We had a very exciting Dear Jane group at the shop last Friday
afternoon.   Two of our dedicated ladies had completed quilt
tops to show off.


I have shown you snippets of both quilts over time, but to see
them completed is truly amazing.

Ellen is the one hiding behind the quilt.     She has made her
Dear Jane using jungle prints, which you may think sounds a bit
different, but her completed quilt top is a work of art!




































She has been working on it for about two and a half years, and
now plans to hand  quilt it.


































The pic is a little bit blurry, but you can get a better idea
of the prints she has used.































Here is Neroli holding up the corner of the second finished
Dear Jane for the day.   It has been made by Dorothy, and
is an example of superb workmanship.  Her applique, and
hand piecing is just beautiful.




























She originally wasn't going to piece the triangles in the border,
but is now very glad that she changed her mind.

They have have made me feel very lazy, with only about
forty blocks completed, but they have inspired me as well,
to keep going.   I suppose that is what being in a group is
about, the support and encouragement you get from those
in the group.

So all those Dear Jane girls out there, try to get at least
one block finished in the next week!   I will let you know
how I go.




More Class Samples..........................


'Dresden Roses'



























This class begins this Tuesday afternoon, and is made up
of nine 15" dresden plate blocks joined with nine patch
sashings.

Lynne is also taking some beginners in this class, who
want do one of her beginner quilts.  They include:  'Baby
Coins',  'Come Sail With Me', or   'Come Dance With Me'.
which may be seen in earlier blogs.




There are still vacancies in Dawn's ' Hopscotch' class which
begins  this Monday night, so if you are interested, give us a
ring at the shop.



'Pathways', our most popular quilt, will be a class this term.
It will begin later this month, on Saturday afternoon.


































Learn to machine piece a curve, and Lynne will also show
you how you can machine piece without pinning, using the
curvemaster foot.



Hope you have had an enjoyable weekend. 

Until Next Post
       Ann-Maree

Third Term's Class list is finally Out!...........

 You have probably been thinking that the new class list
was never going to come out.   I know I am always runn-
ing late with it, but this term's is riduculusly late.  Sorry
about that, but it has finally been published.   I would
like to blame my Dear husband, but alas, I cannot.

I wasn't going to be able to attend the quilt show in
Melbourne today, if I hadn't completed it, so that put
the pressure on, and made me do it! 

Lynne and I had a very enjoyable day at the Ehibition
Centre, and enjoyed looking at all the quilts and the
 stalls, and of course bumping into lots of friends and
 customers.

If you don't get emailed the newsletter, go to our
home page and click on 'Newsletter', and you will be
able to view the dates and times of the classes we are
offering this term.

Congratulations Maddy..................

I forgot to take my camera, so no pics, but I would like to
congratulate Maddy Clark on winning a prize for her
"Union Jack' quilt.   She is in secondary school, and her quilt
was beautiful.   I have the pattern in the shop, and have been
meaning to make a few blocks. Seeing Maddy's quilt has
really inspired me to get going on it.

It is also very reassuring to know there a new generation
of quilters out there.



I aim to get pics of most class samples on the blog, so here
are a few:


Rondel's Make and Take Pincushion class...........

She has a cute 'Cupcake', and a luscious 'Strawberry'
on offer.





 












































You go home with a completed pincushion.  So quick to
make for stitching friends.   This class is THIS Wednesday
afternoon, so no time to dilly dally if you want to come.





Rondel has also made some  dollies for us this
term, and I have called them 'Rondel's Cuties',
and they are just soooooooo cute.



























They are child friendly, and you can make them in
'Workshop with Rondel' in September. She is also
offerering 'Grandma's Apron Sewing Bag ' in this class,
or any of her other dolls.   You just have to let us know
what doll or bag you want to make when you book.








































You may not have time to make the sewing notions that
go with the bag in the class, but you will get the pattern.





Dawn's 'Hopscotch' Class..............................





























'Hopscotch' can be made using a layer cake, or fat eighths,
plus meterage of one more fabric.  Dawn's classes are on a
Monday night, and it is suitable for a beginner.  Here is a close-up
of the border, little squares set on point.




























Michelle Yeo's 'Georgetown Circle' or 'Californian Star' Class........

