Hugs from Helen

arrrrgh computers, who’d have ‘em!

yes, you have not heard from me because my lifeline is at the Doctors, I have two new computers installed but all the info is on the one at the doctors… so your angel partners may be a couple of days longer, I do apologise…. I think it was fate, I ordered the two new ones Friday and the old faithful died Monday morning as they were delivered, never fear everything is backed up so I will get it all back eventually.

so, to keep you inspired I thought I would show you a design line of a new project I am working on for you all. This has been in my sketchbook for a couple of years now, is based on my current love of circles, redwork and being thankful for our lives…

This is how it began..

first my ideas and notes in my ideas book, next came the finished quilted design outline and then rough pencil sketches to fit.

then to my trusty (not so at present) computer to draw them up more neatly for use…and so I can print transfers instead of tracing them all!

choosing and ordering fabric comes next

transferring everything to begin the task of stitching 32 designs in a couple of weeks (don’t worry you will have 32 weeks to do them)

now all the stitching is almost done, I have been to the printer to discuss the finished product, have tested and made samples and written instruction notes for the construction and just waiting for the fabric to arrive to finish the quilt.

Still to do, make the quilt, start a blog for it, prepare and submit all the artwork to the printer, do artwork for extra downloads, photography, release artwork, yadayadayada,,, take a breath…

get on that plane to Houston with at least one set in my hot little hands to show you..yes, yes I’ll show you all here also.

hugs to you and your computer! (or you won’t be able to read this so be nice to it)

Helen

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house…..

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse….

My sugarplums have been folding and packing and finally we are ready to show you this…

It is a seven part Block of the month, each month with a transfer for the stitchery and then you get to do a bit of piecing also. I have even sourced some new paper and have included the foundation papers for you. The whole quilt takes 10 fat quarters and 1m of background fabric but many stores will be offering BOM fabric kits, I shall tell you who as I know them. For now you can order here if you just can’t wait to get started. Now there are not 7 months until Christmas so you will have to get your stitching skates on and double up one month perhaps..

I really enjoyed stitching this, sometimes stitching in one colour is very relaxing instead of having to think of colour choice.

now to our giveaway, if you link to this post or place the photo on your blog and leave me a comment you will go in the draw to win a full set of patterns. IF we get 150 comments I will draw two names! So leave a comment with the link to your blog post (cos I like to spend time visiting your blogs and always like to discover new friends) to be in the running.

hugs, Helen

Twas the night before Christmas….

do you know its only 219 days until Christmas….

well in our house the sugarplum fairies have been dancing, the elves have been busy stitching and the helpers have been helping.. nearly there now, only a few more days until our new Block of the month will be ready…… and it will easily be stitched in 219 days……

baby elf Tilly has been helping me with the designing….

another Bunny elf sent me some fabric to use….

and this little sugarplum has kept me inspired….

watch this space….. well actually give me a week or two as I have about 17 patterns to write, edit, layout and print before I can get onto these BOM patterns…

hugs for today,

Helen

Some more new patterns ready for you now

I have had a very busy week and have some new patterns ready for you all now. You can get them here or ask at your local store.

These are the cute little cupcake pincushions we made at the Quilted Crow Gathering recently… they are so much fun to make from your  felted wool or felt scraps.

Then I have finished the pattern for Deirdre's Doily also. This one includes the iron on transfer so no time wasting at the light box. Of course we all had a play with coloured pencils but you don't  have to if you don't want to. You can also just make it into a lovely old fashioned doily for your table.

I know some of you are waiting for the mug bag – I promise I will get onto that as soon as I can.

So I guess its yet another giveaway? you know the drill, one comment, one entry to win a set of each of these patterns.

hugs for today

Helen

Crow Gathering projects

I can now show you my projects for the Quilted Crow Gathering at Campania in two weeks! – eek just got them done in time for the kits to be made, patterns printed and goody bags packed… Off on a jet plane tomorrow for an exciting project, will tell you about that one later…

Now I think the girls have a couple of spots left on the day so if these pics tempt you come along and enjoy the fun! Its always such a lovely day, so good, if I am not tutoring I go as a stitcher….

