Happy Christmas to one and all

Well here we are with less than two weeks before Christmas. I know many, like me have last minute things to do and presents to buy. I have almost finished my shopping and wrapping of gifts, but still a bit to do.

This is the time when we are reminded of our many blessings chief of which is living in a country without any fear. We are just so blessed.

From Team JH ( Simon, Robbie, Laurie, Andrew, Honey and me) we would like to wish you the happiest of the holidays and a bright and glorious New Year - every day being precious and appreciated as tomorrow is promised to no one.

I want to leave you with a few Christmas ideas, the designs of which are taken from Victorian Roses and use the every so quick and easy Embroidered Decoupage technique.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

The Little White Dog - in memory of mum

I have been having a clean out of all my book shelves - it is time, and in doing so, came across an old exercise book of mine, dated 1960 - this was the year I arrived back in Australia. Mum, being always economical, having grown up in the depression years, kept the book as it had blank pages left in it. Written in her perfect script hand writing was the following poem, and I am sharing it in memory of her - the poem truly touched my heart, especially as I have a little white dog.

THE LITTLE WHITE DOG

I wonder if Christ had a little white dog,

All curly and woolly like mine,

With two silky ears, and a nose round and wet,

And two eyes so tender that shine.

I’m sure if He had, that little white dog

Knew right from the first He was God

And needed no proof that Christ was divine,

But just worshipped the ground that He trod.

I’m afraid that He hadn’t, because I have read

How He prayed in the garden alone,

For all His friends and disciples had left Him and fled,

Even Peter the one called a stone.

And oh I am sure that, that little white dog,

With a heart so tender and warm

Would never have left Him, to suffer alone,

But creeping right under His arm,

Would have licked those dear fingers, in agony clasped,

And counting all favours but loss

When they took Him away, would have trotted behind,

And followed him right to the cross.

Houston and new Ministry

Hawaii seems like a distant memory to me now, much is the pity!

Pilgrims Simon and Margaret!!!

Beautiful Indian Squaws Brittany and Kristen!!

Simon is due home from Houston and Seattle tomorrow after a great market and festival on the Jenny Haskins stand in Houston. His classes went well and he met so many of our friends - the hard work and long hours at Houston were not missed, but my friends were! Simon then went onto Margaret's for a week, and they had an early Thanks Giving dinner - really quite lovely and a lot of fun!!

Robbie, her 92 year old mother and my daughter-in-law Kimmie, all did the Melbourne Cup Luncheon and had a very lovely day, hats and all.

Ministry Module 1:5 - Robbie and I did some designing - how do you like the results. Great techniques and wonderful projects. Remember you can still join the Ministry and get all the past projects, directions, videos, webinars and get the discounts as well - great value!

Home from Hawaii and Houston news

Simon has been very busy while I have been away and now the first three of the Clever and Crafty series of design CD's are out and ready to go. If you are in Houston, you can pick them up there, other wise make sure you get these three as there is a 20% discount when purchasing all three. These are a must have - all the projects are just sew easy and just in time for the holiday season!

Below are two of my memory pictures from Hawaii!! Thought you would have a giggle - and to prove I still did my yoga even on the beach at Waikiki!






Well time goes so fast when you are having fun. Hawaii was amazing and here I am back home. It only seems like yesterday that I was posting last! Hawaii is now just a memory but here is yoga on the beach in Hawaii!

Clever and Crafty - Trash to Treasure

Well less than a week to go before I am off to Hawaii, I really need it and am so looking forward to two weeks of absolute sun, surf and spectacular days. This time I am doing the Outlet stores also - going over with an empty case - will keep you posted.

Robbie and I have been working on a new series of technique project  based design CDs'. These CD's will include all the designs, pictures and directions to make sensational projects. This is totally a new concept and we hope you will enjoy them.

