Merry Christmas Everyone!

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas", and sound like it too with the Christmas carols playing in the shop as we fill Christmas orders for people this week.  If you're looking to treat yourself to some handy stash building fabrics, take a look at Antique Cotton by Pam Buda for Marcus Fabrics.  There are 25 in all, half are dark dense colours with tiny prints.  The other half are cream or off white with some fresh new shirting style prints.  Something for everyone!

Antique Cotton $26.00m

We had a really lovely day with the Applique Group on Saturday for our last get together for 2015.  The room was full once again and everyone was happily sharing news and ideas as they stitched.  Our guest speaker this time was Elli Henry who showed the group some of her favourite antique quilts that she has collected over the years and entertained us with the stories of how and where she found them.  Here's a sample of what she brought along.

Show and Tell was dazzling as always with a great mix of styles, techniques and fabrics.  And a couple of girls even brought along their Christmas quilts to share the festive spirit.  Here's a few of the beautiful quilts we saw.

Everyone in the group is focused now on our Exhibition coming up on the 12th& 13th March 2016. With all  proceeds going directly to Emma House Domestic Violence Services here in Victoria, we're all really keen to put on a fabulous show and raise as much money as we possibly can.  We'd love to see you there!

We're looking forward to hosting the Secret Sewing Sisterhood here on Saturday for their end of year get together here at Threadbear for a little festive merriment before we close for Christmas.  Of course, there's no show without Punch!  Sam is a HUGE fan of all things Christmas and especially presents.  He insists on ripping open the wrapping on ANY present, regardless of what's inside.  It all goes back to his first ever Christmas when he found a puppy treat inside a wrapped gift!  Now, every present under the tree or in a 50 metre radius is fair game, whether it has his name on it or not!  Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas cherries and more new fabrics!

With Christmas just around the corner, how appropriate it was to receive some beautiful red fabrics from French General, all in tiny little prints.  We chose just 18 from the "Petite Prints Deux" range in rouge, faded red, oyster, and indigo.  The faded red is quite spectacular with its strong pink undertone.  These really are a beautiful addition to any stash. 

#1 Petite Prints Deux $24.50m

#2 Petite Prints Deux $24.50m

#3 Petite Prints Deux $24.50m

#4 Petite Prints Deux $24.50m

#5 Petite Prints Deux $24.50m

 Just a reminder too that we close for Christmas on Saturday 19th December, so there are still 9 more Threadbear shopping days for this year.   Here in Castlemaine, Christmas is often quite a hot day and one of the many Christmas treats we enjoy are the mid season cherries!  Well Sam is certainly no exception.  He figures that Kurt just grows the cherries for him to pick and eat (pips and all) whenever it takes his fancy.  Now if only someone would lower those branches!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Duets with Eliza in Uptown Hyde Park.

When is enough fabric enough?  Well never of course!  Happily, more new delicious fabrics arrived this week so here's a look at a sample of each of three new ranges.
Firstly," Eliza's Indigo" by quiltmaker and historian by Betsy Chutchian.  We received more in this gorgeous range to complete our pick and choose from the full collection.  Choose from prints in rich buttery golden yellow, warm coffee bean brown, vibrant blue,creamy beige, soft greyish powder blue, and indigo.

#1  Eliza's Indigo $24.50m

#2  Eliza's Indigo $24.50m

#3  Eliza's Indigo $24.50m

Also arriving from Moda was our selection of 14 must-have fabrics from the utterly gorgeous new range by the Blackbird Designs girls ~ "Hyde Park ".  We have some of the ever popular sampler prints, sweet little spots, and the fantastic romantic floral which is just calling out to be used for broderie perse! Choose from soft sage green, duck egg blue, clotted cream, and rose pink.

#1 Hyde Park $24.50m

#2 Hyde Park $24.50m

#3 Hyde Park $24.50m

And if that wasn't enough to ring our Christmas Bells, in walked boxes of "Uptown Duets" by Faye Burgos for Marcus Fabrics.  Once again, Corliss has chosen bits from each of the "Gilded Rose" and "Tarnished Teal" colourways, that make up the complete collection. We have 14 very tempting fabrics that work beautifully together, or with other reproduction ranges. The pinks are deep, warm and rosy.  The teals are a true greeney teal complimented by taupes and greys.  And how about that diagonal striped print?  Fussy cutting on steroids!

#1 Uptown Duets $27.00m

#2 Uptown Duets $27.00m

As always we're looking forward to celebrating the end of the year and all that brings with the girls in our Applique Group next Saturday.  They have been enthusiastically entering quilts for the forthcoming Exhibition and if the photos they've provided are anything to go by, we are all in for a real treat.  Mark the date in your diaries ~ 12 & 13 March 2016 ~ ...you won't want to miss this one! 

