Scrap Bag

Today we got some great new books in that I am very excited about.

SEW by Cath Kidston
Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an old hand, Sew! – Cath’s brand new book for sewing enthusiasts- has something for everyone. As well as more than 40 original projects to try, including various cushions, tea towels, bags and a jewellery roll, the book is packed with useful tips and techniques – from information on sewing machines to how to put in a zip and hand-stitch a buttonhole. The book even comes with the fabric and pattern to make the bag pictured on the cover.

MAKE by Cath Kidston
Here is a unique opportunity for all Cath Kidston fans to make their own projects and gifts using Cath’s own motifs. Inspired by vintage prints found in car bootand jumble sales, and reinvented in cool modern colours, Cath Kidston’s instantly recognisable designs are so popular that they feature on everything from mugs totents. Whether your favourite is Stanley the dog, the sailing boat, cowboys or a floral, you will find them here as, for the first time, Cath is giving away 16 pattern templates of her favourite designs. Divided into chapters on different techniques – stencilling, applique, embroidery and patchwork – this exciting new book includes a collection of 30 projects (among them bags, cushions, clothes and stationery) as well as masses of extra ideas for how to use the patterns. This book ends with a section of basic sewing tips and techniques. This book features 16 templates and a kit including a free tote bag and project materials.

SIMPLE SEWING FOR BABY by Lotta Jansdotter

Beloved designer Lotta Jansdotter shows how easy it is to make cheerful gifts for little cherubs. A new mother herself, she’s created 24 projects that match her simple style with practicality, resulting in sweet, yet durable, essentials for any rumble-tumble baby. She includes baby hats, bibs, a diaper bag built for the back of a stroller, a ribbon-tag blankie perfect for teething, and many more pint-sized projects. Beautiful photographs inspire while clear step-by-step instructions and how-to illustrations ensure foolproof crafting. With ready-to-use pattern sheets included in the handy front pocket and stencil templates at back, Simple Sewing for Baby makes it a cinch to stitch up modern accessories for both baby and mom.

WEEKEND SEWING by Heather Ross

More than just a pair of days, a weekend is also a state of mind – a feeling of relaxation and freedom to immerse ourselves fully in a favorite activity. In Weekend Sewing, designer Heather Ross presents creative projects for clothing, accessories, and home items that can be made in a weekend or less. Some, like the Quick Garden Gloves and Ruby’s Bloomers, take a few hours; others, like the Weekend-Away Travel Bag and Trapeze Sundress, require a day or two, but all of them capture that weekend feeling. And because weekends are often the most fun when they’re social, Ross features ideas that encourage us to share our stitching and our time, such as a recipe for soup to simmer while sewing, then serve to guests later in the day, and tips for transporting a sewing machine to a friend’s house for an afternoon of social stitching. The sewing instructions are beautifully illustrated, and patterns for the projects are included on pullout sheets.

Lots and lots of new stuff has come in this week.
I have been very busy with the sale and haven’t had a chance to show you.
So here we go!

Henrietta Turtle, designed by Heather Bailey,  has become my favourite.

Disco-Bots by the very talented RicRac!
I actually have one of these little fella’s visiting at the moment.

Mix Tape issue 12 has arrived!

We have packed up “Oh Christmas Tree”
designed by Kellie from Don’t Look Now.

For you Yvonne – Boyz Quilt Pack.

Some lovely packs of charm squares for boys.
10 different fabrics – two 5″ squares of each.

Decorated this year with yo-yo’s…….

…….Lanterns, beautiful birds and some lovely Bindis
made from Prints Charming’s placement prints.

I made this bag using Anna Maria Horner’s Multi Tasker Tote pattern,
and her fabulous oil cloth.

