The Festive Season...

Hello again, friends!

I must say, it does feel good to be dusting away the cobwebs from my blog and writing posts once again. Can you believe it is November already!?! The pumpkins are now disappearing and Christmas decorations are starting to take their place... I haven't decided when I will put up our Christmas tree, yet. As much as I like to make my autumn decor last through until after Thanksgiving, it's a funny time of year as it really starts to feel a lot more like winter than fall.

I am excited to tell you about my latest collection of designs published in the latest December Issue 262 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine - a set of six Nautical Christmas Ornaments! 

Set of six 'Nautical Christmas Ornaments' published in the December 2017 Issue 262
of The World of Cross Stitching magazine ~ photo credit WOXS

Having grown up in New Zealand, where Christmas is a summer holiday, I still like to reminicse over warm days spent at the beach at this time of year. It was quite an adjustment for me, getting used to celebrating Christmas in the winter, and I still like to decorate our home with both winter and summer themed ornaments. This collection, to me, is a perfect mix of both! And not only that, they are perfect for the many stitchers who live near the coast. I am eager to get started on stitching these, myself - I think I might hoop them up for our tree with some red pom-pom trim! 

I hope you'll enjoy stitching these, too! :o)
Jenny x

Special Thanks to The World of Cross Stitching Magazine...

Hello friends! And a warm welcome to everyone who has found me here over the past week or so! As many of you will already know, I have some big news to share...

The World of Cross Stitching magazine Issue #247 November 2016

Last week, the November Issue #247 of The World of Cross Stitching magazine went on sale in the UK... and I am featured! It has taken a little while for it to actually sink in, even though I've been preparing for this all year - it is quite surreal. To see my work in print is an incredible feeling - and yes, that is me on the front cover! ;o)

The World of Cross Stitching magazine, Issue #247 November 2016

I am absolutely thrilled that my first design for WOXS is now published. As you can see, it is a Christmas themed pattern of a festive heart shaped wreath. If you've been following along for a while, you will know how much I love designing these pretty little heart shaped wreaths! ;o) I spent a lot of time on this design, making sure it was perfect and I hope many of you will enjoy stitching it as much as I enjoyed creating it! :o) 

This opportunity really is a dream come true for me and I wish to say a very special thank you to the Editor, Ruth, who has made it all possible and has been absolutely wonderful to work with over the past year! I am so grateful to the the entire team at WOXS for including me in their fabulous magazine! Make sure to pick up a copy so you can get a head start on your Christmas projects this year with The World of Cross Stitching magazine! :o) And, if you are outside the UK and can't wait for the hard copy to arrive in your country, there is always the digital option! Available for iPad in the AppStore: http://bit.ly/1mRnSBG or for Android: http://bit.ly/1tn7DAH or at Zinio.com . 

As always, happy stitching!
Jenny x

Another Christmas Design!

I haven't been updating this website/blog as frequently as I should have, lately. I'm not entirely sure how wide a reach it actually has compared to my social media profiles on Facebook and Instagram, however I do have an exciting announcement to make - there is a new Christmas pattern in the home♥stitch♥ness Etsy shop!

'Flowering Poinsettia' by home♥stitch♥ness 

I find that inspiration often strikes in threes, for me. This time last year, I had released my Pohutukawa and Red Flowering Gum hoop art designs but ran out of time to stitch the Poinsettia version, which was bouncing around my head as well. I decided to wait and release it this year instead.

I am pleased to say that there are now three different home♥stitch♥ness Christmas hoop art ornament patterns available. I have updated the 2014 hoops with a splash of gold paint to match the Poinsettia hoop and couldn't be happier with how the gold has added some extra Christmas sparkle to these designs!

'Flowering Poinsettia', 'Flowering Gum' & 'Flowering Pohutukawa' cross stitch patterns by home♥stitch♥ness

ALL THREE CHRISTMAS DESIGNS ARE CURRENTLY ON SALE for a limited time only - no code is necessary! It's never too early to get started on some Christmas stitching! :o)

Jenny x

Another Christmas Decoration Freebie...

