I have been a very busy beaver, getting my latest book ready to release in June.
The book, Red Home, is just about at the printers... Here is a quick sneak peak to whet your appetite.
The book is full of RED projects... quilts, bag, redwork stitchery, pincushion...
Stay tuned!
I have been busy designing and sewing a couple of new things... 2 new pre-printed stitcheries, with cute buttons by Theodora Cleave, and a little star/applique project which can be a table runner or a wallhanging.
This is the new stitchery, Hearts Return...
and a new one for Christmas too, with the cutest little reindeer button... Simple Joys.
I have used a diamond (or 6-point star) paper for this tablerunner/wallhanging, and there are 3 cute little applique/stitchery designs in the centre of the stars. This pattern is called Starry Eyed.
These should be available in stores in the next week or so.
This is a new Block of the Month, LOVE. It is made up of 9 pre-printed stitcheries about, you guessed it!, LOVE.
It's probably a bit hard to see the stitcheries clearly, so here's some of my favourites, up close:
If you are interested in which shops are running the BOM, just email me: thebirdhouse@bigpond.com and I can give you a list.
I have a couple of new things coming (slowly)... a small wallhanging/tablerunner with stitchery & applique and paper-pieced stars, and two new pre-printed stitcheries with buttons from Theodora Cleave. I hope to finish all three by the end of next week, so I will post some pics soon...
This week, I will be at the Brisbane Craft & Sewing show, Stand No. E21. Please come and say Hi!
For the last few years, I have had two businesses to run... my design business, The Birdhouse, and a shop, Thread & Ginger. I also have 3 beautiful daughters who are teenagers, and about-to-be-teenagers (and a fairly low-maintenance husband). Like everyone else these days it seems, we set so many goals for ourselves and our children, that we are running ourselves ragged. So at the end of last year, my shop partner & friend, Caryn and I, made the decision that our lives needed to be a bit simpler... a bit less busy and stressful, and closed our beloved shop. It was a difficult decision, as we both enjoyed so many things about the shop, our lovely customers, many of whom have become friends, playing with fabric, and having lots of laughs together.
For me, this means I can concentrate on my first loves... my family and designing. There are always more things swimming round in my head, than I can keep up with, and I have lots of plans for exciting new things I want to do with The Birdhouse this year.
Thread & Ginger Patchwork Boutique
In my last post I gave a sneak peak of a few new things I was working on...
This is the latest Christmas pre-printed stitchery, available in stores now, so you can get busy stitching for next Christmas. It's called 'Snow Buddies'.
Also, a small wallhanging applique quilt, Harvest Time, uses cotton fabric and woven wools together.
As we have a bit more time now, we have delved into screenprinting our own pre-printed stitcheries. We find these are great for time-poor people, no tracing, just pick it up and start stitching (sigh!) So... here are a couple more pre-printed designs, also available now. This is 'Angels Danced Cushion'.
Lastly, I have used a couple of gorgeous 'Theodora Cleave' buttons in this stitchery design, 'Friendship Tree'. The pattern comes with the pre-printed design and the two buttons inclusive. Some stores are stocking the distressed white frames for this also, or it can be made into a wallhanging or anything else you dream up!
I will be at the Brisbane Craft & Sewing Show in March. Stand Number E21. Please come and say Hi, if you're there! Our stand is Thread & Ginger.
*To Mrs A, who was asking about the Angel Project Tote pattern... sorry, I couldn't find an email address to reply to you... if you haven't located the pattern yet, please email me and I will put you on to a shop who stocks it.
Happy Stitching everyone!
Last week was the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair. I had a great time, manning our stand (Thread & Ginger) with my good friend Sonia, and my lovely mum, who both gave up their time to come in and help out.
As usual, the tempting displays all around me, meant that I came home with lots of new goodies to play with...
I have been sitting at the family table (where I work), surrounded by some of these new treasures, and things I'm working on at the moment.
Right across from my stand at the show, was the very inspiring Jane Davenport, who is a very talented artist. I came home with some new 'paint dabbers' which I've been playing with, for background colouring (great texture effects), and some pencils, which are so nice to use. They're really soft like crayons, and can be turned into watercolour. The picture of the angels is a new stitchery I've started on... not sure what it will turn into yet.
New fabrics! Etchings, from 3 Sisters. The blue is so pretty.
This is also a new pre-printed stitchery, which will be available soon. It is a follow-on to previous Christmas pre-printeds, Making Spirits Bright, Christmas Angels, Jolly Santa and Deck the Halls. I'd better get this one finished soon.
Yes, that's right... More hexagons! Stretched, long ones this time. I can't help it, I'm totally addicted. Not sure what these will be turned into.
I've been working on a combined wool/fabric applique quilt also. Here's a sneak peak at a few of the blocks.
That's me in a nutshell (it really does feel like that sometimes).
Happy Stitching!
I imagine angels do sew. I have always thought of angels as more life-like than 'spirits'. I think that's because I have met many beautiful 'real people', who have blessed my life, whom I think of as Angels. One of my favourite sayings is 'Angels are not so very few, because in my life I have you'. Sorry, I don't know who wrote it, but it is a lovely expression.
