My phone calendar had a reminder on it to write my blog at some stage during this month , so why not start on the first day of the month, cos it may not happen by the end of the month.
So l have just completed Octo by Zen Chic, a foundation pieced pattern using one of Brigettes collections called For You . It was fun to do my accuracy was a bit off at times but hey l still love it .
I have a few patterns available and plenty of pre cuts ……
so l managed to behave like a grown up and work out how to take photos on my iPad and put them on my website ….yep l know …..happy Australia Day ……….
mary
Happy New Year…….
January is flying and this post makes me realise that half of January is gone already.
I am once again having camera/downloading issue so all of the new pictures l have taken for my blog are not being shared with you at this stage.
The camera may end up in the bin……
Lots of new boxes have been unpacked and the fabric is already on the shelf.
French General- La Petite Due
Marcus Bros- Red is the new neutral.
Tim Holtz- eccelctric Elements 2 (i think thats the name)
Liberty a variety of new bolts.
and a few more that remain nameless…..
I have started to add the new dates for classes to the list so you will find them listed there.
The newest class will be Know your overlocker, this is for beginners and is held on a Friday morning, check the calendar for dates.
Thats it for the minute.
Cheers Mary
Hard to write the date down today, as its really the countdown now till Christmas and there is so much to do…both at the shop and at home not to mention birthdays for family members.
I did get the Shop Christmas quilt up a month ago so l was proud of myself for that but realised there wasnt a photo of it.
The quilt is made of entirely scraps, including the linen background courtesy of a mistake in cutting that l made some time ago……..
Kerrie Thomas of Black Forest Quilting did a fabulous job as usual, with the quilting you may see the little Christmas trees quilted.
actually you wont see the Christmas trees becuse they are in the border.
There are other Christmas fabrics available at the shop and l have pictured just a small example.
Lynette Andersons Christmas…
Sparkly Christmas…..
and the fabulous Cotton and Steel Christmas….
Classes for the year will wind up next week, but l have been working on a variety of classes for next year.
I will be introducing a range of dressmaking based classes run on a Friday morning, the projects are being finalised at the moment but they look great and varied.
“Using your overlocker” is also coming to a Friday morning….so watch the class schedule for dates.
Judy Newman and Irene Blanck will be having January 2016 classes dates are listed in the class schedule. Bookings are essential.
My shop hours for the holiday period:
I will be closed Thursday 24 December 2015 and reopen Tuesday 5 January 2016.
To extend my break l will be reducing my shop opening hours for the first week only 10.00 am – 4.00 pm
So thanks again.
Cheers Mary
My 10 th Birthday Sale was a roaring success, there were lots of celebrations across the week and lots and lots of foot traffic, so thankyou to all that called in and collected bargains.
I felt it was quite a milestone for me, its been a lot of hard work all of which l have enjoyed, there are some out there that think retail is easy….let me tell you its not…
Anyway the sale is done and dusted for this year. The winner of the door prize was Sally Inglis, l presented her with a huge travel bag of goodies, which she was more than happy with.
So then on the Monday after the sale all of my Christmas fabric that had been stock piled since June and then 6 new collections of fabric had to be put out on the floor (that was fun)
This was the first display to get done, the main features are Cotton and Steel’s Christmas range. Its just so different which is why l found it so appealing.
l managed to finish a Christmas tree skirt by Claire Turpin designs/Tied with a Ribbon collaboration. The fun with this is it is totally made of scraps and everything fitted perfectly, a credit to the designers…..The pattern is available at the shop.
As l mentioned l had new collections:
Moda s Modern Backgrounds………just perfect…..teams well with Chic Neutrals……
A new Aunt Grace 1930s collection…….
some more of the amazing Tim Holtz………..
l filled the gaps on the Kaffe Fassett shelves…no more to say about that…….
l managed to get a good quality range of widebacks………
There are a few more collections to add but l ran out of time to photograph….so you will have to wait for the next post.
So for the moment ..
Cheers
The 10 th Birthday Sale has finally arrived.
So the details are :
The sale will run from Monday 19 October to Saturday 24 October 2015
There is 30 % off all fabrics (except Liberty, QuiltBacks ) minimum cut is 50 cm.
No layby or rainchecks.
There is also a door prize……………
So thats all of the official stuff, now the serious stuff, a big huge thankyou to all of my customers that come in and purchase and basically keep the shop ticking over.
I love what l do and get great enjoyment from putting all of the workings of my shop together…..
I intend to be around for a lot longer, as my to do list for the shop is still big……….
So once again thankyou.
It would be remiss of me not to mention my shop “chicks”, thankyou also to Carmel ,Janine ,Danni and Ashley who keep things working for me and put up with my rearranging…..
To my core group of teachers, Carol , Marina , Janine, Jan, Irene and Judy thankyou……you get the “bums ” on seats.
Next year this group will expand to include some more variety in workshops so keep a look out.
So onwards and upwards….or to infinity and beyond (ok thats enough).
Cheers Mary
I could’nt think of a better heading for this post, it seems that chatting is a dying art, that is using your voice…….rather than your fingers on your phone …..