Around this time last year, I released my first ever Christmas ornament design and - in the spirit of Christmas - I shared the pattern with you all as a GIFT :o) The response was so enthusiastic that I wanted to do the same again this year, and so today I am excited to release the FREE 2014 home♥stitch♥ness Christmas decoration design...

The FREE 'noël' Christmas Ornament design by home♥stitch♥ness

It's easy to forget when we're up to our knees in snow on this side of the world, that in New Zealand, Australia and the many other Southern Hemisphere countries, Christmas is a SUMMER holiday! It's during the festive season that I really miss family vacations at the beach! I wanted this design to have a summery feel and tie in with last year's freebie (which you can find here). I decided to go with a beach theme and feature a green sea urchin, which I think are so beautiful and just *look* like Christmas ornaments! I chose the classic word 'noël' for this design and stitched it in traditional Christmas colours, just like last year. 

Deciding how to finish the ornament...

This was a really quick and easy design to stitch and finish into a little decoration and it is perfect for both beginners and experienced stitchers alike. All you'll need is a small piece of aida or linen, a few skeins of floss and you're ready to go! The beads are optional but if you can find them in your local craft store, they definitely add some detail and texture to the sea urchin! 

In my stash I found some fabric that reminded me of Maori art that I'd bought here in the States a long time ago. I ended up choosing the red fabric and hand sewed it into a little pillow that hangs on the tree by a yellow ribbon bow. I was pleased with how it turned out and I even popped a couple of small jingle bells into the stuffing to make it extra 'Christmassy' :o) If that sounds too complicated, you could always display it in an embroidery hoop or a 4 x 6 frame.

Click on the image below to enlarge the pattern/print it...

The FREE 'noël' Christmas Ornament design by home♥stitch♥ness

Whether you are participating in an ornament swap this year, wanting to stitch something for your own tree or make a gift for a loved one, I hope this free pattern will encourage you to spend some quiet time being creative amidst the busy pre-Christmas rush! Feel free to email me a picture of your finished project or post it to the home♥stitch♥ness facebook page! You are welcome to share this link as much as you like on social media and most importantly - ENJOY :o)

Jenny x

New Designs and a New Direction...

Hello! It has been so long since I last posted here! Family life keeps me very busy, but I still manage to find a bit of time for stitching and if you follow me on Instagram (where I tend to post more updates - you can find me @homestitchness) you will have seen a few sneak peeks of what I've been working on lately... 

I began preparing for Christmas back in June - early, I know - but I'd had a couple of design ideas simmering away and to have them ready for release and to give people time to stitch them before the holiday season, I needed to get a head start!

Today I am very excited to present the following Christmas Ornament designs to you - the patterns are available now in the home♥stitch♥ness Etsy shop as PDF downloads. 

Flowering Pohutukawa Christmas Ornament
home♥stitch♥ness

Vibrant Pohutukawa flowers bursting into bloom with leaves that form a Pacifica style pattern.

Flowering Gum Christmas Ornament
home♥stitch♥ness

Vivid Gum Flowers in bloom, forming a unique pattern. Another, large white flower appears in the centre when you look at this design and focus on edges of the gum leaves.

Yes - a New Zealand themed ornament AND an Australian themed ornament! It occurred to me a while ago, as I was working on a Pohutukawa flower pattern, that among the many things New Zealand and Australia share in common is a red flower that blooms during the summer months and symbolises Christmas. Even to look at, the similarities between the Pohutukawa and Gum blossom are striking. I realised that by tweaking my Pohutukawa flower pattern a little, I could create a Flowering Gum pattern using the same colours I was already working with and I am very pleased with the way both have turned out - these designs look like they belong together, don't they? Just like the unique camaraderie between New Zealanders and Australians and the way our countries tend to stick together in this great big wide world. 

Where I grew up in Northland, New Zealand, you see Pohutukawa trees everywhere and native Australian flora also thrives in the sub-tropical climate there. I have a love and appreciation of these treasured flowers and wanted to capture the brightness of summer and happiness of Christmas in both New Zealand and Australia through these designs.

These ornaments also represent the beginning of a new direction for home♥stitch♥ness - along with continuing to focus on my New Zealand designs, I also have several Australian designs currently in the works, too, which will start to become available as soon as I can stitch them up! I am excited to explore this new area of design and creativity.

