The Janelle Wind Collection

More surprises...

When I collected my mail from the Post Office this morning I was very surprised to be handed a large cylinder. I couldn't recall ordering anything that would require being posted in a cylinder. I had my boy with me and he had a look of excitement on his face, which intrigued me even more.

We headed home and the kids excitedly handed the cylinder to me, saying Happy Christmas with big smiles on their faces. I couldn't believe that the Christmas surprises were still happening. I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened this present at what was inside.

My beautiful children had secretly accessed my Instagram from my iphone and had a LARGE poster printed with a huge selection of Instagram photos taken throughout last year. I couldn't believe it. Emily had even spent her own money to have this printed as a present for her father and I - we were so very touched. I absolutely LOVED it and quickly found somewhere to display it in our home.

I decided to hang it in our hallway so that each time we walk past we can stop, look and remember some special times from 2011. It hangs opposite my canvases etc that were gifted to me from Mardi. You can read more about the other side of our hallway HERE. Our hallway is quickly becoming a favourite part of our home.

Here is a close up of the poster that has almost 300 photos on it - each of them holding a memory and a special place in our hearts. We all love it and I still can't believe that my kiddies organised this all by themselves. I feel very blessed.

So that I can share more details about this poster with you, I asked Emily where she had it printed and she was happy to share the details. If you have Instagram and would like to get a poster, some prints or even mini books printed, take a look HERE at Prinstagram for all the details. Our poster came beautifully packaged and arrived safe and sound, so I can highly recommend Prinstagram for sure. I love that they will ship worldwide as well.

I just love my poster and know that I will spend many hours standing and looking at it, filling my heart with lots and lots of memories. Thank you Emily and Jasper for spoiling me once again. xx

For additional ideas on how to display Instagram photos in your home, take a look at this blog post by Elsie Larson. She has so many wonderful ideas, it is well worth a read.

NOTE: I am not paid to promote anything on my blog so please know that anything I recommend is something I genuinely want to share with you or believe is worth telling you about.

Christmas in July...

Behind the scenes lately I have been doing a LOT of stitching. I am excited today to be able to reveal one of my latest designs with you today...

Once again I am excited to have been one of the designers taking part in Quilt Fabric Delights, Christmas in July online event. It has become an annual event that I know lots of stitchers look forward to and I have enjoyed designing and making a brand new Christmas themed project.

With Sarah's permission, I am super excited to share with you my project for this year's Christmas in July, called 'Christmas Gift Bags'.

What is special about these gift bags, is that they are all based on the very same bag. So this pattern is one bag, three ways. With just a few additions to the basic bag, three different Christmas gift bags can be made.

Here is the drawstring gift bag...

The folded top gift bag..

And the gift bag with handles...

Also included in this design is a set of three fabric gift tags, a great way to dress up Christmas gift wrapping this coming Christmas too.

Have you signed up to join in the fun at QFD's Christmas in July online event?

If you haven't, it isn't too late to join. There are still a few weeks left of this event, which gives you plenty of stitching time, or download the patterns to make between now and Christmas time too.

In this online event, not only do you get my full pattern as well as step by step photos to walk you through making the fabric gift tags, there are loads more gorgeous patterns as well. For more information on Christmas in July take a look here, and for a fabric pack for my design, take a look here. Hope to see you in class... x Janelle

Are you sitting down??

I didn't want you to fall over with the shock but guess what? I have released a new pattern - YAY!!! Aren't you glad you were sitting down.

I am so excited to share with you my latest pattern release - 'Kitchen Fare'. This brand new pattern features not one but FOUR decorative tea towels. Perfect to make to decorate your home or as a gift for a friend or loved one.

Each tea towel features some piecing and applique, making them super fun to make as well.

There are two Christmas themed tea towels - the first called 'White Christmas'. This tea towel is made of white linen with a pieced zig zag strip and applique added - and finished off with a frill along the bottom edge.

The second Christmas themed tea towel is called 'Rosy Christmas'. The bright and happy tea towel is pieced using a mix of red print fabrics - and features a strip of applique holly and berries.

The next two tea towels in this detailed pattern are flower themed and so much fun to make too! The first is called 'Among the Flowers' and is made using natural coloured linen. It features a strip of applique and stitchery flowers and is finished off with a frill along the bottom edge. (this one is my favourite I think, but shhh, don't tell the others)

And the last tea towel in this pattern is called 'Springtime' and features a lovely twill floral print fabric for the main tea towel. It also includes some pieced strips and the pretty applique and stitchery flowers too.


All of these tea towels have been backed with a lovely waffle fabric for added strength and durability. They can also then be used as a tea towel if you would like to actually use them too!

This pattern is currently being produced by my wonderful distributors, Creative Abundance, so will be available for ordering very soon. I hope you like these tea towels as much as I do!!!

Here is the pattern cover photo to show you too. Hope you have a wonderful week full to the brim of happy things and a little stitching too. x Janelle

Special visitor...

Not too long before Christmas a great big package arrived in the mail addressed to Emily and Jasper. The sender was The North Pole! We had two VERY excited children - they were bursting to open it and see what was inside.

