Squares, hexies, plants and weddings...

I've started another crochet project... which is actually very bad as I have quite a few on the go now. I really hate to have projects unfinished but I can't stop starting new things!

I made these teeny squares last night whilst watching telly... I tried three round ones too but they looked too big somehow, so I've decided two round ones are the way to go. They are super small though so will probably have to make over a hundred of them! I want to make a second cushion for the sofa, one which will kind of match the hexie one I'm doing... 

The duck egg blue in the hexie one I have substituted for pink and red in the little squares one. I don't want them too samey but hopefully they will co-ordinate nicely as they will both have the green/cream in them.

I have nearly made all my hexagons, I think I need four more to go then I can start joining them. I was supposed to do this before I started on the squares but I just couldn't help myself. I bought a couple of new balls of yarn yesterday, (the deep pink and the red) and I *needed* to see what they looked like made up! I also stocked up on some more Tilda fabrics, aren't they just so pretty??

This week has been an odd one really. I have been here by myself for a whole week now, as Karl is away abroad. I'm usually quite good with my own company but I have been quite bored this week though I've tried to keep busy to pass the time. At the weekend, I spent quite a while in the garden doing odd jobs - not pretty planting ones, but mainly ones that involved being up a ladder with a saw! I was chopping down a load of branches that were overhanging into the garden... I think if anyone saw me doing it they would have laughed -  especially as I was wearing bright blue 'mad professor' safety specs! I am one of the least practical people you could meet and I'm quite small (only 5' 3'') so it was quite a tough job to do by myself but it looks loads better now.

Anyway we're going to give the grass it's first mow soon (excitement eh??!) I've ordered the compost for the flowerbeds and have been trying to decide on the plants to get. I am thinking a mixture of summer bedding plants and perennials such as...

and...

and...

and...

Pictures courtesy of here and here

To be honest, I'm just going for plants and flowers which I like the look of. I have no idea really whether our garden/conditions will be right for them but I guess I will find out soon! I think I am going to be very much a trial and error gardener :)

Anyway I have also been busy with work... lots of weddingy things mainly. I have had quite a few orders for these as wedding favours lately...

Also had an order for 8 of these to do this week for wedding favours... and quite a few of these too. In fact there was definitely a wedding production line going on!

And keeping on the wedding theme, I also designed a new card this week...

 

These has been an idea in my sketchpad for so long now, months and months, I'm really glad I've finally got around to making up the samples!

Right, I think I better go. I've been writing this post for ages and I'm not even showered or dressed yet! And actually I haven't even had breakfast! I did get up at seven though so not really sure how it is now 10 o clock. I do love working from home sometimes :) Anyway hope you have a good weekend... Am very much looking forward to it myself after my lonely week... the sun is supposed to shine (here at least) and Karl is coming home tomorrow, yay! Back soon xxx

'Seaside Home' Book Giveaway - Now Closed!

So whilst I was away last week, a very exciting parcel arrived for me. It's been something that's been in the pipeline for over 18 months!

Way back in 2010, I was asked to contribute a project to a new seaside sewing book called 'Seaside Home', part of the Design Collective series by Stash Books. My project was to be my Beach Hut cushion (or 'pillow' as it's called in the States!) And finally... after all these month, the book has been published!

I am really quite excited to be part of this book, especially as it is such a lovely book! To be honest, I still am excited whenever and wherever I see my work in print, whether it is for my textiles work or magazine commissions, I don't think it will ever grow old! I would love to write and design my own  sewing/ craft book one day too...

Anyway there are 25 sewing and craft projects in the book, all with a seaside theme, including quilts, cushions, bags, and garlands just to name a few. All the projects are step by step with clear illustrations, beautifully styled photos and templates so it is perfect for both experienced sewers and beginners too, it really is a lovely book.

Anyway here's the best part... I am giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader of my blog!

♥ All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me what you love most above the seaside. You don't have to be a follower of my blog but I would love it if you were!

♥ For a second entry, you can blog about my giveaway. Feel free to use the top image if you want, and please link back to this post and leave me a second comment to let me know you've mentioned it!

