Muffins Without The Calories and Mouthwatering Chintz Quilts

It is muffin baking time at Threadbear this week so our job is to turn lots and lots of fabric into tempting fabric muffins, in every colour you can think of...they are such a handy addition to the stash and just really pretty to have in the sewing room.

How fortuitous that Johanna came for a visit today with her amazing quilt for show and tell...Johanna has made this absolutely stunning quilt using Margaret McDonald's pattern, "Whirling Twirling", and she has made all the blocks using our calorie free muffins.  It is all hand pieced, and can you believe it, this is the first quilt Johanna has made...wow what a way to start.

We don't even have Sammy with us today to help with the folding as he is having a boys day out, helping Kurt with his deliveries.


 Kurt has just put another one of his sensational custom made kitchen benches in his shop..they are such stunning hand made benches and we know they are intended for the kitchen, but every time Kurt puts one of these benches in his shop our first thought is how well it would work in our sewing rooms...great granite top just right for a cutting mat and big deep drawers for fabric...really, where would you rather be...the kitchen or the sewing room...easy to answer to that question.

There always seems to be a new Quiltmania publication ready for us to lust after...so prepare to swoon because this next book is set to be a "must have" for us all.



Chintz Quilts From the Poos Collection by Kay and Lori Triplett and Xenia Cord is Quiltmania's newest book and if these little teasers are anything to go by we are in for a treat.

Another wonderful book with page after page of mouth watering chintz quilts from around the world. We have copies on order and due to be delivered to Threadbear in about a week.  To order your copy just call us at the shop or send us an email and we'll be sure to notify you as soon as it arrives....this is one not to be missed.

We Love Quiltmania

We are always excited when a delivery arrives from Quiltmania.

Qulitmania issue no. 97 arrived this morning and we all dived into the box and grabbed a copy.

 As always it is full of tempting projects, including a quilt design from Paula Barnes.

And even some articles to read if you tire of looking at all the pictures.

New fabric for today is "Hampton Ridge" by Paula Barnes.

We have 5 absolutely fantastic small scale reproduction prints with deep intense colour and one great border stripe, all with that distinctive Paula Barnes look that we all love.

We are busy, busy,busy, at Threadbear today, not really much time to read our new Quiltmania magazines as we have far too much work to do...Fabric Club is on its way so that means lots of cutting & folding to be done.

If you are not already in our Reproduction Fabric Club and would like to receive parcels of lovely reproduction fabrics, delivered to your mail box, you can join at any time, just see our web site for details or call us at the shop.  We are glad to have Sammy with us today to keep us company and supervise us as we work. He is there to see that the job gets done properly and that we dont spend too much time reading our new magazine.

Hope everyone has a great week end...And Sammy sends his best wishes to all 🐾🐾

Springtime For Sammy

Wow, "Dressing Gowns" by Judy Rothermel...all pictures and no words necessary really, they are just so darn pretty...makes you want them all.

Last week Corliss was guest speaker at Essendon Quilters night meeting and she came back to Threadbear with this wonderful photo to share with us.

 Janette Mcinnes had brought this quilt for show and tell and was happy for us to show it here.  Janette is hand quilting this antique quilt top full of stunning pieces of vintage fabrics, primarily 1930s prints but with some fabrics dating back to the 1800s...thanks Janette for the show and tell, it is wonderful to see old quilts and we can only imagine what a treat it must be to hand quilt such a piece of history.

We have been having perfect spring days here in Castlemaine, the sun is shining,the days are warm, flowers are popping up everywhere and the birds are singing in the trees.

And Sammy is busy climbing the trees....got to get those singing birds.

"Miss Porter" Comes To Visit.

We are lucky to have Di Ford's beautiful quilt "Miss Porter" on display in the shop at the moment..this gorgeous quilt is making a guest appearance at Threadbear in preparation for Di's class, held over two days, on September 14th and November 23rd.

If you would like to spend some time with Di making your very own version of this special quilt, and learning all the tips and skills for piecing and applique from Di herself, we have a just few spots left in this class....can you imagine anything nicer than spending time with Di as you sit and sew "Miss Porters" Quilt...details are on our website or you can call us at the shop if you would like to join us.

Absolutely, positively, cant get anymore..well that is what we said, and we meant it at the time...except for the 2.5mts that we have just found.  It won't be on the website but if you missed out last time and would like some of this gorgeous fabric just call us at the shop or email us and we can send some to you.

If you like shirtings you will love this collection,"Vintage Shirtings" Circa 1870-1925.

This is a really great collection of shirtings with lots of small, medium and larger scale prints, all in rich deep colours on warm antique backgrounds...just lovely!

And just a single bolt from Judy Rothermel's "Scarlet Evening"...This fabric is a true scarlet, everyone loves a good red, right, and we all love a really great border print, this fabric is even good for a bit of fussy cutting too...what's not to love.

