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!