Charities

I know many of you support charities with your time and through your beautiful creations. It is wonderful that people are so generous with their time and money so I thought I would share with you some work that we have been doing.
We are just wrapping up Quiltaid 2009 which raised funds for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital. In the end we raised over $5,000 for the charity. To everyone who who participated thanks so much for your support. Keep an eye out for Quiltaid 2010 which will launch in June using the beautiful Beach House fabrics from Robyn Pandolf.

If you are a Country Threads reader (Vol 10 No. 7) you would have seen the article on the great work that NETS does (Newborn and Paediatric Emergency Transport Service). The Collections for a Cause Range Alliance supports the work of this dedicated group of people.
Our beautiful Thomas, now four years old and full of life was transported using this fantastic service as a tiny baby.
Judy and her guides will be out on Sydney Harbour next weekend with Kayak for Kids - supporting the great work that Lifestart does with children who have special needs. Lifestart provides a wonderful range of early intervention services for children with special needs. Best of all they run an open playgroup so families can receive advice and participate in training programs while they are still on waiting lists. She would love your support - you can sponsor her here.
And if you do work with a charity or community group and could use a cutting mat, we have several from the shop to give away. We have given them a good workout so they have a line along the 50cm mark (our most common cut) but otherwise they are still very useful (55cm x 87cm). You will need to be able to pick them up from St Ives as they are too bulky to ship. Just post your charity or group details here and we'll give them out.

Craftexpo

We have been busy this week getting ready for CraftExpo. It is always a lot of fun to take to unpack the shop into a stand.

If you can come and visit us at stand B21 - We would love to see you!

Judy has made some lovely quilts to showcase the pre-cut and they have been selling like hotcakes!


This is Patches of Spring. It uses the Spring Fever Jely Roll and is so pretty!

During our recent sale, we had a Grandmother, Mum and a daughter (4) visit. The daughter chosen an Eden Charm pack to make a quilt. The Grandmother told me how her granddaughter would sit on her lap while she sewed. I was so inspired by this story that I designed the quilt Oh so Easy quilt - with help from my four year old Thomas.



He chose the Odyssea charm pack with it cute fish and shells. This quilt has no matching seams so it doesn't matter how accurate your seams are (or those of your helper). Kids can help at whatever level they are. Thomas wanted to match the duplicates in the pack and sat on my lap while I sewed. He is very proud of the quilt.

Outback and a winner

Jinny Beyer has just released a new range of fabric inspired by her trip to Australia. We have only had them a couple of days and they have already been running out the door.


These fabrics are so vibrant reflecting the colours of our landscape. If you enjoy Jinny's amazing ability to blend colours you will love this range.

Judy and I have been busy deciding what we will make with it. What would you make with it?

Plus congratulations to to Sandy N our winner of the Wellington competition. I hope your brother enjoys the quilt!

Plenty of patterns

After our huge January sale we though it was time for some more patterns. There are over 30 new patterns up for your enjoyment and they have already started racing off the shelves. Above is a lovely pattern from Material Possessions. This pretty checkerboard design has delightful sayings from mothers around the sashing.
Add some vintage glamour to your life with these three great bags from fat quarters also from Material possessions.

We've also added a great collection from Me and My Sister. These patterns are always fun and easy to make. Have a look at flipping out, which can be made in two sizes with either a Layer cake and jelly roll or charm pack and honey bun.

Plus if you are looking at what to do with charm squares, here is this lovely pattern with a charm quilt, bag and pillow.

And if you are looking for a layer cake quilt that is fun and pretty to make take a look at this delicous pattern Double Take Take 1- grab a layer cake for the quilt or a charm pack for the table runner.

Funky Cats and Snuggly quilts

We have had some lovely fabrics arrive the past few weeks. Caterwauling from Sue March came in and raced off the shelves! Sue does fun novelty prints. We still have a little of her Monsters in the Closet which was immensely popular and the cool bears and penguins of the Polar Brigade.

Plus the flannels have started to arrive. I think there is nothing better than snuggling up in a flannel quilt during the cooler months.

Our first flannels for the year are Mayfair. These have wonderfully elegant colours, with rich florals,

dramatic stripes,

diamonds,

and subtle tone on tones.

There is enough variation in these fabrics to make a wonderfully warm quilt to suit men or ladies.I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

Day 1 of our sale + a correction

It's been a busy day for Ann and myself with the in-store Sale. Everything has was set out this morning and by this afternoon whole bolts of fabric had walked out the door!

If you have the opporuntity make sure you come and visit us and grab a bargain. If you can't make it we do have our 1m fabrics clearance bundles.

Whoops! - A correction. We've sent a flyer out to our on-line customers and two of the prices were wrong. The Wellington Pattern is $44.95 and the Chelsea pattern is $60 including the paper pieces.

Winners & more

Congratulations to Wendy B the winner of our January competition. I hope you get your quilt finished. I have a lovely bundle of fat quarters for you. Thanks to everyone who posted. Don't forget we have one pattern of Sue Daley's latest quilt Wellington to give away. Pop a post there and tell us who you would make it for

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We have popped up in a couple of magazines recently. Judy's lovely Clementine quilts featured in Patchwork and Stitching. These two cot quilt come both from the same Jelly Roll. They would also be great in any of the Me and My Sister Jelly Rolls including Birdie, and the new Spring Fever. I think it would also look great in Animal Antics and Odyssea - particularly if you are looking for boys. I had a spot in the five minute Chat in Handmade and we also appeared in the Q&A section of our local lifestyle magazine Northside.