Veronica Violet Stitcheries

I may or may not be obsessed with hexagons!

It seems I have been consumed by hexagons. These are 3/4" hexagons.

I thought I would use up my 1930's scraps.  No real plans as to how big it will finish up, I'll just keep cutting, glueing and stitching. I'm loving the look of these pretty little hexagons.

1" hexagons are a great way to use up "some" of those scraps.  I've been madly cutting 2 1/2" squares to make up scrap bags for the shop for any other "Hooked on Hexagon" stitchers.

Lots of cuttng and packing kits for the BOM This Goes With That and The Fussy Cut Club. This BOM is available as "Fresh and Pretty" or "Traditional" for $38 each month.  Includes 2 packs of papers with templates, thread, 4 fat 1/8s and four 10" sqaures each month, a carry bag and needles.

Tutor Kim with Pat, Anna and Wendy during the first class of the BOM This Goes With That.  The next class is Wednesday 16th May 11am to 2pm OR 7pm to 10pm.  Classes are held monthly and you can join in any month, bookings are essential.

Kim will also be teaching "applecores" on Wednesday 16th May from 2.45pm  to 5.45pm.  Why not come along and make a day of it with English Paper Piecing.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

 

It's been a while.

Now it's been a while.  But I have been busy.  My brain is in overdrive - too many things to do, make, see and dream about.

I've been making shop samples for window displays.

Going to Garage Sales.

Making hexagons.

Teaching a Scrap Happy Mystery Quilt.

Buying myself a cute little Elna - great for workshops!

Making hexagons for This Goes with That Block of the Month.

Cutting fabrics and making pretty bundles.

Re-arranging fabrics.  Love these gorgeous flannels.

What have you been up to?

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

A class or two!

Do you have a few U.F.O's tucked away in the cupboard? Have you forgotten where you were up to in the pattern? Do you want to change the design or just need some motivation? Lynne Van Rhee will be at Veronica Violet Stitcheries this Sunday between 10.30am - 3.30pm to help you get stuck into those unfinished projects.  Cost for the day is $30. BYO lunch.

It was raining again today so the kids had to play inside!  They didn't seem to mind though as there was lots of fabric to hide behind and a few things to re-arrange.  I think Simon the Sock Monkey may have been up to mischief judging by the grin on his face.  Bethan doesn't know what all the fuss is about and Klara  - well butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. (it's the quiet ones you need to keep an eye on!!!)

Jenny Newman is holding a class for Klara the Country Bear on Saturday 24th March from 10.30am - 3.30pm.  Class cost is $38.  Requirements list available.

If you would like to make Bethan the cloth doll then come along to a class with Kim Simpson on Saturday 28th April from 10.30am - 3.30pm.  You will learn how to stuff a doll without cellulite, make hands with some needle sculpting, draw and colour a doll's face and make and attach a hair piece.  Class cost is $35.  A kit for Bethan is available.

Kim will be holding a class for Simon the Sock Monkey in May.

English Paper Piecing is a very traditional method of Patchwork, with hexagons the most widely known shape.  The design possibilities are endless.  Kim Bastiani is holding a class on Wednesday 21st March 11am - 2pm.  Class cost is $28 with papers, thread and needles extra.  This is extremely portable, quick, accurate and great for those small pieces of fabric in your stash.

This goes with That is a paper pieced block of the month over 8 months.  Each month you get 2 sets of papers, some thread, four fat 1/4's and four 10" squares of fabric.  Needles and a cute little carry bag come with the first month.  The cost is $38 each month. 

Kim Bastiani will be holding a This goes with That class from 7pm - 10pm on Wednesday 21st March. This class will be ongoing monthly  - class ($28)  plus B.O.M. is $56 but if you can't make it to a class then you still get the next month's pack for $38.  The pictures are of Month 1 and Month 2.  As you can see, the blocks all finish up the same size and you can make as many or as few of each month's blocks as you like.  I'm really looking forward to starting this quilt.  It should be great fun.

Bookings plus payment are essential for all classes so please phone me at the shop on (02) 6032 8050 Weds - Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 10am - 4pm.

I hope to see you at a class or two.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

 

 

Fabric Delivery.

The delivery man bought me some parcels today.

It was all so exciting. 

The arrival of Rouenneries Deux by French General for Moda.  It is just gorgeous.  There are also Charm Packs, Jelly Rolls and Layer Cakes.  I think I made about 10 quilts from it in my sleep last night. Best get to work so I can do some more ooohing and aaaahing over this fabric. 

I think Red might be my new favourite colour! 