Sammy would like to send a big hello to Dennis. Narelle and Dennis came into Threadbear this week, all the way from Cooma in NSW.  Dennis was hoping to have a chat with Sammy while Narelle shopped for supplies, but Sammy was having a day out with Kurt.
And, so no one misses out on a hello from Sammy, Megan and Sammy send greeting to all....Have a great weekend everyone.

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Keep Calm, Sammys In Charge.

We would like to say a big thank you to the girls from"Seachange" Quilters who chose our class room for their "Sit and Sew" over the weekend. Girls, you were great fun and it was lovely to have your company....Sammy loved having you at Threadbear too and it seems he has decided to join your sewing group.  

"Seachange"Quilters with their newest member.

And thank you to June for sharing her quilt top for show and tell...good grief....June, your clam shells are beautiful...Most certainly a family heirloom.

June's clamshells...Wow.

We also had a fabulous time on Sunday afternoon at our Sunday School, held each month in our class room. It was great afternoon of sewing, chit chat and chocolate...so, just perfect really.

Sunday School

Look at this gorgeous fabric just delivered..another collection of pretties...

"Rendezvous" from Kensington Studios is a collection of small to medium prints in the prettiest colours, diagonal checks, spots and even a really great stripe thrown in...

a few, or all of these would be such a handy addition to the stash, for blenders and little pops of colour....or just because.

If you love coming to the shop and looking through our shelves, but have ever had a problem choosing for your stash, well fear not, Sammy is now on hand to help you choose, or have a chat about your fabric and haby needs...always happy to serve.

"Carrie's Madders" as recommended by Sammy

New fabric for Friday

What better way to head into the weekend than with a delivery of gorgeous new fabric..Carrie's Madders 1860 to 1880 has arrived to tempt us all.

We had been waiting for this range to arrive and it certainly doesn't disappoint.

There are 21 fabrics in all and each one is fantastic..there are rusty madders, beautiful smokey teals and some soft purples

...and then to top it all off there are two great stripes, perfect for borders and sashings.

We have visitors to the shop today, a happy group of stitchers are using our classroom for a weekend  get together and a Sit and Sew.

We always love having visitors to the classroom, it is great to see what everyone is sewing...but this group has won a special place in our hearts because of the amazing passion fruit slice they brought to share with us...yum..hope they come to visit again soon.

It is cold and rainy in castlemaine today, just perfect for fabric folding, we are making 1/8 packs of our new fabrics and Sammy is on hand to help...but we think his mind might be on the passion fruit slice.

Have a great weekend everybody.  It is perfect weather to be indoors with some sewing...and maybe some yummy passion fruit slice.

News Flash...Book Your Date NOW !!!

We have exciting news to share today..Threadbear's Appliqué School is back...three dates for you to choose from..February 15th, 16th, or March 15th  2014.
Another fabulous day of stitching with Di Ford Hall and Margaret McDonald.  Together Di and Margaret have designed a quilt just for you.  They have collaborated to offer you a variety of techniques in appliqué, Broderie Perse, fussy cutting and hand piecing.  Margaret and Di are both passionate stitchers...so prepare to be infected by their enthusiasm!
Spend the day in great company learning new skills as you make a start on a beautiful quilt.  Be spoiled with lunch and morning and afternoon tea laid on.  Take home your goody bag plus pattern and starter pack.  Fee for the day is $125.00 so book now so you don't miss out...bookings are by email: info@threadbear.com.au
Can you imagine what fantastic days these will be!
Our class list for second semester classes is now on our website with details on our Applique School days, our October Applique Meeting and all the wonderful classes being offered over the next few months.

Just a quick show and tell today thanks to Rachel and Patty who are regulars at our Friday night sewing group...wow, do the ladies in your sewing group bring desserts like this to share..that looks so

delicious we thought it worthy of a photo.

Thanks also to Rachel for letting us snap her Friday night sewing project...Rachel is hand piecing Megan Carroll's pattern, "My Little Jane", and once again, wow Rachel, it is absolutely beautiful.

We have mentioned before how much we are looking forward to our next CAG(Castlemaine Appliqué Group) meeting, with our special guests, Petra Prins, Nel Kooiman and An Moonen.  Petra and An will be speaking to us about their book, "Promenade in a Dutch Garden", and we are now glad to also have  An Moonen's book, "A History of Dutch Quilts" back in stock in time for her visit to Castlemaine.

 

If you have not already seen this book you will fall in love with it the minute you catch a glimpse of it.

If you love quilt history it is a great read and it is packed full of the most beautiful full colour pictures of gorgeous Dutch quilts..an inspiration to be sure.

It is another fabulous Quiltmania publication, so as always, another beautifully printed treat for the eyes.

Quiltmania publications...recommended by Sammy