New Fabrics Oct/Nov '12

I have had some lovely new patchwork cotton fabrics in this last month. I love some of these modern style fabrics that are coming through -
These first 3 are from Stof NZ$27.20per metre

Aren't they crisp and clean designs.
And then there is the Cosmopolitan Range NZ$28.05 per metre

I have a plain cream homespun which goes perfectly with the off white shading in these fabrics. I think they look lovely, don't you?

There is a new range out from Jason Yenter "Deco" NZ$27.80 per metre

 

These are rich and vibrant colours. I think they would look good in most designs. I can see a stained glass rose window style in them, can't you?
And then there is this most unusual, soft seafoam green style of colour and soft designs, very reminiscent of underwater......

This is the Alchemy range NZ$28.70 per metre.
Hopefully some of the above tempt your creative juices - do call in and see what we have on offer.
Dianne

Modern Quilts

I have been looking at websites and books about Modern Quilting. I like the freshness and simplicity of these quilts. Here are a couple I have made

This is one I made to show at our recent quilt exhibition in Palmerston North. I joined a whole lot of scraps 2 1/2" wide into rows and joined them together with white between. Here is the piece before shaping it.

I joined all the strips on a bias angle to make them look more interesting that a straight join. I made it the width I needed to make my circle. I then joined 2 pieces of standard width white fabric together, folded it into quarters and cut a circle out of the centre. I then placed the white fabric over the strip piece and turned under the edges of the circle then used a buttonhole stitch to stitch it into place. Then I trimmed the excess strips from the back piece.

Here is my cat Tiger helping me. He thinks that if I have a quilt/fabric/batting on the floor then he can plonk himself in the middle of it and 'help' me. You can just see the rest of the stripped piece under the white fabric. It has to be carefully cut back near the seam otherwise you do see these coloured fabrics under the white. I then chose to do a simple style of quilting in rows across the quilt.

The next one I made was for our club challenge. Rose City Quilters turned 30 this year and our challenge was to make a quilt 50cm wide by 1m long representing 30th Anniversary.
I decided to make a 'modern' quilt using traditional techniques. I joined 29 different batik fabrics with a white fabric between each strip, with a white border (therefore making 30 fabrics). I quilted 30 different stitches between each strip and around the border, at the top of the strips I quilted 30 repeated and at the bottom I quilted Happy Anniversary repeated. Most of the quilting stitches were modern so around the outside edge I used a feather quilting design and modernised it with bright colour around it.

Then I find I didn't take a picture of the finished piece. I'll go and do that now and put it up
Dianne

Gorgeous Fabrics

There are some more gorgeous fabrics in stock. It is like Christmas opening these parcels. The fabrics are so delicious I want to make something with everything that arrives in store, but unfortunately I cannot do that.
Here are some that are now available

Lovely jewel coloured batik NZ$26.80pm

Beautiful blue with dot batik NZ$26.80pm

Bright fresh green batik nz$26.80pm

Blue and yellow/old gold batik NZ$26.80pm

 

Warm red/orange & yellow batik NZ$26.80pm

This is a lovely warm autumn range of fabrics,NZ$29.90pm

A gorgeous border print to go with the feature fabric

and a warm allover print to blend with the 2 above.
I made a quilt last year using a similar range of fabric which looked gorgeous made up.

It doesn't have the flowers of the range above but similar colours and is a lovely warm looking quilt.

This is Shimmer - a lovely range of butterflies and blending fabrics. The butterfly border print NZ$27.00pm

Lovely jewel colours with a metallic gold outline

Nice rich looking design with the metallic gold overlay

Beautiful rich looking fabrics that just beg to be made up into a gorgoeus quilt. Oh for the time!!

Call in and see them or order by email

Dianne

Shop Hop 2012 Now Over

After 4 weeks the Shop Hop 2012 is now over. Thank you to all who participated. It was lovely to see all the ladies who travelled around on the Shop Hop.
The draw has been done for the sewing machine which was won by Lisa Avery who signed up at Sawmillers in Upper Hutt and the 2nd prize of fabric went to Janice Hoggard who signed up at Crafty Pear. Congratualtions to you two, enjoy your prizes.
Now we have to think about next year and what we can create.
Dianne

More wonderful craft books

Here are some more wonderful craft books just arrived in store

Piec-lique NZ$45
Sharon Schamber shows you how easy it is to sew curves. I have used her set in sewing method for circles and it is wonderful. Check this book out now!

Piece by Piece NZ$45
Another book by Sharon Schamber, this time featuring her method for beautiful applique. Sharon's quilts are award winners. Read up on how you could improve your methods as well.

