Nice people Nice things

Handbags

Two reasons for choosing handbags this week!

firstly, you need to get yours out, take out your purse and go shopping because look what I’ve made for you!

Yes, your favourite NPNT designs on printed greeting cards. There are 6 designs in each pack, blank on the insides for your personalised messages. They are square (150mm x 15omm) cards and great for a Stitchers gift, Chrissy present, to write a heartfelt message when sending a gift, blog swaps etc etc… you can never have too many gift cards on hand.

To fulfil every need I have also made two different notepad designs. The notepads are A5 in size (about half a Letter size) and have 50 sheets. I am always looking for a nice piece of paper to add a note to when sending a gift, or for teachers notes or even my shopping list…. These are a great size, not too big, not too small….

And the second reason is after being inspired by this famous woman of the moment at Quilt Market in Melbourne over the weekend.

you just want to make handbags out of all her yummy fresh fabrics.. She has a free pattern for The Nigella Yoga bag here

or you can purchase many others here

or even buy them made for you here

After Miss M met Amy in Melbourne she may even have her own bag patterns or even fabrics one day as she was so inspired and enthused by her and Amy was just delightful as was David her husband.

There are more pics of market here and here if you’d like to join in the fun we had.

So, get out those handbags ladies, turn on some charm, put on the heels and go shopping!

hugs for today, Helen

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Block of the week

on November 19, 2008 at 3:43 pm Comments (1)

Bedtime

A little late this week I am sorry. Well with only 43 days until Christmas and then the end of the year of 2008 there are not many blocks left to list here. So this week ‘bedtime’ it is – why did I choose this one…. well no reason really except that I have not seen a lot of my bed this week with only two days until I leave for market.

I do like my bed and find it very difficult to get out of it in the mornings. I must say I do get spoilt with breakfast in bed at least once on the weekend depending on parenting (or should I say taxi’ing ) duties. And I love lying in and reading the paper or a good book!

So not much to add here, I hope you are all stitching along nicely – I do visit various blogs and see your progress often so feel free to share here also.

must keep preparing.hugs to all

Helen

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on November 12, 2008 at 11:41 am Leave a Comment

Where to buy the patterns

You can purchase the Nice People NIce Things box of patterns from the Hugs’n Kisses website here or visit the stores page to find a local supplier.

Additional Iron on transfer packs which include transfers for all 108 designs are also available with purchase of the pattern to save you tracing. They will transfer 3-4 times and can be used for many many projects – or of course you may wish to make 4 quilts…

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Block of the week

on November 7, 2008 at 9:21 am Comments (2)

flowers

It is Spring here in Hobart at the bottom of the world. I think my favourite season in my garden….. Tilly and I have been busy planting a new vegetable garden which she checks for me every day and pulls a few weeds. She has planted and tends to her petunias and a little hothouse of rocket…. all very educational for her and the look of wonderment on her face as things grow is very exciting for me.. it never ceases to amaze me how you can actually see them soaking up new things and constantly learning..

anyway, some pictures from my garden this week.

Some great inspiration for new colourque projects and fun. Have you seen my inktense tutorial here?

hugs for today, take time to smell the roses wont you?

Helen

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on November 3, 2008 at 9:20 am Comments (4)

Fairies

It seems that the latest trends in Houston at the International Quilt Market this weekend included fairies….. what fun, as you may know I loooooove fairies… Maybe this is why my early BOM quilt Fairy Kisses has been having a big resurgence lately?

Have any of you finished Fairy Kisses? I’d love to see a photo.

Spring also always makes me think of Fairies at the bottom of the garden… my mother in her very large garden has lots of fairy nooks and always sends the grand daughters to search for them.

My garden is just coming into its very best and I just love this time of year…. don’t you? Of course this may make all of our Northern friends a little jealous as they head into Autumn and winter – not to worry, I actually love something about all four seasons as I am sure you all do.

hugs for today

Helen

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on October 27, 2008 at 2:55 pm Leave a Comment

Tea Party

Well what a tea party I attended over the weekend at the Gathering in the Hills in Lobethal South Australia.

A lovely group of ladies, all stitchers, gathered together in a lovely old mill, surrounded by many lovely things and inspiration to stitch lovely things and eat Loooovely food.

You can see more photos over on my other blog here but here are a few peeks at the wonderful food – the best I have seen and the lovely display. The theme was cupcakes and this was carried throughout the day.

Hi to all the NPNT’ers I met there on the day.

the biggest butterfly cakes and see the heart shaped lamingtons in the background.

the spread was so inviting but not so good for the waistline, but afterall it was a day of self indulgence

and yes, they did do a lot of stitching….

hugs for this week, Helen

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on October 21, 2008 at 12:23 pm Comments (1)

Memories, lets make some

This coming weekend I am off to Adelaide (about two states and a few plane flights) to meet lots of lovely ladies at a Gathering in the Hills. Jane from The Patchwork Apple is going to great lengths to make her first ever gathering a special day with many memories for all who attend. If you are in South Australia there are still some spots left – grab your friends and phone Jane now, for those of you who are not close enough to come along and enjoy friendship, laughter, great food, great atmosphere and great stitching, this is what you are missing out on….

Sorry to tease, but it will be a pattern one day… It is called ‘Apple Cobbler’ and uses Colourque, applique and simple piecing techniques and is going to be so much fun to colour and stitch on Sunday. I love sharing how much fun this can be with like minded stitchers. We will be making lovely memories that do last a lifetime. I can’t wait to meet you all.

hugs for today, lots to finish before I head off on Friday.

Helen PS I am so glad the Princess block was just what you wanted…. I shall get to drawing some more for you soon.

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on October 13, 2008 at 11:29 am Leave a Comment

Pink Lemonade and a bonus block!

Is there really such as thing as Pink Lemonade? I am not sure but it has always sounded like something that would be really ‘nice’. I enjoy a glass of pink champagne and we have all of my girls love Raspberry lemonade so we call that Pink Lemonade. But perhaps there really is a pink lemonade made with lemons with something added to make it pink? There is a recipe for easy lemonade in this months Better Homes and Gardens magazine (the Aussie one), perhaps I should try it with some strawberries in it.

I have been playing in my Illustrator program this week designing some new greeting cards for you. They are at the printers for quotes now so we shall see if they are going to happen soon. They will be a set of five chosen from the NPNT quilt – I hope they will happen and you will all like them as this is something I’d like to do more of – coordinating stationary, greeting cards, notepads etc.

So whilst playing I tidied up this block below for your little princess. I have three little princesses (well two not so little now) and as you know they are girly girls and love to play and act like a princess. Hope you like it. Hugs, Helen

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on October 6, 2008 at 11:12 am Comments (15)

Stitching angels

A very ‘nice’ thing is happening in our world. Read Karen’s comment here. I have no idea who is involved but this is the exact meaning of being ‘nice’. Karen is right when she comments that it is so uncommon for people nowadays to take time to do something such as this to make someone else’s day a little more bearable. Hugs to you all for giving hugs from the bottom of your hearts. But then we all know – all stitchers are angels.

Hugs, Helen

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on October 1, 2008 at 9:42 am Leave a Comment