Once again Michelle's classes are full day classes, over two
Saturdays. 






























This class starts on Saturday 7th July.

I will put on some more samples later in the week.





Now for some NEW FABRICS..............................

Sandi Henderson has created a new 'Meadowseet' range for
Michael Miller.

























I just love this colour way, with the butterflies and dots, and
isn't the strawberry fabric peeking out at the bottom beautiful.



























And finally some fabrics in grape and donkey brown.































She has used her Henna pattern form previous ranges. You
can see it here in donkey brown, and grape.  We still have
this great pattern in red, orange and yellow  and dark brown
from some of Sandi's  other ranges.


Until Next Post
    Ann-Maree

SALE SALE SALE.........

 If you don't know already, our  MID YEAR SALE is on this
week.   It began yesterday, Monday 12th July, and finishes
this Saturday at 4 pm.



All stock and wadding is 20%  off, and we have three
trestles of fabrics at $5 per metre.   Great Value.


So if you have a chance drop in and grab a bargain.



Until Next Post
    Ann-Maree

Happy Birthday Annie...............

 I had to make sure I blogged today,  because I had to wish
Annie a very Happy Birthday.   She was in the shop yesterday
buying herself some of the beautiful, new Kate Spain, Christmas
fabrics, and mentioned that it was her special day, today.

I hope her family made it a great day for her.



New Christmas Fabric......................


The 'Twelve Days of Christmas'  has been in the shop a little
while now, and it just makes you realize how quickly the year is
going.

It is a bright, happy ,Christmas range, and comes in a limey greens,
aqua blues, reds, and creams.



























The fabric at the bottom of the pic is a panel, which depicts
the 'Twelve Days of Christmas'.   Moda have a free pattern, that
uses the panel in a quilt. Have a look on the Moda site, or check
it out when you are in the shop.































Here is a close-up of one of the patterns,  modern, and a bit quirky.































It has some lovely self patterned fabrics in the range too.

I seemed to have forgotten to take a picture of the great greens
in the range. You will have to take my word for it that they are
delicious.
We have 20 fabrics from the collection, and they might just be
what you need to get started early on making those Christmas
pressies, that we have good intentions of making each year.




I am not sure how much more I will get to post tonight.
Cassy is dropping the boys off soon, for a couple of hours,
and once they arrive is will be the end of blogging for me.

But until then I will keep going, because I have some
customer's show and tell, as well as more new fabric arrivals,
to show you.



Maureen's Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt...................



Maureen fell in love with Rosalie Quinlan's last book
and said she planned to work her way through it, and make
every project.   Very ambitious, but she has nearly finished her
first project, and might I say, the largest project.

































Here she is hiding behind her lovely quilt. She has used many of
the same fabrics that Rosalie used.   They are Lecien 'Flower
Sugar' fabrics, and even though we don't have many of this
range left, we have all thew New Flower Sugar fabrics in stock.

We also have Rosalie's book in stock.  As well as the quilt,
it includes small projects to make like stitcheries, and a beautiful
pin cushion.






Another Birthday Quilt...........................



One of the youngest stitchers in our Tuesday night group
had a special birthday in June,  so we set about making her a
quilt.  We decided to use the 'Nicey Jane' fabrics, and the tag
stitcheries and quilt design from Leanne's House.

Of course we left it to the last minute, so we were all very
rushed, but I think Janine was very happy when she was
presented with her birthday quilt.































Not a good pic, but I think you can get the idea.   We enlarged
the stitcheries, so they were 4 1/2" by 9 1/2", and the quilt ended
up a small throw size.




Bec's   'Cottage Garden' Quilt...................

It is always satisfying to see a quilt that was made in a class,
completed.   Bec made this in a Monday night class with Dawn
last year, and came into the shop not long ago to choose the binding
fabric.   She is giving it to her sister, who has just built a new house, and
has just the wall to hang this quilt on.



































It is a large quilt, about 75" square from memory, and it combines
piecing and applique.


The door bell is ringing, and my two grandsons are eager to
get inside, so that is the end of my blogging for tonight.

I have just taken some pics of a new Moda range called
'Tweet Tweet' which is very cute, but they will have to wait
until next post.

