Foothills Fabric & Threads

I'm Back...

Hello everyone,

Well I have been back for a week.  I had so much fun meeting so many Patchwork shop owners from lots of states mostly QLD, NSW,VIC, & SA and it was interesting that most of the girls were from country areas, I guess they don't always have the opportunity to see "what's new".  Some I have promised to keep in touch with. I met Daniela Stout from Cozy Quilt Shop close to San Diego.  What a diminutive, & delightful lady, she took us on a "guided tour of her shop" and taught us the delights of Jelly Rolls and what great patterns you can make with 2 1/2" strips.  We worked on her State of Grace quilt, I haven't finished it yet (80) squares but I love working on it. (More about her quilts and patterns later, although I did bring some patterns back with me.) 

Bronwyn Hayes took us through a thread & painting workshop, using the lovely Needle Necessities threads that most of us are familiar with  as well as DMC's to create eventually, a lovely quilt with flowers and birds, the sample quilt is very pretty.  Her new book will be released soon.

On the way home we stopped in Beechworth for lunch and a visit to Jelena from Beechworth Quilters Cottage, one of my favourite shops (yes, I do get out occassionally). I had a wonderful welcome with a big hug, there was non-stop chatter about fabric, suppliers, patterns, my workshop at Bowral and Jelena shared some very exciting news with me, I was so thrilled for her. No doubt she will share this with you all soon.  Then my driver (Peter) said "come on or we'll never get home"

It's good to get away, but it's great to be back.  Talk soon, Lesley

Southern Highlands

I'm off to Bowral tomorrow for my workshop/holiday.  As well as a workshop with the popular Bronwyn Hayes I'm looking forward to meeting Daniella a guest from America  who has her own quilt shop,and I'm sure she will have heaps of stories for us and a wonderful workshop to share. Highland Quiltworks have a new warehouse so that will be a treat to browse the new patterns, books etc.  More about this when I get back next week.  It's truly been a lot of hard work this last couple of weeks organising everything for next week, but in between we've been looking at some beautiful new fabrics, so along with some we're expecting soon like Look & Learn there will be lots arriving over the next month.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful friends Ramona, and Sue whom most of you know and( Lyn a good friend of mine who is looking forward to meeting as many of you as possible,) for filling in the next week at the shop and occasionally in the following 3 weeks.  I'm sure they will have heaps to tell me when I get back.  Well I'm glad we're both able to get away, it's been a difficult few weeks, and I'm sure the break will do us good.   Hope everyone stays well and look forward to seeing you soon. Lesley

Ciao..........

This will be my last blog for a while as I leave for Italy tomorrow.  The last week has flown in between working in the shop, teaching classes, working on the newsletter and last minute shopping. I have managed to post some new items in the What’s New album and also another completed Leanne’s House Block of the month in the Student’s work Album. Linda's quilt is lovely I only wish I had taken some close ups of some of the blocks. I would like to say thankyou for all your good wishes for a bon voyage and also for my lovely gifts which leads me back to last weeks post.

You may have read my earlier post about Maureen  who made a lovely quilt for her niece as a wedding gift.  I hadn’t see Maureen for a while when she popped into the shop a couple of weeks ago.  I was busy at the time but I chatted as I worked and discovered that Maureen had been quite ill with a heart problem but she was ok now.  When my other customers left Maureen gave me a lovely gift.

This was totally unexpected and a lovely surprise.  It was a pleasure to help Maureen as it is with all our customers. I just love my job well most of it anyway.  It is easy to become bogged down with the day to day running of the shop, chasing up stock, doing the bookwork, orgainising the newsletter there is always something mundane to do.  I suppose we all have good and bad days but hopefully they are mostly good.  I love the people contact.  It's great when a customer comes in and knows her mind and goes straight to the shelf for her choices but what I really love is when a customer asks for your guidance, I am sometimes surprised by the combinations we come up with and I think gee I'd like to use those fabrics in a quilt.   Often a customer will apologise for taking up my time and I say that's what I'm here for.  I feel that that is such an inadequate response.  Yes it's my business and my job but it's what I LOVE to do.

