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Giant Thimbles
 

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Stitching Dishes

Pin Cushions


I love the wooden thimble I purchased. Veronica
.
England

The books arrived safely and promptly. I will be back for more. Flo,
Canada.

I have made two of your quilting patterns and had to write to say how easy they are to follow. Thank you. Sharon, USA

Thank you for the designs via email. Makes it so quick and easy. Sarah.
France


Just a quick note to let you know the charts have arrived in good order and I am very happy with them.  Terry, Tasmania



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Janet's Blog 
Here is what is new with me and my website.
 I look forward to hearing your comments please email me at janet@jmddesigns.co.nz 

Newsletter for Blog Updates
To be notified of what is new in my website and blog join my mailing list. Also once a month at random I will be giving one free design (your choose) at random to one of those signed up.

Latest winners are:
Sewgrandlyappliqued@ and  sa.earle@
Email me winners to claim your prize with the other half of your email address I have you listed with.

8th February 2012 Dresden Plate Cushions

In my new house there is a bay window in the lounge. I did not want to put furniture in the floor space so I made a pile of cushions. I now have my own "Crash Pad". The cushions are made from different types of textures, cotton, fur, silk, satin which add to the luxury of it all. I made patchwork cushions stitched around the "Dresden Plate" design layout.

I have made a tutorial here on how I made my Dresden Plate.
Below are close-ups of the cushions

     
Click to see the pillows larger

Feb 2012 Free February Calendar
Click on the photo right to get your free desktop calendar for this month.
Then come back each month to get the new one. Click here

10th January 2012 "Laura" Wooden Based Pincushion
This Pincushion has needlework floss, beads, buttons and needles engraved around the edges. On two corners are thimbles I can engrave the initials you choose and a year. Included in the price is the pattern/instructions for  the fabric pincushion your can stitch yourself for the top.  Click here to see the photo larger

7th Jan 2012 Spacing Out Beads Tutorial

When sewing groups of beads around the edge of a pincushion,
I wanted to make sure the beads were evenly spaced along the
Click to see how I did it.


I used 4 different patterns of black and white fabric. I embellished the back with ric-rac, buttons and Chain stitch needlework. I changed the two smaller panels around for the back and front.
The bag measures 26 x 24 cm (10 x 9 1/2 inches)

Actual Needlework and
Quilting Pieces For Sale

Purchase Janet's own hand stitched pieces.

Once each piece has been sold they are gone; be quick.

Click here to view them

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and may 2012 bring
peace, harmony and love to you and your stitching.

19th November 2011 Floral Based Pincushion
This wooden pincushion base has flowers, leaves and berries engraved around the edges. On two corners are thimbles I engraved Margaret's initials and the year she chose. I then stitched the flowers on a fabric pincushion, with beads to embellish. Click here to see the photo larger

 

19th November 2011 NEW Word Searches
Needlework and Quilting free word searches I have made for you to do while in a waiting room; or take them along to your stitching groups or put them in your group's newsletter.
Click here to get them

11th November 2011

4th November 2011
I have been playing with some Pyrography (Poker work) which is when you engrave a design onto the wood with a hot wire. This craft has been done on timber since the Middle
Ages but they used a hot poker direct from the fire.


I made this pincushion that has thimbles in each corner. One thimble has my initials and the one in the other corner has the year in it. Hopefully it will become a family heirloom. I made the pin cushion that has beads and top stitching that is adhered to the wooden background.

When looking for designs to stitch or use in various crafts just don't look at designs designated for that craft. So may designs from other crafts can be adapted as I have done below.  
On the left is my Scottish Thistle stitched in Padded Needlelace; the design is 15 x 16 cms (6 high x 6 ¼ wide inches)  in size.  On the right is a wooden teapot stand I made adapted from my Needlelace design; The plaque measurements are14cms (5 inches) square. Thickness 2 cms (3/4 inches).

I made this to use as a fridge magnet. What are the chances once you are snuggled in your chair that someone in the house wants you to do something for them!!

So after my friends telling me how cool they thought these above looked they said they were sure people around the world would love to own some also. So click the photos below to see Giant Thimbles etc I have made for sale.
 

     


 

 


 

17th October 2011  Summer Fun Bag

Summer is just around the corner so I have made a bright funky bag to go with my bright summer clothes. The bag measure 28 x 26 cms(11 x 10 inches). The sides have pockets and Buttoned Fabric puffs on the sides,


I have given a free tutorial here for you learn how I made the Fabric Puffs on the bag.

