Leanne's House

Playing with Colour and Light...

Today I played with the sunshine and some green...

 
And some blue...

 
And some pink...

 
Aaahhhh...

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. Before you ask, all background fabrics (except the small blue gingham) are from the new Rosalie Quinlan range by Lecien, 'Sweet Broderie' available soon! (If you would like to win some in her giveaway head over to her blog right now!)The small blue gingham is also from Lecien. The stitchery in the blue picture is part of my project for Bagalicious, a bag club by Quilt Fabric Delights(more photos on that soon!)...

 

I'm In Lockdown...

"Lockdown" is an affectionate term that Rosie, Melly, and I have when we are so busy we need to be cut off from whatever is happening in the outside world or we simply shall not meet our deadlines! This means nothing is done except what we are working on, unless it is vital to staying alive, ie: eating, showering, taking the kids to the bus stop to go to school, etc.

 
It is, of course, also a wonderful reason not to waste any time on ironing, complex cooking, or any other household task that can possibly be avoided! So today, I thought I'd better catch up with you and just share a few photos of what's happening in "lockdown"! I am so excited about Rosie's new fabric range that I just cannot stop working in it!:

 
There's also the new 'Flowersugar' Floral Collection (also printed by Lecien) that I am completely in love with. If you are keen to get your hands on some of these fabrics contact your local patchwork shop and let them know so they can get in early with their orders before these fabrics are released soon: 

 
I have a HUGE surprise coming up on why I am in "lockdown". Don't ask me, I cannot tell you why just yet! I don't mean to tease you but I do so want you to be pleasantly surprised when I tell you what I am up to. It is something that I have been working on for some time. Keep tuned! These projects are all involved!

Until next time,

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. I have something else to tell you soon, here's a clue:

 

Stitching At The Waters Edge...

Here I am home again after a wonderful weekend of being a guest Designer at Waterslea in Nowra in New South Wales! I just had to show you this photo first because to me it summed up the great weekend of stitching in a relaxed environment (these ladies were stitching by the firplace) with like minded stitching friends:

 
Kim, from Jukejema Quilting Barn, put on her third annual retreat and created a wonderful time for all of us. Of course, amongst all that, we found a few minutes to snap some shots and here I am with Kim and Rosalie:

 
It was great to catch up with familiar faces and meet lots of lovely new ladies too. And for those of you out there in blogland that are regulars, you may recognise Sandy N!:

 
Waterslea was just divine and so sunny for a Winter's retreat. The cabins and the gardens are beautiful and a pleasure to enjoy:

 
There were sunny times to sit outside and stitch:

 
And a lovely big room to sit and sew in:

 
I was teaching 'Let's Design' and lots of the ladies had fun creating designs and playing with fabric over the weekend:

 
We all just had such a great time:

 
Thanks ladies for sharing such a memorable weekend in sunny Nowra!

Leanne Beasley xxx

The Suitcase Is (Almost) Packed Again...

And I am SO EXCITED!!! (well, honestly, I'd be more excited if it wasn't almost midnight and I still had to pack my clothes!). Of course the important things are packed: all my quilts and teaching samples and the iron-on stitchery designs I have just for all the girls coming this weekend:

 

I think we are all in for a wonderful girly weekend (yes, the ENTIRE weekend!) full of stitching and laughter and show and tell (always one of my favourite things) at The Waters Edge Retreat in incredibly beautiful Nowra, New South Wales, Australia.

I am going to enjoy spending time with the ladies working on my 'Let's Design' quilt and helping them with their own designs:

So if you are one of the ladies coming this weekend don't forget to pack your pencils and paper in anticipation of making lots of your own notes (and designs!) to go along with mine:

Rosie and I are really looking forward to this workshop that Kim, of Jukejema Quilting Barn, has been putting on for a few years now. It is going to be great to catch up with new ladies and spend time with old friends!!

Is that my suitcase I hear calling me???....

Leanne Beasley xxx

(Note to Rosie: Don't fret: I have packed the anti static spray! LOL)

Immerse Yourself...

Exciting times today! Rosie, Melly, and I have been busy bees working on all the things we will have for you to stitch at 'Immerse Yourself In Stitching':

We have also been working out all the finer details of the day/s which has been like planning a party and just heaps of fun. So if your are coming along, I hope you are filled with as much excited anticipation as us!

Never fear if your favourite colours are a little more 'traditional country' than what we have selected, there are yummy traditional substitutes!

Shortly you will receive a letter with directions and what to bring (and so on) so you are fully prepared for a day of indulgence!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. If you haven't booked (but wanted to) at the time of writing this post there was 1 place remaining on Saturday the 18th of September and 8 places on Sunday the 19th. Please click on the IMMERSE button at the top right of the blog for further details.

Patchwork of News...

Of course THE most exciting thing this last week has been Rosalie's latest range of fabric arriving on her doorstep! She has finally managed to start cutting into it (after a few days of serious fabric fondeling!). I didn't think I could love a range more than her last one but this is really delicious:

I can't wait until she shows you what's on her studio wall that she's working on because it's just irresistable!

And on another note, I managed to do lots of stitching this week as I sat with someone while they were in hospital for a few days (I know that I am always going on about having a project on the go that you can grab as you walk out the door on the way to the hospital or doctors - this week I am glad I took some of my own advice!) So I completed my project for Sarah at Quilt Fabric Delights for the Charm Club that she has coming up. She said I could give you a little sneak peek:

Having all that 'sitting' time I also managed to hand quilt the project which I think really adds to it's charm and '30's look'.