It's the same with teaching especially the ongoing classes where you get to know the students and you can watch their progress to becoming confident quilters.  Well that's all from me it's a bit like famine and feast.  Hopefully I'll be able to post more regularly on my return.  so it's  un abbraccio (hug) and ciao from me..........Sandra

 

Stokesay

Hello everyone, It's been a while since I've posted a blog, some of you may know that I've been off work with a virus and missed Glenharrow with Rosalie and Leanne.  I believe it was quite successful and was a great chance to sit and sew some lovely projects with friends and make new ones.  Today Peter and I drove to Stokesay Mohair Farm in Pearcedale to purchase some mohair for Lesley Coleman's up and coming Santa class "Key to Christmas".  Intriguing name isn't it?  It's a lovely farm with gorgeous mohair goats, alpachas and Merino sheep.  The shop is well worth a visit with beautiful hand knitted garments. Peter bought a mohair sweater, it fitted him perfectly and I bought the mohair, some wooden knitting needles and a pattern book.  This afternoon I was hoping to help Peter in the garden, but fell asleep on the couch.  I hope that I get over this virus soon, and I'm up and about and organised for my trip next week to Bowral for the Connecting  Threads Workshop, I am really looking forward to it as it's a sort of combined holiday for both of us.  More soon Lesley

Morning..........

Good morning.  This is a post that I have been meaning to write for the last 2 weeks.  I've been trying to catch up with things at home as well as get ready for our trip, being unwell really through a spanner in the works. Anyway back to my post.  Last year a new customer walked into our shop and asked if we could help her make a quilt for her niece who was getting married and coming out from Ireland for a visit.  She knew how to embroider and applique and had dabbled in patchwork but really didn't know where to start with the quilt.  Maureen had found a pattern in a magazine but only had part 2 so she contacted the designer and was able to purchase a pattern. It's a Patchwork Pumpkin design that was made in all blue and creams.  Maureens first dilemma was colour her niece liked autumn tones this was all in blue where to start.  So began our journey, first choosing a colour palette from scratch, then we started some of the basic patchwork blocks in class with Maureen doing her applique etc at home.  Designing a border as the pattern was for a large single and we needed a queen.  Finally the quilt was finished and off to the quilters.  It was finished in time for Maureen's niece's arrival.  Maureen's niece loved the quilt and Maureen was able to pop into the shop for show and tell before the quilt made it's journey back to Ireland.  Luckily I was able to take a quick snap of the quilt I wish that I had taken some close ups of some of the blocks as Maureen's work is just lovely.The photo was taken outside the shop with Bobbie and her friend standing on the seat holding it up for us. This photo was taken in September 2006 I hadn't had my new handbag camera for long the colour is fairly close burgundy greens purple witha dash of mustard on scrappy cream backgrounds.  I think you will all agree Maureen did a fantastic job. 

Well I must go now I will finish part 2 of this story soon. 

In the meantime check out some new photo's is the students album.  Take note of Diane's Stars for Christmas quilt.  This quilt was entirely made by hand incuding cutting out the patchwork blocks with scissors.  Mind you Dianne has since bought a sewing machine and rotary equipment so this years Christmas quilt is a combination and she loves that rotary cutter.

bfn Sandra

A great weekend........

What a lovely, crisp spring morning.  We are in for a cold day today but I can’t complain after the glorious weekend weather that we’ve just had.  Father’s Day was perfect and after a lovely lunch we were able to sit outside, and watch as our grandson Ethan had a lovely time on Amelia’s old swing set.

 

Now I promised some catch up posts and they are coming but I hope you don't mind that I'm slipping in some non quilty things.

Last Sunday after spending the morning at Glen Harrow, visiting my mum and then my sister in the afternoon and the long drive home I was just vegging out on the couch when I heard Graham go upstairs and call Amelia then they both came back down and disappeared outside.  When they didn't come back inside after a few minutes my curiosity got the better of me so I peeked out the window.  I mean what could they possibly be doing outside in the dark.  Well this is what I saw

a tawny frogmouth owl sitting on our clothesline.  I quickly grabbed my camera.  Amelia was snapping away with hers. We are lucky to have such wonderful wildlife where we live. He wasn't the prettiest bird that we've seen in our backyard but I think he's pretty special. I only managed one shot before he turned his head spread his wings and silently flew away.

Well I must get to the shop I'll be back with more quilty news later.. bfn Sandra