TheSilverThimble

Back on the job......

....touched down last Tuesday, in about 45degree heat at the Barcy airport!  Just a bit of a shock after the very cool 'plane and the cool to perfect days I'd had for the past 2 weeks!

Had a great trip - 6 days in Perth catching up with family then to Melbourne for the Quilt Market.  Lovely to see familiar faces in what are now, comfortable surroundings.  I have to tell you that my first visit to Quilt Market, some years back,  was a terrifying experience!  So much to see and take in - and a very small budget.  None of that has changed, in fact there's probably more to see these days and the budget is still limited.  However, I do feel more confident now when purchasing or even saying no!  (as gorgeous as the collection might be!!)  The first of the new goodies could be in as soon as next week.

A big thankyou to Terryanne for looking after The Silver Thimble and most importantly the customers, while I was away.  And who do you think my first visitor was on the day that I was officially back at work - why Terryanne of course! (Do you think she was checking up on me to see that I was doing everything right?)

I only took a few photos of quilts at the Market and they are on my I-pad.  For some reason, the signal tonight is very slow and I can't send them to my computer, so they can wait a while.

I promised you more photos of our last retreat which was early November.  How cute is Margaret's hobby horse? (from a pattern by Melly and Me)

This shot was taken before the finishing touches were added.  Eyes, one ear had to be levelled up and a fancy bridle and reins to be attached.

 

Amanda had a bold and bright collection of strips to turn into huge hexies....

 

and Kaye was enjoying the Jelly Roll Race (over and over again!)  She completed three over the weekend, plus a bag for her Mum which had been cut out and ready to sew for ages.  This is the beauty of our retreats, the time to get things done!

Time, also, for me to make a move.  I have been quilting most of the afternoon, all done apart from binding now.  A gift for a friend.

Before I leave you, a little shout out to Jean who has just had a second knee replacement - hope it's all going well Jean and we'll see you soon!

Talk soon, Sandy.

 

 

 

 

Last week for 2012.....

....Yes, the last trading week of 2012!  I won't say it seems like just yesterday that we had Christmas & New Year, but it sure went quick.  A friend of ours says "Life is like a roll of toilet paper - the nearer the end, the faster it goes!!"

 

School holidays are with us again and 6 grandies have moved in!  The 4 boys decided that they would like to camp outside tonight (as their parents used to, when their was NO airconditioning!) so camp beds were dragged out and set up.

Late mail:  Two lasted, and two are on the loungeroom floor.  Girls in the airconditioned bedroom!

 

Some gorgeous deliveries this past week.  I rarely repeat a particular collection but Under the Australian Sun by Leesa Chandler was extremely popular this year in the brown/orange colourway.  It has been re-released as the Classic range and it is superb.  Black, cream, gold, silver grey and a touch of green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are two creams and a green co-ordinate to add to these, and I am expecting this week, the pattern that Leesa designed for the fabric, a beautiful Medallion quilt.

Click on the pictures to see them enlarged.

 

 

 

 

Something totally different is Pat Bravo's Art Gallery range, "Rock n Romance".  I love the combination of grey and rose pink, so this ticks all the boxes for me.  The fabric also has the most beautiful feel!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I only have the top ten fabrics shown here, I didn't purchase the second colourway.  The second photo was taken at Quilt Market, Melbourne - not sure about those lolly pink flowers on the cushion though!

I have had confirmation from Pete, the sewing machine man, that he will be at the shop in March next year, which is a little later than usual.  I will let you know the dates, further down the track.

In case I don't make it next Monday night, I would like to send the best of Season's Greetings to you all.  Thank you for your patronage over the past year, enjoy a break with your family and friends, hope you get to put your feet up and listen to some lovely rain on the roof.

I will be home for the next couple of weeks, but then will be doing some major cleaning etc. in the shop.  If anyone needs supplies, you're welcome to give me a ring at home on 46 510930 and I can make arrangements to meet you at the shop.

Best wishes to all,

Sandy.

 

 

 

 

Summer has arrived.....