And some more good news for those of you who are as much in love with the Cosmo threads as I am. The ENTIRE range is now in stock at Under The Mulberry Tree (there goes all my pocket money!):

Also I am happy to announce another new store for you to spend your pocket money, 'Cookies and Cream Craft' who describes her store as 'Deliciously Inspiring' (my kind of description!). She has lots of great things in stock and more on the way so keep your eyes open for what Sandy has.

And I know I have had quite a few emails this week from ladies still wanting to join up to do 'Down In The Garden'. So I have done a little phone around and 'Under The Mulberry Tree' still has a few spots left as well as 'Tinkers Cart' in beautiful Townsville (I would recommend a trip up there to collect your kit - LOL!):

 

This week in my travels (well, hunting around for fabric in Rosie's studio) I found this treat:

 

My littlest daughter is doing 'Different Faces, Different Places' at school this term so I plan to have some fun with this 1/2 meter!:

And so, before you ask, it's by Alexander Henry and the range is called "you and me" and is just so cute and so colourful to make a quilt, library bag, pillowcases for a kids room, cushions for a kids room or even curtains:

 

And, just as I am always going on about, have a look at the colour circles to help you pick any embroidery threads that you might want to match to the fabric.

So, that's the update from me here, and I'll be back for a chat soon,

Leanne Beasley xxx

Garden Lovers...

I was really happy to receive an email from Robyn, a regular reader here and fellow garden lover, with a few photos of her hellebores that are out now in her garden. I was so inspired by her beautiful shots I popped out into my own garden to grab a few snaps myself, of my own hellebores:

 

What I most love about hellebores is how divine they are in the depths of winter. While it's just so cold in these parts at the moment the garden is full of spots of beauty where the hellebores pop up:

You may recognise these flowers from some of my past stitchery designs, they are a long standing favourite of mine:

It was very kind of Robyn to put me onto Post Office Farm Nursery who do a mail order service for hellebores! If you feel inclined to pop a few in your own garden (they love a cold winter and a shady spot, they make a magnificent display under big old trees) maybe you might like to have a look at Post Office Farm Nursery yourself:

 

Thanks for this blog post's inspiration Robyn!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Quilt Washing, Tablecloth Washing, Washing, Washing, Washing....

Why do so much of our lives seem to be filled up with washing? Today I've done clothes washing, floor washing, and so much more! I did also get to do my favourite kind of washing - Quilt Washing! Everyone in my house has had the flu for the last few weeks so there's been lots of quilts dragged around and snuggled up in and in need of a wash NOW! And because I know you're thinking it, this is what I use to wash my quilts with:

 

I've also had my little nephew for a visit and so that meant lots of tablecloth washing! (Thank you Rosie for doing PVC covered fabric! LOL):

 
But, of course, there's been LOTS of stitching going on too! Is it okay to say that I actually haven't minded having the flu because it's meant snuggling up with my stitching for days!?! I am almost finished stitching my project for the Charm Club that Sarah at Quilt Fabric Delights will be running:

 

Yes, I would LOVE to show you more but I must just give a little tiny sneak peek!

Until Next Time,

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. I am going to put up some photo albums on the blog of my recent teaching in New Zealand and also Townsville. That way, if you were at the retreats you can copy the photos for yourself if you wish!

P.P.S. I should mention that Qwash is available at all good local patchwork stores. If they don't have it in stock and you'd like them to get it in, just ask!

Here, There, Everywhere, And Now Back Home!

As the saying goes there's no place like home. But I must say (and I still have more to tell you) that Townsville is pretty lovely when you're not at home:

 
Needless to say New Zealand is also pretty fantastic (even from the window of the plane!):

 
Most importantly I need to let you know (or remind you if you've been reading Melly and Rosie's blogs) that the very first 'Immerse Yourself In Stitching' retreat is being held in September (click on the link on the top right hand side of my blog for more info) which is just so exciting (wait until you see what we have in store for you!).

And also very importantly, Under The Mulberry Tree has now released an extra 20 (it was 50 but I've been a bit slow at blogging - ahhhh!) kits of 'Down In The Garden'. The fabrics in the monthly kit you will receive if you sign up are pretty much the same as mine. Your finished quilt will look like mine does!

Of course if you'd like to stitch 'Down In The Garden' in your own fabrics and simply receive a pattern a month you can choose to do that to. I just have to show you this version that I was overwhelmed with in New Zealand:

 
Lots of hand dyed fabrics and  an amazing choice of colours! I'm sure that you'll also be impressed to know that it was completed in only about four months! That's amazing!

Anyway, I must keep on going with the deadlines I am rushing to meet but I will be back soon with more adventures!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. Thanks Melly for popping the little link button thingo (what is the correct term for that thing?) on my blog for 'Immerse Yourself in Stitching'- I would be in computer wasteland all alone if it wasn't for your guidance!

I'm Surprised I Am Even Here...

Townsville. Tinkers Cart Stitching Retreat. What can I say? Beautiful and amazing tropical weather:

 
One of the best retreats that I've been fortunate enough to teach at with the most enjoyable ladies:

 
Had such a fun time (my face is still sore from all the laughing!) with Tracy, Rosie, and Bronwyn (it was great to catch up with a friend who drinks even more coffee than I do!):

I just did not want to come home! I will tell you more tomorrow but for now I am going to tuck up in bed (under about three quilts because it's about 5 degrees here!). Quite different from Townsville where we slept with the door open and fell asleep to the breeze off the ocean and the sound of the waves lapping the shore....

A huge thankyou to all the ladies who made us feel so welcome and to Tracy (and her many helpers) who put on a great day that I will cherish...

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. If you are after a great view when you visit Townsville check out the Aquarius Hotel where Tracy was kind enough to put us up! This was room 1203!