16th February, 2006

Humpty Dumpty, our old childhood friend has come back to visit us.  For all the Humpty and Nursery Rhyme character collectors - and surprisingly there's a lot more than I realized judging by the email I have received hurrying me along with finishing the pattern since I posted his preview pic - you can now make your own to come and live in your home or the home of someone special.  He's a great folksy looking piece that just makes you smile.  The pattern is now available on my doll patterns page.   Oh, and I've been asked if he's "fat" or "flat"...he's fat!  A true egg shape.  He's fun to make and sure to get comments from all who see him.

See you again soon!...Cally

12th February, 2006

Look who's coming soon to join the Neverending Thread Collection!  

Keep your eye on this space!

7th January, 2006

Welcome back!  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations.  After enjoying a few weeks off it's time for me to get back into crafting mode.  The theme for the moment is Valentines day..only about 6 weeks go get your Valentine goodies made!  Considering that Ornament swaps are so popular at the moment, I've designed some great Cherub Ornaments suitable to make for Valentines Day to send for your friends, keep for yourself or give to a loved one.  Of course they are great bedroom (or any other room) decorations too, not just for Valentines day but for any time of the year.  I hope you like my little cherubs.  There are 4 different ones included in the pattern and are fun to make up

.

I'm also working on some other new goodies but I thought I'd get these done first to give everyone plenty of time before V Day if they wanted to get the pattern and get started.  I'll be back soon with more - school holidays, swimming lessons and heat permitting!  °Ü°  Cally

12th November, 2005

Christmas seems well and truly on the way with decorations appearing in all the shops and everyone's thoughts starting to turn to Christmas decorating and shopping.  To get into the spirit of things I have four (yes 4! - I've been busy) new patterns for you this month all with a Christmas theme to give you plenty of time to have them done by the big day.  The first is a great new Santa called Sid.  I don't quite know why he's called Sid but that's what he told me his name was.  He has the most wonderfully expressive eyes and a great fluffy mohair beard which has been needle felted (although it can be stitched) using the felting needles I have available on my supplies page.

My second new pattern is something new and quite different.  I can't say I've ever seen anything like it before but I'm sure for those who make it up, it will be a lasting Christmas Treasure.  It is my Santa Gathering.  It's a stitched and painted piece which looks very impressive but is not as hard as it looks! ;-)  Try it, you'll be surprised how clever you are.  I was!

I have a new set of Stitchery cards this month as well with a Nativity Theme.  A great alternative to commercial Christmas cards which stitch up quickly and easily.  So for those who have been waiting on them - they're all ready to go!

The final new pattern this month is my Sleigh Bells Stitchery, which has been made available due to popular demand.  This pattern was designed and was published in Australian Homespun Magazine, which is unavailable to many of our international friends.  For those who saw the pics and couldn't find the mag, it's available now in pattern form.

That should be enough to keep you busy during the weeks leading up to the festive season!  I know it's kept me busy for the past few weeks!

To any South Australian girls, don't forget to call in and see the girls on The Chocolate Crow Trader stand at the Adelaide Christmas Earth Fair.  My patterns will be available on the stand as well as many other wonderful goodies from the collective of the Chocolate Crow Trader.

16th October, 2005

Well another month has passed and my kids have already started reminding me that Christmas is coming!  Less than 70 days in fact.  Now isn't that a scary thought!  I haven't quite got into the Christmas mode just yet though.  My new patterns this month are more for everyday.  We have a new "My Queen" Make do pattern which I found seems to bring a smile to all those who see her - even the non-prim lovers!  There is also a new cloth Angel pattern.  This is a great design for praying angels, one pattern with three great looks.  I've called them the Angels of Hope and there's a style to suit all tastes.  It's an easy pattern - why not give it a try!

For the South Australians out there, I'd like to let you all know that you will be able to buy my patterns and lots of other wonderful goodies from the talented girls at The Chocolate Crow Trader at the upcoming Christmas Earth Fair in Adelaide.  Check the link for more information

Well I guess I had better go and make my kids happy and start thinking about Christmas designs!  

See you next time!

14th September, 2005

More patterns!  Two new ones this month. Due to popular demand,  I've added another pattern for a new set of Stitchery Greeting Cards.  This time with a Classic Folk theme.  Something for everyone here with all the great prim icons.  There's a Willow, Saltbox House, Crow, Sheep, Make-do and traditional Hand & Heart.  These are wonderful quick projects and great to have on hand for a little gift or greeting.  Available in printed or e-pattern format.