 

10th October 2011 Halloween Stitching From Around the World

             

Annet from the Netherlands (picture left) http://fat-quarter.blogspot.com/ stitched my Halloween design featured below. It was the perfect size to stretch over an old CD with some batting. She used stranded DMC, 2 threads for the backstitches and the French knots, 1 strand for the knotted loop stitch. At the edge she couched some knitting yarn. Karen (Turtle) from the USA stitched hers with a fabric border of candy corn and a pumpkin button. I would love to see and feature your Halloween design I gave for free (see below)



I have given the peace symbol here for you to use in one of your projects


Click on the peace design
to enlarge. Then save to your computer and resize to what you wish for your bag.

4th October 2011  Peace Bag



I have decided my 'ever day bag' was getting a bit scruffy so I have made this new bag. I found the multi colour peace fabric a couple of months ago and it was screaming at me to make a bag with it. The centre insert I hand stitched peace symbols with chain stitch and then hand quilted around them. At the sides of the centre inset I pleated some spotted fabric.


28th September
 2011
Halloween Quilted Needlework
Fridge Magnet or Wall hanging

"Having Nothing to Stitch is Scary"
This is my first ever Halloween design/project. Halloween has not been a big thing in New Zealand but has become more popular the last 15 years. I used to look on it as something those in the USA do.

click here for this free project

20th September  2011 Handwork ~ While You Wait Wee
WINNERS of a FREE DESIGN
(via my facebook page or Newsletter list)
The 5 people that won a design of their choose in my Needlework or Quilting range are:
Kathy Demarco  -  Susi Patuzi  -  Mona Cashman  -  oneshoe2many  -  astitch2998  

If the winners email me to claim their prize. janet@jmddesigns.co.nz
Tell me which design you would like emailed to you in PDF format.

Quilting Designs: http://www.jmddesigns.co.nz/quilting/index.htm
Needlework Designs: http://www.jmddesigns.co.nz/needlework/index.htm

 


19th September
 2011 Contemporary Seahorse
I have finished my Contemporary Filet Darn with a chunky border.
Click here to see more photos etc

 

 15th September  2011 New Individual Design


JMD1107   Medieval Hunter Gatherer Bags
The needlework designs above on the bags are based on Medieval woodcuts. Messenger style bags with a horse and deer hunting scene and one with a fishing boat. Two of the most basic Needlework stitches have been used so it is a great beginners needlework project. The messengerbag is of basic construction.
Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with.
Click on the photo above to see more details.

A Week of Free Tutorials
September 12 to 16  2011
Handwork ~ While You Wait Week
8 Inspiring Tutorials with prizes to celebrate!
http://www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com/VictorianaQuilters/Handwork/main.htm

I have done a tutorial that will be shown later this week at
Victoriana Quilt Designs
I will have few prize draws on the day my tutorial is shown.


 1st September  2011 New Individual Design

JMD1106    Eat, Drink and Be Merry
I took a fancy to the medieval woodcut drawing and came up with the above design. There are 3 separate designs included.
2 of the most basic Needlework stitches have been used so it is a great beginners project. Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with.
Click on the photo above to see more details.


 
 

23rd August 2011
Knitting Project or Crochet Hook Holder Tutorial

A holder for your knitting needles during a knitting project or storing crochet hooks.
 I have given a free tutorial .


Click on the photo above to see the quilt made step by step.

16th August 2011
Hexagon quilt finished!!!!!!!!!

Well my quilt is compete now and laying over my couch. It is wonderful to have it finished. For those new to seeing this quilt the whole front of the quilt is ALL hand stitched; hexagons, applique and quilting.

The blocks for the backing are all joined by machine sewing. I have given a free tutorial of the block used on the back and their layout.


Click on the photo above to see the quilt block tutorial.

16th August 2011 Visitors to My Website

I just checked the statistics of my website and within 30 minutes these were the countries that viewed my website and many multiples of people from each country. Thanks for visiting everyone my little corner of the world.

India, Australia, Spain, United States, Sweden, New Zealand, England, United States (USA), Nepal, France, Thailand, Brazil, Netherlands, Japan, China, South Africa, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Italy, Norway, Spain, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Italy, France, Russia, Ireland, Singapore.
 

19th July 2011
Free Hardanger Design

I have given the chart free for this Hardanger mat I designed and stitched. Click on the photo to see lots of close up photos and the chart.


 

 

14th July 2011 New Individual Design
This flower arrangement of Daffodils, Irises and freesias is hand stitched using Padded Needlelace. (commonly used in Raised Elizabethan designs) Pockets of Needle Lace are stitched directly onto the fabric and then padded to produce raised stitched areas. Metallic thread and beads add texture and appeal to the design.
Also I have put 2 extra free designs with it.

Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with.
Click on the photo to see more details and close up photos.

 

13th July 2011 New Individual Design
I have taken the Wisdom of Spring design from the Casalguidi Needlework book I wrote and have released it as a individual design.
Also I have put 3 extra free designs with it.

Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with.
Click on the photo to see more details.

 


 
 

6th July 2011 New Individual Design
This is a modern Scottish Thistle design based on Padded Needlelace. (commonly used in Raised Elizabethan designs) Pockets of Needle Lace are stitched directly onto the fabric and then padded to produce raised stitched areas. Metallic thread add texture and appeal to the design. This design is 15 x 16 cms (6 high x 6 ¼ wide inches)  in size.

Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with.
Click on the photo to see more details and close up photos.


 

 

26th June 2011 Knitted Gloves update
It is winter time here in New Zealand so time for me to knit some fingerless gloves for friends. I have just finished knitting my second pair this season. The latest purple pair I hand stitched some daisies onto them.
Click here to get the free pattern see more photos etc
For those of you enjoying summer right now, these gloves are a great small knitting project for your winter Christmas presents.



14th June 2011
Keeping the needle in the family

What every Mother should do with their daughter (and son).... get down on the floor and cut out fabric to sew.
Me with my daughter making her some trousers.

31st May 2011 Today is My Birthday
Today is my birthday, so below is another free chart for you to use for you stitching.
Click on the chart to get it and other charts to match
            

26th May 2011  Filet Lace Sampler
This sampler shows some of the stitches used in Filet Lace.  Around the outside of the sampler are bees and leaves stitched in the Blackwork style. The whole design area is 12 x 14 cms ( 5 x 5 1/4 inches)
Click on the photo to see  a tutorial and larger photos.


 

26th May 2011 Converting Charted Designs

Often we see a charted design in Cross stitch we like but we want to stitch it in another stitching style. Click here to how a Cross Stitch charted design can be used for other stitching methods. Along with free designs to stitch.

Some of the Yahoo email chat groups I belong to:

Southern Cross Quilters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scquilters/
Quilting Group for those in New Zealand and Australia.

Kiwi Quilters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kiwiquilters/
Quilting Group for those in New Zealand and Australia.

Hardanger Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hardanger/

International group for those that stitch Hardanger.

Lady Of Steeles Hand Embroidery Crafters
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lady_Of_Steeles_Hand_Embroidery_Crafters/
International group for those that stitch.

International Hand Stitchers
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/International-Hand-Stitchers/

International group for those that stitch.


21st
May 2011    Schwalm Tree of Life
   
Click on the photos to see them larger.
Schwalm is a German Needlework. One of the designs they used in this style was a 'tree of life'. Depicting facets that make life.... The urn; something to grow from. Sustenance; the pomegranate to eat. Love; the heart. Sun; warmth and promoting growth. Birds; originally they stitched crows but in the last century the dove of peace has become more popular. Some of the design areas have grids cut from the fabric weave and have Woven or Pulled Thread stitching. Design size 18 x 20cm. (7 x 8 inches)
You can see more of my Schwalm Needlework by clicking here

 

13th May 2011  Needlework Hoop Tutorial
 Tip for using hoops for your Needlework and Quilting.
Click to view the tutorial



12th May 2011  Two New Designs


JMD1103    Shaded Medley
2x Contemporary Casalguidi designs
Easy
step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with...
Click on the photo to see more details.



 

The Eva Owl Event
Hi Everyone, often when I draw a design I think about all the different styles/techniques that the design drawing could be stitched/made into. Unfortunately there are not enough hours in the day to make every variety I can think of. So with your help I thought we would produce a gallery of photos of the “Eva Owl” I have drawn. I am not the “Artistic Police” and I want you to enjoy your making process. So think of this as an artistic event not a competition at all. It will be fun to see how many different countries we can get people to participate.
Click to View the Gallery of Owls so far


 

7th May 2011    Hand Stitched Hexagon Quilt Update
 It is a year later from when I started and winter is here again in New Zealand. So time to get the quilt out and do some more. The quilt was to hot to have sitting over me stitching during summer. The newer photos are near the bottom of the page in this link. Click here to see it

I have given the ladybug pattern
I made for the quilt border for you free.
click here
 



3rd May 2011 
Schwalm Pomegranate

I am presently stitching a Schwalm 'tree of life' design. I have put pomegranates in the design with buttonhole circles in the centre (right). But I find with the cut and pulled areas in the designs other features the center of the pomegranates need to be cut and pulled also for overall balance in the total design. When something like this happens while stitching I take a photo of the stitching I'm about to unpick for future reference. Left hand shows the new filling.


 
1st April 2011  2 New Designs
              
Easy step by step instructions you can achieve stunning results with...
I had not intention of releasing instructions for the Eva Owl in Contemporary Schwalm and Whitework I stitched. But after so many emails asking for instructions I have written some. Click on the photo above to see details.