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn.

Newsletter and class list

The good news is that my newsletter and class list was finally completed and posted last week, so I hope everyone on my mailing list got theirs.  As much as we all love to recieve something other than bills in the mail that we can sit down and read over a cuppa, I think it's time I considered email.  The time and cost of mailing out over 500 newsletters is now becoming a bit too much.  Something I need to think about over the next few months.

Things are looking good in the newly expanded shop and there have been a few sit and stitch classes held already.  The large classroom is fantastic.

With all the rain we've been having a bit of water managed to come into the shop so it was time to re-do the windows.  I was fortunate that no stock was damamged.  My thoughts are with the many people in flood affected areas.

I found this in our storage container during the week.  I had completely forgotten about it.

Full of lovely treasures - lucky me!

My newest stitching project: Dance of the Heart by Rosalie Quinlan.  I just love Redwork.  This is a 9 part block of the month.  I love the fact that it is pre-printed on linen and also comes with thread - ready to stitch!  Dance of the Heart also comes in a coloured version as well, I might have to do make that too!

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

 

 

Sewing catch-up

It's been a busy weekend sewing at the shop.  Yesterday I tried to finish something that was started a few weeks ago, but no luck, I'm still working on it. I'm using Rosalie Quinlan's Folk Heart Range.

Anyway, there's always next week. Can't rush these things.

Speaking of not rushing things, way, way back in February 2007 at my old shop in Wangaratta we started a "Keeping your Sanity" Class  based on the book written by Liz Lois about a quilt made by Selinda Rupp in Pennsylvania in the 1870's.  There are 98, 6" blocks.  We are machine piecing our blocks on foundation papers.  And yes, we did sometimes feel insane!

Today, a few of us met up to have a catch up and see where we are up to with the blocks.  Sadly, I had only done 6 blocks ( but 2 of them were the same - obviously not paying attention there) so then I had only 5.

I did however get 1 and 1/2 blocks made today in between customers and that was a great feeling.  I'm feeling inspired and slightly insane and can't wait to continue.

If you too wish to join this slightly Insane group then come along and join us on Sunday 25th March at my shop starting at 10.30am.  Bookings are essential. You can make as many or as few blocks as you wish. Attendance at the club’s meetings is not compulsory but it is recommended - to keep you SANE!!!

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

The week that was - or still is!

So, this is how my week began.  With the closure of the shop nextdoor to mine, I have been able to re-open the doorway between the two shops and move my shop into nextdoor (a much larger shop area) which means I now have a fantastic light and bright sewing classroom (where my shop was) - absolutely wonderful! 

The empty "new" shop was cleaned up and painted in just a few days.  Maybe I should go on one of those reality home reno shows - I think I may even enjoy painting, but shhhh, don't tell anyone!

Look at all that extra space I can fill up!  And another lovely big window for creating window displays (I love that part) and also lots of light.

Can you see the corner of the classroom to the left?

All was done in time for Wednesday when I held a bit of an impromptu Sit & Stitch.  The stressing is over and now comes the fun part!  Please call in and visit the new & improved version of Veronica Violet Stitcheries.

My lovely friend Kathy, (who had a holiday "shack" next to us at Moyhu when we were kids) and  who I have known for 41 years (OMG can you believe that) came to stay and "play" in my shop for a couple of days.

There was lots and lots of talking, laughing, sewing and eating.  Check out this yummy lunch Kathy made for us and yes it was delicious.  I tried to convince her to stay and although the lure of the fabric was strong, I really had no hope of stealing her from her husband and kids.  Come back soon, we miss you!

My newsletter is well and truly overdue, but all good things come to those who wait.  I'm still in the last stages of finalising the class list, which will be added to my blog and to facebook hopefully next week.  Don't really know what I was thinking when I planned to print and mail 500 news letters while moving shop.  A wise man once told me not to get my "capablety mixed up with my ability" or was it my "ability with my capablety"!!!!!

That same man also told me "a wise man never goes anywhere without his coat", something I remember everytime I walk out my door :-)

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

Infinity and Beyond! Well facebook at least.

Veronica Violet is now on facebook.  I have absolutley no idea what I am doing and spend a lot of time pressing wrong buttons and generally getting nowhere, but I'm slowly working things out.  With more of a creative brain than technical I have however learnt to make facebook photo albums and upload photos to my facebook page. Yay for me! I love the fact that in just a few minutes I can add new things that come into the shop to facebook (once I remember what I'm doing). When I work it out, I'll link facebook to typepad and vice versa.