Curiosities and Mischief NZ$35
This is a cute book with some wonderful ideas for childrens quilts and cushions and wall hangings. A full alphabet included so you can t5race off your appliques and use any word/name you want.
Come and check out these books
Dianne

Books, Books, Books

I have received a new shipment of books in. I just love books because they are food for the soul (the creative soul). In my mind I have made so many things, if only I had the time to make them in real life. I wish!
Anyway you could enjoy any of these -

Bed Runners & More NZ$25

This lovely book has lots of designs to make runners for the end of the bed rather than make a full size bed quilt. By using a neutral bed cover and changing the bed runners you can change the look in your bedroom at will.

 

City Blocks NZ$40

I love the quilts in the book. A good variety and very modern.

 

Print With Collage & Stitch NZ$45

A textbook for trying out a variety of Mixed Media printmaming techniques. Good photos and instructions throughout.

Dream Feathers NZ$48

This book will help you understand how to stitch your own dream feather quilting designs. Well set out and good instructions, so easy to follow. Try feathers for yourself. I can attest that they are easier than you think to machine quilt. I love stitching them now.

Visual Texture on Fabric NZ$40

Lisa Kerpoe has set out to show you how to create a variety of stunning art cloth designs with water based resists. Good photos of what you can achieve and how to do it. Why not try something new for yourself. I love printing my own fabrics.

SkyQuilts NZ$50

Mickey Lawler has been hand painting her own fabrics for years. Now you can too. Her latest book is very descriptive and you can create some fantastic fabrics for yourself.

Patchwork Sassaman Style NZ$50

I love Jane Sassaman's new book. This is a must for anyone interested in using fabric to its best advantage. Jane uses very simple piecing - squares, 4 patches, rectangles. It is all in how you cut the fabric and piece it together. Her quilts have movement and life, all from the way the fabric was cut. Great book (you can tell I love it, can't you?)

Scrap Basket Sansations NZ$45

We all have scraps, don't we. See what you can create with those scraps and make lovely quilts.

Simple Graces NZ$50

Kim has created some lovely quilts in this more traditional style patchwork book.

Friendship Strips and Scraps NZ$50

Edyta Sitar has some lovely books out. This is the second of hers we have had in, the first one sold out in a few days and didn't even get photographed to put on here. Will have to get more of her lovely style which uses up all those scraps you might have in beautiful quilts.

Call in and check out these lovely books.

Dianne

 

Class List for end 2012

The following are the classes I have scheduled for the end of this year.

Playday Class
Sunday September 30th 2012 10am - 4pm  NZ$40
Do you want to play witha variety of different things - Stitching on Metal, Lutradur, Painted Fusibles and Discharge Dyeing. This 6 hour class gives you time to try these things without spending too much time or money. Once you've had a taste of how to use these items you may spend a lot more time creating. A kit is available

Writing On Quilts
Tuesday 9th October 7pm - 9pm NZ$15
Dianne has written on several quilts and can share the knowledge of how to achieve this. Experiment with a few different ways to write on your fabric to create names, sayings, general words etc.

Wire Mesh Flowers
Wednesday 10th October 7pm - 9pm NZ$15
Leanr how to create fabulous free form flowers with wire mesh and fabric. The flowers will stand up in a vase and can be shaped to suit. You cna choose to use a fbaric that has a flower shape on it or any fabric colour/print that appeals

Lutradur Vase
Wednesday 17 October 7pm - 9pm NZ$15
In this class you can make a vase using Lutradur, paint and fabric. You could use it to place the flowers you made above in.Be creative and try something a little different. You can place a glass jar inside to hold real flowers if wanted.

Advanced Dyeing
Sunday 28 October 9:30am - 4pm NZ40 + NZ$12 materials fee
Dye kit available for NZ$30 if you do not have your own Procion MX Dyes
Dianne will show you some more advanced techniques to use with fabric dyeing and Procion MX dyes. Create some wonderful pieces which you can use in your work. You do not need to have done the beginners dye class as Dianne will explain as we go along but a knowledge of fabric dyeing helps.

Machine Quilted Feathers
Tuesday 30th October 7pm - 9pm  NZ$15
Dianne stitched her Shop Hop Quilt using feathers and several people have asked how they can do this themselves. Dianne will run through how you can try out some of these feather quilting designs yourself.

Christmas Tree Quilt
Wednesday 7th November 7pm - 9pm  NZ$15
Have fun making this quick and easy Christmas Tree Quilt. Get 2 for 1 with the positive and negative shapes. Looks great done in only 2 colours. Dianne chose red and white.

If you'd like to join in with one of these classes please contact Dianne (06) 3555735 or email dianneandcolin@inspire.net.nz