Lenora Jenkins Designs

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.

 

 

Show and Tell

I love seeing what people are working on, and it is even more special when it is something inspired from one of my designs. Have a look at what Vicki has made.

It is from my Springtime Dresden's pattern. Vicki, it is fabulous, such a lovely choice of colours! I look forward to seeing it in person at the next 'Stitch in Simpson in Spring' later this year.

Vicki has also been busy making my 'Ease the Aches' pattern.

There are 40 in total. Vicki, thank you so much for sharing them with me.

Lenora X.

 

Another look

I have just been sorting through some of my work and I came across this,

a version of my "Footpaths in the Forest" table-runner pattern. Linda made it for me to take to AQM, and I have been very remiss in not sharing it with you. sorry! It is made from the Curio range of fabric (Moda). 

Lenora X.

New Patterns and a Give-Away

I've made it down to Melbourne and my stall is all set up for tomorrow morning. I wanted to share first with you, my newest patterns that will be released tomorrow morning.

Here is Springtime Dresden's.

I have made this large quilt ( 77 inch square) from the 'Ruby' range of fabric (Bonnie and Camille for Moda).

My other new pattern is 'Last Minute Lolly Stockings'.

These novel stockings are really quick and easy to make, and will not be too detrimental to the little peoples teeth.

To celebrate my getting to AQM, and to thank you for the message's of support and encouragement I am offering a giveaway. Leave a comment from now until Monday, and you will be in the draw to win a copy of my latest three patterns. Housework Can Wait, Springtime Dresden's and Last minute Lolly Stockings.

Have a great weekend, I'll be back after the weekend to tell you all about it.

Lenora X.

A new pattern....Housework can wait.

I am really excited to introduce you to my latest pattern.

'Housework can wait'. It is a tablecloth pattern, made with a version of the Honey Bee block. I really have fallen in love with this block. I have used a bundle of Buttercup (by Fig Tree for Moda), but when my life is a little more relaxed I am going to make it in an assortment of left over pieces that are sitting patiently in my stash. I hope you can read the little verse surrounding the centre applique, you may need to zoom in.

It reads;

Come and sit with me a while

we'll share a pot of tea and smile

We'll enjoy a laugh and a piece of cake

Cos' heaven knows housework can wait.

 

All going well the patterns will be available by the end of the week, I just have a photo printing issue to iron out.

Lenora x.

 

A New Pattern....i Holders

We are trying to teach our children that you have to roll up your sleeves and work if you want to achieve things in life. Not easy at times, but none the less we try. Living on a farm gives the children lots of opportunities to help out, and if there is something they are wanting, they can work to get it.

Back at calving time there was an abundance of work, and we had an abundance of help. Every time Jenks (everybody knows my DH as Jenks, so I figure it is time that you do too) walked out the door, he had a line of helpers running for their boots too....and a lot of evenings, help would arrive at milking time. I knew something was going on, but was not too sure what. Worked out it was ' i-pod touch's'.

So a few weeks ago, some i-pod touch's arrived in our house. I have been a little concerned about their vulnerability, and knowing how hard the children worked to get them, I am dreading something happening to them. So it was time for a new design, a little pouch to hold them.

Let me introduce my i holders.

 

They are the perfect size for the latest i-pod touch and the i-phone 4. They have a spring strip opening; squeeze the sides and they pop open. I have also designed a lanyard strap that clips onto a D-ring sewn into the back, and also a belt lug strap, so you can clip them through the lug on your pants. It is a way of making your i-pod/i-phone portable if you like to take it walking, gardening, or just close by so you can hear it.

I released the pattern early at our stitching day last weekend, but I have re-styled the cover photo, to show the bolt snap swivel hook that was not available until friday evening. (sorry girls, only the photo has changed, not the pattern inside).

For the present time, the pattern will come with a kit containing the spring strip, the D-ring and the swivel hooks for the lanyard and lug strap.

Check out my list of stockist, Gum Valley Patchwork has them in stock and ready to ship. If you would like your local shop to stock them, please ask them to drop me an email (address up there on the top left), I would love to hear from them.

Lenora X.

Stitch in Spring in Simpson

The day has come and gone, and I must say that I'm a little sad that it is all over. It was the most amazing day, and it went far too quickly.

When we set up the venue Friday, I thought the room looked great. It looked even better when I walked through the door early Saturday morning. Women who were travelling distances were starting to arrive and the goody bags sitting oh so pretty on the tables, were tempting all who stood near. Shopping was starting to take place in Linda's set up shop, and there were people already working away in the kitchen. I had to pinch myself when I looked over and saw Gail Pan.

 

There was laughter, chatter, and revelations. Delicious food and 'Burly Barista's' serving cappuccinos. Mystery bags, lucky prizes and retail therapy. It was a special day, spent in the company of 70 like-minded ladies.

I met lovely ladies from Lara (Vicki and Sharon), blogging friends who I have emailed but never met in person (Marion and Tammy), blogging friends who have became part of my families life, Jo from the farm who leaves lovely comments on this blog (Thanks for making such a long journey to be part of our special day) friends who I knew long, long ago but have not seen for so long (Karen I wish we had longer to catch up!) and the other girls on table 8, always a great group of girls who get the stitching and farmer's wife stuff.

I feel so privileged to have been a part of the day.  A lot of ladies arrived on their own, and left having made new friends. I was one of them!

So now I can finally reveal the projects that I designed for the day.

Ease the aches is a heat pack cover. It can be made as an applique; I taught the technique of stitching over glued paper templates, or it can be made as a stitchery. It is made to accommodate the blue gel cold packs, or there are directions to make a wheat heat-pack.

Teacups to go are drawstring bags, made to house your special teacup/mug. Perfect for a spring picnic, school meetings, garden clubs etc. It will make a lovely Christmas gift for school teachers or special friends.

If you were not lucky enough to join us on Saturday, these patterns will be available by the end of the week, I am sure Gum Valley Patchwork will even be able to help out with some kits.

It certainly was the highlight of my whole designing journey. Thanks Gail and Linda,and all the ladies that came along, I will never forget it!

Lenora XX.

 

Getting closer

'Stitch in Simpson in Spring' (or Stitch in Spring in Simpson......) is getting closer; it's less than four weeks now. My projects are all completed, but I thought it might be nice to do one of the designs up in red-work, just in case someone is allergic to applique.

 

I love how chain stitch brings a different dimension to embroidery. If you are having trouble with chain stitch, have you tried using a smaller sized hoop and giving your fabric some 'flop' (the opposite of drum tight) inside the hoop?

I have been using Cosmo multi-work thread. 

It's great being able to wind the thread straight off the reel, without having to split it. Thankyou Cosmo!

Lenora X.

 

Holiday Fling is now available

Just a quick note to let you know that Holiday Fling is now printed and available.

Gum Valley Patchwork is offering a special deal. Anyone who purchases a fat 1/8 bundle  to make the quilt, will receive a 10% discount on the fabric and the pattern will be supplied free of charge but only until July 17th, the end of our school holidays. 

Happy Sewing,

Lenora X.

A New Supplier, Specials, and a Giveaway!!

I am really excited to announce that my patterns are now available from Cookies and Cream Craft.

As a special welcome, Sandy is offering 15% off all my patterns today. So pop on over and have a look. She also has a giveaway of my latest pattern Holiday Fling, just click onto her blog and enter your name for a chance to win. 

Lenora X.