Today we begin three weeks of school holidays - and I must confess that we are ready for the holidays. The last few months have been pretty HUGE for our family, so to have a few days and weeks of no rushing will be lovely! I can't wait...
I wanted to say a HUGE thank you for your lovely and encouraging comments about my Homespun BOM blocks. I thought I would answer a few of your questions here...
* yes my blanket stitch is totally done by hand, I have been blanket stitching for over 14 years and many of my older quilts had a LOT of blanket stitch on them, so please know this has come from many hours of practice.
* I do have a little blanket stitch tip - I try to keep my stitches all the same length, and the distance between my stitches is slightly smaller than the length. For example, if my stitches are 4 mm long, then I keep them about 3 mm apart. (I don't measure though, just use my eye) I hope that makes sense. I really find it is worth taking the time to do it neatly - and with practice it gets much quicker too.
* I do take a lot of my close up photos with my 50mm fixed lens - on my Canon 350D. I really LOVE that lens and find myself using it a lot.
I hope that has answered a few of your questions - if you have any more, please feel free to ask in the comments section - I am only too happy to help. Also if I am teaching at a retreat and you would like me to demonstrate my blanket stitch, please let me know and I will bring a sample with me.
Onto coffee tables - I am not sure if I have mentioned on here, but after MANY years of wishing and saving, we have finally purchased a new lounge for our loungeroom (the smaller of the two we have had for a while so just added the larger one). I am SO very thrilled with it. On the weekend, we added a coffee table - and it is years since I have had a coffee table too - so I was wondering. What do you put on your coffee table - how do you like to decorate it? I would love to hear your thoughts and maybe even see a photo on your blog. Here is my lounge room with the new red couches - I am in love LOL.
And finally - I wanted to share some photos of Emily. As a special reward for her bravery through her surgery and recovery, we purchased a special gift for her. Emily's favourite artist Elsie Flannigan painted a commissioned piece of art for Emily. To say she was excited was an understatement - she was thrilled. After a LONG wait for it to arrive from the US - Emily was over the moon to finally open it, to see her painted canvas AND to receive a specially hand written letter from Elsie too. These photos tell the story perfectly I think...
I have LOTS of stitching to share with you too - soon, I promise. If you do share photos of what is on your coffee table, please link here in the comments section so we can all take a look... x Janelle
Thanks so much for the blanket stitching tips Janelle...I love using blanket stitch and use it all the time...I guess I just need to practice a little more LOL.
Emily looks so happy with her present! I am sure she was totally thrilled!
Posted by: Suse | Jul 13, 2009 at 01:33 PM
The art work for Emily is wonderful ... and of course deserved.
LOOOOOVE those red couches!!!
Andi :-)
Posted by: Andi | Jul 13, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Wow, Emily is growing up to look so much like her mum!
I would be embarrassed to show a photo of my coffee table - it is normally decorated with crumbs, old cereal dribbles, various WIP children's artistic endeavours and sometimes DVD covers and the odd magazine. I would like it to be simply decorated with one of Leanne Beasley's beautiful doileys, some fresh flowers in a cheery jug, and a scented candle. One day LOL
Posted by: Nell Ward | Jul 13, 2009 at 04:20 PM
*YAY* for school holidays, my kiddies really were in need of the break too.
Super yummy red lounges :) love them.
My coffee table goes through many changes depending on what I have found while rumaging the opp shops. Sometimes doileys, or candles, old books, kids drawing stuff ..... the list is endless.
Posted by: Lisa Pate | Jul 13, 2009 at 05:13 PM
I love your funky red lounges ... great choice. Your coffee table is delish too. How about a snazzy table runner for it?
We don't have a coffee table yet! On the weekend my little princess (nearly 3) spilt hot pink nail polish on our leather lounge ... I tried acetone to get it out but the leather discoloured and so the other areas of concern are still there!! Eeekkk!!
Love the Elsie painting!
I left a question for you on the Boxx about your beautiful photos in your mini books... I saw at the Inspired Stitches retreat. I wondered if you use any photo editing program or not ... the colours in your photos are fantastic!!
Posted by: Meredith Treloar | Jul 13, 2009 at 05:48 PM
LOVE the red lounges!! Fantastic!! I must come over and sit on them!! What have you done with your green set?? When can we catch up??
Posted by: Heather | Jul 13, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Hey Janelle, your red lounges look just like mine - where did you get yours, I love them
Kerry
Posted by: Kerry Swain | Jul 13, 2009 at 08:43 PM
What a very special piece of art. Love your red couches. I don't have a coffee table in my living room but in my family room my coffee table is an old hope chest (cedar chest) and I have beautfil coffee table picture books stacked from all of the places I have lived...except for one. I need the state of Virginia.
Posted by: Stephanie | Jul 13, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Look at Emily's teeth! They are so much improved...and match the sparkle which has come back to her eyes :) The red lounges are gorgeous and look so comfy. My coffee table has a selection of magazines and library books, and a wooden bowl inlaid with a Brazilian embroidery piece. I stitched it for my Nan, but it came back to me when she passed away a few years ago now, so has a special place in my heart. A coffee table runner pattern would be great (hint hint)xxx
Posted by: Suzitee | Jul 14, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Hi Janelle, love reading your blog and just adore the Elise painting and your red couches. I have posted a photo on my blog (very new to me - I have been blogging for just over a week)of my coffee table. And yes I wondered too if your blanket stitch had been stitched by machine ........... it is soooo perfect!!
Posted by: Jenny | Jul 14, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Hi Janelle. I love reading your blog and always feel very inspired afterwards. I am wondering if you could please tell me the name/make of the pink stripe fabric that you have used for the handles and heart on your bags called 'For The Girls'. I have a similar stripe fabric in blue and green which is Trefle Stripes by Kokka but cannot find a pink one like it and I have been searching for a verrrryyyyyy long time now for pink!! Do you know where I can buy it?
Many Thanks,
Shelley.
Posted by: shelley | Jul 14, 2009 at 03:23 PM
Hey Janelle! We also have a red lounge in our kitchen area and a white leather one in our lounge area (so not practical I know) where our coffee table is. It's modern and glass (edges remid me of a corner punch!!! Usually there is some type of scented candle from dusk on a glass saucer .... Less to lift off when I clean the kids' fingerprints off !
Posted by: Naomi Lewis | Jul 15, 2009 at 09:00 AM