Dear <<First Name>>,
What did Gayle and I see at the Australian Quilt Market?
This market is a fraction of the size of the one in Houston but I think we found what we went to find. There is so much embroidery done in Australia and combined with patchwork in a quilt, it certainly ticks a lot of boxes for us. All of us at Grandmother’s Garden enjoy handwork in the evening. It’s hard to watch Masterchef or a cliff hanger Netflix with the machine whirring!
There is something very relaxing about simple embroidery and if you can do back stitch, french knots and lazy daisy - there are so many projects with just these stitches! At the end, many can be combined with patchwork. One of the most delightful things we have found in Melbourne is that designers are getting their designs preprinted - wonderful! Although we have those great LED lightpads for tracing, having preprinted backgrounds onto quilter’s muslin really is fantastic.
I have bought some really quirky designs, just one of each at this stage until we get the models made. It will be interesting to see what the staff think. We have a wonderful Christmas mouse block of the month. We also have another embroidered quilt with each block being a room in your house so it will be interesting stitching kitchen things, chairs, sofas and carpets etc, then joining them with patchwork.
We did not buy much fabric as that tends to come to us from our supplier in America who has all the latest collections but we did buy some gorgeous Peter Rabbit panels and co-ordinates from a British fabric company.
Now we have four days off and have already done some damage among the antiques!
I have been meaning to introduce you to Katherine, she replaced Annett who has moved on after 10 years. Katherine is not a quilter yet but comes from a line of avid quilters. You will find her in accounts and despatch to help you with any queries about orders. Katherine and Lynda will tell you this week about any new fabrics or notions. I pretty much cleaned out the new last week but something new is always arriving.
New Fabrics
Riley Blake Design - Serenity Collection by Gerri Robinson of Planted Seed Designs
There are five coordinates in this almost monotone range. There are two paler floral pinstripes fabrics one with white and grey, the other white with taupe. There is a great black contrasted with white rose bouquets surrounded by trails of fine vines.
The last two in this collection are border prints one in taupe and the other in black. They both have white lacy designs with a hint of taupe.
To top it off, we have a 10” Layercake as well, to compliment these fabrics.
Click here to take you to this collection, AG690-AG694
Watt’s River by Max & Louise Pastern
This delightful range has the most precious little outlines of brown bunnies all over the cream background. The next one, has small flower and fronds which is brown on cream in strips filled with dots in between. And the third is cream with a pale grey/brown foliage dotted all over.
This grouping of fabrics would be great to include alongside another colour of your choice.
Click here to visit Watt’s River, AG678-AG680
Chafarcani by French General
We have the 10" Layercake and two of these fabrics on the bolt.
They are both strong, warm reds.
Click here to go to this collection, AG681-AG682
Harvest Berry by Cheryl Haynes
Three coordinates in this range. The first is leaf to leaf with olive green with a small all over fern like pattern. The next two, one is a grassy green with sprigs of green leaves and the other cream with pale brown sprigs allover.
Click here to see Harvest Berry, AG683-AG685
Vintage Collection by Sanderson
The main star in this collection is ‘Chelsea’. As you would expect there are roses! On a muted purple background with varying hues of pink in the roses along with a splash of teal and brassy coloured highlights, it is beautiful.
There are two other fabrics in this collection, the first ‘Petunia’ is a lovely little blue on blue flower. The last one has a taupe background with a daintily twisted diamond vine with a little tiny white flowers - Forget-me-nots.
Click here to view this vintage collection, AG686- AG688
Nightlife - Rainbow Ombre
This vivid ombre fabric is nice and bright and will liven up many a different project!
Click here to see this bright and colourful bolt, AG689
Floral Pets by Mia Charro
Hello Animal lovers! Who could say no to these gorgeous faces in flowers?
We have something for everyone - but especially our cat and our dog lovers!
Check out these super quick ‘Cheater Quilt’ ideas,
http://yeoldesweatshop.blogspot.com/2019/03/cheater-quilts-with-floral-pets.html
We have a panel and an all over print with both the cats and dogs. Thinking cushions or lap throw or embellished wall hanging?
Be sure to send us photos of what you create, as we would love to see!
Click here to see these cuties, AG671-AG674
Plume Collection by Anna Griffin
The feather in the cap of this range has a dark teal background with an assortment of hot pink and baby blue flowers with with brassy feathers throughout. It has a slight regal air to it.
This collection has a pink coordinate which also has plumes and flowers similar to a stylised peony and the green one has plumes allover.
Click here to see this collection, AG675-AG677
Your feedback requested
Do you use the
Design Wall on our website when making your selections of fabric? John is wanting to make it work better on a Tablet or an iPad. He’s mainly looking at having a better Colour Picker for changing the Background colour so if you have any comments or suggestions please send them to
john@gmg.net.nz.
Well that’s it for this week…
from
Hazel and the Team
P.S.
Salted Caramel Coconut Bliss Balls - a healthy and delicious treat that only requires four ingredients!
1 cup (packed) pitted Medjool dates (normal dates are fine you just need to soak in hot water for 5 mins, drain and use)
1 cup almonds (I used unsalted and sliced)
1/4 cup desiccated coconut (extra for rolling the balls in)
1/4 tsp salt
Put everything in the food processor and pulse until you make a sticky dough. If your dough is not sticky enough add a couple more dates and pulse again.
Use your hands to make bite size balls and roll on a plate of coconut to finish them off.
Store in your fridge in an airtight container. Makes one dozen.
