexagons.

'A' with Woven Silk ribbon Roses - February challenge. (not my design), others that were offered was a Celtic knot garden (loads of French knots) and another embroidery flower motif.

March's Hexagons was Flowers - The Australian Wattle and Gum nuts were my design for the Challenge and a Cross stitch rose was also offered.

April's challenge was an Umbrella, Topiary Trees and a beaded Strawberry motif, (not my designs)

 This Queen bee, was for May's challenge (Not my design), also offered was a Redwork Girl and a Shady Lady fabric applique.

 June's challenge was this wonderful Canadian Oak Leaf, (not my design).  Stitched in Felt applique and also in blackwork.  The third offering was Crayon Coloured embroidered wild roses.

July's challenge was my Dragonfly. Which is an element from one of my larger embroidery pieces - Cheerful Flutterings.

Also offered for July was a raised embroidery Butterfly and a spider and his web (often used in Crazy Patchwork).

 August was my Aboriginal inspired Kangaroo and Gecko.

The Gecko is also from a larger embroidery piece, Twines in Nature.

There are still a couple of my designs to be released, but since their still to come we want to be a surprise, so I can't show them here.

If you would like to join StitchMAP and learn a wonderful skill jump on over to the Yahoo site HERE and enjoy this wonderful craft. They regularly run classes to learn about colour, red work, crazy quilting and others.

You can also download my FREE iPhone embroidery app HERE or click on the link above left. (remember Android version is in production and will be released soon)

Arlene

I got Champion - Townsville show

After 4 years of trying I have finally won Champion of Hand Embroidery and Needlework at our Local show.  My piece called 'Bonsai Wisteria', came first in the raised surface embroidery section, which put it into the running for Champion of Section, which it won, Yippee.....

Bonsai Wisteria is being offered on Joggles as a 5 week class read here all about it.

My Mermaid came second in the same class.

I also won first and second for two more pieces respectively.

My Twines in Nature piece which I have reworked and converted into a book for my ATC's.

and Spring Blooms which is also being offered as a class on Joggles, read here for more details.

So do you think I'm excited.....  more about the show on the Townsville Arts and Crafts Blog... link right. Update shortly to come.

Arlene