Quilt Fabric Delights

Stunt Sewing

Do you have some time on your hands (let me know your organisational secrets) then head on over to Helen's and read about the opportunity to be a stunt stitcher.

I can just see people's faces the next time you are at a dinner party and you are asked "and what do you do?" and you reply "I'm a stunt stitcher!"

More fabric goodness

Mezzanine has arrived!

You can find it here

New patterns, fabrics....and more

Just have to take a break from listing new products on the website to share some of the exciting new arrivals.

Patterns from Sweetwater.  These are so fresh and fun. The Courtyard quilt pattern even includes the fabric labels to sew in the squares.  The girls at Sweetwater are also the designers of the exciting new fabric range Authentic from Moda used in the patterns shown.  I have a few pre-cuts available to whet your appetite and the full range of fabrics is due in October.

Robots by David Walker for Freespirit has me wishing I had a little boy to sew for.  Fun prints in such vibrant colours. 

Amy Butler Softwares

These are definitely worth a woo hoo!  I ordered these when I was in Sydney at the Trade Fair and they arrived today.  I had heard about Amy's new softwares with EQ and was looking forward to seeing how it all worked.  I have to say that after seeing the demo, I was hooked.  Amy Butler Softwares are incrediby good value at $55.00 with 22 new projects.  But it doesn't stop there, you can customise  the patterns - want an extra border or two, no problem, flip a block and the software also tells you how much fabric you need.  You can see what your design will look like in different Amy Butler fabrics

Home again

What you didn't notice I'd gone!  That's okay it was a fly in fly out visit to Sydney on Wednesday for a Trade Show.  I always underestimate how long it takes to get round a trade fair, even this year, when it was quiet.

As usual I am too busy looking and talking that I forget to take photographs.  Garry fortunately did remember to take a few.  I had a lovely time catching up with these two ladies, one advantage of it being not too busy was having time to chat.

As always Rowan and Sue of Patchways and A Day in the Country have the best stand.  Very inspiring!

and then there was the Lecien stand with Melly and Rosie goodnes

and the Michael Miller and ModKid goodies

I did bring a few Moda Pre-Cuts home with me and will try and get these on the website soon.  Au-then-tic is just fun! 

It is a long weekend here this weekend so hopefully will find some time for sewing.

To market to market

To market, to market to buy.....

lots of yummy fabrics, patterns and other goodies.

I'm heading over to Sydney for the day tomorrow to the Trade Fair.  I'm looking forward to seeing what is new and exciting.  I will try and remember to take my camera and then try and remember to take photographs.

So we have an early start tomorrow morning with a 7.00am flight (sorry Marie, Garry gets to come along this trip) and then back home again in the evening.  I am tired thinking about it but it will be fun.  I told Garry that I was looking forward to the quiet time on the plane - he thought that was a little sad, but you know it's a few hours where I don't have to feel guilty because there is something else I should be doing so I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be back on Thursday with all the news, but in the meantime I need to make some room if I am going to order new fabrics so I will be marking down some fabrics.  Keep an eye out here.  Have fun while I am gone.

Birdies

Yesterday while I was loading new patterns on the shop website  I was thinking I should shake a tail feather and hurry up and get them all listed. 

First up is Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches with Tail Feather.  Tail Feather is the most gorgeous embroidered, appliqued and pieced 10 month Block of the Month.   I am just waiting on embroidery threads and we will be offering this as a very limited edition Block of the Month using the original fabrics - or as a full kit.  I am still deciding how to do this one as Natalie used 2 honey buns of Patisserie as the basis for her quilt and strip pieced to make her one inch squares (sounds like a much quicker option to me that joining all those little squares) so if you are interested let me know and we can work out how you would like to receive the kit.  After all the early bird catches the worm.

As you know birds of a feather flock together just like the two cute little softie Twitter  birds by Melly & Me.

and you know fine feathers make fine birds and this little fellow is certainly fine even if he is seeing stars - I See Stars by Natalie Ross In Stitches

No I have not finished twittering like a bird here is The Birdhouse Bag by Lynette Anderson

and Sweet Christmas Dreams by Leannes House with its beautiful doves

and before you fly the coop, I know it's not a bird, but see that cute little birdie  logo on the pattern cover, here is one to keep your little cutie warm this winter - Uptown Girl by Make It Perfect

A little bird told me I should quit with the bird cliches and get back to work because there are more birdies to load on the website.

Pre-orders & new arrivals

It's a Dollies Life patterns are here and ready to go.

If you would like to make the quilt with the same fabrics as Rosie I am also taking pre-orders for the Block of the Month. I expect the fabrics to arrive some time in June, so should be ready to go in late June/early July.

I am also taking pre-orders for Melly's gorgeous new book Kaleidoscope, due to be released on or about the 12th of June 2009.

I don't think I am too old to have a mushroom backpack, am I??

Go! Cut

A few days before Inspired Stitches I was lucky enough to take delivery of the best new gadget for quilters (and non-quilters).  They have just arrived in Australia and it is called a Go! Cutter.

I have always watched with a tinge of envy all the amazing cutters you can purchase for scrapbooking  so couldn't resist.

As you can imagine I was a little busy to have a chance to use it but that did not stop my sister, Susan, from having a play.  She was like a child on Christmas day with a new toy.  In no time at all she had whipped up a sign using the fantastic applique shape dies. 

And then she was found fossicking through my scrap box making more applique shapes and quilt block pieces to take home with her. I did think I'd have to check her luggage before she went home.  Fortunately for me, Susan is not a light traveller so there was no room in her suitcase.  Phew!

It was to be Susan's job to demo the Go! Cutter at Inspired Stitches but she was kept busy on the Saturday cutting kits for the ladies so didn't get to show it off until Sunday.  Here she is searching through the scrap box for the perfect fabric for placemats.

Since then I have had the opportunity to try out the Go! Cutter.  All I can say is it is fantastic.  At present all I have is a pile of pieces, but I made them so, so quickly and not only that they are accurate.  I am looking forward to some time at the sewing machine sewing them up into all sorts of exciting projects.

The Go! Cutter comes with Fabric Cutting Die featuring three shapes: Square-4 1/2"; Square-2 1/2"; Half Square-2" Finished Triangle (cuts four shapes) and then there are many, many different dies that you can purchase to go with your Go! Cutter. 

If you would like to see just how it works you can view a video here.

Gorgeous Brooches

You may have seen photographs on blogs of the gorgeous brooches we gave the ladies who attended Inspired Stitches for their name tags.   They were made by the very clever and very lovely Amanda of Amanda Brooke.

Here's mine.

I love it! 

I was asked by some of the ladies over the weekend (including my helpers) why I had more charms and beads than they all did and I very cheekily told them that that was because I was the 'boss'.  Yes, I did say that very tongue in cheek and my helpers did look at me with 'that' look.  Really it was because this one  Amanda made especially for me.  Aren't I a lucky girl.

Tessa - seen here with Rosalie, wanted some more charms and beads added to her brooch and the lovely Amanda has agreed to 'Tessafy' her brooch.

If you would like to add some more charms or beads to your brooch or indeed if you were not at Inspired Stitches and would like one of these brooches head on over and visit Amanda.  Amanda makes the most beautiful bracelets and bookmarks as well.