...well and truly!  What a doozie today!!  I had planned to spend time in the garden but didn't get an early enough start outside, consequently my day seemed to be very disorganised. Don't you hate that when you've got it all worked out and it just doesn't happen?  Oh well, there's always next weekend...

I could have started this blog post, but I played around with fabric instead and here it is, already past 11pm.

Yesterday we had a visit to Alpha to watch the grandchildren perform with the A Town Dance Crew!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a great show - packed with all the energy they could muster.  About 30 children participated from tiny tots to seniors and it was fabulous entertainment.  These two possums were ready for a long cold drink!  Well done to Miss Sarah and her assistants!

I promised you a few more pics from Melbourne Quilt Market - those that I had to steal because of a flat battery in my camera.  The following two are from the Riley Blake stand and feature Flutter, the bright one in the foreground and Prairie Rose, a reproduction style that is actually red and not orange as it looks here on the left side of the right hand photo - they will be coming our way soon.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Cindy of Riley Blake Designs for these pics.

 

These are a few of my favourite people in the industry.  Tim on the left, Jim on the right from Lloyd Curzon Textiles, Adelaide and my friend Di Mill from Brisbane, the Curzon rep. for Queensland.

 

They are just the BEST people to deal with and go out of their way, regularly, to assist you.  The special fabric packs we get to play with at our retreat - all from these guys!

Thanks Tim and Jim!  And special thanks to Di who has been doing my head in today!  Di has written an E-course for retailers with all the ideas, hints and how to's, to assist us in our endeavours to be the best we can be in our business.  I have read and read today (seeing as I wasn't in the garden) and clicked on suggested sites for more reading and eye candy.  I am SO "technically challenged" that I have to go over it a few times for it to make sense, and then I still don't know what I'm doing!!

I need an IT assistant!!!

 

Prior to our last retreat, I told you that I had been playing with scraps.  I showed you the Granny Squares and now here is another scrappy design that has been doing the rounds of the internet.  This has the delightful name of Scrap Vomit or Drano!

 

All 2 1/2" squares, easy to make whatever size you choose.  The blocks are a 7 x 7 format and I have used Kona cotton for the navy/aqua/orange combination, the rest is scrappy.

 

That's enough from me tonight,

Talk soon, Sandy.

Stock up on your Woollies....

You might remember that I featured a small flannel range a few months back...

It has been very popular and some of these pieces have actually finished.  I ordered a few extra plain ones to "bulk" it out a bit and these arrived last week. 

 

 

A tan, a mustard, 3 greens and the one on the right is a warm cream - not off white as it looks in this photo.

Flannel makes great shaggy quilts, and are so soft and cuddly in the cooler weather.  They retail at $21m.

While I was talking to the supplier, he suggested I also try some Woollies.  These have been around for a couple of years and I cant imagine why I haven't had them in before.  They're beautiful!!  Soft, warm, snuggly and a huge range of colours and prints.  Thanks Tim!

 

It is 100% cotton and there are checks, plaids, spots and tone on tone prints.

This is a bit of a "lucky dip" selection, however because some colours are no longer available or have changed, they came in at a special price which I can also pass on to you. Just $18 a metre!  That's very good value!

 

 

Have had several phone bookings for the Sept Retreat, so all's looking good there. 

If you're interested in a Christmas Stitchery quilt, Bronwyn Hayes of Red Brolly patterns is running a free one on her blog.  It was featured in a Homespun magazine some months ago, but if you don't get the magazine, then now is a good time to grab it.  There is also piecing involved and I think she's up to about the third block at present.  Scroll down her blog to print off the earlier ones.

Stitchery patterns (like the ones I have completed in the shop) and hexagon papers and templates that have been out of stock are now back in.  My hexie pile is still growing and a few nights ago, I put about 6 together.  I still cannot get over the size!!  Thanks to Margot, I have some more copies of the magazine if anyone is interested.