Here is a sneak preview of what is coming:

CLEVER AND CRAFTY©

Jenny Haskins Designs 2012

A series of Fun, Fast and Functional creative DIY ideas for the family, friends and home

TRASH TO TREASURE

Have you always wanted to have the decorator items you see in room settings in exclusive shops, or always wanted to make personal gifts to give at Christmas and birthdays? Well now you can with the Clever & Crafty design CD’s which are a series of quick, easy and inexpensive project ideas for the home using embroidery designs to enhance and change items that you would usually discard.

Jenny shares her creativity and easy sensational techniques that will inspire, motivate and instruct you, so you not only learn but gain confidence in yourself and learn your machine. You also have fabulous finished projects!

Off to do more editing........oh joy!

Ministry of Sewing Module 1:4

Upcycle basket from thrift store

Peach Puff Pillow

Well after so many requests I have finally written the directions for the Peach Puff Pillow as well as our Upcycled basket from a thrift store. Our Ministry subscribers will just love these two projects.

Lennie's Cube or ottoman

We also have the directions for the much asked for Lennie's Cube/ottoman. These three projects are great ideas for Christmas, and each one teaches different techniques. Our webinar for the Ministry is on October1/2 depending on where you life in the world!

We are always striving to keep our website up to date and integrate it with the many avenues of social media such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Pinterest. Jenny Haskins now has its own official Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/JennyHaskinsDesigns1. If you are on Facebook please visit the page and LIKE our page. Once we receive 100, 250, 500 and 1000 likes we will have a special surprises for everyone. So please tell your friends and family to LIKE our page. This will also keep you up to date with everything new and we will be offering tips and tricks for embroidery and quilting on Facebook daily, so make sure you LIKE us and you will be kept up to date with everything that is happening.

We are also in the process of adding all our videos to YouTube. Please visit http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAlOxUiphEjtXsPe_hjbUMw for the Jenny Haskins channel. We are very excited about this and know you will be also.

This should keep you all busy. Our Quilting Academy webinars are nearly over, and everyone is doing well. Lots to learn and keep everyone busy! Great fabrics and combinations, what great teachers these graduates will make.

Only 10 days to Hawaii, and don't forget Simon will be in Houston, with lots of exciting new things to show everyone.

In loving memory of my dad - Ronald Wilfred Gray

My much loved dad, Ron Gray, (13/04/1913 - 11/09/1912) aged 99 and 6 months, went to sleep last week. He was the best father ever to my sister Sue and I and 'poppa' to Sam, Simon and Jason Haskins and Kate, Nick and Chris Carr and great 'poppa' to Harvey, Cooper-Jay, Zoey and Frankie.

We laid my dad to rest with his beloved wife Mary (dec'd) with the hope and assurance of the resurrection. Dad had great faith and worked for his God all his life. He was described by all who knew him as 'the perfect christian gentleman' and this he was in every way.

He did everything for his girls - Sue and me and as the grandchildren came along for them also. Nothing was ever too much for his family - he was our rock, we knew he would always be there for us whether it was waiting outside for hours to pick us up or take us anywhere we needed or wanted to go. We already miss him so much!

I could convince him of anything - fake sun tan that was a must when going to the beach with a new boyfriend, eyeliner - when mum was away (she would not let me have it) and even choosing to stay with me as a new bride, sleeping on a camp stretcher in the lounge room, when he could have had the comfort of a nice hotel room.

The one thing that I particularly remember is his advice to me, when I was trying to decide what to wear when going out - 'Be a leader not a follower Jen, wear what you want'. I have never forgotten that.

I want to say how amazing Simon and Sam (my beautiful son and daughter) were to their 'poppa' always. They always went with me to visit him after mum passed away - I do not know what I would have done without them. Their support was totally unselfish and filled with love - they were just beautiful to 'poppa' and loved him so much.

As Simon was in the US, at the time of dads passing, Sam was just there - she was my sister Sue and my strength - she got us through our hard days - just making everything happen - we could not have done without her. Thank you Sammie.