It was nice to have a day off work yesterday and not do any "shop" stuff. With my youngest Mitch (age 16) finally heading off to start TAFE for the year I felt the urge to bake our favourite basic but yummy goodies.  Chocolate chip biscuits and Banana and Choc Chip Muffins.  Now the muffins don't look that appealing but they sure are delicious!  Thank goodness we can all afford to buy bananas again - we were having muffin withdrawals!

Urban Cowgirl by Urban Chicks for Moda arrived in store this week.  I love Moda fabrics - they just look and feel so lovely.  There are also a limited number of 5" charm packs available.

Knitting scarves was on the agenda today at work. Yes, I'm meant to be a patchwork store but sometimes it's hard not to incorporate a few extra creative bits and pieces like scarf yarn. With no electricity for most of the day due to works outside what was one to do? I couldn't even make a cup of coffee - should have planned ahead and got a thermos (hmmm would have been nice with a muffin).  Dusting, cleaning, painting, cutting fabric, sewing by candlelight.  None of those choices appealed so it was knitting scarves that won out. These scarves are so quick and easy, they take only a couple of hours to knit and look great. A scarf for under $10 - a bargain, and so many colours to choose from, get in early before winter.

I've been working on my shop newsletter and finalising the class list.  It's almost all sorted and my poor brain is tired.

Time for a cup of tea and bed. 

Happy Stitching

Carolyn

Back to sewing and stitching

So, what has been happening at Veronica Violet Stitcheries.  It's been a while since I've done any "what's new" updates.  Some of these pieces are from before Christmas, so if you're a regular visitor to my store then you may have  seen them already.

"New Beginnings" by Melly and Me.  Available as a kit -  includes pre-printed linen, paper pattern and cosmo threads.  Just perfect for a new grandson.  Think I'll add Tyler's name and birth details to this along the bottom.

"Sew, Laugh, Love" by Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House.  Kit includes pre-printed linen and cosmo threads. The fabrics for the borders are also available.  I get lots of stitching done at night after tea - I have a tendancy to fall asleep if I sit still and do nothing. 

"Friendship Tree" by Natalie Bird of The Bird House.  Kit includes pre-printed calico, paper pattern  and wooden buttons.  This little stitchery is so cute and is a perfect fit for the frame I found at a second hand shop.

"In the Shade of the Button Tree"  by Rosalie Quinlan.  Kit includes pre-printed linen and cosmo threads. Stitched for my shop by Shelley, add some buttons and a couple of borders and it looks amazing. Border fabrics are available at the shop.

Something completely different to my normal style of quilts, but I just love it.. This quilt designed by Stephanie Brandenburg was so quick and easy to put together.  I can't wait to have it hanging in my house. There are limited kits available which include the pattern and all the fabric for the top and binding for $110.

A throw quilt for Tyler.  I love using Chenille in baby quilts.  Maybe that's a throw back to my 1970's childhood.  It looks good, feels great and washes well. 

"Baby Chenille" made by me with some of my favourite fresh and bright fabrics using the chenille cutter.  I just love the look and feel of  this little baby Quilt.  The more you wash it, the better it gets.  I'm working on a blue one now.  One can never have too many quilts, even if you're only 2 weeks old! Kits are available in the pink colour and in blue.

Why not cover a canvas as a quick and easy wall hanging in your sewing room or as a gift for a friend.  Available at $22 metre.  A fat 1/4 for $5.50 is all you'll need for a canvas.

Hopefully I've provided some inspiration for some stitching/sewing.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

 

Show and Tell

January has been a busy month at the shop.  I have been working on lots of quilts and shop samples.  for some reason I seem to get lots of sewing done during the month of January.  I had planned to spend some time last week making a few Blog entries but you know what happens when you make plans.

I do however have the best "Show & Tell" of the non-sewing variety.

Meet my beautiful grandson Tyler Elliot McDonald, born at 2.55pm on Wednesday 25th January weighing 6lb 5oz (2885gms).  Isn't he just the most gorgeous little baby ever - or is that just because I'm the Nana?

My daughter Brittney is the proud Mum of little Tyler.   So far he is a perfect baby, all he has done is sleep and drink his bottle, making life as a new Mum so much easier. 

Aunty Button Bliss Lisa bought him his first Big Rig Truck (preparation for working with Grumpa), but a little nap was needed first!

Now apparently it's time to get back to the task at hand - patchwork and stitching.  I promise to be back in a few days with some photos of what I've been working on and some things that have arrived in the shop in the last few weeks.

Happy Stitching,

Nana,

Oops I mean, Carolyn