With December upon us,  Sam has begun patiently counting the sleeps till Santa arrives with a delicious treat for him under the Christmas tree.  But with the number of sleeps Sam has every day, it's gonna take a while!

 Speaking of which, remember, there are only 14 more Threadbear shopping days till we close on 19 December for Christmas!   Have a great weekend everyone.

Romance on the Prarie

As promised, here's some more of the new fabrics we received last week.  Firstly, Tender Romance by Renee Nanneman is looking so, so beautiful on our shelves.   The ever popular Bumble Bee print is back in light toffee on a cream background, or black on faded red - perfect for fussy cutting or as an applique background. We especially love the old fashioned red in this range and the bumble bees are just gorgeous.

#1 Tender Romance

 The Border Print features medium sized blousey roses and birds and comes in two colourways: faded french red and cream, or rich clotted cream, taupe, & ivory.  There are 15 fabrics in all, in a mix of tone on tones, fresh shirtings, and  soft toffee and cream background prints. All very delectable.

#2 Tender Romance

#3 Tender Romance

#4 Tender Romance

From Kathy Hall comes Little House on the Prarie ~ Walnut Grove, a collection of 18 fabrics ranging from bold border stripes, through to delicate shirtings.  The colours are rich and dense and include inky blue, deep mustard, burnished red, madder, putty, gold, creamy beige & steeley teal blue.

#1 Little House on the Prarie ~ Walnut Grove

#2  Little House on the Prarie ~ Walnut Grove

#3 Little House on the Prarie ~ Walnut Grove

 Here is just one novelty print from "Vintage Made Modern" in soft black on a linen-look background.  Perfect for all kinds of small projects, bags, or quilts.

Vintage Made Modern

 We are busy preparing for the Threadbear Applique Group's 2nd Exhibition being held 12 & 13 March 2016.  ALL proceeds will be donated to Emma House Domestic Violence Service, and will be used to upgrade facilities at one of their refuges. It's shaping up to be every bit as good as the first exhibition, so why not plan a weekend in Castlemaine and come along to see a wonderful display of applique quilts by this talented Group

After a busy day on the job here at Threadbear, Sam always enjoys a visit from Gracie after school. Once he's had a long chat and a play, he's always straight up on her knee for a big snuggley cuddle!  Have a great weekend everyone.

Christmas came early at Threadbear!

It felt a bit like Christmas morning this week as we unpacked box after box after box of new fabric.  All the new ranges are on our website and well worth taking the time to look through. Meanwhile, here a few to tempt you, with more to follow next week.
First we unpacked or next shipment of Cloverdale House by Di Ford-Hall.  With lots of ladies still wanting the red pillar print,we've now been able to fill our orders and still have plenty for the shelves. Click here to view the range on our website.

Di Ford-Hall's Cloverdale House $23.50m

Ediyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts never disappoints with her beautiful colour choices and mix of prints, and Color Daze is no exception.  We did a pick and choose from this large range, adding some handy teals, rich clotted creams, and warm golden browns to our shelves.  The signature print in a few different colours is great for fussy cutting or broderie perse.  

#1 Color Daze $24.50m

#2 Color Daze $24.50m

#3 Color Daze ~ cheater cloth $24.50

Reproduction Fabric Enthusiasts will love love love Margo's Mignonettes all in irky greens, brassy yellows and pumpkiny cheddars from Margo Krager.  Just 11 fabrics are in the range, but all are stunners.

Margo's Mignonettes

Margo's Mignonettes

 This week the lovely  Gayle of "Made in a Pleasance" came by to bring us new stock of her gorgeous handmade cards that are always so popular with our customers.  Here are just a few of her beautifully made and quirky Christmas Cards now in stock .  We just love them!  Phone us at the shop if you'd like to order any cards for a special friend or family member.  

And speaking of Christmas, we are looking forward to once again hosting the Secret Sewing Sisterhood for their Christmas get together in December as a perfect way to wind up the year.  Threadbear will close for Christmas Saturday 19 December and will reopen Monday 4 January 2016.  

As the festivities get underway and the Christmas shopping and preparations get into full flight, we will all need a little down time with a good magazine or some stitching.  Hot off the press is the latest Quiltmania magazine, Issue #110.  We've posted it to all our regular subscribers, but we still have some copies available. 

All the festive preparations are already tiring out Sam who is clearly ready for yet another nap!  Have a great weekend everyone!