Lenora Jenkins Designs

Farewell 2011

I have started, paused, deleted, rethought, started again, deleted and so on......but I might as well just get to the point. I am really sad to see 2011 come to an end.

For me 2011 was;

* The first year I attended Quilt Market as a stall holder.

* The first year I taught at a full length stitching day.

* The first year that I met blogging friends in real life. (and they have become such treasured friends)

* The first year we have employed some long term help on the farm, helping me to produce more patterns.

* The first year we tackled a serious road trip as a family. (and boy it has opened possibilities)

And of top of that, there was a family wedding, a successful year on the farm and no serious health issues. I am sad to farewell it, and I guess a little nervous as to whether 2012 can deliver the same enjoyment.

But a new year does bring new starts. While I have given up on the notion of a new years resolution, I am keeping with my newly formed tradition of dedicating the year to something.

2012 is going to be the year of my garden. I have pondered areas, trialled plants, and formed ideas of what I want my garden to be. Four years ago it was a paddock that the cows grazed, and now it is time for me to develop it into the repose that I want it to be. It will be a challenge with our weather, and some gravely soil, but a challenge is always good. My short term goal is to be able to pick flowers all year round. It might even see me planting Chrysanthemums for a flower to pick in May....my mother will laugh at that.

You may have noticed on my left side bar, the little Pinterest badge. I have joined Pinterest so I can keep a log of ideas for my garden. Some are probably only dreams, but I am learning that dreams do come true.

I wish you a happy new year, hopefully a year where all our dreams come true.

Lenora X.

PS. I had fantastic sale on Thursday. The heifers made over $200/head more than my previous best price. Happy Dancing Big Time.

 

AQM 2011

Wow, Australian Quilt Market 2011. It is going to be forever etched in my mind. I had a fabulous time meeting so many lovely shop owners, other designers and people who contribute to the industry with their great products.

When Linda and I arrived at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre at 2.40pm on Friday, it was a flurry of activity. People in yellow fluro vests were buzzing about, unpacking goods and setting up displays. We timed our arrival to avoid the initial bustle.....actually, I was running late as I was in the last minute frenzy of trying to print more patterns. My stall looked so lonely and bare when I first arrived,

 

(Sorry for such a poor quality photo), but with a bit of work we had it all set up within a couple of hours.

I keep telling myself that you have to start somewhere. Although my stall did not look as well stocked as others, at least I was there and  could say that I had done it.....well, a time did occur at about 4.00pm when I looked at my watch and thought "Oh, take me home to the cows", but luckily it was short lived.

I arrived back at market at 8.00am Saturday morning. Linda attended some of the workshops, while I sorted through some of the patterns that I had stashed beneath the table. I had a little wander around the rest of the market and met some of the other stall holders.

When the market officially opened at 10.00am I had a lovely visitor arrive first to my stall. I have exchanged emails with Julie for a couple of years and it was so nice to finally meet her and her family in person. Not long after, Wendy from Clever Ducks Quilting arrived. It was a calming start to the day. I soon discovered that most people where just as friendly and just as supportive of my designs. I was kept busy for most of the day, explaining my patterns, and handing out my brochures.

The highlight of Saturday was a visit from the lovely Annie Downs....I nearly fell off my feet when she asked to purchase some of my patterns for her shop. I have admired Annie's work for so long and I have a large collection of her books. I was busting to ask if I could have a photo taken with her, but I was too shy to ask and I rarely take a good photo anyway.

At 5.00pm the market closed and a special presentation was held with Robyn Pandolph as the guest speaker. Robyn gave us an insight to where she lives and what inspires her to create her designs. She also showed us samples of her latest fabrics to be released next year.

It was sometime after 6.30pm before two weary ducks made it back to the apartment. Off with the good clothes and those tight new shoes and into some comfy knockabout ones. After a cup of tea, a few Panadol, and a phone call home, it was a short wander down the street to a little Italian restaurant for dinner. When I telephoned home, the first question I was asked from Mr 7yrs was "Did many people eat the lollies?" I had told the children that I would bring home the left over lollies from my stall!

We were back at Market at 8.00am Sunday morning. Linda and I sat in a talk showcasing a new product call the 'Disappearing Design Wall'. We were both really taken with this idea, and you will read more about it here in the future. I also sat in a talk with the lovely Pam and Katie from Cottage Garden Threads. I love these threads and was able to bring home a small collection which I will be using in some of my new designs.

You can see them here with a collection of other goodies I was able to purchase. Some dyed wool from Hatched and Patched and some Moda fabric 'California Girl' and 'Hello Luscious' which I look forward to using.

By Sunday afternoon the stalls were a little more quiet, and with Linda's help I was able to catch up with some of the other designers. I met two wonderful ladies, Cheryl and Bev from Stanford Hall Designs. They had both travelled all the way from New Zealand. Their designs are lovely, I am so disappointed that I did not take a photograph of their stall. I also met Clare, who like me was at Market for the first time.

At 4.30pm the market was closed and we donned fluro vests again for the pack-up. In half the time of setting up our stall was cleared out and we were on our way home. I arrived home at 8.40pm, worn out but still buzzing with all the excitement.

So my first market has been and gone, and today I am having an easy day. No deadlines, no pressures. It feels so good. And will I do it all again? Of course I will, I'm already planning for next year.

Lenora X.

 

 

Staying on track

Only two weeks to go! 

I am learning that;

• A house functions a lot better if I keep up with the laundry.
• Families will only tolerate slap dash meals for so long.
• The time it takes to bake a cake or biscuits is nothing compared to the time you will spend listening to whining children if you don’t.
• Check that it is mayonnaise you are placing on your husband’s salad roll and not tar-tare sauce.
• If you clean your house you will not have visitors and vice versa.
• Do not spend extended time deliberating which fabric to use in a particular situation. After wasting hours you will proceed with your initial thought anyway.
• An alarm clock does not care how late you stayed working into the morning, it will still ring at the same time.
• Harvest must come before all else, you just have to breathe deeply, and carry on (and when you do, sometimes an angel arrives. Thanks Dad!) 

I have had a lovely time playing with Ruby, 

 

who has now gone to visit two very clever ducks.

I have two more projects that I would love to create. I don't know how I will go, I have the will so hopefully the way will come. I have warned Jenks that I might be a little bit snaky this coming week. Luckily he has a mountain of hay rolls to move.

Stay tuned,

Lenora X.

 

 

Counting down to AQM

Earlier in the year I made a commitment to have a stall at AQM; the Australian Quilt Market. It was quite a hard decision, "Am I ready for this....Do I have the experience......Do I have enough patterns in my range....???? The questions were endless and I procrastinated for months. Eventually I made the decision to go. It was based a lot around the notion of having no regrets in life, and also the fact that I have a major birthday looming (Silly I know, but I have always thought that I needed to be well on the journey by this birthday...still cant say the number as I am still a little scared of it).

So in exactly five weeks time I will be in Melbourne at the exhibition building, setting up a stall to showcase my patterns. It will be another road trip for Thelma and Louise, aka Linda, who has kindly offered to come and hold my hand.

So the pressure dial is slowly starting to build. I have earmarked a slightly unrealistic number of designs that I want to see brought to life. I am re-structuring some admin sides to my business, developing catalogues and writing blurbs for broadsheets. It is proving to be a great impetus to put in place things that I have only been thinking of.

So if you would like to follow my journey getting to AQM, jump on this train with me. It promises to be a great ride; new patterns with five kids to care for and a husband at harvest time....worth following this space.

Lenora X.