A Brand new look . . . for a brand new year!

      As we head in to our 25th year here at Threadbear, we decided we could do with a new look!  So after days of lugging furniture around ~ hoisting fabric from shelf to shelf to shelf, we LOVE our new look.  We can't quite believe that by just taking down a door, moving two small bits of furniture out and relegating the rolls of wadding to the back room ~ we have created an enormous amount of floor space.  This will come in handy when we have extra special visitors during our applique exhibition, March 12th & 13th and we hope you are coming.  So now we are all set to leap into our next 25 years in business!!    

Civil War Bride & Antique Applique Sampler

moving on to the bits & pieces cupboard

Zanny's hard at work filling orders with quilts ~ Netherfield Park & Caswell  in the background

Mary Stubbs hangs in the corner where the most furniture was moved!

Moving into the next room Miss Matty's Parlour hangs amidst the shirtings & purples.

Just opposite we have Hertfordshire & Eliza's Irish Medallion gracing the staircase

another step down in to the next room with English Baskets & Belton Grange on the ladder

into the big front room with gorgeous blues and greens and many background prints

Celebrating Mary Brown has pride of place behind the front counter.

stepping through to the smallest room ~ Worthing Downs hangs behind the books

Megan & Zan consult over an order with Arden & Miss Dashwood's Dowry at the entrance.

And while Sam is definitely on the improve, he's still partial to a snooze snuggled with his favourite quilt.  He say's a big Thank You for all the good wishes that have come his way.

Sick?   Perhaps it's mid-life crisis!

Mary is in the building.....

The day we've been waiting for is here.  Corliss' Celebrating Mary Brown is now hanging in pride of place in Threadbear for all to see.  If you are planning to come to our Applique Group's Exhibition March 12 &13, you'll see it in the flesh!  And we're pleased to tell you that the Complete Pattern is finished, printed and available to purchase!  Plus, we have a new Starter Pack comprising 75 different Fat Sixteenths ~ all in the colours used in the quilt.  For those of you wanting to use the same Background Fabrics that Corliss used, these are also now in stock.   If you are already on our pre-order list, you will hear from us on Monday 22 February either by phone or email, to confirm your order.  Otherwise, you can order directly from our website here.

Celebrating Mary Brown ~ on display in the shop

Complete Pattern ~ now available exclusive to Threadbear $85.00

Starter Pack of 75 fat sixteenths $120.00

 Background fabrics are now in stock - 3m Kona $57, plus 6m of shirting $144

Old Cambridge Pike by Barbara Brackman arrived in the shop last week. It's deep rich colours and traditional prints are sumptuous & hard to resist.  There are musky pinks, tan, olive green, inky blue, mulberry, charcoal, and medium deep luscious red.  And when it gets simply too hard to pick which fabrics to take and which to leave, well you might prefer a Fat Eighth pack and take home a little of everything!

#1 Old Cambridge Pike $24.50m

#2 Old Cambridge Pike $24.50m

#3 Old Cambridge Pike $24.50m

#4 Old Cambridge Pike $24.50m

#5 Old Cambridge Pike $24.50m

Sam was looking a little less than impressed this week when he realised that so many of the customers coming in to Threadbear were coming to see Mary Brown, and not him!  But he did manage to turn on his Spoodle charm and get lots of pats and extra attention.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Celebrating ~ Mary Brown Quilt, our forthcoming Exhibition and new fabric!

It's only 4 weeks until  our Applique Group's second Exhibition, ~ Sat 12th & Sun 13th March ~ here in Castlemaine at The Market Building, Mostyn Street,Castlemaine.  ALL proceeds from the weekend will be donated to Emma House, a domestic violence service in western Victoria. We are aiming to match our total from our last exhibition when we raised $10,000 to purchase equipment for the Wangarratta Hospital Oncology unit.  This year, we hope we will be able to make a significant contribution towards refitting the children's playroom at the Emma House Refuge. So please come along and support this great cause, and enjoy a spectacular display of over 70 applique quilts by this talented group.

Speaking of talented applique-ers, Corliss received her "Celebrating Mary Brown" quilt back from Susan Campbell ~ Rowdy Flat Quilting ~  on Tuesday.  It was fabulous before, but now that it's quilted, it's even more fabulous!  Corliss is close to finishing the pattern which will be available exclusively through Threadbear at the end of February.

Celebrating Mary Brown by Corliss Searcey.  Exclusive to Threadbear.

To keep us on our toes, we have lots more fabric to cut, fold, and shelve this week with 2 more ranges arriving this week.  First of all is Millbook Series 1889, Collection for a Cause from Moda.  We picked 19 from the range in tone-om-tone and 2-colour prints ~ all in a traditional palette of tan, red, and indigo.

#1 Millbook Series 1889 $26.50m

#2 Millbook Series 1889 $26.50m

#3 Millbook Series 1889 $26.50m

#4 Millbook Series 1889 $26.50m

Also from Moda comes Larkspur by the 3 Sisters.  While some of the prints are familiar from previous ranges, they are in different colourways and complimented by some new prints. Taking their inspiration from vintage french fabrics, the 3 Sisters offer us a gorgeous romantic collection of florals, birds, and paisleys in soft minty green, blush pink, buttercup, clotted cream and french red.

#1 Larkspur $26.50m

#2 Larkspur $26.50m

#3 Larkspur $26.50m

Fabric with newsprint or script writing is always so popular; we always get a it when we see it on offer.  This one is called Vintage Made Modern, by Amy Barickman.  The text is old dictionary definitions of terms relating to textiles, crafts and embroidery. And the charcoal print sits on an ecru background. 

Vintage Made Modern $28.00m

We always enjoy seeing customers' finished, or almost finished quilts in the shop.  This week Joan was picking a binding and backing for her completed Maggie Grace's Garden which she made from Di Ford's book, Primarily Quilts.  Pretty darn impressive for her FIRST ever applique project!  Well done Joan and thanks for sharing. 

Joan's Maggie Grace's Garden

As for Sammy, he's is not quite himself this week and is off to the doctor tomorrow.  So today he is in the Threadbear sick-bay getting loads of attention and petting and extra love.  Have a great weekend everyone.

New shirtings and backgrounds plus Southern Vintage

Silver Linings by Laundry Basket Quilts has arrived in store this week  and is a welcome addition to our shelves of shirting style prints.  In soft cream and off white with pink, blue, or beige prints, they are not strictly reproductions, but every bit as gorgeous.  We love the variety of prints in each colourway and can see them working with subtle colours, or bold colours alike.  Click here to see the full range on our website.

#1 Silver Linings $25.50m

#2  Silver Linings $25.50m

#3 Silver Linings $25.50m

#4 Silver Linings $25.50m

Silver Linings ~ 26 fabrics to choose from

Also new to Threadbear this week is Southern Vintage by Washington Street Studio.  What a dreamy, romantic collection of prints and colours, reminiscent of 19thC southern charm and life on the plantations.  The blues are soft and powdery, verging on teal, the pink is just like the colour of old pink underwear, the creamy beige is subtle and the chocolate brown is rich and warm.  This one is definitely going into my collection at home!

Southern Vintage $24.50m

#1 Southern Vintage

#2 Southern Vintage

#3 Southern Vintage

#4  Southern Vintage

We have seen another surge of interest from here and overseas once again for Corliss' beautiful Caswell Quilt.  So for those of you making it  here it is in it's natural habitat - hanging at Threadbear for all to admire. 

 Sammy has a busy schedule this week and has thankfully had his weekly bath so he's smelling not too shabby at all. We hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Bath done - now where's my stylist?