Simon took charge of the business re organizing our Academy Webinars, when I was so concerned - thank you Simon for looking after everything in the past week, even though you had classes and were in the US. Thank you Cy.

Thank you everyone also for your messages of love and support - they really made us all feel loved and supported.

Dad what we like most about you was that we loved you - for ever in the round tower of our hearts.

Two New Special Editions - Simon at his best

Beautiful naive applique funky alphabet

Foundation piecing and quilting in the hoop!

 Brand new from the creative mind of Simon Haskins, these two new Special Edition collections.

Alphabet for Lennox is a funky(another double sided quilt) children's naive applique alphabet. Gorgeous as a quilt, name banner, pillows, the list is endless. Simon embellished each letter with googly eyes for the animals and colorful buttons - looks amazing.

Piece de Resistance an original concept of Simon's,  giving you the foundation patchwork as a stitch outline in the hoop, then piecing and quilting in the hoop. Truly quilting made easy and achievable by anyone, no matter their skill level. Finally Jenny Haskins designs have taken the mystery out of quilt with such quilts as A Place in the Sun, Quilt-a-matic and now Piece de Resistance. Never again will you fear freehand quilting - we have done all the hard work for you. All oi have to do is sit and watch you machine (and Simon) work their magic.

Pre order these now or ask your dealer to get these - they are a must for any embroidery/quilting collection - imagine what you could do with these two exciting collections

Ministry of Sewing 1:3 and Academy Graduation

Just a tiny teaser from our 1:3 Ministry of Sewing - hope you love it as much as we do. This is my bag.

Just had a birthday and the picture below is my new motto - and trust me I am no cheese!

Congratulations to the 2012 Graduates of the Jenny Haskins Online Academy of Accredited Tutors. You are all certified eagles, soaring high. We at team JH are all so proud of you and love the way you have created the projects, it was a very exciting graduation.

How do you like Fran Platt's beautiful Moulin Rouge - it is truly beautiful and it is off to the quilter's as we speak. Congratulation's Fran this is truly a work of art.

Also do not miss out registering for our FREE webinar next week: What's New with Jenny - and the Team. Talk you all then.

Academy News, New Baby and Pinterest

Well it has been nearly a month since my last blog - shame on me! Simon is home now and it will not be long till he is off to the US again.! We are frantically getting ready for our Quilting Academy which starts in September (anther sneak peak of one of the projects above), and then Robbie and I are working on the next Ministry projects (which by the way are simply scrumptious!

Congratulations to the following 2012 Academy Graduates who have finished (ahead of time I might add) their required accreditation projects (and more in some cases), you are all eagles and soaring high!

Connie Hinkle (8 projects completed)

Janine Fraser (17 projects completed)

Judy Franklin (8 projects completed)

Meg Covat (8 projects completed)

Kristine Berg (8 projects completed)

Nancy Herring (11 projects completed)

Carol Cambell (13 projects completed)

Claire Marquis (8)

Nancy Ranks (10)

Many of our past accredited graduates have backed up for the Quilting Academy, we do look forward to working with you all again. Just a reminder that the Quilting Academy is still open for a few more weeks, so if you want to be motivated, creative, educated and inspired register now!

Add into all this I have been up to see my new Granddaughter Frankie, she is just beautiful, such a happy little soul. Harvey is growing into a beautiful little man, and is so good to his new sister.

My other granddaughter Zoey is doing so well, she has good days and better days, but is always happy - such a joy and her mum Kimmy is so strong and positive we all take a day at a time.

I am totally addicted to Pinterest, and see many of you on there pinning away. I just love my boards, looking at them is like taking a holiday with everything I love. You can view my boards JennyGray Haskins(01). I have some fabulous concepts which you will see in the future from Pinterest. My back garden is full of Pinterest ideas and looks glorious.

I have been a bit slack with Twitter and Facebook due to Pinterest, but will be catching up.- and to think I promised to blog everyday - little did I know.

Well taking a break and out to dinner now - till next time!