I hope you have had an enjoyable week- end.


Until Next Post

         Ann-Maree

Lots of New Fabric Arrivals................

 

Not Another Circle quilt..................

 I can't help myself.  Someone brings in a quilt top of the 'Pathways'
pattern, and I am off again, pulling out fabrics to make another one.


































I never got to the stage of actually cutting the fabric, because I really
don't need another quilt using this pattern,  I already have three to my
name.          

The quilt above uses the 8 1/2" Drunkard Path  acrylic templates, and
it is going to have the little 4 1/4' drunkard paths all around the edge.
Victorian Textiles have made this template to go with the original, and
we have it in stock.




Irene's Farewell..............................

Our Wednesday morning group had a morning tea a few Wednesdays
ago to farewell one of our favourite members.    Irene has been part of
the group for about six years, and it was very sad to say good bye.

She is returning to Tasmania, with her husband to live.  All her family
is there, and we wish her all the very best. Our group won't be quite
the same without her.


























Irene is in the front row, with glasses hanging around her neck.
You have seen some of Irene's work on the blog over the life of
the blog, and all the girls above hope she finds a lovely group
to join in Tassie.




 

Lynne's Saturday Afternoon ' Baby Coins' Class...........................

























Lynne has a group of beginners in her Saturday class, and they have
been going great guns with their quilts.   Three of them are sisters,
and I feel sure we have a group of quilters in the making.





























This is Michiala and Elisha with their quilt tops.  They are
now going to learn how to baste their quilts, and machine quilt
them.  This size is a good size to learn to machine quilt on, because
it is not too difficult to get the quilt  through the throat of the machine.



























I will show you Natasha's finished quilt top next week.   She has 
been making her quilt using 'Hunky Dory' charm squares, with snow
homespun in between.   I have to say, they all look great, and the girl's
should be very pleased with themselves.



Lynne was meant to be teaching 'Ballerina Bear' in her Tuesday
afternoon class, but somehow they also ended up making 'Baby Coins'

Here are some of their tops.





























This red and white quilt is Pam's, and she has sped ahead,
and completed her quilting and binding.

  
If any of you are looking for a quick baby quilt, this could be the
pattern for you.



























Janice made her 'Baby Coins' using lovely soft pink and green
fabrics.    I don't know what has become of the rest of the pics,
but when I find them I will show you the rest of the classes quilts.



New Book Arrivals...................

The latest Kaffe Fassett book has been out for a little while,
and our copies have finally arrived.


























Material Obsession's books are back in stock.































I couldn't believe my luck, my son gave me the first book for Mother's
Day.   How lucky was I?    I think his girlfriend actually chose it, but it
was his idea to buy a book.    He always says that I am very hard to
buy for, but he was right on the money this time.    Now I wonder if
he realizes that there is a second book in the series.   I think I will have
to subtly mention it in conversation, maybe he could get it for me for
Christmas.   If I could be sooooo lucky.




WE also have Carrie Nelson's ( of Miss Rosie fame) new book

  'Schnibbles Times Two'   in stock. 

   I contains  patterns for  12 quilts , each in two different sizes.
One made with 5" charm squares, and the other with 10 " layer cakes.


Here are some pics from the book-

This quilt is called 'Open Season'.
 


 






























The quilt below is made with Aster Manor fabrics, and is called 'Nice Day'
































And finally 'Hot Cross'




























So really a beautiful book,   great if you have lots of layer
cakes, or charm squares.   




Happy Stitching

Until Next Post
       Ann-Maree

Look What's Finally Arrived...........

 'Petal And Patches' made up a lovely satchel bag in this fabric for our
stall at the quilt show last year.  It sold out really quickly, and we have
had it on order ever since.    I was beginning to doubt that it would
ever arrive.

So if you have been waiting, or looking for it, contact us, because I am
sure it will sell very quickly.


Somethings gone a little bit haywire, and I can't get underneath
my pic. to finish off.

So, Until Next Post
     Ann-Maree
  

                                                                                                                   

Lots of Time Out Of The Shop...............

 With the AQC,  Mother's Day,  Education Week,  and a Funeral to
go to, I have been very busy, and every time I sit down to blog, my
grandchildren turn up.   I am not complaining, but that is why I have
been absent form blog world!


