Hi

 

I've been so busy this month putting together my Bustle & Sew Magazine.  I've also discovered that actually free-motion quilting is not as difficult as I had thought ... but more of that in a moment.  The most important news of all (as far as my canine assistant is concerned!) is that it is his birthday next week and he will be FIVE!!  That means lots of treats for the furry one... 

 ... shown above in relaxed mode!  But Ben is nothing if not a generous dog (he will shed his coat on anyone he meets without exception!) so I am sure that he would approve of this gift in honour of his birthday - a sample of one of my new products - printable paper bunting.  Supplied as a pdf file it's easy to download and print - and is based on vintage textile and gift-wrap patterns.  Once it's hung it's hard to distinguish it from the real thing - and it's so much easier and less expensive to create. 

Please click here to download your free sample.  The full range, including Country Wedding, Birthday Party Pastels and Flirty Floral Flags will be listed on the Bustle & Sew website on 1 May.  And in honour of Ben's birthday, the full set of the 16 flags above will be included in this month's Bustle & Sew Magazine.    But before I show you everything else that's in the magazine, I thought you might like to see my Apple Tree Harvest cushion ...

 This is a vintage design that I stitched (and shared) a long time ago.  I made it into a cushion for our living room.  Over the past couple of years the original cushion had been slept on, sat on, thrown through the air and (I am sure though I can't prove anything) been thumped by a certain person when his team were losing at Rugby!!  It had become very battered, so I took it apart, rescued the stitching and created a new cushion with the embroidery at the centre of a log cabin design.  I backed the front panel with vintage blanket to make it hard-wearing and stippled the patchwork (not the stitching) to the blanket.  You can download the Apple Tree Harvest embroidery transfer here if you don't have it.

 

 

And another free-motion quilting - and applique - project is included in this month's magazine - that's it above, the Springtime Cushion.  And free-motion quilting specialist Leah Day will be sharing her tips and knowledge with magazine readers to help get started with this technique - it's great for enhancing your stitching projects.  Also in the magazine is my new Rosie & Bear "First Stitches" Sampler:

 

 

 

 

And a pair of machine applique pictures "One Sunny Morning"

 

 

Plus vintage patterns, articles, blog of the month and more ... phew, I have been SO busy!!  And now is a brilliant time to subscribe...  you'll receive the current Issue (April)  plus your free copy of "The Stitcher's Companion" straight away, followed by the May issue next Thursday 26th April. 

 

 

If you'd like to learn more about the magazine, then please head over to my website to read more and subscribe. 

 

Back soon with more Bustle & Sew News

 

Helen xx

 

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