Lenora Jenkins Designs

Better late than not at all

Oh dear, I nearly nearly forgot. ......Guess what I received for  Mothers Day?

A gorgeous new apron. 

(That's me feeding the calves)

Lenora X.

Introducing my boys

I have been spending more time this week farming, than designing. We are into our fourth week of calving, so hopefully things will settle down soon.

I have been spending a lot of time with my boys, let me introduce you.

This is George. I fell in love with him the moment I saw him. Those little white dots beneath his eyes, and the most gorgeous inky black wool. But George is a cautious fellow, and it is taking a bit to win him over. He is the last to come for his feed, and the first to startle.

 

 

This is Arthur. Arthur is the risk taker. The first to be bold enough to approach me. When they first arrived, it was like there was an agreement. They had talked long and hard in the trailer on the way home. WE WILL NOT BE TAMED. THEY WILL NOT GET CLOSE. But Arthur was the brave one, he came forward for the feed without waiting for me to leave.  Like George he is a Corriedale, but not as black. The tips of his wool do not give a true indication of his colour. His wool is a lovely smokey grey, the same colour you see on his forehead. I love Arthur, and just wish I could give him a big cuddle.

 

And this is Harold. Harold is definitely the boss. He is Corriedale with some English Leicester thrown in, so his wool has a slight stringy curl to it, and his hairstyle is quite 'Crusty the Clown..ish'. When he first arrived he was nothing but a Harold. Very stern, very controlled, very much the boss. I never thought I would be able to tame him, but boy has he dropped the cool act. He is so funny he makes me laugh. He lets me touch him while he eats, and he even Baaa's at me when I leave. I think he will soon be a Harry, not a Harold. I love him too. 

It has surprised me how quickly they have come to know and trust me. My family are laughing,  saying it does not have much to do with me, it is more about the pail of oats that I am feeding them. They may be a little bit right, but I think they do like me.

I love looking at the beautiful crimp in the wool.

They already have about 3 - 4 inches of wool, and will not be shorn until October. 

I keep mentioning that we could convert from dairy into sheep, but my conversation is falling on deaf ears. Looks like it is just Arthur, George and Harold for now.

Have a great weekend,

Lenora X

CCC Christmas Club

Once again the lovely Sandy at Cookies and Cream Craft is running her Christmas Club. I am so excited to have been asked to be one of the contributing designers.

 

The club runs from July to November. Each month Sandy will post you a specially designed pattern as well as other gifts. By the time Christmas arrives you will have lovely handmade items ready to decorate your home or give as gifts. For more information, just click on the Christmas Club button up there on the right hand side.

But you will need to hurry, Sandy is only taking names until 10th June.

Lenora X.

PS. While you are there, take a look at Sandy's new website. It is so easy to navigate, and for the month of May she is offering 20% off my entire range of patterns.

 

 

A momentous day.

I went on a road trip yesterday. The roadside started flat,

 

then changed to hills.

Some sights made me laugh,

others worry.

But the best part was arriving home.

Luckily it didn't matter that I went for two and came home with three.

When I tucked Mr 7 into bed last night he said "Mum, I love them already", and I said " I do too".

And they are just as lovely this morning.

Lenora X.

Doing my bit

A few weeks back I volunteered for some class room sewing. Mr 7's teacher was not too specific, just a general call for some help with a little project.

About ten days ago, a lovely package arrived home with meterage of calico, a bundle of braided banding and a pattern for an apron. I had volunteered to make 10 aprons.

The sewing that I have been doing was much more interesting, so the calico was put aside and I continued on. 

At school assembly on Friday, there was secretive whispers. "Are you doing some sewing for Room 8?"......"Have you started yet?"........"How are you doing it?"......"DOESN'T IT TAKE A LOT OF TIME!!!!!" I had not thought too much about the task, although Mr 7 had reminded me and a note had appeared in his diary with a due date. I drove home thinking I must schedule some time for the apron sewing.