I have just got home from opening the shop for an evening class,
and am determined to get a post done, before I have to go back and
lock up.


We have had lots of small amounts of fabric arriving over the last
couple of weeks, Like this great Apple fabric.

























It comes in this lovely bright green, as well as bright red.  It is
a Kooka fabric, and is a slightly heavier than normal fabric.  I think
it goes well with this  retro zoo fabric.   Because of the heavier weight,
it would make up into great aprons, or kitchen accessories.   Pity my
kitchen isn't  green!



New Charm Squares........................


'Hunky Dory' and  'Punctuation'   5" Charm squares arrived a couple
of weeks ago.  































I thought that I had a pic of Punctuation, but I don't. It is by 'American Jane',
and we have ordered about eight fabrics on the bolt, but they won't
be arriving for a little while.   'American Jane' fabrics make great children's
quilts, and they have a fifties feel.


Charm squares allow you to play with all the fabric from a range for under
$20.   They also make great small gifts for quilter friends.



A Little bit of Show and Tell......................


Jo, from our Monday afternoon group, is always working on something
beautiful.






























This quilt began with left over triangles from another quilt. The pic
is very washed out, the green is quite dark. She is handquilting
a cable on the green, and it stands out very well.  Because of all the
handquilting, the quilt already has a soft, loved look, and you just want
to snuggle up under it.
While I am talking about Jo, I want to say "Hello" to our other Jo, who used
to come to this group, but has moved to England to live.  She said she would
check out the blog occassionally to keep up with what is happening here.


All the girl's in the group hope you have settled in well, and you love your
new home, with it's conservatory.   We are very envious!




Irene's Quilt As You Go Quilt...........................


I am sooooo behind with my pics, I took this weeks ago.
































Irene used all her Japanese fabrics to make this lovely quilt.  I wanted
her in the pic, but she is as bad as me, and hid behind her quilt. She
said, that she found it a bit fiddly to make, but I think that the results are
well worth the effort.



Cute Bird's Nest Fabric.......................................





























Isn't this fabric sweet?   If only I had a Grand-daughter.   I think Cassy is
sick of hearing this, she keeps telling me that I will have to rely on Tim for
a girl, because she is finished with having babies. 


It also has some beautiful co-ordinates.






























New Rickety Stitches Patterns....................................


That is a bit of a lie really, but they are new to the blog.



























Not a good pic , but you can just see the stitchery.  She has also made
a table centre.


































I have misplaced the pic of the complete table centre, but it is round,
with a scalloped edge.




I have a lot more pictures to download, but I will leave that for another
night.    Hope you are all well, and have had some enjoyable stitching time.

Until Next Post
      Ann-Maree

Anzac Day Holiday........................

 I hope ypu have had a lovely Anzac Day holiday.

As well as enjoyng time with our families, it is time to
reflect and remember those who have been lost in war.

My Grandfather went to the First World War with his
two brothers, but he was the only one to return.
I can't comprehend how my Great Grandmother must
have felt loosing two of her sons to war.

My Grandfather lived with our family from the early
fifties, and even though he was at Gallipoli, he never
spoke about it, or his experiences of war.


Today I remember my Grandfather, and his brothers
who were lost.




Lottie's Quilt................................................

Rickety Stitches has released a few new patterns, and over
the next week I will put pics. on the blog.

Lottie's Quilt is a babies quilt, that is cot size.































You can personalize it with the baby's name and other details.

































My Civil War Tribute Charm Quilt................................

A while ago I mentioned that I had begun a Tumbler ( or thimble)
quilt using Judie Rothermel's new fabric range.   I have done lots of
cutting, and have begun playing with the layout.































I have used the 'Civil War Tribute' fabrics, and after
laying them out, I am now not sure whether to include
some of her fabrics from other ranges to give it a bit of a lift.

That's what's great about digital cameras, you can photograph
quilts in the making, and get the feel for the finished quilt, and then
decide If anything need to be changed before the stitching begins!

It is not going to be a big quilt, but another in my series of small,
one block quilts.





New 1930's Prints..........................................

Twelve new bolts of 1930's prints arrived in the shop a little
while ago.   They are novelty prints, such as kittens, rabbits,
and children playing.




