I've just finished two angel-themed projects recently. One is a sewing project tote, Angel Project Tote, which has pockets and scissor-keep inside, to hold all your sewing supplies for your project-in-progress.
The other is a lap-size, or wall quilt, featuring four sewing angels; love to sew, love buttons, love quilting, and love fabric. The quilt also features a grandmother's garden border (still got to have some hexagons in every project!), the quilt is called Sewing Angels.
Here's another new design, Fabric Baskets. These are great for displaying a collection of old spools, or to use as a thread/scrap catcher when you're sewing. Both basket designs are in the one pattern.
Thanks to all the lovely ladies who came to visit us at the Craft & Quilt Expo in Darling Harbour recently. It was so nice to meet so many on-line friends in the flesh. Happy Stitching!
Well, I have had a great time, stitching my new Block-of-the-Month, Saltbox Farm, and it is finally finished! There is a bit of stitchery, needleturn applique and interesting pieced and appliqued blocks. I love the colours.
It is only a wallhanging or lap quilt size, finished, it measures 33"x41", so it should be quite achievable. There will be 6 patterns, featuring a row each month (the largest row, split in two), and the border and finishing instructions in the final month pattern.
I just love this new cushion/pillow, called Prairie Flower Pillow, which is made entirely from the gorgeous Four Ewe's wools, but for the triangle embellishments which can be scraps of your favourite fabrics. It's very tactile, and looks great sitting on an old chair. No-one's allowed to actually sit on mine though!
The weather is absolutely glorious here today, and we are looking like having perfect weather over the Easter break. Brisbane is having a reprieve from the rain, which is lovely. Happy Easter!
I have used paper-pieced hexagons in a few recent projects, and I must say, I am still enjoying working with them. Some tiny ones have arrived yesterday in the post, and EEK! they sure are tiny! Not the smallest ones available mind you, but pretty close. These ones are 3/8" along one edge.
Luckily I have pretty tiny hands, but I'm feeling a bit like I'm all fingers and thumbs still. Anyway, I'm sure the finished effect will be well worth it.
We are having a wet weekend, here in Brisbane, so it's the perfect excuse to snuggle down with a hot cuppa and get stuck into a bit of stitching. In fact, it's even turned a little chilly, so I had to dig through to the bottom of the shoe pile, and find my slippers with the hole in the big toe (regulates my temperature)! The kids have dragged doonas and quilts off the beds and plonked in front of the TV. Even Roxy, our very naughty poodle is snuggling down.
I haven't completed any new projects for a few weeks, as I've been working on something a bit bigger. A new block-of-the-month, which I'm probably about half way through stitching.
Here's a few of the critters in some of the applique blocks.
and of course, some birdies...
I'm absolutely loving the beautiful woven wools from Four Ewes. The colours are gorgeous, and I love the hand-dyed look of them.
I've just finished making these cute little drawstring totes, using some of my favourite colours. The first one I made, was for my friend Yvonne, for her 50th birthday, but I loved it so much, I had to make a couple more.
I'm intending on using mine, for carrying sewing bits and pieces, thread, measuring tape, embroidery scissors etc. The pattern will be available soon. It's called BerryBranch Wool Tote.
Four Ewes wool is available from The Home Patch, Bathurst, or your local patchwork shop. I've just order a whole stash of new colours for my shop, Thread & Ginger, too.
I have also been spending a fair amount of time working on a special project for Homespun Magazine, to appear later in the year. I can't give away too much, but here's a little sneaky peak of one of the characters... sorry it's a bit blurry.
Keep Smiling, Natalie.
We are nearly at the end of 2010, and thoughts turn to loved ones, Christmas preparations and holidays. Our final trade event for the year, was last weekend in Melbourne, the AQM (Australian Quilt Market).
We always have such a great time catching up with everyone. We had lots of laughs with our neighbours in our aisle, Anni & Pete from Hatched & Patched, Marg Low from Marg Low Designs, Leanne, Di and Claire from the Homespun stand, and Sue and Jim Daley from Patchwork with Busy Fingers.
As well as my new flip book, Tis the Season, I managed to squeeze in a couple more new patterns to release, to round out the year. A needlebook, featuring stitchery, a pieced basket and needleturn applique – Sweet Birdie Needlebook.
I was very pleased to receive a parcel of fabric, for a fun project using the new fabric range from Melanie Hurlston of Melly & Me, 'Where the Wind Blows'. The fabric works really well with heaps of other brights, spots and retro fabrics.
I made a library bag and pencil case. The pattern is called Gemma Giraffe.
Now that all my engagements for the year are over and done with, I am really looking forward to a relaxing Christmas season. Making gingerbread with the kids, planning Christmas lunch dates with friends, trying out some new seafood recipes, are all on the agenda. I have also got a couple of projects on the go (surprise, surprise), when time allows... a tiny little wool sewing tote, using Four Ewes gorgeous wools, some more zippered purses and an applique quilt.
Enjoy the silly season ahead, and don't forget to make some time for yourself!