Another box of fabric that arrived recently is "Woodland" by Natalie Lymer, one of our Aussie designers.  It features fairly bright colours and all with elfin like fairies, pixies and toadstool houses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natalie is like a little pixie herself!  And how cute are those grey PJ's on the right?

 

I will be away on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week, catching up with some family in Maryborough.

The shop will be open and capably managed by Terri-anne, but be kind won't you?  No Sat. afternoon sewing either.

Catch up with you all next week.

Sandy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you're thinking of visiting.....

......then come this week!  Make sure you read through to the end of this post.

Melbourne AQM was great and I spent waaaaay too much money!!!!  New fabrics will start arriving very shortly and continue through until May next year!  By then, they will probably be a surprise package for everyone, me included!  There will be some new Kaffe Fassett, Lark from Amy Butler, Under the Australian Sun MK II from Leesa Chandler and many more.

The weather here, before departure, was WET!  Normally, I would say wonderful, but it made things a little tricky!

Melbourne weather wasn't much different on the Saturday, only I didn't have to drive in it. Could have caught one of these....(but I didn't)
This photo was taken on the Sunday, when it was clear and sunny.....but it might have taken me to the wrong Trade Show!!

 

This was also at the Exhibition Centre, in fact side by side with AQM!  I did wonder what was in the green bags that everybody so proudly displayed on their way out of the Show.  Really, what sort of freebies do you pick up at SEXPO!  Certainly added to the humour of the weekend.

 

I met up with Kellie from Don't Look Now (link in my sidebar) and Lorraine & Leeanne from Hettie's Patch in Adelaide, for dinner on the Sat. night.  We went to a very nice, but rowdy restaurant on Southbank, right under the Crown Casino.  The Danish Royal couple were there that night, along with lots of other "well knowns" but we didn't have any brushes with fame!!

 

A lot of the quilt patterns that were on display, included lots of stitchery.  L.o.t.s. of stitchery!

I bought a bundle of patterns from Clare.  I thought she had simple and fresh designs.  A couple of nice bag patterns too.

 

 

Talking of bags, I had a long talk with Nicole Mallellieu from You SEW Girl (I have carried some of her hat and bag patterns for some time) about interfacings.  She was very helpful and explained and demonstrated the different finishes she attains with different interfacings and waddings, mostly combinations of both.

 

I have ordered Nikki's book and will be ordering more of her patterns shortly.  She has a great skirt pattern as well.

 

The next issue of Vignette magazine will most likely be in the mail tomorrow.  There was a bit of a glitch in the despatch arrangements apparently.  Those that have the book on order, I will be posting them out/contacting you as soon as they arrive.  I have seen the centre piece!!  And it's not all stitchery!!!   Woo hoo!  As much as I have been enjoying the stitchery on this ongoing project, and it does look nice, I was looking for a change of pace for the centre.  I wont spoil the surprise - it will be dealt with in the new Issue.  I am on my last piece of stitchery before the next instalment, so I'm quite pleased that there was a short delay...it enabled me to catch up a bit!

Now...why should you visit the shop this week.  I'm having a Pre Cut SALE!  That means Jelly Rolls, Layer Cakes, Charm Squares and Fat Quarters.  I do like the Fat Quarter drawers to decrease significantly by the end of the year, that enables me to refresh things early in the New Year.  Due to Westech back in Sept. when I topped everything up, there are still quite a few FQ's in the stand.  I did manage to reduce them to 3 drawers instead of 4, however, there's still too many there and they need to move.  All pre cuts, half price, one week only.  That's Tuesday thru to Saturday.  My normal special of 10 for $50 will mean 10 for $25 or $2.75 individually.  This means only those FQ's that are already cut, I wont be cutting any more at the moment.

This Friday night is late night shopping in Barcaldine as well.  Street vendors, ham wheels, food stalls and shops open.  The Barcy Bucks winners will also be drawn.

That's enough from me tonight, next week I'll show you the first of the new fabrics!

Talk soon, Sandy.

 

Four sleeps and a winner...