The second new pattern this month is all in readiness for Halloween - which is fast approaching!  Get in early with a great new Halloween Countdown Stitchery!  If you're looking for other Halloween patterns, don't forget to take a look at Grimsabella Sorcerella, my favourite witch!

15th August, 2005

Another month has gone by and I'm back adding new patterns.  It's cold, wet and windy in my neck of the woods, a good time to sit in front of the fire and do some crafting.  

My first new pattern is Miss Molly & her Dolly.  She's such a sweetie.  When trying to come up with a name for her the words of the old children's song kept popping into my head so she became Miss Molly!  Can you remember all the words?  I have to admit I had to look them up, I had forgotten a line or two.

The second new pattern this month is an idea I've had great response to from those who have had a sneak preview.  I often hear people mentioning that they are after some "quickie" stitching projects to do whilst they are waiting in the car at kids sports or for other times when they're not in the mood to start a big project.  The "Girlfriends" Stitchery Gift Cards just fit the bill and have the twofold benefit of being useful little Greeting Card/Mini Gifts.  Great for those times you would like to send just a little something to a friend.  When the time for the greeting has passed, the stitchery can be removed and used as an ornament or attached to a cushion or framed or make a collection of them and sew them to a backing and make a wall hanging! The first in the set have a "Girlfriends" theme, great for every day and I have quite a few more designs in the works, so keep an eye out for more!  And best of all - they only cost a few cents each to make using scraps and leftovers!

Oh...I nearly forgot to mention!  For those who like the (almost) instant gratification of e-patterns, I've decided to delve into that world.  The Stitchery Gift Cards are also available in e-pattern format.  For those of you who haven't heard of e-patterns, they are a great money saving idea.  When I get your order, I'll email you a file which you open with Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free from their website, if you don't already  have it on your computer) and print it out yourself.  You get the pattern faster - and cheaper!  Don't forget you must send me your email address on your order to be able to receive an e-pattern!

Well I'm off back to my stitching!  Have a great day °Ü°

15th July, 2005

Three new patterns have gone up today, a cream "Snow Santa" named Claus, all ready for the Christmas in July Celebrations.  There is also a Christmas Stitchery called "Peace on Earth" which has a great vintage feel and another stitchery called "Sew Little Time" which is a collage style stitchery of sewing goodies.

My patterns page seemed to be getting a bit long so I've now divided it into "The Stitching Room" where you will find the patterns for Stitcheries and Penny Rugs as well as a page devoted to Doll, soft sculpture and Ornament patterns so don't forget to follow the links to see all the patterns available.

If you're a fan of "Homespun" magazine, don't forget to take a look at the vintage Christmas stitchery "Sleigh Bells" project I have in the Christmas in July issue.  It should be on the stands shortly.

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your wonderful support since starting this website.  I have had some really lovely comments  the patterns and on the site and it's greatly encouraged me to continue with my designing.

I hope you all enjoy Christmas in July!

10th June, '05

Added a great new pattern for Architectural Stars.  Five different sized stars that look just like the cast iron architectural stars, only made from cloth!  Take a look on the patterns page.  I have also added instructions on how to stain tags with walnut ink crystals on the Tips and Techniques page.  Don't forget to let me know if there is anything you would particularly like to see on these pages.  

14 May, '05.

  It's been a busy couple of weeks.  I have 4 new patterns listed in the patterns section.  Aunt Patience, a great mammy doll, along with a redwork Garden stitchery and two new Penny Rugs.  As well there are now Walnut ink crystals in the supplies page.  I've also included smaller 30g packs of Mica for those that want to try it out.  The  tips and techniques page has been re-organised and updated.  

22nd April '05

  Added a "Supplies" page with felting needles and mica flakes and added some more info to the Tips & Techniques.

 As you can tell, I've been busy getting this website ready for visitors.  I have a few patterns up, but be assured, there are many more to come.  There has been a bit of a "chicken and the egg" pondering going on of late.  Do I finish the site and have only a few things to put on it..or do I finish the patterns and have no-where to put them.  So you can see my decision.  The site is done, with a few patterns but there will be many more to come now that I won't be tied to the computer for days on end.

19th April '05 

 Just listed an antique style teddy bear pattern in the patterns page.  Made from calico or muslin, stained and sealed.  A great pattern as an alternative to the fluffy variety.  He looks just like the one in the pic below!

"Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”  Henry Van Dyke