Leanne's House

A Short Break...

A HUGE HUGE thankyou to everyone for the fantastic tips on Hawaii. I am so excited and I cannot wait to share photos with you on my return (back in a week). While getting very excited about Hawaii I have been incredibly busy this week with lots of new projects and working on the 'Vignette in Stitches Mystery Quilt':

I know there are many of you out there stitching with me and I hope you are loving every stitch as much as me!

Back soon but off now to print out all your travel tips for my trip!

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

Get Ready...Here I come Hawaii...

Off on another adventure this week...to Hawaii! Of course I am up to my usual 'reading up on the destination':

I am really excited about the possibility of seeing some Hawaiian quilts! I haven't read a book in soooo long but I have a few on my agenda including this Di Morrissey, Lonely Planet (naturally), and my own addition of a journal:

If any of you lovely blog readers can help me I am looking for places to explore Hawaiian Quilting. I am staying in Kona and then in Honolulu. Any good quilting stores that I must venture out to see? I will also be looking to take other people out to visit amazing places - any suggestions????

I am really looking forward to this adventure and showing you lots of lovely photos when I return!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Exciting Things...

There are lots of exciting things happening at Leanne's House at the moment but my favourite (as always) is putting the finishing touches on the next issue of Vignette. It is so difficult to cut back (sometimes) hundreds of photos for each article to just a few. Here's a photo that didn't quite make it but I hope it makes you feel as happy as it made me feel:

There's nothing like a delicious dose of colourful china and threads to cheer a person up in this stormy Melbourne autumn!

Until next time,

Leanne Beasley xxx

A Little Bit Bigger Slice of Ballarat Patchwork...

Okay it's no secret just how much I love photography! One of the things I enjoy the most about Vignette magazine is just how much photography I get to do. When I visited Ballarat Patchwork for the latest issue of Vignette I was completely inspired:

 

Selecting just eleven photos for the issue was just not enough, so I thought today I'd share some of the other ones that I loved but didn't quite have room for in issue six of Vignette:

If fabric is your addiction then be sure that your addition will be satisfied at Ballarat Patchwork:

REALLY satisfied:

More temptation:

One of my favourite things about this store is that just about everything on display is either available in kit form or Emma and the girls in the store will help you select fabric and notions to make your own version of the display project. Here are some irresistable Ric Rac patterns:

Best of all you can pick up any issue of Vignette, from the first issue to the current issue when you visit Ballarat Patchwork:

Ballarat Patchwork is open Tuesday to Saturday 10am -5pm and extra late on Thursday night until 7pm. They are located at 54 Victoria Street in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Phone them on (03) 5332 6722 or stop by for a web visit at www.ballaratpatchwork.com.au .

Enjoy!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Stitching...

A small sneak peek of what's to come with the Vignette In Stitches Mystery Quilt:

Hope you are enjoying stitching it as much as me!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Applique Threads...

I received a lovely email today from Linda and her friend Robyn. They are "about to endeavour and begin the Vignette mystery quilt". Keen to use the same applique threads as me they were chasing some details. I thought that I should share this with all of you because it was such a good question:

I have used the Matilda's Own range of silk thread. There are many colours that you can select from and you can even purchase the entire range in a lovely box (this was my 40th present to myself!). For the Vignette In Stitches Mystery Quilt I used the following:

15 red, 129 bright pink,101 pale pink, 62 red/pink, 9 soft green, 122 lime green, white, 140 orange (and 27 orange when I lost 140!).

I hope this helps those of you wishing to invest in some lovely quality silk threads. They really are fantastic to applique with and a roll of each lasts a LONG time:

And before you ask the next question, the needles I love to use for applique and stitchery and just about everything are the Jeana Kimball's Foxglove Cottage Embroidery/Redwork size 9:

 

Enjoy every minute of your stitching!

Leanne Beasley xxx

Saturday Night...

And I hope you are enjoying stitching your 'Vignette In Stitches Quilt' as much as me tonight:

It's been really busy here (planning lots of fun new things for you)! But, I have especially been enjoying a day of photo shoots for the next issue of Vignette!

Fun fun fun!!!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. I am getting lots of enquiries from you out there in blogland (in particular the USA) about where you can still purchase everything to start the Vignette In Stitches Quilt. Let me be the first to let you know Gail B's www.patchworkwithgailb.com  still has the full kits available if you would like to start (shipping worldwide), as well as the full set of magazines thus far (at a special price) with all the patterns. If you are just after the patterns in the issues of Vignette, please contact Laura at www.happinessisquilting.com in Texas!

 

Make It Like Mine!

If you'd like to stitch up 'A Few of my Favourite Things - Sewing Roll' or a 'Sew Laugh Love' stitchery it's now easier than ever:

Both of these projects are now available in two ways:

1. As a pattern only, so you can select your own stitchery fabric and thread colours, or

2. As a pattern and companion kit, which includes pre-printed hanky linen (as pictured above) and the full set of Cosmo embroidery threads required to complete the project.