Inside the parcel was a calico bag filled with something mysterious - it was SO exciting!!

And inside the bag was an elf, all the way from the North Pole. The elf came with a page of instructions. The first thing we had to do was name the elf and find somewhere special in our place to put him.

Our elf was quickly popped near the TV, which is next to our Christmas tree - and the kids chose the name Elfie, because we weren't sure if it was a boy or a girl.

The instructions told us that this elf had something go wrong in the mix when it was being made, and could get up to a little mischief! This made it all the more exciting for the kids. Apparently, the elf could appear in different places around our home too. So the kids gave the elf an apple to eat, and sat back and watched.

On the second day the elf was in our home, he disappeared from his spot near the tree. The kids couldn't believe it - and went on a big hunt trying to find him. They searched and searched and couldn't find him. Later in the day on our way home from a trip to the shops, we saw Elfie, sitting in Emily's bedroom window! He must have been watching for when the kids came home.

Throughout his visit in our home, Elfie got up to all sorts of mischief. He appeared in Jasper's bed having a nap, on our mantle piece trying to chat to our Christmas decorations, outside the front door waiting for Jasper to come home from the neighbours and one time he was hiding on the Christmas tree - the kids took ages to find him there too. He was even found sitting at the computer one night too! Wonder what he was googling?

Sadly on Christmas Eve, Elfie had to go back to the North Pole. The kids said their goodbyes and hoped that he went back with a good report to Santa too. It sure is fun being a little kid and sharing your home with a cheeky elf too!!

Class Christmas Parties...

I am so VERY fortunate to share two mornings a week with the most lovely ladies. Some of these ladies have been coming to my classes for over 11 years, and I feel very blesses to call each of them my friends too.

To end our year together we shared a lovely morning tea together, exchanged some secret santa gifts, ate yummy food, had a little sing along to some Christmas carols and just enjoyed our time together. I thought you might like a little peek into our class parties this year.

I decided once again that I wanted to make each of my students a little Christmas present this year. After much thinking I decided I would make a tree brooch (taken from my 'Tree Top Tote' pattern) for each of them. I got busy with my felt and lots of stitching, and this is how the brooches looked before giving them to my ladies.

Let's begin with my Tuesday ladies. We began with chatting, laughing and sharing secret santa gifts.

Then we ate lots of delicious food while listening to Christmas Carols, and chatting some more...

And just before everyone headed home, we took a quick group photo. These girls are so special to me and I am very grateful to have them in my life.

And now onto my lovely Wednesday ladies - another gorgeous group of girls who I love spending my Wednesday mornings with...

Here is a photo of the tree brooches that I made for my Wednesday girls. I added a special white tree brooch for one of my Wed girls who uses lots of neutral colours in her work so knew this would be perfect for her.

The ladies then chatted, stitched and enjoyed a delicious morning tea together for our last class of the year. Some of us tinkered on the piano and thoroughly enjoyed playing some Christmas carols too.

A few of my Wed girls snuck away early so we have only 4 left for our group shot, but here are some of my wonderful Wednesday ladies. They are all wearing their brooches too - thanks girls xx

A VERY big thank you to all of my wonderful students for trusting me to guide you in your patchwork endeavours. I am so blessed to call you my friends and to share what I love with you too.I can't wait till next year and all it has in store for us too.

And thank you to you, my blog friends for sharing a little glimpse into my classes too. x Janelle

Christmas swap with Sally (part two)...

I am back to share all of the gorgeous goodies Sally sent to me during our 11th swap this year. You will soon see why I love this swap so very much!!!

My dear friend Beth who lives locally to me also swaps a box of goodies with one of Sally's friends, so we always get together to open our boxes. Emily is our resident photographer and happily takes photos for us.

Our box opening happened quite late one evening as it was the only time we could get together and we were both super keen and didn't want to wait too! We took turns in taking one thing out at a time - we were like little kids! It was so much fun.

The first thing that came out of my box were these gorgeous Christmas baubles - all 6 of them! We all loved them, and oohed and ahhed over them too.

Next out of my box was this lovely stitched pouch. Upon looking inside, I soon realised it was specially made to house my crochet hooks and crochet bits and pieces - just perfect for me and my crochet!

Next I opened this lovely tea cosy, made by Sally's Aunty. I just love it, especially since it was made just for me. I have the perfect pink tea pot that will love this new cosy.

As I mentioned before, it was quite late at night by now, and we were starting to get a little silly (and have a LOT Of fun), so when Beth opened another of her parcels and found a tea cosy in there too, we just had to model them ourselves!!

My next goodie was a lovely stitched pouch made by Sally, with some foam scrapbook numbers in it and some gorgeous buttons. Some were handmade by one of Sally's local friends too - another Janelle - how lovely is that!

The next goodie I took from my box was a gorgeous Santa gift bag, designed by Bronwyn Hayes and made just for me by Sally. I just LOVE it - after 11 years, Sally knows very well the colours etc that I like, and I am so grateful for that. Thank you Sally xx

We were very excited when Beth opened one from her packages as well to find her swap partner had made her a santa gift bag too. We have similar tastes so it is always lovely to have something that matches as well.

