Annabella Moonthreads

Summer colours merge into Winter.

Yes it is officially winter time here, and I have to say I am loving it - even though we have had ooooodles and oooooodles of rain.  Yes, it is hard to avoid turning a wee bit mouldy.

I just had to share these little pictures with you.  A friend sweetly rang to say that she had taken one of the designs from 'High Tea' and turned it into a combined paint and stitchery effort.  I found it very eye catching, I wonder if you will agree.

My friend also said that she'd had so much fun painting up the fabric before stitching that she not only made a bag for herself, but for other family members as well.  Then she went on to "show and tell" the bag to one of her friends.  That friend is currently on tour around Australia with sewing machine in tow (in the caravan), plus paints and brushes.

What do you know - several painted and stitched bags are being lovingly made for her children for forthcoming Christmas gifts as she travels around the country.
 

I trust that life is good for you all and that you are all, like me, enjoying the beautiful season of winter.

Winter blessings.....jo

Shoes Mumma!!

A Little Book of Inspiration...

Hello again, mmmm time really does get away especially now that Spring is officially here...the days seem to be skipping along.  I intend to get used to this 'blogging' in time....I shall become more familiar with the set up and how things work.  You see I am really more comfortable when I have pens, pencils or paints in hand....but it is always good to have a challenge, isn't it?

I thought that I would have a crack at including a snapshot of our little book that we put together not too long ago. It is a little book of inspiration consisting of various teapot shapes filled with grand flora and it goes by the name of High Tea.

The designs in the book can be used on many different items such as - linen/cotton tea towels, table runners, table cloths, framed stitcheries, cushions, curtains, aprons etc.

The designs can also be used for punch needle, applique, embroidery, stitcheries ...using simple stitches, lots of color or mono color, such as redwork. 

Beginners, intermediate or advanced stitchers can use the designs - beginners can start by stitching just the outlines, intermediate stitchers can stitch outlines and some of the detail, and advanced stitchers can stitch the whole lot!!!  The exciting part is then decorating the designs with beads, buttons, sequins, felt, ribbons etc, not to mention all sorts of fun stitches that can be used to bring the designs to life.

It is a little book to stir your creativity....to make you wonder..."mmmm what if I did' or 

'yes I can do'.

There are indeed other ways in which the designs can be applied....for instance I have used the designs for painting up cards, wooden hanging designs and boxes etc.   Imagination is such a gift and I know each and everyone of us has that.

I shall share with you a little saying that I have above the kitchen sink.  "Take each day in your stride."  Each morning I gaze at it and begin the day with more intention and with my senses awakened.  It works for me, I begin to think of how much I can do to fit into the 'gift' of a new day.

blessings,
Jo

 

Margarita

Hi everyone!  I'm so pleased to be here, and I'm also pleased Rhyll was introduced before me - she was starting to get on our nerves back there.  So impatient!  She might have very pretty clothes, but she could at least have done something with her hair before she went out.  I've just used the straightener on mine, I can't do a thing with it otherwise, it's wild hair, let me tell you.

I've also dressed in my favourite outfit.  I love this one (it's nicer than Rhyll's, but please don't tell her, it's not worth the drama).

And here are my shoes.  Do you like them?   The shoes I like, but I do wish Jo wouldn't insist on making me wear socks with them.

Sometimes I have to shake my head and wonder.  Tell me you agree with me ... I won't let Jo know what you think, promise!

Wait till you see Lulu's shoes though.  So pleased she has them and not me.

I'm a bit sad about the state of the photos, they just should take more care, hey?

And the winners are ...

We promised we would post the names of the lucky winners of the iron-on transfer for our  design You're My World that made it onto the cover of Country Threads, and here they are.  We promised we would give out 5 transfers, but after reading the wonderful comments by everyone, it became increasingly difficult to know that people would miss out, soooo... we decided that everyone is a winner.  Yaaaay!  What a good feeling!
So if Cath, Sharon-NZ, Kirsty, Alison, Selena, Julianne, Jenny F, Sharon, Sally, Lissa, Margaret and Caroline would like to email me with your postal address, we will very happily send you your transfers for this fabulous design.  The email link is at the very top of the left hand column.