Pictured above is 'A Few of my Favourite Things - Sewing Roll' and pictured below is 'Sew Laugh Love':

'Sew Laugh Love' is one of my all time favourite projects and you'll love the pattern as it also contains a full colour stitchery guide - another way to make your project more like my original if you desire:

The screen printed hanky linen means you can start stitching the minute you open the parcel:

 
If you haven't tried the fantastic Cosmo threads it's a great way to try them out and start building up your very own collection:

If your local store, or online store, doesn't have them in stock and you'd like them to order in for you, here are the codes:

L102 - Pattern Only - 'A Few of my Favourite Things - Sewing Roll'

L102K - Pattern and Companion Kit - 'A Few of My Favourite Things - Sewing Roll'

L105 - Pattern Only - 'Sew Laugh Love'

L105K - Pattern and Companion Kit - 'Sew Laugh Love'

Happy Stitching!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. If you are a store and you have them in stock, please feel free to leave your details below in a comment!

 

Let's Meet on Saturday...

It's the 1st of March and Vignette Issue 6 is offically out! If you already have your copy I really hope that you are enjoying every page, if you don't have a copy yet check your local patchwork store (available worldwide) or your favourite online store:

Issue 6 is packed full of projects to keep you stitching and articles to enjoy reading. One of my favourite projects is one you can tackle in a day - A French Linen Quilt:

Something (just a little bit) bigger is the Vignette In Stitches Quilt! This issue we undertake Blocks 10 & 11. Lots of you are enjoying the pleasures of a big project and I'm so excited each time I see what you're up to:

I had so much fun (and took so many photos!) for this issue that I will be expanding on the arctiles right here on the blog for you over the next little while, like the story on Ballarat Patchwork:

In the meantime I am looking forward to meeting lots of you this coming Saturday:

This is an opportunity to see many of my original samples that you may not have seen before, including the projects from each issue of Vignette. If you are still thinking about making the Vignette in Stitches Quilt this would be the perfect time to come along and see my version thus far (I do have to keep the remaining blocks a little bit secret). Gail B's has made up extra packs with the exact fabrics that I have used, as well as having them on the bolt. This is your opportunity to get a few simple tips from me about stitchery as well. I will be demonstrating using the beautiful screen printed hanky linen kits now available with some of my projects:

 

The above photo is a close up of The Sewing Roll that's part of the 'A Few of My Favorite Things' collection (more projects coming soon!):

This is a perfect project to use up some of your scraps from the Vignette In Stitches Quilt too!

Hope to see you Saturday if you're a local girl,

Leanne Beasley xxx

Gail B now has a blog too! http://www.patchworkwithgailb.blogspot.com.au/ so have a look there too on a regular basis as they stock just about everything a fabric loving girl could wish for!

 

 

Delicious Mauritius...

Look what came in the mail! To all of you out there who will be joining Rosie, Melly, Annette and I stitching in delicious Mauritius in August (and have paid your deposit) you will have received a nice little parcel from Annette in the mail too, including this divine brochure:

Pages and pages to drool over and picture yourself right here in five and half star resort luxury!

Yes, right here:

We have been busy planning adventures for you and have finalised our full day tour which is going to be fantastic ! Mauritius has breath taking scenery and Annette (travel agent of the miraculous kind) has incorporated a great scenic route for our full day tour. Lunch this day will be at a typical creole restaurant and the menu is mouth watering. We will be visiting craft markets in a few places, including the Grand Baie Bazaar which is a great opportunity to purchase some embroidery as a souvenir.

Some of you who saw 'Getaway' recently asked Annette about the possibility of doing the 'Walking with the Lions' tour. Well great news, Annette has managed to secure this as an option for each of us (it books out up to three months ahead as numbers are very limited). You can read all the details and see some great photos on the flyer that Annette has included in your pack, and also read about it in the brochure:

There's something for everyone in Mauritius, especially the nature lover, the souvenir hunter, the crafter, the water sports enthusiast, the beach fanatic, the history buff, the foodie, the cocktail hour girl, the sun-lounge goddess, and of course - the stitcher!!! :

We have lots of really fun projects for each of you and that's what we're working on at the moment. And yes, there will be a 'plane pack' full of sewing delights (maybe a magazine and lollies too!) for your trip over on the plane!

Also, many of you who came to Vietnam asked if I could do a photography class - this trip we will have a proper class (in small personalised groups) focusing (no pun intended) on travel photography. I am working on take home notes for you at the moment so you won't have to remember a thing, it'll all be in print! It doesn't matter if you have an expensive camera or just the camera on your phone - this class will suit you!

Ready to pack my bags now!!!

Leanne Beasley xxx