 29th March 2011  Celtic Knot Hardanger

Click on the photo to see it larger.
Last year I had a go at designing up some Celtic knots in Hardanger. This is one design I got around to stitching. You can see other Hardanger I have made here: click


 

Two New Designs

JMD71NL    Charlotte Rose
4x Padded Needle lace designs

JMD72NL    Sacha Berries
4x Padded Needlelace designs
Both are modern designs based on Padded Needlelace (commonly used in Raised Elizabethan designs). Pockets of Needle Lace are stitched directly onto the fabric and then padded to produce raised stitched areas. Metallic thread and beads add texture and appeal to the design.

6th March 2011
Blocking Your Finished Needlework Tutorial
 I 'block' the needleworked fabric while it is drying to produce a wrinkle free background. Also it allows the fabric to dry so the weave of the fabric is straight, which is needed if putting the needlework in a picture frame. See my tutorial about it here: click



1st March 2011
Personally I am for adding some colour with the actual quilting on the smaller projects. Read more in my tutorial for using 6 stranded Needlework thread instead of quilting sewing cotton.
Click here to read more and view photos.


January 20th 2011: Postcard of Hope
I was thinking today about the well known saying
"a stitch in time saves nine"
I decided I've done a heck of a lot more than nine stitches in my life, so it is time to do something about that.
So I decided to send a postcard to the person in charge and see what happens.
I have put a copy of it here for you to see. You are welcome to put it in your blog for you, 'in hope'.


Click to see larger

January 5th 2011:

Owl Gallery
Owls are my favourite bird. I love the "Yes I am here... so what!" attitude most of them have. You can see other owls I have hand stitched in Needlework and Applique.
click here to view them all

 

 

January 5th 2011:

Seahorse Gallery
Seahorses are my favorite sea creature. I love how majestic they look. Also I like the idea of males carrying the babies during gestation!! You can see more that I have made here in Needlework and Applique. :
click here to view them all
 


 

January 5th 2011: My son Liam is the Master Baker in our household. Recently he has been making plaques to place on cakes. The plaques are made from Royal Icing that have been hand piped, dried and placed on the iced cake. The method is know as "Flooding". In the pictures below you can see he has used one of my Needlework cats as his inspiration. The cat measures about 4 inches wide.

    

P.S. I read in our national newspaper today that the name Liam was the most popular boys name in 2010. We chose his name in the early 1990s after his Great Grandfather who was a William. Liam is a shortened version of William and common as an Irish name.

January 5th 2011: I have recently finished making a website for Alarm Services Ltd. I have known Jim Keenan a lot more years than either of us would want to count out loud. So I know from work he has done for me over the years, that he knows what he is doing and he is trustworthy. Click on their banner below to view more.


They Provide Security Solutions:

Domestic - Rural - Commercial -
Security CCTV Cameras - Access Systems - Gate Beams
Pet Proof Sensors - Alarm monitoring - Gate Automation
Telephone PABX systems

I was asked the other day how I feel before my first coffee of the morning. I replied:

- My hair looks more warped than cheap fabric.
- My brain feels a couple of stitches short of a complete seam.
- My needle is out of thread.
- I’m a fat quarter short of yard.
- My scissor blades don’t move in unison.
- I couldn’t wind a thread bobbin without instructions.
- My movements are a few needles short of a packet.
- I feel as handy as iron-on-interfacing without a hot iron.
- I’m sure my diction is a pin short of a full pin cushion.
- My sewing machine wheel is turning but the needles blunt.
- My brain is a few feathers short of a complete quilt filling.
- My eyesight feels like two buttons short of a chocolate box full.
- My motor skills are not quite as sharp as rotary cutter.
Though I do have more intelligence than a 1914 sewing machine.

Design a great day (after coffee)
Janet M. Davies (recognizable after coffee)
New Zealand (where I drink her coffee)

http://www.jmddesigns.co.nz  (where you can see what I do after coffee)
Copyright Janet M. Davies 2010

You are welcome to put this in your blog or newsletter
but please make sure you put my name etc as above. Thanks



See more all my free online tutorials by
clicking here

 

       
 


Janet's Blog
My Blog is about things that don't find their way into my main website right here.
Also find out what is new in my main website here.
Click here to view

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For telephone orders, questions or comments please email Janet at
janet@jmddesigns.co.nz
  or telephone +64-9-2966570.

Newsletter for Updates
To be notified of what is new in my website and blog join my mailing list. Also once a month at random I will be giving one free needlework or quilting design (your choose) at random to one of those signed up.



International Copyright (c) 1990-2011 Janet M. Davies
, the whole website.
Links to this website are more than welcome. Thanks

   

 

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