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of my work! Both patterns are available as PDF downloads at the special introductory price of NZ $5.00 each (through the rest of October) in the home♥stitch♥ness Etsy shop. 

As always, happy stitching!

Jenny x

Merry Christmas!

It is almost Christmas day! Our house is decorated, the presents are ready and we've been busy baking cookies and playing in the snow. Our daughter's preschool held their little Christmas performance last Thursday, which delighted everyone in the audience. It was so sweet to watch a lively group of 3 & 4 year olds reciting rhymes (complete with actions and big smiles) and singing their little hearts out to the tune of well known carols! 

A collection of Christmas decorations around our house...

I want to wish you all a very happy festive season and also take the opportunity to say THANK YOU for helping make 2013 such a great year for home♥stitch♥ness! It was a dream come true for me to finally begin selling my cross stitch patterns after so many years of creating and dreaming. I have learnt a lot about running a small business this year and have been very grateful for the support of so many people. There have been a couple of real highlights, too, such as having my 'joy' ornament design featured in the 2013 Christmas showcase edition of the NZ creative lifestyle magazine, The Jam Jar Magazine, as well as on the official DMC Threads Blog during their 'Twelve Weeks of Holiday Projects'. 

Advent activities...

 

Above all, the feedback I've received from YOU - friends, family, fellow stitchers and customers - has been so encouraging! Thank you all for following along as I have started on this journey - your interest and support means so much to me! I am looking forward to releasing three new designs in January 2014 and hope to post a couple of sneak peeks for you over on the Facebook page soon :o) In the meantime, may you and your families have a very merry Christmas and best wishes to you all for the year ahead.

Jenny x

Christmas Sale!

Hi friends! Just a little note to let you know that I have launched a Christmas sale over at the home♥stitch♥ness Etsy shop - receive 25% off ALL patterns (which includes free shipping) until Sunday, 8th December (US time). 

The perfect gift idea for a friend/relative who loves to cross stitch, or a new project for you to work on over your Christmas holiday...

As always, happy stitching :o)
Jenny x

A Kiwi Christmas Decoration Freebie...

It is already the 1st of November in New Zealand and the countdown to Christmas has definitely begun! Today is the day I've been planning to release my 2013 Kiwi Christmas decoration design and - in the spirit of Christmas - I am sharing the pattern with you all as a GIFT :o) 

'joy' Christmas Ornament
by home♥stitch♥ness

'joy' Christmas Ornament by home♥stitch♥ness 

Here it is photographed on our blue spruce tree - if you follow home♥stitch♥ness on Facebook you may remember that just over a week ago, this little tree was covered in SNOW! Thankfully it all melted away pretty quickly so I was able to hang the ornament on a branch for my husband to take some pics last weekend :o)

JOY is one of my most favourite words ever and describes everything that Christmas means to me and my family. To give this design a uniquely NZ flavour, it features a bright red pohutukawa flower in full bloom. I couldn't decide which shade of green I liked better for the lettering, so in the end decided to go with both :o)

It was a really quick and easy design to stitch and finish into a little ornament and is perfect for both beginners and experienced stitchers alike. All you'll need is a small piece of aida or linen, a few skeins of floss and you're ready to go! The beads are optional but if you can find them in your local craft store, they definitely add some sparkle and a festive look to the pohutukawa flower! 

Deciding how to finish the ornament...

In my stash I found some pohutukawa fabric that I'd had for AGES (the colours matched perfectly!) and some pretty red ribbon to use. My finishing skills are not as fancy as some of my stitching friends, but I hand sewed it into a little pillow that hangs on the tree by a bow. I was pleased with how it turned out - I even popped a couple of little jingle bells into the stuffing to make it extra 'Christmassy' :o) If that sounds too complicated, you could always display it in a small embroidery hoop or a 4 x 6 frame.

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Whether you are participating in an ornament swap this year, wanting to stitch something for your own tree or make a gift for a loved one, I hope this free pattern will encourage you to spend some quiet time being creative amidst the busy pre-Christmas rush! You are welcome to share this link as much as you like and most importantly - ENJOY :o)

Jenny x