A request:  we would really really love to see your stitchery and/or cushion when you have completed it, so please send us photos of your work.  We may even create a section on our blog to show off our designs stitched by you, our readers.  Would you like to see that? 

Congratulation all!

Kate

Rhyll

Well I finally get to say hello - and it is about time!  I've been hanging around patiently waiting for my turn to get on here, and let me tell you, patience is not one of my virtues!

I'm not sure why Myrtle got to be the first one to be introduced, but at least I am not last.
My clothes are a much softer shade of pink to those worn by Myrtle, and I do believe they are so much nicer, but you'll have to decide that for yourself when you see us all together.
 

And here are my shoes - so very chic!  Don't you agree?

I might add that I am extremely disappointed with my portrait photographs!  I simply can't imagine how they came to be in such a bad state.  Is there no respect any more?!

Please post a comment to say hello to me.  I do so much want to meet you all.

Hugs from Rhyll  xx

We're on the Cover!

Our first magazine project is finally out - and we are on the cover!  How very exciting.  That's our cushion - the long one on the right at the bottom of the picture!

I'll show you a close up of it from inside the magazine.

We named it "You're My World" as it was designed with Mother's Day in mind.  The colours aren't a terrific reproduction, they're a bit harsh, but we love it and hope you do too. 

The magazine is already in the hands of subscribers and should be in the newsagents next week.  Please write and let us know what you think of this, our first published pattern.

OOPS, an OMISSION and a FREEBIE:

The magazine has also published a profile of us, so now you get to see what we look like and a bit about our background, accompanied by photos of other things we have made either individually or collaboratively.  Somehow they have included a ring-in of somebody else's item (a pink and white tote bag) with our goodies.  Whilst this is a nice bag, it is not ours.....oops!

The stitchery design in the centre of the cushion has quite a lot of stitching and some small design elements, and there was another smaller version of the design omitting the trees and the ladder which was not included.  The design for the cushion stitchery is included on the pattern page of the magazine but we offered it and the smaller design as an iron-on transfer for $2.50 each (postage within Australia inclusive), and also offered 5 iron-on transfers as a giveaway.  Somehow or other, this information was omitted, so we are now making both these offers to you. 

So ... if you would like a free iron-on transfer of this beautiful pattern, please leave us a comment with this post.  In just over a week's time (which allows for people who are not subscribers and need to buy the magazine from their newsagents) we will draw the names of 5 people who will win a transfer of the large design.

If you miss out on winning, the transfers are available from us for $2.50 (AUD) each or $4.00 for both.  You can pay via PayPal (ID kateh3@bigpond.com.au) or as a direct deposit.  If you prefer to direct deposit, please email us for details.

take care,
Kate (still with a big grin on my face)

Myrtle

Woo hoo!  I'm so pleased to meet you.  My name is Myrtle and I am one of the Flower Friends family.  I'm so glad I am finally dressed in my new pink dress.  I am really excited waiting here for my other friends to come and join me in our quilt.

The fabrics are finally all bundled together waiting to be cut up to join us all together into a stunning quilt.  Last piece of fabric purchased today. I have 4 more friends to join me here and I will introduce them to you in the coming days.  Here is a piccie of the fabric for our quilt.  We are going to be a picture in pink and green.

Would you like to see my shoes?  They're very sweet - really they are.  Here's a peek.

Do you like them?

 

A Peek at Another Magazine Project

I thought I should continue on from what I'd learned the other day with some more photos, so.....here is a sneak peek of our second project for Country Threads Vol 8 No 7, due out in early June.

I played with the photos in Photoshop first - I love that program, but wow, what a time-waster it can be sometimes.

All I can tell you is that it is a stitchery project.  See if you can guess what we have made from these photos.

These are Jo's designs and my stitching and sewing.  We make a good team - I love what she draws, and she loves how I stitch them - what more could you ask for?

I know this is not a lot to go by, but I really can't show any more than this.  You'll just have to wait, sorry.

Write and tell us what you think we've made, and we'll tell you whether your guess is cold or warm.

Well, this was much easier to do today - funny how it's easy when you know how, hey?

take care,
Kate