We haven't had any new 30's prints for ages, so it was nice when
these finally arrived.



Traditional Applique Meets Kaffe Fassett........................................


It is always interesting seeing traditional techniques and designs
interpreted in new ways.   Jenny R  has been stitching 'Mrs Miller's
Journey' using Kaffe Fassett's lovely fabrics.





























They give a traditional quilt, a modern, fresh look, and Jenny said that
they are beautiful to applique, because they are so fine.

































This is a smaller corner blocks that forms part of the border.




Below is the corner block of Rosalyn's quilt using more
traditional fabrics.






























Rosalyn has done a few of Liz's applique classes, and brought
in her completed 'Georgetown in Baltimore' quilt to show the group.
































And while we are takling about 'Georgetown Circle' quilts,
Michelle Yeo has finally produced her 'Gerogetown Circle'
quilt pattern, and we have it in the shop.
































She has instructions for foundation piecing, or traditional
handpiecing.






Organically Grown Cotton  Fabric................................



'Cloud 9 Fabrics'  have produced a range of fabrics from
organically grown cotton.   It is called 'Beyond The Sea'.


























Five of the print fabrics, and three plain colours arrived last
week. Two more fabrics have yet to arrive, a yellow with
small birds, and a grey, retro flower fabric.   Hopefully
they will arrive later this week.  They have a real fifties
look, and would fit very well into the modern decorating style
at the moment.


I am sure more of this type of fabric will find it's way into
the quilting scene, in the not so distant future.





I had better post this , before I lose the lot.

Until Next Post
      Ann-Maree

Rural Jardin......................

 I showed you the layer cakes of the French General's new fabric a
while ago, and we now have the fabrics on the bolt in stock. Well, they
have actually been in for a couple of weeks, but I have finally got
around to photographing them.    It is called 'Rural Jardin", and
includes blue in the range.





























They all mix with their last range, but unfortunately she hasn't included
the great medallion fabric that Michelle has used in the centre of her
'Giant Dahlia' quilt that I showed you last post.

































The three fabric bolts that are sitting on top are 54" linens, and feel lovely.



































Here is a closeup of the table runner that my friend Deb, made me for my
birthday.     

Once again these fabrics are ideal for hand piecing, because they are quite
fine. I have one layer cake left of the range, and a couple of the great pin
cushion that is in the first pic.





Elaine's Aboriginal Quilt..........................






























Elaine brought in the quilt that she has been working on to 
show the Wednesday morning girls.     She has been making
it using the quilt-as-you-go technique, and has done a lot of free
quilting using her darning foot, on the aboriginal fabrics.
What a good choice of fabrics to try free quilting on.  Elaine has
used the designs on the fabric to follow for her quilting, and because
of the very busy design, you don't see any variations in stitch length,
unless you look extremely closely!

We have been building up our aboriginal design fabrics, and have about
twenty in stock at the moment.



A Boy Story Cot Quilt.....................

Before Easter, I chose the fabrics and began to applique the cot
quilt from Anni Down's 'A Boy Story Book'.   I had planned to
finish it over the Easter Break, but that didn't happen, so I thought
I had better show you, before I misplace the blocks.  (Those who
know me, know what I am talking about!)


























Here are a few of my blocks, I am using a mixture of the new
'Fig Tree' fabrics called 'Whimsey'  with some others thrown in.

The pic below shows you the full quilt, with the Ric Rac fabric
that I am using for the border.






























My fabrics echo the one's that Anni has used.   We have the books back
in stock, as well as fabric packs for the quilt.

For those who may not have seen the book, here is a pic of the
cover, and one of the other quilts that is in the book.


































She uses a lot of the applique blocks in the cot quilt , in a
single bed quilt, with the the addition of some stitchery.



































And I just love this quilt with a row of rolling stars across the quilt.






Baby Love..................................



We have been waiting quite a while for this book to finally arrive.
It has lots of very simple cot quilts, as well as other things such as
burp cloths.



































Very suited to the beginner quilter.  Here is a pic of my favourite
quilt from the book.




























How simple, but effective is that!

I think that is enough blogging for one night.


Happy Stitching

Until Next Post
        Ann-Maree