TheSilverThimble

A short week for me...

The Silver Thimble will be open for just two days this week - Tuesday and Wednesday and will then re-open on the following Wednesday, 30th November. 

I'm off to Quilt Market in Melbourne to check out all the new ranges and hopefully place orders for some.  (Terrible job, but someone's gotta do it!)  I already have a bit of a list, but I'm sure there will be heaps more that will throw my good intentions right out the window!

Had a busy time with the Winton girls last week.  They made the most of their time here and completed tops to go away for quilting as well as making good starts on other projects.

This was Nea's, started on her last visit, now completed.  Inspired by a quilt that Bev was making on a visit out from Emerald last year.  Lots of novelty prints, collected over a long period of time and purchased from various places.

 

Click on these to enlarge.

 

 

 

Dell had a lovely collection of pastel, Aboriginal prints, added a few batiks which always seem to work well, to make her Stack and Slash.  Bordered by an inky midnight blue.

I'm lucky enough to have a similar collection of these prints, tucked away for a rainy day.  Is the Wet Season really coming, like they say it is?  I sure hope so.

 

 

 

Fiona chose one of the Asian prints to make her Four Patch Posie.  Just amazing, how many different blocks can come out of one piece of fabric!

I think Bargellos might be on the list for next year.

 

Not a lot of sewing on my part for this weekend.  Visitors on Sunday and a trip to Alpha today, meant that I only added a bit to the stitchery once again.  Miss Lily completed her cushion through the week - for a 6 year old, she's done a fantastic job I think.

 

 

She tells me, she wants to make some pyjamas next, and has already chosen her fabric!  I'll have to get busy with the cutting out - just as soon as I find the pattern.

OK, see you when I return from the big smoke!

Talk soon, Sandy.

 

 

If you're a lover of blues........

 

...then you're in luck. 

 

For some years now, it's been difficult to buy, what I call, traditional blues.  Most of the blues that I was able to access were aqua blue.  The tides seemed to have changed.  Just prior to Westech, Blue Storm arrived and now we have Blueberry Crumb Cake.  Gotta love it, just the name's enough!!

 

 

This time, mixed with a milky chocolate!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All these, plus a few more bolts to come PLUS Layer Cakes, Jelly Rolls (just a couple left!) and Charm Squares.  And early next year, there should be a red, white and blue range as well.

A nice quiet week in the shop after our busy weekend.  If you haven't already had a look, Peggy has a great write up on her blog about the retreat.  Just click on http://peggycreates.blogspot.com and check out her great photos.  Thanks Peggy, and we look forward to seeing you next year.

I hope everyone has been able to spend a bit of time on the projects that were started, although I know how busy it gets when you arrive home after a few days away.  I'm looking forward to seeing the Winton girls tomorrow, I wonder what they'll have on their agenda!

We've had a trip to Longreach today, my oh my, was it HOT up there!  Needed a few little maintenance jobs done on the computer plus I picked up a new Laptop as well.  Had some little overnight visitors on Saturday night, so not much sewing at this end, just a little more embroidery on the Leeane Beasley Vignette quilt.  Book 5 will be out on the 1st December and I'm striving to be up to date!

That's it for tonight folks.

Talk soon, Sandy.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spoilt...yet again!

Thank you girls, for the beautiful flowers given to me on Sunday.....

 

they have a prime position in our lounge room.

We had another great weekend with a terrific bunch of ladies coming together to enjoy good company, a wonderful array of food (enough to last us another few days if we could have all stayed!) and to do what we all enjoy - sewing, especially patchwork.

Many people travelled long distances and of course my ever loyal, supportive and enthusiastic locals made it a fun time.

My thanks to you all with a couple of special mentions.  Firstly to Sandra who looked after the Magic Nine Patch group and is always helping me out with lots of little extras and to Jean, who was with us in spirit but had to spend the weekend in Hospital instead.  When I saw her this morning, she was packed and ready to go home, feeling much better.  It was more than fitting that Jean won the Lucky Number prize, was totally shocked when I told her as well as delighted.

It's always exciting to have new people join us, and as well as the girls from Emerald, Ilfracombe, Isisford, Alpha and Muttaburra, we had four Patchwork Retreat "Virgins" from down Stonehenge/Jundah way.

 

They're all new to the "game" and I'm sure we're going to see more of them.  They did a great job with their Pop Samplers.

 

Is this a new version of the "Dance of the Seven Veils"?

 

 

The Secret Santa gift swap was held on Sunday with some amazing items that had been made by the participants.  Silly me didn't get a photo of all the gifts lined up, but believe me, they were impressive!

The Show and Tell on Saturday night was inspiring and we all have new projects that we must do !  I'm hoping that a few photos will come in from others, as I was too busy looking and not snapping!

I must say, that apart from a long standing dental appointment this morning, I have been very unproductive today!  This week will be spent getting things back in place, and attending to a few orders.  The following week I will have a visit from the Winton girls.

I'm thinking there will be some new fabric arrivals about then too.  Late Nov. I will be off to Melbourne for our Australian Quilt Market to check out all the new ranges and products recently released in Houston.  Before we know it, it will be Christmas!

Don't forget to send in those recipes of salads etc. that were so popular.

That's it for tonight girls and thanks again for joining in and making it a great weekend!  To those that read the blog but have not been able to join us at our Retreats, maybe next time.

Talk soon, Sandy.