more christmas cuties......

'Adorable Angels.

made at embroidery class by Ray..Irene..and Wendy

Ray and Wendy made  Santa bags, another great 'in the hoop' design fromhttp://www.moosebstitchin.com/

Adults are learning to sew......

New Fabric

Christmas has come early for us at the shop. 40 new fabrics arrived this week and they are just yummy!

..more work from our Mum's and daughters

.....finished monsters

Haven't they made a great job!

In Stitches

In response to an enquiry via my own blog, bluepatchquilter I am posting these pics of a line of fabric we stock in Sew Materialistic - it's "Stitches" by Lynette Anderson Designs for Henry Glass & Co.
There are two designs with adorable prints of different stitches and a cute puss. As well as these two we also have 3 co-ordinating prints of tiny hearts, each in a different colourway. The last pic shows a simple patchwork cushion that was made up for one of the shop classes.

My apologies for the photo quality - taken on my phone!!

 We have a reasonable amount of this fabric left (£11.50m) so if anyone is interested in purchasing some, we would be happy to fulfil your request via our website - we do not as yet have online sales but are more than happy to take orders by phone or mail order. You will find our contact details at this link.

Monsterous Kids Class

Laura made this awesome plushie monster at the kids class.

Now we're in the middle of making cusion covers and they're looking really good so far!

'mums and daughters'

what a busy saturday.....two lots of mums with their daughters.......yes, mums are taking part too!
first class of girls were making monsters.........mum made a makeup roll.

the girls are getting pretty nifty with their pattern cutting........machines were whirring to complete their projects!

class 2

.............well done everyone we had a lovely day!

Snip Snip Snip

Check out these cute scissors. Perfect for the young budding sewer.

Apple fabric today

.......keeps idle hands at bay. Come into the shop to sink your teeth into this yummy selection or give us a call to set some aside.

Kids Class

Yesterday we had a kids class in the shop. Here is the pin cushion that Laura made....

I just love the combination of fabrics!

Ahead of the game

September.........and we are well on our way for christmas .......embroidery classes have stitched out some jolly snowmen........ others have made some festive coasters .

Classes are going well.........

P & Q - Show & Tell

We have just completed several small P & Q classes in the shop. After a quick intro to the use of rotary cutters, our first project is Lemon Squeezy cushion, a cushion made up of 4 blocks with a narrow border. Layer up, quilt,  add a backing and job done! A short, but comprehensive intro to P & Q.

Well done ladies.............some of you have already started the next stage - foundation piecing...watch this space.

Embroidery busy bees...

Recently tuesday and thursday embroidery classes have been embroidering on pvc.............a new medium and quite a challenge................with a little patience they upped the anti and delivered!.....lovely totes were produced,..... craft cotton was covered with pvc, embroidered on, then embroidered 3D flowers were  attached with stud jewels.

Product Info

At her recent workshops Sheila has used fusible wadding.
 We have now managed to obtain pre-packs of this for sale in the shop - it is made by Hobbs and it's fusible 80/20 (80% cotton, 20% polyester)
This is a great product for smaller quilts and wallhangings and completely eliminates the need for pinning and basting - can't be bad eh?

Those of you who use DMC stranded embroidery floss, may be interested to know that we are discontinuing this product and selling our stock off at 50p per skein - this is brilliant value - buy now whilst stock lasts.

Easy Peasy..................

................then it must be Lemon Squeezy.
In the last two weeks, the ladies attending the shop P & Q classes have all started on the Lemon Squeezy cushion............here are some pics of Ann, Valerie and Andrea who cut and pieced the cushion top in one session - well done ladies!!

Despite my constant nagging, I reckon they look like they are enjoying themselves!!

More P&Q recruits

P&Q 'New starts'

Shop 'taster classes' for Patchwork and Quilting  are now up and running. These three ladies have just completed their second project, which they found most enjoyable!

If you are looking to take up a new stitching craft, why not pop into the shop for a chat and we will add your name to our waiting list.

Kits

Do you remember these quilts?

We now have kits available to make them! The Easy Baltimore kit contains EVERYTHING you need other than the wadding, to make this quilt - yes, even the backing and binding......

Much of this quilt has been pre-cut for you - so it is an ideal project for a beginner.