We have also had some funky new braids arrive in store.
These rolls have 2mts on them and sell for $2.20.
Fantastic for details on kid’s clothes, Christmas Stockings…etc

A beautiful book arrived a couple of days ago, Rosalie Quinlan’s new masterpiece, A Stitch in Time. Full of lots of ideas from quilts, dolls to birds and stitcheries. Chock full of lovely photos too. We also have some of Rosalie’s fabric Grandmother’s Flower Garden which has been used in lots of the projects.

A fat 16th pack of Rosalie’s fabric

Make it perfect have done it again. Look at this sweet little skirt and t-shirt set called Blossom, my mum made for Olivia. She is the best dressed kid I tell you.

I also had to take a pic of all our delicious red and white fabric. I not long ago made a Bear’s Paw quilt out of reds and whites and I really feel the need to make another one. Thinking of a pickle dish – I must be mad.

and I also wanted to show you our new range of fabrics called Odyssea. Just beautiful colours and designs, love the fish!

and finally a finished quilt. This Grandmother Braid quilt was made a little while ago. It has been quilted by Elizabeth from the Quiltworks and my lovely mother put the binding on.

Check out my new sleepover bag from Melly & Me – yes it is finally finished and I love it. It is made out from the Hushabye range of fabrics.

We have also just got Leon too. Isn’t he a sweetie?

The lovely Rachel from over a at Four Wise Monkeys has put together the Matryoshka Quilt designed by Rosalie Quinlan.

I choose to make ours out of reds, pinks and greens. I love the freshness of the colours and also the mint green. Nice change from all the lime greens I usually use. We have put together some packs of our version of the  Matryoshka quilt.

Another quilt I have finished is Springtime Squares. A really simple quilt using 9 fat quarters and border fabric. I have used some lovely fresh and bright Amy Butler fabrics.

A few new books arrived last week including Kaffe Fassett’s new one Quilt Romance and some others you can check out here and here.

and lots of lots of red and whites!
Fantastic for Audrey & Maude’s Pattern Baubles.

and we are now selling Nicole Mallalieu’s bag patterns. Our first pattern we have from Nicole is a kit to make the barrel purse.

I loved curved Dresden Plates. Such a stunning design. Victorian Textiles has released some sets of templates. The small set starts at 4″ and goes up to 9″. The large set starts at 10″ and goes up to 15″. What a great range of sizes!
I would like to attempt the tiny one – how cute! Thanks to Dale for making this lovely sample!

I also have to tell you about another new product. Dream Lines Quilt Back.

“Quilt faster, more precisely and with less effort! Benartex has taken pure cotton fabric and pre-printed it with one of Linda’s most popular designs. All you do is quilt on the blue lines and after all the quilting is done, the lines will disappear after you wash it. Just quick and easy beautiful results.”

First Wendy wanted to show you her new cardigan. It’s very cold in Ballarat and she has been complaining quite a bit. Lucky Ric-Rac had some felted wool that matched her dress perfectly.

I have been making a new Melly and Me pattern called the Sleepover.
I am using a new product from Victorian Textiles
called bag batting. It’s a really stiff batting, that gives great structure.
I have spray basted mine and then quilted the two together.

I have just put all our battings, interfacings and fusibles and also lots of our clover products onto our web page.

As a little bonus, for the month of September we are paying for your postage!

Some more pics of Snowflake Medallion Quilts from our recent class.

Yvonne

Val

Yvonne also sent us a pic of her lovely Lime and Soda quilt.

and for any of those interested and are not busy on Saturday the 12th of Spetember we have some places in the Giant Dahlia Quilt with Michelle Yeo. This is a fantastic class and you will enjoy making this quilt…. I did.

This is my version – a little bright.

and Michelle’s which is just stunning.

Yes we decided Wendy suited her perfectly – maybe not the wide hair bit Jan!
Send me you details Jan, you have won a pattern!

Some new books arrived this week

The Fabric of Society by Annette Gero

William Morris in Applique by Michele Hill

Sylvia’s Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts

Layer Cake, Jelly Roll and Charm Quilts by Pam, & Nicky Lintott

and we are now stocking MixTape.
Read all about it here.