Gratitude for all thats been and inviting new things to come...FREEBIE Printables

How have your holidays been?

We always seem to hit a wall around this time, there's kiddie tears and tantrums, feeling the lull after all the excitement, late nights and chocolate for breakfast!..then it all begins again with Hogmanay and New Year. Oh man!

Amidst the quiet lull though, I find its the perfect place to pause...to take a little time to look back, take stock of  the last 365 days and give thanks for all that has passed, all the lessons learned, goals achieved and reasons to be grateful. There have certainly been plenty!

I made a couple of printables for you to print and write on, if you like that kind of thing.

One for writing and celebrating all achieved and grateful for in 2013...another for writing what you would like to invite into your life in 2014. 

Right click on either image and "save as" to your computer then print away and fill in along the dotted and dashed lines.

I liked the idea of filling in mountain tops with dreams reached, and meandering paths with the journeys that we have walked and felt grateful for.

I also love the idea of filling a valley full of intentions...where the land meets the sky and possibilities are infinite!
I hope you enjoy the rest of your holidays and are feeling excited by the potential a whole new year can bring! Wooohooo! :)xx

Winter Sewing : Introducing a new pattern and a freebie!

I love a good winter project to keep me occupied over the dark cold nights, and so I've been enjoying sewing again. (though my sore fingers are telling me I am very out of practise!)

With that in mind I've set to work to come up with a few designs available as a downloadable pdf pattern, so that if you love a good wintery project too then there will be a few nature inspired ones available just for you!

The first pdf pattern that I'd like to introduce is this fabric stag head, designed as a cushion/softie/plushie for your wall, shelf or favourite chair!

I'm delighted with the way the stag has turned out and have to say I really enjoyed making this.

 The pattern comes as a 12 page pdf  ..all the details can be found here.

There are 5 embroidery stitches in the included stitch "library", but I chose running stitch as the main component of the hand stitching...I love this stitch..so simple and very therapeutic...the repetitive motion of weaving the needle in and out. Love it!

The pattern is now available in my shop here , there is a special  30% introductory discount available till Christmas ...simply type in at the check out:

WINTER13

And enough of the sale talk! Below I've created a sweet little embroidery design for you to print for FREE and get jiggy with if you feel the stitchery wintery urge. Simply click on the image and then "save as"  to your computer for printing. If I've got my calculations right (which is always debatable) the size provided should fit a 6 x 6" embroidery hoop.

Enjoy!!!x

2013...lets fill it with flights of fancy! (and a free printable! yay!)

To download ...right click on image then click on "save image as"  in the box that appears. Use your download to print away merrily!

Fill the feathers with all the flights of fancy you dream of inviting into your life :)

"Flights of fancy" definition reads; "an idea which shows a lot of imagination but which is not practical or useful in real situations".

Oh yes..I'm going to fill the brand new spanking year of 2013 with PLENTY of those, thankyou very much :) ...because where would we be if we played it small, and lived by what other people thought possible or practical.....

I have so much to be thankful for...and  YOU (yes YOU reading this right now!) are included....I want to send a huge beam of love and gratitude straight to your heart. 

Let this year be the beginning of something beautiful...

HUGE hugs to you xxxx

Are you ready for 2012..its going to be a cracker!! My wee Gift to you x

So how are you all faring? There's been waaay too many mince pies and chocolates at this end but you will hear no complaints from me (well only between the mouthfuls!)
Are you all set to bring in the new year in a few days time?
I'm clearing the way for an incredible one..writing my list of things I'm hoping (and dreaming) to achieve, and all the things I'm feeling pretty darn grateful for....will you join me in doing the same?
Click on the above doodles I've done with my newly christmas gifted copic sketch markers! (which are so smoooooothe and lovely by the way!))and print them off to fill in or save for another day...
I hope you enjoy!
Ok....Back to the mincepies!!
Huge hugs to you all xxx

Come join my sewing corner! ...freebie Elephant pattern!

You know, I've always had this dream of setting up a "Sewing Corner", a chance for women to get together and do what they do best - share stories, support, love and a whole lot of laughter... all while stitching away!

You see, while I love getting messy with the paints, seeing colours splash across surfaces...its the sewing that gets me the most. Part of it's the satisfaction of putting idle hands to good use, but more than that it stills my mind, keeps me present and at the end I can directly feel and touch what I create, the texture, the lines.....oooohh I think I may even be salivating as I type :)

Anyhoos, I'll get to the point! I've gone and opened a little etsy shop selling pdf patterns that can be printed and sewn up, for anyone who wants to give it a try. I've got a lifetimes worth, and a drawer full of them waiting to be shared :)

But I also want to make it a regular thing to share freebie patterns that you can print off yourself and again have a bash at.....my own little sewing corner here in bloggy land!

So todays freebie pattern is "trunk to tail".....and incase you're new to the whole sewing shabang here is a wee tutorial.......

After clicking on the elephant picture above, copy to a new word document and print off the desired size. (if this sounds way too complicated leave me your email address and I'll mail you the pdf) I use the good old fashined window "lightbox" technique as seen below, and draw on the lines with a water-soluble pen...but you could simply use a pencil, pen, whatever you have to hand.

Now I've got the outline all drawn, I've got some black embroidery thread, you could use thin wool, or sewing thread if its what you have lying about (all of which I use too!) I'm using stem stitch to basically fill in the outline with black thread. Stem stitch is described below.

When it comes to the bits I want filled with colour I use satin stitch which is detailed below.

I'm still sewing away on my piece...I've got this far...

I'm going to make it into a box pouch ....guess I'll save that for the next sewing corner session! :)

Today I'm linking this to the gorgeous Em at Mimi and Tilly's who has a Favourite thing on a Friday. Hope you are all having a fandoobly day..I'm away to hang with my gorgeous sis and her little girl yay!xx