Social media has taken over, and while yes l do use it(social media) for my business, basically l see my phone as a tracking device…….
Get your head out of the phone and talk to people directly…..
Manners and social graces seem to be missing……
Anyway just an issue that floated through my head, after first hand experience……
I love at chat (surprise surprise)……maybe the next time you are in the street or a shop maybe smile or say hello to someone you dont know…it may make there day…….or yours…….get your nose out of your phone….
Halle Rose, a sweet collection and looks ideal in kids clothing.
Love this collection called Jungle Thing……panels and matching fabric……appeals to my sense of humour.
Another new range: Chic Neutrals………
and the long awaited Cotton and Steel collection………
I finally managed to get the binding finished on this cot quilt…..there a re a couple of kits available for this quilt.
Cheers Mary
PS: Jack has had his first taste of solids, and managed it like a seasoned trooper, and l thought like father like son…..
July so far weather wise has been a cold month in Melbourne, and a little bit fresher in Gisborne but that is expected.
Nothing that cranking up the heater doesnt fix…so my shop is beautiful and warm……
The regular box unpacking continues….and my changing the shop around is still a current theme….
French General – Bon Voyage precuts and only the greens /blues arrived…..
“Darling”- modern greys and pinks in geometric patterns .
Amazing Amy Butler collection called Bright Heart.
and lovely new Liberty great price at $50.00 per metre…..
The other great thing that has happened is that Irene Blancks new Block of the Month Paradise of Birds has started ……..(dont panic if you have registered and havent heard from me that will happen this week)
As with all BOMs there are only limited spots so currently the first program is full but l am taking names as l will be starting a second program, so you can register for the next one.
Thankyou to all that popped in for my first quilt sale…..it went well with more than half of the quilts sold. It may be a regular calender event……
Thanks again for another great month…..
Cheers Mary
Jack news: Jack is a little chubby 3 month old now smiling and gooing, not surprising that he has his mother and father wrapped around his little fat fingers…… He is however still keeping them up at night……
I am not even going to discuss how quickly the last month went…….and now all of the paperwork has to be done to show what you did for the last year…oh it is such a fun time (not)
Anyway on the shop front its been very busy and great fun.
Lots of bits have arrived but due to the camera operator not keeping up to date, there are not many photos…..l fear there is going to be a sacking……
Well the wool got moved, the “Mary ” usual a bit of down time well sort of….. meant it got moved from the back to the front, so its a bit better to access now for the cooler weather.
Irene Blanck’s book signing was a huge success and a hoot of a day thankyou to those of you that came to get the book and a signature…Irene is a very humble designer who has a knack of appealing to a very broad range of people with her designs.
Her new Block of the Month “Paradise of Birds” will be available shortly at the shop, l will get some photos posted shortly……you can put your name on the waiting list just phone the shop or email me.
I have plenty of books in stock for purchase for just $70.00……..per book……
The terrific collection, from Tim Holtz is moving very quickly…and this is his map fabric… an all over pattern…no need for any other explanation.
Another rippa of a kids collection…..(l forgot the name) oops
Anyway the opening of the box fest continues so l will post more when l get a new photographer.
Just a reminder this weekend 4/5 JULY l have my QUILT SALE in the classroom, a collection of shop samples and quilts that l have made over the last couple of years will be on sale. The only restriction is that there is no layby…..or rainchecks.
Classes: There are a couple of vacancies left in Rae Telfer fussy cutting class on Saturday 25 July, and Judy Newman class on Monday 27 July if you are interested.
Cheers Mary
UPDATE: Jack is doing very well and stretching his skin to its limits at the moment……..he has found his hands and is quite happy making noise…
Today is cold ,wet ,hailing and l have the day off so l am catching up on paperwork and a little sewing. Lucky Me.
So clearing out the inbox…….
After a bit of a delay due to wharf issues in the States, a lot of stock has arrived, and at this stage l have only taken pics of two collections. (l ran out of time)
More Kaffe Fassett,
Gardenvale by Australia’s own Jen Kingwell. Jen is the owner of Amitie. So congrats to her with this collection.
Other collections to arrive.
Eclectic Elements ll (part) by Tim Holtz
Violette by Amy Butler
Furry Friends and Fawn Meadow – two simple kids collections
I will try and get the photos done this week.
Gail Pan , Australian and international teacher and book author will be teaching at the shop on Saturday 13 June, a small project had been organised for the class . Currently there are x 2 vacancies if you are interested please contact the shop.
Some new classes have been sorted: Basic Sewing (Evening class)and Indigo blues (fabric dyeing class) (Saturday workshop), the dates and cost have not been organised as yet but if you are interested please contact the shop.
The classes will run in third term .
And yes l have changed the shop around again, oh well its just me…………..l do the same at home.
The wool is at the front of the shop for the moment………to entice the knitters……….
Little Jack is doing well , getting fatter and growing quickly……and l still havent taken a pic of the quilt l made for him, l just get caught up in cuddles so the pic is easily forgotten.
Anyway thats all for the moment.
Cheers Mary
