What's Happening at Leanne's House...

Naturally there has been a lot happening at Leanne's House (which is exactly why I haven't been here chatting with you unfortunately). As you know blogging is one of my most favourite things to do but always seems to get pushed down the priority list by everything else:

I have been busy getting Vignette 11 ready to head out to you (stay tuned for exact dates for shipment). My favourite project at the moment is part 2 (part 1 is in Vignette 11) of 'The Honey Bee Quilt':

The garden at Leanne's House is ticking along just fine as Spring has hit. My Bay Tree (great in casseroles, spaghetti bolognaise, etc) has welcomed Spring with a HUGE amount of new growth:

The potatoes are doing magnificently and I can barely keep up with 'earthing them up' as they seem to grow everyday. I have a variety in this year that I haven't tried before: Breaklight. They have a red skin and according to The Digger's Club catalogue are just about perfect in every kind of cooking.

My roses (edible as they are organic) are doing better than ever. We have never had a year as good as this for our roses. Slowly changing my entire garden over to be edible (after visiting Mudbrick in beautiful New Zealand earlier this year).

So much more happening here and it's such a pleasure to be in the midst of Spring...what could be more inspiring...

Back (very) soon,

Leanne Beasley xxx

Experience China 2014...

I am so excited to announce the next Leanne's House adventure - Experience China 2014! One of the highlights of each year for me is the annual overseas adventure I host along with Annette Dal Sasso of Hawthorn Travel and Cruise, to a fabulous destination!

Join us on a five star boutique adventure into the Mysterious East. China is a land steeped in ancient textile history. Together we will walk through traditional Chinese gardens, visit temples, purchase fine silk fabrics, indulge in Chinese cuisine, and try our hand at traditional embroidery guided by expert tutors, all the time being cared for by our English speaking Chinese guides. Indulge in the best of both historic and modern China with a group of like-minded women. I will also have a wonderful collection of brand new Leanne's House stitching designs, fully kitted, for your stitching pleasure that I am just waiting to share with you in my personal classes.

There is so much more to share, so make yourself a cup of tea (maybe Chinese Green Tea!) and relax while reading the full itinerary (click on the 'Experience China 2014' button top right).

For further information, or to book, contact Annette on 0411 193 805 or via email: annette@hawthorntravel.com.au Places are strictly limited.

I would love you to be a part of it!

Leanne Beasley xxx

P.S. If you don't have any Chinese Tea you might like to get a tin or two when we visit the LongJing Tea Plantation!!

 

Leanne's House Christmas Gathering...

I have already been in the Christmas Spirit for a little while now planning this event! I know many of you are excited about the uncoming Christmas Gathering and I am so looking forward to catching up with you too.

Have just been chatting with a lady who only found about it at her quilting group this morning! Apologies if you missed my previous post, or other notes on facebook. If you did want more details have a look at the flyer above or click on the button right (this will stay on my blog - see right hand column - so you may refer back to it later).

If you would like to book in please feel free to call Leanne's House (03) 9755 1097 during business hours. I have a couple of places left on the Saturday and also a few on the Sunday. If you popped your name down but didn't pay you will also need to call me again to make a payment and ensure you have your place. I understand that life gets busy and you might have forgotten.

Also, many of you are asking me what you need to bring. Just bring your favourite hand sewing things (and your jolly Christmas Spirit): needles, hoop, scissors and sewing light if you like. The day begins at 10am but feel free to join us from 9:30am for registration and a cuppa (something stronger later in the day *wink*).

Looking forward to Christmas with YOU!!

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

 

 

Vignette Issue 11 Update

Coming Soon:

Vignette Issue 11 is coming soon. I know how eager so many of you are to get your hands on it.

As some of you know we have had lots of technical issues amongst other things with Issue 11. Before you ask about the different cover to the one advertised previously, I had to re-shoot it just last Friday! (A HUGE HUGE thank you to the graphic artist who managed to get the cover re-done even during school holidays!) I have also had to entirely re-do some of the articles due to unusable photos like 'Digging in the Garden'. There are still more photos to re-shoot and 'step-by-steps' to re-do then rephotograph.

I didn't want to compromise on quality so I made the decision to re-do! Of course I wish all this had not happened and you could all be just about finished Block Two of Mrs. Beasley's Sampler, but that's life. Running a one woman magazine is probably crazy but I love creating something that brings those of you out there so much pleasure.

Thanks so much to those of you who have sent me photos of your Block One of Mrs. Beasley's Sampler. I love seeing what you have been up to and how you have enjoyed the magazine. My favourite 'different' version is the soft and pretty '3 Sisters' version that Kerry is doing. I have photos and will share them with you - I am sure you will be inspired. If you have done your Mrs. Beasley's using alternative fabrics I would love to see it! You can always email me at leanneshouse@hotmail.com .

As soon as I have a new exact date for Vignette 11 I will of course let you know right here and also via newsletter if you have joined up for that (top right on this very site to join up!).

Live with a Creative Heart,

Leanne Beasley x

 

Vignette Issue 11

I have so much for you in Vignette Issue 11 I cannot wait to share it with you all. One of my favourite projects is the 'Summer Gypsy' Quilt. Not only is there full instruction to complete the quilt but I cover, in detail, my most used embroidery stitches.

As above, there are French Knots and as below, a few of my own invented stitches that I often get asked about:

Such as Back Stitch filled in with Back Stitch. This is a favourite of mine and I use it in a lot of my patterns. I love to recommend this one for the girls that don't enjoy Satin Stitch!

I also cover my Double Back Stitch, Satin Stitch, Normal Back Stitch plus a few other hints and tips on stitchery.

This is one of my all time favourite quilts and I hope you enjoy the three blocks of stitchery featured in the quilt (as pictured above). It's bright and happy and has a story to go with the quilt. As the Hawaiian Quilters say, "A quilt cannot help but tell the stitcher's story."

