Primarily Quilts..2 is almost here!

Our first shipment of Di Ford's new book Primarily Quilts..2 ~ It's all about the fabric is due to arrive at Threadbear next week!!  Congratulations Di, we can't wait to see it!   From the preview pages it looks every bit as gorgeous, perhaps even more so, than the first Primarily Quilts book.  So for all of you who made a start on one of Di's fabulous new quilts in class with her last year, we know you'll be keen to get your hands on a  copy of Primarily Quilts..2.  If you have already pre-ordered the book with us, we'll be in contact with you just as soon as it arrives. In the meantime, take a look at some of the treats in store!

photo from QuiltMania

photo from QuiltMania

photo from QuiltMania

With Corliss' English Basket Quilt pattern made by Heleni van Til In the current QuiltMania magazine issue 118, we've had a surge of new interest in the the pattern and fabric starter packs.  Some of our lovely New Zealand customers should be receiving theirs this week, but we did take the opportunity to cut extra packs for the shop.  The pack comprises 50 fat sixteenths in the colours and style of prints Corliss used when she made the quilt in 2010.  The starter pack will get you a good way into the applique and piecing  and makes it easy to add in other fabrics as you go.

English Basket Quilt starter pack available here

English Basket Quilt starter pack available here

detail from Corliss' English Basket Quilt

The Autumn  weather is finally showing signs of cooling down a little here in Castlemaine, and our thoughts can turn to cosy evenings sewing by the fire, and snuggling under quilts for a lazy Sunday afternoon nap.  With Auntie Tess now completed, Corliss is writing up the pattern and hatching new ideas for her next big project. Meanwhile, Megan is finally sewing again after 12 months of doing not much at all in the evenings after work! Speaking of which, Sam has been flat out this week doing not much at all.. before, during, and after work!  Here's hoping you don't have too much that you have to do this weekend and find plenty of time to rest and stitch. Have a great weekend everyone!

New patterns and a new QuiltMania magazine to enjoy!

Thank you to all our lovely customers for the many birthday cards and wishes for Threadbear's 25th Birthday last week.  What a great week we all had during our birthday sale and with the Passionate Piecers Group meeting on Saturday as well!  Special thanks to Patti for the birthday cake enjoyed by everyone!

With just a few more stitches to do and a couple of finishing touches remaining, Corliss' newest quilt, Auntie Tess, will soon be off to the quilter and work can start writing the pattern.  This beautiful applique and hand pieced quilt is an original design, inspired by a vintage enamelled compact which belonged to Virginia Enright's Auntie Tess.  Corliss' applique centre and border is finely detailed with subtle accents of embroidery, whimsical dragonflies and butterflies, and some stunning fussy cutting to add depth and interest. The pattern and a fabric starter pack will be available early April.

detail from Autie Tess by Corliss Searcey ~ available April

detail from Autie Tess by Corliss Searcey ~ available April

detail from Autie Tess by Corliss Searcey ~ available April

We were so delighted to see Jo's finished, quilted and bound 19th Century Sampler quilt which she did as our Block of the Month last year.  Thanks Jo for bringing your finished quilt to show us. You've done a fantastic job and it looks amazing!  The complete pattern for the 19th Century Sampler will be available through Threadbear in the first week of April.

19th Century Sampler ~ available April

QuiltMania Issue 118 arrived this week and after sending it out to all our subscribers yesterday, we have 12 copies available for the shop.  It's a beautiful cheery spring issue (northern hemisphere spring) with some great projects and features.  You'll enjoy highlights from the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival, a Marie Webster Quilts exhibition and a study of Turkey Red quilts from the International Quilt Study Centre.  Look out for Part 2 of Michelle Yeo's brilliant block of the month Torrington Place, and Part 2 of Yoko Sato's Imaginary Garden, as well as 6 other projects! Phone or email us to order your copy now.

Sam needs no excuse to snooze at the best of times. But this week we have to give him his dues...he did a sterling job meeting and greeting people throughout the busy 4 days of our birthday sale.  So both he and Corliss were happy to have some down time at the end of the day for some stitching.  We hope you all enjoy some stitching time too with someone special. Have a great weekend everyone!

It's SALE TIME ~ 25% off everything to celebrate 25 years!!!

Happy Birthday Threadbear ~ 25 years in business this month!  To celebrate, we're having a 4-Day SALE starting today.  25% off everything  in the shop whether you come visit us in person, or shop on line (excludes postage cost).  And when we say everything, we mean everything: fabrics, wadding, thread, haberdashery, patterns, and books. This is a great opportunity to grab yourself a bargain and celebrate with us.

25% off all of our pre-cut fabric

25% off all our fabric packs

25% off all our fabric

25% off all our fabric

25% off all our fabric and patterns

25% off all our fabric - blenders, tone on tones, all colours

25% off all our fabric~ every range on our shelves

25% off all our fabric ~ even our newest ranges

And of course, there's no show without Punch ~ Sammy will be here to meet  and greet and has been resting up for a busy few days!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Pinks, Purples, Paisley and Pheasants!

Hello everyone, we hope you've been enjoying the change in season with the arrival of March, although here in Castlemaine the hot summer weather looks here to stay for a few more weeks. We were so pleased to receive the balance of our order of Bally Hall this week.  The last of our pre-orders have now been filled and we've replenished our shelves to complete the range again.  We now have the beautiful pink birds, borders, and pink background fabrics in stock  that we know so many of you were keen to order. Congratulations again to Di Ford-Hall on this stunning collection!

#1 Bally Hall $24.50m

#2 Bally Hall $24.50m

#3 a few from Bally Hall and Key West both by Di Ford-Hall.

Reproduction purples are often hard to come by so we were keen to add these lovelies to our shelves from Pam Buda's Antique Cotton ~ Old Plum Calicos .  The five we chose are all perfect stash builders with a mix of tone on tones and delicate prints of teal and soft red on plum/purple.

#4 Antique Cotton ~ Old Plum Calicos

#5 Antique Cotton ~ Old Plum Calicos

#6 Antique Cotton ~ Old Plum Calicos

Is there any such thing as a bad paisley?  We don't think so!  Paisley prints are so useful for applique vases and urns, fussy cut piecing, birds and butterfly wings and tails, flower centres, or in larger setting triangles.  They even make a fabulous backing for any quilt.  This paisley is from The Golden Age by Nancy Gere and we can't wait to take a little piece home and start chopping it up!

#7 The Golden Age $25.00m

Don't forget our 25th BIRTHDAY SALE next week - in store and on-line. See our flyer below for all the details. Remember, the SALE lasts for 4 DAYS ONLY - Thursday 9th March - Sunday 12 March.

Did you miss out on these drop dead gorgeous pheasants and flowers last year when we had them in stock?  Well, we managed to get hold of another bolt of this timeless and much sought after fabric from Margo Krager's Pheasants & Traceries collection.  It's not likely to be repeated any time soon, so don't miss out!  

#8 Pheasant's & Traceries  $25.50m

 It seems everybody loves hexagons these days; big hexagons, small hexagons, and ridiculously small hexagons!  Their timeless appeal never seems to fade.  So Sammy enjoyed inspecting Virginia's beautiful half inch hexagons last week and offering his opinion on her color choice for her next border! Here's hoping you find some stitching time whatever your project may be. Have a great weekend everyone!