I think I have something for everyone…

some to die for little mini cupcake pincushions = these are such fun to make from felted wools – maybe you could do a swap with these…

a bit of needleturn on teatowels… of course you could use fusible webbing if you prefer

some redwork stitchery to make yourself a new mugbag ready for the next gathering.

and a Colourque’d doiley so you can all have a play with pencils.

Can’t wait to see you all there, of course if you cant join us you will just have to wait for the patterns to be released soon after.

hugs, Helen

What's been happening at Hugs ‘n Kisses

As photos of finished Mystery quilts are coming in I thought I’d show you some sneak peeks at other things I have been working on…

If you are lucky enough to be having a weekend of indulgence at Loxton in March then we are going to have lots of fun and learn 3 different techniques. There may still be a couple of spots left if you are quick.

a bit of machine Colourque…

a bit of hand Colourque….

and a bit of appliqué…..

 

and lots lots more…. look what arrived today from here for me to play with – a new Christmas quilt in the planning for these..

only 3 sleeps to go for my first trip for the year!!! but its a girly weekend – you know I have NEVER done that just for fun… tell you about it tomorrow.

hugs, Helen

Finally I can show you the new patterns

A big week finishing things and a big hand to Julie who left the comment

'Oh so very POSH !!!!!! '

way back on September 26th when I got myself a little mixed up with fabric ranges.... She is the winner.

The Flirt quilt is now finished and ready for release. So Julie, email me your mailing address and as promised I shall send one your way.

I have named this one 'Pretty Maids all in a row'. It just kept reminding me of the Mary Mary Nursery Rhyme with all of those pretty maids all lined up so neatly in a row. It uses simple piecing, raw edge applique (but you could do any type you like) and some Colourque for the stems and leaves. Of course you could applique those as well.

Some others I also promised to show you include:

'Blossoms' remade. This one is so soft and tactile with minkee on the back. I just dream to wrap up in it.. It uses a cheater nine patch method, the disappearing nine patch block, a very easy wedge ruler dresden block and raw edge applique - not one bit of handstitching on it... and of course add the scrumptious jumbo ric rac around the edges.

 

Next we have 'Dilly Dallies 1 - bedroom set'. This pattern includes the instructions to make the Dilly Bag (as in the Pyjama Party book) and a matching pillowcase. Perfect for that sleepover or just to decorate a special room. It has these cute 3D flowers which always attract so much attention when I attend a show.

To match the above I then made Dilly Dallies 2 - bathroom set. This includes a matching toiletry bag - it has lots of pockets and pouches inside and a towel cap - a towel cap you ask? well if you made it out of vinyl it could be a shower cap but this is for after the shower when you hair is wet and dripping and is so handy for the likes of my 4yr old Matilda - the towel wrapped around the head just won't stay there. I could not survive without one.

Last but not least for today here is a new pattern called 'Party Time.'  With a cupcake theme at Jane's recent Gathering this was an extra project I made to do on or after the day. Are you a perfect party mum? you can whip 2 or 20 of these up quite quickly and will certainly be the most popular party mum. The pattern includes 4 cupcake designs, instructions for quick and simple party bags, name brooches (with alphabet) and the bunting to finish the decorations. An iron on transfer is also included which has the cupcakes and alphabet for easy transferring.

So I have been a busy girl. 5 new patterns so 5 new giveaways, one of each...

Just come say hi and leave a link on your blog to be in the running. I don't care if you copy the pics to use on your blog also. Then check here or ask your local quilt store if they have them in yet.

hugs, and back to work for me, Helen

Home to Hugs 'n Kisses again

Well I guess you are all waiting for photos and news of the Gathering over the weekend. Sorry a day of emails to catch up on first yesterday.

The day was just lovely in the most lovely old woollen mill building at Lobethal in the Adelaide Hills, after living in most states of Australia, still one of my favourite areas.

I met fellow blogging stitchers Granny Loz, Kris from Rosemary Hill and Daisy Jayne who of course were all as lovely as they sound. Also the lovely Lorraine who although not a blogger has been stitching the Fairy Kisses quilt and was just delightful. I wish she had brought it for show and tell...

Now I am sorry if most of these photos are of food but I have to say this was the most exquisite display of food I have ever seen at a gathering. Yes Jane had the whole room looking fresh and inviting but the food was to die for....

did I mention the day had a cupcake theme?