The weekend came and went, and Mr 7 arrived home with the news on Monday that  "Everyone else has done their sewing Mum." The aprons were not due until Friday, but with the warning I had received, I thought it might be wise to get cracking. So I did. I ironed, cut out, over-locked, pressed, sewed and attached straps, and 10 aprons appeared. Mr 7 took them off to school, proud as punch this morning. I was so determined to get them completed, I forgot to take a photograph.

Now I have a sewing room that looks like a fabric bomb has gone off.

I have not asked any questions about what the aprons are for, and Mr 7 is quite smug, but I wonder if I will be receiving one back soon?

Lenora X.

Oh, forgot to tell you. I am off on a super exciting road trip tomorrow, I'll fill you in when I get back.

Working With The Numbers

One part of designing that I really enjoy is working with the numbers. I sit and draft with my pencil and pad, then start working with the calculator. I usually have a definite idea of the finished size, and love the challenge of making my ideas fit into this size.

Sometimes it comes together easily, other times I can have three or four layers pasted on top of each other.

Once the design is set, I get the calculator and start working out the fabric requirements. How many squares do I need to cut. How many squares I can cut from a width of fabric. How many widths will I need. I love the number crunching.

Sometimes..maybe a lot of times.. I work out when I want to complete the design by, and I start calculating how many blocks I need to make each day.

Yesterday was a 12 green block day.

(Yesterday was a wonderfully overcast day with lots of rain, not good for photos, but great for our paddocks)

Today I am delivering telephone books (a school fundraiser) so it is only a 6 blue block day.

Enjoy your ANZAC day,

Lenora X.

 

Away with the (Woodland) fairies

I've been spending the weekend with the 'Woodland' fairies.

I'm having the best time.......in fact I dont think I'll go home.....think I'll stay a bit longer.

Araucania Sock Yarn

I have received an email asking me for details of the sock yarn I shared yesterday, so I thought I should share it with you too.

It is Araucania yarn, 'Ranco Multy' colour 307. I purchased it from Morris and Sons in Collins St Melbourne.

Lenora.

Unpacking the bags

We have been away on a family holiday exploring the beautiful Limestone Coast of South Australia. It was such a lovely time away, so nice to be able to put the feet up and relax.

A little mishap before we left meant that an extra set of 'legs' had to accompany us on the journey! We were hoping that the plaster could have been replace with a 'Boot' before we left, but it was not to be. 

 

We based ourselves in Robe, a lovely coastal town in the South East of South Australia. With a lot of the water activities off the menu, day trips in the car became our main entertainment.

 

 

 

 

 

It really is such a beautiful region to explore.

The beautiful coastline around Beachport.

The World Heritage Listed Naracoorte Caves.

The large Sink Hole in the centre of Mount Gambier, (to give you an idea of the enormity of this hole, they are large, green, bench seats sitting at the bottom)

and Mount Gambier's magnificent Blue Lake.

I am disappointed not to have taken any photos of the lovely Coonawarra wine region, the large cropping areas we passed through and the lovely shops around Robe.

As is now tradition, I took a knitting project with me. I have had a skein of sock wool for just over 12 months, and I have been looking at it with a mixture of fear and determination. For some reason sock knitting scares me, give me Fair Isle, give me Aran, but don't give me sock.

Determined to overcome the fear, I armed myself with two books, one of which contains a DVD.

I followed the instructions, watched the DVD, and now I have this.

(Sorry, you may just have to kink your head to get the real view.) I still have the toes to do, but so far so good, and I am even getting comfortable with all those needles. It is a basic, plain pattern, but just what I needed.

So as the sun shines down on the last of my holiday laundry, and my woolly fix is tended to, I am off to the sewing room.

Back again soon,

Lenora X.

 

 

Sowing seeds

After what seems like half an eternity, I finally have seed in the ground.

The sprinklers are on, and hopefully we should have lush grass in 6 weeks time. Then the fun can begin.

 

My days have been busy of late. Lots of farming jobs that need to be done, so very little time for stitching and spinning (read: one cranky woman!). I was blessed with a visit from Loz this week. She is fresh back from GDITC at Nundle, and talked me through her lovely weekend of stitching and friendship, and let me browse though her crafty purchases. Almost felt as though I had been there myself. Thanks Loz, was just what I needed.

Have a great weekend,

Lenora X.