Mary Brown, Isabella, and Flower Press

Corliss has released the third block pattern from her current work in progress "Celebrating Mary Brown".  The Lovebird Block features 2 gorgeous little birds in a branch of leaves and flowers all on a 10" block.  The complete quilt pattern will be released early 2016, but in the meantime if you are looking for a small project, or you want a head start on the full quilt, consider one or more of the 10 blocks that Corliss will release over coming weeks. 

Celebrating Mary Brown ~ Lovebirds, by Corliss Searcey $9.50

Our 4 Starter Packs for the Mary Brown patterns have been so popular, we've had to recut a few times already.  Our latest offering has some different fabrics and prints, but all the same colour combinations. All are perfect for making a start on this very special applique quilt. 

If you are planning to make the entire quilt once the full pattern is available, and you would like to use Corliss' choice of background fabric, we have plenty arriving in November/December.  Just phone us at the shop or email us to reserve yours.
New on our shelves this week is Isabella by Jo Morton.  This collection of 11 delectable prints come in musk pink through to a faded rose, warm honey beige and caramel, and clotted cream.  There is a wonderful zig-zag geometric stripe, perfect for fussy cutting, and a beautiful feature floral, supported by a balanced mix of prints and flowers.  We love the faded hues of this range and expect it won't last long.

Isabella  $23.50m

Isabella  $23.50m

  Isabella  $23.50m

From Renee Nanneman comes Flowerpress; a collection of very pretty and very useful "backrounds" all with delicate coloured designs.  There are tiny flowers and leaves,an intricate paisley style floral and itsy bitsy geometrics in a mix of aqua, green, gold, light red and tangerine. These would work equally well with fresh modern colours and prints, or with soft pretty florals, spots, and stripes.  Or a quick dip in some black tea and they would sit with reproduction shirtings.

Flowerpress $23.50m

Flowerpress $23.50m

With lots of blocks still to make, Corliss has been busy stitching every night after work.  So that means no room on mum's lap after a busy day in the shop and Sam definitely looks less than impressed!  Have a great weekend everyone.

So much to show you . . .

There is heaps of stitching happening around here and to show you just a little ~ Here is our next in the 'Celebrating Mary Brown' series ~  Windblown Flowers.  Click on the link for all the details of the pattern and fabric packs.  

2nd in the Series ~ Celebrating Mary Brown

If you missed out the first time around ~ check out  these gorgeous fabrics available ~ AGAIN.  First we have the stunning Arabesque by our friends, Petra & Nel in Holland.  Di Ford Hall used them for her fabulous Pendle Hill quilt centre.  Next we have this interesting background fabric that Di plans to use further on in her Pendle Hill quilt:  Mill Book Series 1892 ~ strangely enough, it sold out at Di's last class ~ wonder why?  

Arabesque

Mill Book Series 1892

Our motto is never pass up a great toile!  Here from the Bon Voyage by French General is the classic beige version. 

Bon Voyage

  And last but not least, two beautiful floral fabrics from the Heart's Content collection ~ red & cream 

Heart's Content

Hot off the press is the latest Quilt Mania magazine ~ issue #109.  Again featuring some of our terrific Australian designers and their quilts.

What a great day we had at Threadbear's Passionate Piecers last Saturday.   If you missed out, check out our Sewing Groups on our website, then email us and we'll add you to our mailing list so you never miss out again!   It was wonderful to see so many stunning quilts by our guest speaker, Michelle Yeo.  

And of course, terrific Show & Tell by the girls there on the day.

Patty's quilt for grandson, Connor.

Rachel's Big 0 quilt made by mum, Patty!

Thanks, Carmen, for the hilarious story that went with your quilt!

 Can you believe the difference a day makes?  Skinny Sam says, "Have a great weekend everyone!"

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It never rains (really) but it pours!!

We've had 15 boxes of fabric delivered in the last few days-and very welcome it has been indeed.  But before we show you the lovely new fabrics, have a look at this.  Corliss has been designing and making a new applique quilt,"Celebrating Mary Brown", and we've shown some of her blocks here and at our regular monthly sewing groups.  Lots of  ladies asked Corliss if she would consider releasing a few of the blocks ahead of the complete pattern so that they could make a start.
We're so pleased to now offer the first in a series of Corliss' favourite 10" blocks from what is still a "work in progress" inspired by the quilts of Mary Brown from the 1840s. Starting today,  a different block pattern will be released every week for 10 weeks.  Then in early 2016, the complete quilt pattern will be available. We also have little applique starter packs which Corliss has put together for anyone wanting to use the same colours and types of prints found in her blocks. To order phone or email us at the shop, or order online here.

Celebrating Mary Brown ~ Parrot Block pattern $9.50

Starter packs $25.00 - Leaves, Flowers,or Birds & Fussy Cutting

Moda's latest Collection for a Cause ~ Nurture arrived yesterday - all 40 bolts of it!  Reproduced from an 1810-1850 Medallion quilt the flowers, birds, and border print in this are sumptuous and the supporting prints are gorgeous - in Rose, soft aqua, brown, light tan, and cream.

Also on the shelves is Storytellers from Nancy Gere.  This collection of 25 reproduction prints comes in a good balanced mix of chocolate brown, mid green, prussian blue, pink, burgundy, and cream.

From Fabriquilt comes a great collection called Scrap Happy.  The clue is definitely in the name!  The prints are small and the colours varied - perfect to add to any scrapy quilt.

Scrap Happy pic #1

Scrap Happy pic #2

Scrap Happy pic #3

And speaking of gobsmackingly beautiful scrappy quilts -Merilyn brought us her "Ohmigosh" quilt made from a pattern by Sue Garman.  Congratulations Merilyn, what an achievement and what a fantastic result! 

"Ohmigosh" ~ pattern by Sue Garman

Yes it's been a big week of unpacking boxes, cutting and folding with all hands on deck to get the shelves stocked and the shop ready for Threadbear's Passionate Piecers Group who are meeting here tomorrow to hear Michelle Yeo speak about her quiltmaking. Notice I said all hands on deck - no paws.  SOMEONE was too busy sleeping on the only chair he could find empty! Have a great spring weekend everbody!

A Stroll through Threadbear . . .

Have you visited Threadbear recently?  Well if you are too far away to come in person ~ this is for you!  But first here are a couple of things of interest ~ 

Gayle has been for a visit bringing us a selection of her very gorgeous handmade cards ~  here are a few of my favourites.

Handmade Cards $11.50 each

My stash can never have enough checks so, of course, these have found a spot on our shelves {as well as at home!}.  

Gathering Basket ~ $25.00 per metre

Our Scrapbags are very popular with many.  Some especially like the ones that are full of selvedges ~  here's just one idea of what can be done with them.

Scrapbags ~ $10.00  approx. 1 metre each - Thanks Rose!

Now for a wander through Threadbear . . .

Through the front door . . .

into the back room . . .

the 'busy lights' under the staircase

more goodies in the middle room . . .

through to the front counter

And out to the Garden . . .

lovely Hellebores

can never have too many daffodils & jonquils

More Mountmellick Show & Tell ~ always most welcome!

thanks, Denyse.

we never get tired of seeing this one ~ thanks, Sonia

Sam likes my sewing room but, to tell the truth, he's not much company some days!