Another quick and easy project is Lemon Squeezy - as in, easy peasy.........

The Easy Baltimore kits are all made from Thimbleberries 100% cotton fabrics from their 3s Company range and some of the specific prints may vary from the picture.
The Lemon Squeezy kits have been made from a whole range of different styles and colours (all 100% quilting cottons) so will vary from the pic.

Both kits are selling at £25 which represents great value for money - call in and have a look, they make a great gift (even for yourself!)

Thursday's embroidery class

Thursday embroidery class have just finished covering their empty crisp tubs, aren't they pretty?

'Bring me sunshine'

When and if it ever arrives Ray, Wendy and Irene from tuesday embroidery class are ready, they have just completed their beach bags and matching towels. Bags are made from a choice of batiks available in the shop.

Ray



Wendy



Irene

'Minders'

We did a stint  for Marie at the shop stand at the Quilt show, we had a ball! We were in the same venue as the winning quilts, the overall winner  was absolutely stunning, what beautiful work. Everyone we met and served at our busy stand all had the same passion so conversation was easy, such a friendly bunch of quilters either looking for something to match their swatches or inevitably going away with fabric for a new quilt. Funny how you don't feel your aching feet till you get home, but boy was it worth it, we might even get asked back!

Christine 'n' Alexis

The overall winner

Well what a busy busy week we are having at Loch Lomond Quilt Show.  My little rotary cutters are aching!  This is a wonderful show to visit if anyone is in the area and there is a lovely little reprieve when you feel 'quilted out' in the Riverside Church with soup and sandwiches, tea, coffee and cakes and the Traders Village along with beautiful quilts on display.  The organisers are looking for quilts for next years show and have a few challenges for you all which we will post more about later in the week.  Come along and say 'hello' if you manage to make it, would be lovely to see you all.

'Judy' demonstration

Just spent a very pleasant evening in pleasant company at Greenhills WRI. I was given instructions how to get there, too many roundabouts around Irvine for my liking so I let the satnav get me there. I decided to take the homeward route as was initially given, I gave up counting at 11 roundabouts befiore I was home, however I arrived there and back safe and sound. Judy, by the way is my Janome 9500, who sings and dances just like her namesake! Thank you ladies for inviting me and for the delicious supper.  Christine

Machine Embroidery Classes

 To all who are eagerly awaiting notice of new classes starting....., due to circumstances we have been a bit hesitant in getting our new starts up and running but hopefully, with fingers and toes crossed we shall soon be contacting you. Thank you for your patience.

These three ladies initially enrolled for a six week course..................they have now been with us for 3 years and have become the ones who keep my brain from sleeping,..... yes, the middle of the night is a great time for inspiration ............................................................................................

Thanks Alexis, Katrina and Jane you and our other class members have produced some beautiful work.............................................................

Fresh Start

Our shop blog didn't quite get underway as we hoped - however, from now on we are going to try a joint effort with contributions from all of us from time to time.
There are four of us in the shop - Marie is the owner, has been for just over 7yrs, and she set up the blog originally, with Alana, our youngest member of staff (!!)
Christine is Marie's mum-in-law and our resident expert on the embroidery machines.
Me? - I'm Sheila, the obsessive quilting one and I also blog over at bluepatchquilter

Our shop is a bit of an Aladdin's Cave - we stock an ever growing range of 100% cottons for patchwork, lots of polycotton, plain & patterned, utility fabrics like calicos and curtain lining, fleeces, furs, dress linings and some dressmaking fabric, as well as a large range of haberdashery. We are also an agent for Janome sewing machines.

We run small classes in the shop in machine embroidery and patchwork & quilting (new P& Q programme starting soon)
In less than 2 weeks we will be trading as usual at the Loch Lomond Quilt Show - if you haven't been to this excellent show, I really recommend a visit.
Marie will have lots of bargains this year and will also be launching two new kits to make these quilts -

This one is Quick and Easy Baltimore and the fabric is all 100% Thimbleberries cottons - the kit has everything - yes everything needed except wadding.Most of the pieces have been pre-cut to size.

This is Lemon Squeezy, updated in our newest range, Lollipop, by Sandy Gervais, for Moda.

Both of these quilts are suitable for beginners and would make great gifts.

We hope you will bookmark our blog - we will try our best to update regularly with all our news.