The napkins were to die for, see the heart shaped lamingtons and the biggest butterfly cakes ever

a personal collection of antique teacup saucer and plate sets which we were actually allowed to use..... I'm collecting again now!

yes, chocolate cupcakes - I simply couldn't fit one of these in but I know they would have been scrumptious..

pink and white meringue

shortbread on the most gorgeous plate all adorned with spotty pink ribbon

this was the sugar for tea and coffee. Can you see the little coloured hearts - it was sold at the markets which were on outside the venue so I managed to get some to bring home, so cute....

now you may think we just ate all day so here are some pics of actual stitching... the room as I said looked so inviting and colourful.

Actually the hardly stopped even to eat, they girls were very intent on their colouring and stitching..

This is Kris, you can tell she is a painter..

Jessica, Jane's daughter did a lovely job and is here trying to learn to use a hoop for her stitching.

Wendi and Tracey concentrating hard on their applique pieces.

I hope everyone had a lovely day and may you all continue to stitch with such passion and enjoyment...

on another note, did any Aussie bloggers see me baby on Collectors Friday night? Who else thought it was a racing car?

too cute...

hugs for today, Helen

Patience is a wonderful virtue...

After inspiration from Sarah I enjoyed our weekend of beautiful sunshine doubling the size of our vegie patch and planting it up with what I hope will become our summer crop. Saturday night with both big girls at friends, Miss Tilly tucked up safely in bed after a big day helping mum in the garden I thought I might have a play with some fabric scraps and make a gift for my god daughter who I will be seeing next weekend.

So to the studio I headed and began with this.. mmm what is it you wonder? well for starters a good chance to have a play with some new background quilting designs....

some swirly things....inspired by one of my favourite bloggers who does the most amazing quilt designs and free machine quilting...  mmm more practice required

some daisies and curls - as I used on the Blossoms quilt remade

Then I had some finished stitcheries that I had done from the Quilted Crow Gathering I thought I would use on this ....

A little journal cover for Sophie who has just yesterday returned from am amazing trip to Europe to be a flowergirl in her cousins wedding.... I thought she could add all her trip memories into her special journal. However, the stitcheries I had done were in red thread on a cream background and didn't really match.. so I thought, as I do, I shall just dye them with a little pink food colouring.... perfect.. but I am ready to stitch now, I know I'll just zap them in the microwave to speed up the process (yes I have done this before with Parisian dying)... but the movie was back on....mmmm whats that smell...? So, in short her flower is a little scorched and the third, most important stitchery didn't make it as it now looks like this...

Can anyone use a scorched Garden Angel? (she is a Hatched and Patched design - sorry Anni)

I am sure Sophie will love her journal and will never know what she missed out on. I shall deliver it as  I head to Adelaide this weekend for Jane's Gathering in the Hills. She has a few spots left so if you live close or want a lovely day out on Sunday, gather a carload of friends and  phone her now to secure a spot..... yes, the fabrics in the journal are the scraps from the Apple Cobbler quilt we will be working on at the Gathering.

moral of the story... patience, patience.....and perhaps, NO microwaving....

hugs for today

Helen

Stitcher's Angel gift arrives at Hugs 'n Kisses

Well Angels and stitching friends, the last of your free projects has been posted and I know you are all madly stitching around the world with so many of you posting pics on your blogs. It has been such a pleasure watching your enjoyment and use of the patterns. Some have sent one or three gifts, others are still madly stitching, just remember the end date of 30th October, don't panic, plenty of time yet. It may be a nice time to make contact with your partner though if you haven't already done so and let her know you are thinking of her and preparing her goodies.I know many of you have already had lots of surprises arrive - please remember your manners and thank your Angel if you can, if not, post it on your blog as she is watching!

Imagine my surprise when this came in my letterbox.

This was certainly not expected but it was such a nice thing for Lyn of this blog to do. Of course Miss M couldn't wait to open it for me..

Lyn had the ladies at the local craft shop make it especially for me using Angel fabrics - can you see them? It is just such a nice gesture and one that I don't get often so I feel very spoilt and special.

My heartfelt thanks go to you Lyn and to all of the Angels for enjoying this project and doing such a good job of it.

Lastly for today - have you been following and collecting clues? I am not sure how many to go but you do need two from me don't you?

mmmmmm

so for today hugs, AND LOVE

Helen