 

The giveaway is open internationally, and will end in one weeks time on Easter Monday, 9th April, 7.00pm UK time.

Thanks so much for entering and good luck!

p.s If you can't wait and want to buy your own copy of Seaside Home, you can find it here (US readers) and here (UK readers) xxx

The winner is...

Hello, just a quick one today... to finally announce the winner of my cushion giveaway, sorry again for the slight delay! It's been a bit of a mission to collate all the names, comments and shares, especially on my facebook page - there were hundreds of them, 516 in total including all the comments on my blog post too!

I couldn't figure out how was best to do it - the random number generator was no good this time because I didn't have a simple list of names/numbers like usual, so I had to do it the old fashioned way, with pen and paper and a big bowl (couldn't find a hat!)

It's taken over two hours but the winner is.........................
 

Nickie M Smith... who shared and commented over on my facebook page! 

Well done Nickie, if you can get in touch by email at hello@jennyarnott.co.uk and give me your address that would be fab and I will get your new cushion sent out to you!

Thank you so much to everyone who entered, I really was overwhelmed with the number of people who joined in and I really appreciate all the support, shares and new fans who have come my way! I know a lot of people have asked over the last fortnight if I have any more of these cushions for sale... I have actually stopped making them now to concentrate on my smaller embroidered products, but I will be making one last small batch and running a little special offer to anyone who is interested, but it probably won't be until after mother's day now. I will let you know the details soon :)

Anyway that's all for now, hope you are having a good week, will be back soon xx

♥ Giveaway ♥

Hello again! Gosh, two posts in a day... it might be a record! (And actually I have written another today too, but that one is saved for next week.) Anyway, so here's my giveaway as promised earlier!

I have been thinking hard about the prize. In the past, I've done quite a few mirror/badge giveaways, so this one I thought would be different.

So this is the prize - one of my embroidered natural flowers cushions... I hope you like it? I chose this one in particular as it is quite neutral so hopefully will go with lots of people's colour schemes... The reverse is a lovely soft duck egg blue colour and it comes with a feather pad.

Anyway, there are two ways to enter to keep it nice and simple. 

♥ One is to be a follower of my blog, and leave me a comment on this post.

♥ The other is to like and share the giveaway on facebook. There is no need to come back and leave a second comment here if you don't want to, as I will be able to see the list of people who have shared on fb, and will just add all the names to one great big pot! Oh and I would really love to reach 2000 likers on my facebook page if that is possible??? It's a way off at the moment, but you never know so pretty please get sharing!)

This time the giveaway is UK only, due to the weight of the cushion for posting and will end a week on Sunday, 26th February at 3pm.

So that's it I think... except for good luck and thanks for entering xxx

SALE!!!

Yes... it's SALE time!! I've missed the last few NOTHS sales for various reasons so it's been ages and ages since my last one! 

There are lots and lots of bargains to be had... mainly lovely embroidered button sets, prints, cards and cushions! Here are just a few of them, but hop on over to my Not on the High Street shop to see the full range of discounts :)

Cupcake badges - now £3.50 each (with a further saving if you buy the set of three!)

Flower badges - now £3.50 each (again with a further saving if you buy the set of three!)

Seaside button sets - from £3.50 (down from £7.00!)

 Flowers Cushion - now £28.00 (reduced from £55.00!)

Beach hut Cushion - now £28.00 (reduced from £55.00!)

Robin print - now £14.00 (reduced from £18.00)

Toadstool print - now £12.00 (reduced from £16.00)

Cupcake Button Set - £4.50 (down from £7.00!)

 Garden Button sets - now £4.50 (reduced from £7.00)

   Cards - now only £1.75 (reduced from £2.50)

...plus lots more besides!!

Anyway that's all I popped in for today... hope you will be able to find some early Christmas present bargains ;) I will be back soon with some new designs I've been working on... and maybe a yarn update too if your lucky!

Jenny x

p.s. If any of my lovely blogger friends reading this would like a little extra discount on anything, please please don't be shy... just drop me a line or leave me a comment and we'll sort something out (would rather give you guys a discount than pay NOTHS commission!) xxx