...It's been a few weeks now since I asked for your suggestions for workshops/new techniques etc.   A few  people responded and our winner is........Kylie!!  Kylie would like some tuition in embroidery - I think we can accommodate that, however I have taken note of the other suggestions as well.  Kylie, you may choose 4 FQ's or any pattern in the shop.  Congratulations!

After making the first Hidden Wells quilt in autumn colours, I decided to do a second one with just 5 fabrics and a different setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quite a difference isn't there?  Same initial construction but set on the diagonal with some dresden plate extras added.  A few girls have already decided on this version but instead of the light colour in the centre and corners, they have chosen to have a busy print with tone on tone fabrics for the blocks.  Can't wait to see how they turn out! 

We still have about 30 people attending the last retreat for the year, which will make for a great weekend!  Due to the generosity of one of my suppliers - Lloyd Curzon Textiles of Adelaide, there will be a few pleasant surprises for you!

It's Quilt Market time in Houston - heaps of new fabric ranges being released, and emails have been coming through to check this one and this one and this one!  These will be on show at our Quilt Market in Melbourne late November, which I am attending.  Oh, to have an unlimited budget!!!  Any special requests?  Hope the airlines have themselves in order by then.  What a fiasco!

Check on Di Mills' blog (click on her name in the blog list) and scroll down to a photo she took at the recent Quilt and Craft Show in Brisbane.  A dress completely covered in Yo Yos!!  Are you up for it Jean?

Talk soon, Sandy.

 

 

 

AQM

I attended the AQM in Melbourne for the first time, 5 years ago.  I was like a walking zombie, having just arrived from Perth on the "red eye".  (That time it was the niece's wedding - aren't they kind to their Aunt, planning weddings to suit my schedule?)  I digress...

Since opening The Silver Thimble 12+ years ago, the most difficult thing was trying to keep up with the latest fabric releases.  I wasn't exactly over run with reps and agents, there were a few, but not many.  The Quilt Market puts everything in one place, the newest ranges, the latest patterns and everyone from "the industry".  It's probably about 1/20th of the size of Houston Quilt Market, maybe even 1/40th!!

That first Market, I think I walked around, and around, and around and probably around again, before I was able to actually take anything in!!  It was, for me, quite an experience.  Some of my choices were OK, some were waaaaaay off the mark!  I didn't return for four years, and second time around, I felt much more comfortable.  I knew people, met others and felt a little more confident when ordering. 

This visit was so different.  I heard someone call my name before I even reached the steps of the Exhibition Centre!!  Anne Ferguson  who visited Barcaldine a few months back, was the first of many familiar faces throughout the weekend.

 
Even people that once lived at Barcaldine turned up - Tanya on the left, then  Leanne Beasley  and Rosalie Quinlan.  These girls have been pattern producing for many years, both have had books published and Rosalie has just released her second range of fabric.  Notice the sign for Vignette to the right?  That is Leanne's latest venture - a magazine to be produced four times a year.  Each one contains a few simple patterns, a couple of recipes, some gorgeous photography and an ongoing Block of the Month. 

 

Guess who had to start on the Block of the Month?  I haven't done any embroidery for quite a while, and this just looked too good.  It is a large quilt - about 180cm square.

I have a good supply of the magazines in the shop, so just give me a call if you would like one posted out.

 

 

Did just a little bit of socialising as well as all the hard stuff (!!) of course and accompanied Kellie to the Homespun 10th Birthday celebrations, followed by dinner.

 

 This is the completed quilt "Life's a Celebration" that was run as a Block of the Month in the Homespun magazine.  Kellie's block was the tree, top centre. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the right, Kellie and Catherine Sanchez, Editor of Homespun Magazine.

With all the 'networking' that I did, it was interesting to hear the response from some of the wholesalers.  "Oh, you're still out there!"

YES, we surely are!!

More goodies to show you but they will have to wait until the next post.

Talk soon, Sandy.

(I've just checked the Preview of this Post and can see that it's a bit jumbled, not sure why because it's not like that on my page.  I'm sure you'll work it out)