Back soon,

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

Tuesday's Tip...In The Studio

A little tip on Tuesday for those of you working on 'Mrs. Beasley's Sampler Quilt' in Vignette magazine.

There is one of these little flowers in each block (The photos here were in block 3). Start by doing the petals (Cosmo 504 - Dark Pink) in a Tiny Back Stitch. The smaller your stitches the better 'shape' your flower will be. Remember, for the perfect Back Stitch simply ensure that your needle goes back into the hole of the last stitch. If you miss a thread or two simply go back and 'fill it in'!

To complete the centre of the little flower outline the circle in Back Stitch first (Cosmo 630A - Very Light Green) and then cover in Satin Stitch. Begin your Satin Stitch in the centre of the circle, stitching right to left, and work from the centre to the top and then from the centre down. The Back Stitch will act like a little 'wall' and make it easy to get a nice straight Satin Stitch.

Enjoy your stitching!

Live with a creative heart,

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

Tuesday's Tip...In The Studio

A little tip on Tuesday for those of you working on 'Mrs. Beasley's Sampler Quilt' in Vignette magazine.

There is one of these little flowers in each block (The photos here were in block 3). Start by doing the petals (Cosmo 504 - Dark Pink) in a Tiny Back Stitch. The smaller your stitches the better 'shape' your flower will be. Remember, for the perfect Back Stitch simply ensure that your needle goes back into the hole of the last stitch. If you miss a thread or two simply go back and 'fill it in'!

To complete the centre of the little flower outline the circle in Back Stitch first and then cover in Satin Stitch. Begin your Satin Stitch in the centre of the circle and work from the centre to the top and then from the centre down. The Back Stitch will act like a little 'wall' and make it easy to get a nice straight Satin Stitch.

Enjoy your stitching!

Live with a creative heart,

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

Aloha!

I promised I'd let you in on a little more about the beautiful Island of Oahu in Hawaii on this post and the Experience Hawaii Trip in August (click on the button right for more information), so here goes:

Hawaii is the perfect place to slow down long enough to find a frangipani between your toes! A land where there is colour everywhere:

The perfect cocktail at every stop (see you for dinner at 7pm on our first night - here at Duke's!):

And the longest of longest 'Happy Hours':

Accommodation in the very centre of Waikiki at the beautiful Sheraton Waikiki! Walking distance to just about everything:

And Ocean View rooms:

Beautiful hula dancers on the beach:

Men who throw frangipanis and orchids upon you:

And the most magnificent sunsets:

Aloha! Hawaii is a magical place full of more than even these things. I haven't even mentioned the shopping, the stitching, the shopping, the delicious food, the shopping, the view of Waikiki Beach from our stitching classroom where you can stitch on the balcony in the sunshine of Honolulu, the shopping, the ...

Until next time,

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

 

 

 

Quilting Hawaiian Style!

Sunshine and Stitching - that's Hawaii for me! For those of you that have Vignette Issue 10 you may have read the article on 'Quilting in Hawaii' (pages 12 and 13). I have had some lovely feedback on the article and quite a few "I didn't know you were taking a group of ladies to Hawaii in August" comments. Apologies for not letting you know more, sometimes I find it difficult to know if I am keeping everyone up to date or starting to repeat myself too often!

So here's a little more information on 'Experience Hawaii 2013'. (For the nitty gritty details click on the 'Events' link to the left or directly on the button on the right). Above is the Hawaiian Quilt that I started on my last visit to Hawaii in January. Each of you joining the trip will receive Hawaiian Quilting kits and heaps of lessons! The ultimate lesson will be with the Poakalani Quilt Group in Honolulu - this is something you will remember for a lifetime:

You will also receive one of the books written by Poakalani along with your kits. The book details everything you'll cover in class and more. This will be a great work tool and keepsake as well! We will also be visiting the Iolani Palace where you will have the opportunity to see 'The Queen's Quilt'. For those of you who have read 'The Aloha Quilt' you will be thrilled to see this:

So inspiring:

There is an incredible story behind this quilt and the reminder of how our quilts cannot help but reflect our lives.

Aunty Doris from Poakalani is a wealth of knowledge and hopefully we will get to see some of her quilting which is amazing!

Of course I will be taking you to my favourite quilt store in Hawaii as well (save your pocket money and buy an extra suitcase!).

More on Hawaii next time. Aloha,

Leanne Beasley xxx

 

 

Mrs. Beasley's Sampler Quilt - Hints and Tips...

Hope you are all enjoying 'Mrs. Beasley's Sampler Quilt', Block 1, in Vignette Issue 10. Actually, I hope you're enjoying the entire magazine! There are so many photos that I take that never make it into the magazine, hints that just can't be squeezed in and tips I wanted to share but ran out of pages. Here's a few of these bits for you.

In the below photo I just wanted to show you how I appliqued on the pink flower, then traced on the stitchery (in case my applique wasn't just right) then went back and appliqued the centre:

The Running Stitch around the centre of the flower I simply did by eye but you can trace on the stitch if you prefer:

In many places on this quilt, such as in Mini Block 4 shown below, it is best to complete your applique and then trace on the stitchery that meets with the applique.

Ensure that you have accurate 1/4" seam allowances on your sewing machine. I know that I'm always going on about this but because this design has lots of small seams, being accurate will make a big difference:

I hope that working in Mini Blocks makes your sewing easier:

A close up of Mini Block 2 to help with your stitchery and applique. I always like to put a few 'anchoring stitches' at the inward point of an applique heart, just to prevent fraying later on:

And maybe inbetween stitching take a break and whip up The Chocolate Caramel Nougat Slice on page 8!

Leanne Beasley xxx