Sally also made me a lovely calendar using some of the designs out of my book and turning them into scrapbook pictures - I love it!

Finally, I opened one of the last packages to find a set of three gorgeous tin Christmas trees. I LOVE them and know they will take pride of place in my home each year. There was also a matching tree decoration - just gorgeous.

Beth and I had a lovely evening together opening our swap gifts. And a BIG thank you to Emily for being our photographer for the evening too.

A HUGE thank you to Sally for once again making my Christmas SO very special. I love everything and feel totally spoiled. Thank you, thank you, thank you xx I can't wait to do it all again next year... xx Janelle

Christmas swap with Sally (part one)...

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while now, you will be familiar with a special Christmas swap that I do each year with my lovely friend Sally (whom I am yet to meet in real life). This year marked the 11th year of our Christmas swap and it is still a highlight of my year and something I really enjoy doing. Each year we put together a box of goodies for each other and post them on December the 1st. I thought you might like to see what I sent to Sally and the gifts she sent to me.

Here are the gifts I sent to Sally this year...

I made the gorgeous 'Mr Jingles' from Natalie Ross' beautiful Christmas book. I just LOVED making him and think he looks pretty gorgeous too!

I also made a bag for Sally. This one is from a pattern I purchased online (I know I should be making my own but sometimes it is fun to stitch without thinking, writing down and planning).

I also made Sally on of the needle keepers out of my book, 'Pieces of Me'. I HAD to make the one with the tree because I just LOVE trees.

I had already sent Sally a copy of my book when it was released, so asked my dear friend Natalie to sign a copy of her book for Sally, which she happily did, so that was added to the gift as well. Thank you Natalie x

I also made one of my Christmas Wreaths for Sally - I had a lovely afternoon with my friend Beth (who also participates in this swap with one of Sally's friends), so happily added that to the package as well.

Added to the box of goodies was a Christmas decoration for each of her children, a special unpicker that I purchased for Sally, some Robert Gordon decorative spoons,a few extra Christmas decorations and a felt tree brooch (more about the brooches soon). Here are a few shots of everything together...

So there you have it, my Christmas swap bundle for Sally. I am so thankful to Sally for this wonderful swap and I can't wait to do it again next year. Come back soon for part two to see all of the goodies Sally sent to me - I was very spoiled. xx Janelle

Our Christmas Eve...

We have quite a few traditions in our family, and each year we all look forward to them. This year was no exception and as Christmas Eve arrived, we were all very excited. As well as our normal traditions, we had a few new things added this year.

On Christmas Eve (evening) we headed off to our Church for 'Carols by Glowlight'.

Together we sang Christmas Carols and enjoyed lots of Christmas items by very talented locals. We were SUPER excited because Jasper had been invited to play the organ and for this performance, he was joined on the piano by Granny (my Mother) so it was a very special night indeed. Together they played a beautiful rendition of 'Silent Night'.

When we arrived home, we started some of our own little family traditions. We made some warm cuppas, shared some delicious gingerbread cookies and gave the kids their Christmas Eve presents. Even though the kids know that we give them a new pair of pyjamas each Christmas Eve, they still look forward to receiving them.

This year, Emily had worked VERY hard making special hand made gifts for all of our family, and she wanted to give Jasper a Christmas Eve gift too. Jasper was SUPER excited about this and loved the handmade bear that his big sister made for him too.

I also surprised the kids with an extra present too. This year I made Blythe doll pyjamas for the Blythe dolls in our family. The kids were SO very excited as they love surprises.

Here are the Blythe dolls modelling their new pyjamas.

Once the Santa letters were written, some cookies and milk all placed ready, santa sacks hung on bedroom doors and kids tucked up in bed, I started my gift wrapping. I was a little late in wrapping this year as I was super busy making gifts right up until Christmas Eve. After a few hours of wrapping, I was finally ready for Christmas... And secretly, I couldn't wait!!!

I hope your Christmas Eve was very special too. Do you have any special traditions? If so, I would love to hear about them. Back soon to share about our Christmas day and look for a few posts about all of the handmade gifts I made this year... x Janelle

Christmas wishes...

From my little family to yours, I wish you a safe, fun, happy and wonderful Christmas. I hope that wherever you are and however you celebrate this holiday season, that you are surrounded by those you love and that you can make wonderful memories too.

Happy Christmas love from Janelle, Michael, Emily and Jasper. xxxx

Christmas cooking...

The lovely Tamar over at Tarisota shares the most delicious Christmas recipes each day in December leading up to Christmas. I am excited to be a part of this recipe sharing again this year. My recipe for Vegetable Fritters was given to me recently by a friend who said it was a favourite in her home - and after making them, I know they are going to become a favourite in my home too. I love simple, quick to prepare and tasty food. You can download the recipe and all of the others from December over at Tamar's blog...

Today I plan on beginning my Christmas baking as I finished stitching my last Christmas gift yesterday. I have SO many secret squirrel gifts this year, that I can't show you photos of just yet  but PLEASE pop back after Christmas where I will be sharing LOTS of photos.

Pop back soon to see a little glimpse of our home all decorated for Christmas... x Janelle