in print

today, as i drank my first cup of tea of the morning, the doorbell rang, and a lovely fed-ex lady delivered a very exciting parcel…

inside i found two copies of italian magazine casa chic’s cross stitch special.

now, receiving this magazine would be treat enough in itself, because it contains some genuinely gorgeous embroidery projects, but what made it super-mega-specially great was the fact that i’m featured in it!

i did an interview with a lovely journalist a couple of months ago, and now that interview, a biography, and one of my patterns (the “you’re sweet” card) have been published!

over three pages, no less!

i am honoured to be included in such a wonderful publication, and tickled pink to have my little pattern appreciated in other parts of the world.

pattern: tea and scandal

here’s a project that’s very close to my heart.

as many of you know, i collect teacups. i adore my collection - it’s full of intricate designs, beautiful colours, and delicate patterns, and it’s been the inspiration for my latest embroidery pattern:

“they retired to their tea and scandal, according to their ancient custom”

- william congreve

i’ve chosen to hang the individual teacups in their own little hoops, but they would also look very cute in little frames, or used to make a set of greeting cards.

this is my favourite of my designs so far! if you like it too, you can buy a copy of it from my etsy shop.

bottoms up!

pattern: springtime sampler

i am so excited to be making this post - i have been working on the pattern for a sampler for ages, and it’s finally ready to share!

i love samplers. when i’m working on one, i feel part of an ancient tradition. i can picture myself as a character out of a jane austen novel, or an arthurian courtier.

with this pattern, i wanted to draw on traditional motifs, while creating something fresh and a little different.

like the bunnies, and the squirrels, the pattern for this sampler is available in my etsy shop.

i hope you like it!

pattern: nice buns

what’s this? another new pattern? i am on some kind of roll!

i made this pattern quite a while ago, but i got carried away with the squirrels and it sat on the back-burner for a bit.

i am a big fan of puns. jokes that make other people roll their eyes make me chortle and grin.

so i’m afraid i just couldn’t help myself here!

if you like the pattern, you can get your hands on a copy at my etsy shop. it could be a fun message to give to someone you admire, or something to hang above the bathroom mirror as a reminder that your own buns are pretty nice too (yes, they are!).

pattern: nuts about you

the pattern for this cute cross stitch is now available for purchase from my etsy shop!

i love the little squirrels so much, and i had the best time designing and stitching them up for you!

woodland creatures are kind of my favourites. i made friends with heaps of squirrels when my partner an i went to england a while ago. this little chap was one of them:

by ‘made friends’ i mean that i shrieked “skirril!” and ran after it whenever i saw one… but i don’t think they held it against me…

maybe after designing a pattern in honour of all the squirrels that i have loved (and chased), they’ll forgive me for loving them too much!

i really hope you’ll like this pattern. i spent ages getting it just right, and i can attest to the fact that it is fun and easy to stitch.

if you want a copy, head over to my etsy shop. 

oma's quilt, all finished

i’ve been doing a lot of embroidery lately, but that doesn’t mean i have abandoned quilting!

i finally finished my oma’s quilt on sunday, and i must say, i’m very pleased with it.

i used this great hourglass block tutorial from allison at cluck cluck sew. it was clear and easy to follow, with lots of pictures (which i like in a tutorial).

now i just have to give it to her - that’s the best bit!

bookbag

as a nerd and a bookworm, i need a big bookbag in which to lug many tomes to and from uni. i’m happy to say that i’ve finished my 2010 bookbag, and i love it!

the hexies are paper-pieced, the bag itself is freestyle quilted, and the handles are hand stitched.

the lining is made of a few of the fabrics that i used to make hexagons.

i love paper piecing, because it’s pretty much the only time that i bother with fussy-cutting, the results of which i always love!

this project was inspired by this beautiful bag by modern acorn, and since it resembles her design quite closely, i won’t be writing a pattern for this one. you should join me in encouraging her to write a pattern that we can buy!