Veronica Violet Stitcheries

Shop Manners

QUESTION: When visiting someone's house, would you take out your iphone or camera and start taking photos of their things?

Would you pick up their ornaments, take out your iphone and record the manufacturers details?

Would you take their books from the shelf, take out a notepad and write down the ISBN?

My answer to all of these questions would be NO WAY, of course I wouldn't!  Is it different because I own a shop and these items are on display?

I am not a retail chain store and cannot stock everything but I have given it a darn good go for being in business for only 4 months and am willing to try and source any product my customers may be looking for.  I offer competitive prices on all products, often below RRP.

I believe I offer friendly advice and help whenever it is needed with classes  being planned to start in March.

I love modern technology.  I don't understand most of it, but I love the fact that I can find or research anything on my trusty laptop. I would never have made a pioneer lady!

Money is tight these days and I know and understand we all love a bargain - myself included.  Almost all of us have made internet purchases from both here in Australia and overseas, but I consider it to be really, really bad manners to go into a store for the sole purpose of using the stock and ideas to gain information for internet purchases elsewhere.

We all complain that we can't buy this and we can't buy that locally in our small towns anymore but if we don't support our smaller shops - well, then they just won't be there.

To all my many, many, many customers and friends (both local and visitors) who support my business and offer creative advice, ideas and encouragement I thank you!

Maybe it's the stupid summer cold I picked up while at the beach that's made me feel the need to voice my opinion  or maybe I'd just had enough of customers bad shop manners today.

Tomorrow is a new day and I promise "To start it in a happy way".

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

A Beach Break

With Christmas and the New year over I had the chance to get away for just a few days and re-charge my batteries after a busy couple of months re-opening my shop.  And oh, wasn't it lovely.

First stop was the Blue Lake at Mount Gambier - and yes it was very,  very blue.  Unfortunately it was about 41 degrees so I wasn't up to walking around it, but there's always next time.

Then there was fish and chips at Port MacDonnell.  This amazing building was painted in just 8 1/2 weeks by 413 community members

The long jetty at Beachport (best coffe on the trip).  The water was such a lovely colour - who built that shed there!

There was some 4-wheel driving along the designated ares of the beach.

Some bush camping in the Park at Robe.

Time on your own is always good.  It gives you a chance to clear your head and focus on the future ahead.

Happy Stitching

Carolyn

 

3 Sleeps to go - Are you ready?

One thing I have learnt is that Christmas comes every year whether we are ready or not. 

So, like this gorgeous Christmas Tree from Lisa at Button Bliss - BE JOYFUL! Excuse the chopped off side in the photo - gremlins.

On the non-christmas side of things, the shop is bursting with fabric after only 3 months.  Last Friday I recieved a lovely delivery of 9 boxes of fabric. 

The full range of Woodland by Natalie Lymer and Folkheart By Rosalie Quinlan have now arrived in store.  I can't wait to start making something from them.

The sewing baskets on top of the shelves would make a great last minute Christmas gift for someone or even for yourself.  Just perfect sitting beside your lounge-chair with the latest stitching project or two hidden inside.

Happy Stitching

Carolyn

Rutherglen Twilight Christmas Shopping & Farmers Market

Are you looking for somewhere a little bit different to do your Christmas shopping?  Then why not pop along to Rutherglen tomorrow night (Wednesday 30th November) between 5pm and 8pm for some wonderful shopping bargains.

Lots of stores have lots of wonderful shopping specials plus the Farmers Market is also on for any yummy goodies you may need in the next coming weeks.

Veronica Violet Stitcheries is offering 20% off everything storewide (excludes laybys, books and already discounted items) for the entire day tomorrow.  That's 20% off ALL fabric, patterns, sewing baskets, quilting mats, cutters, threads and giftware.  If you can't make it into the store, then give me a call at the shop tomorrow 02 6032 8050 between 10am and 8pm, pay over the phone and I will happily post or hold any items/fabrics you may need. 

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow,

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

Australian Quilt Market

Wow, what a wonderfully inspiring weekend I had at the Australian Quilt Market.  I walked and talked and talked and walked, had lots of coffees and got complete brain overload from all the gorgeous fabrics and extremely talanted Australian designers.  Robyn Pandolph was the guest speaker and it was lovely to hear all about her fabric journey.

It was great to catch up with so many fellow stitchers/quilters/designers I had lost touch with over the last few years.   Yes it is definately good to be back.

Of course there were a few purchases for the shop to be made.  I'm glad I took my car as I definately wouldn't have been be able to carry it all home on the train.

There will be lots more bits and pieces arriving in the next couple of weeks (just in time for last minute christmas presents), including lots of lovely new fabric.

I'm off to start a new project.  Yes I know I should be finishing something but I can't resist starting something new from the show, it's only little, teeny-tiny in fact so it won't really count as something new, will it???

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

Lecien Fabrics

How exciting!!! Just as I'm getting ready to leave for Melbourne to go the Australian Quilt Market (wholesale show for retailers only - sorry but I do promise to come home with lots of wonderful new bits and pieces for my shop) a parcel arrives with some Fat Quarter bundles of Rosalie Quinlan's new fabric range called Folkheart.

Then there is also Woodland by Natalie Lymer. 

Aren't they both just gorgeous!  It won't be too long before the rest of the fabric on bolts arrive.  What a perfectly good excuse (like I need one) to start a new project.

See you after quilt market with lots of show and tell.

Happy Stitching

Carolyn

A bit of Christmas Stitchery

Are you getting ready for Christmas?  Do you have all the little bits and pieces you need? Christmas Fabric, Buttons, Ric-rac, Pom poms, Wool Felt, Ribbon and Bells.

Last week I finished putting together Rosalie Quinlan's Christmas Quilt.  The blocks had been almost finished for quite a while, so a few nights of stitching and a day piecing it together at the shop and the top is finished.  Think I'll worry about quilting it next year - can't rush things!

I couldn't find a Christmas Fabric that was quite right so I went with something non-christmas and used my favourite DMC red thread 221 for the stitchery.

This gorgeous Christmas Quilt is available as a block of the month or the whole kit.  It might be a bit late for this year unless you stitch like a posessed person and don't require any sleep but there is always next Christmas!

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn

Rutherglen retreat

I go to a sewing weekend 3 times a year with a group of fellow stitchers.  The group ranges in numbers from 6 to 20 plus.  This time there were only 7 of us but that left plenty of room for spreading all our sewing stuff around.  We were at a new venue in a new town and we were absolutely thrilled with our new-found sewing retreat.   We stayed at Poachers Paradise Hotel/Motel in Rutherglen. 

Kaye, Pat and Liz were looking very industrious here.  By the time I remembered to take photos, Jenny, Trina and Fiona had gone home.

We had plenty of room.  Honey (from Rosebud - have we convinced you to move here yet?) and her son joined us for some impromptu stitching and chatting on Friday night.  Wendy and Judy called in on Saturday and spent a few hours sewing.  Jeff also called in just to check that we really do "sew all weekend".

We were also able to have the use of the balcony with views of the street below.  Veronica Violet Stitcheries is just a short stroll down the street (on the left, at the end where the 2 cars are parked) for any forgotten items or new projects - you know how it is when you go away and what you thought you were going to sew just doesn't seem to interest you.

How lucky were we to be able to spend the whole weekend sewing, chatting and laughing.  It's always so inspiring being among other stitchers/sewers.  Now that I've recovered from lack of sleep (too much sewing late into the night) I'm full of new ideas and my poor brain is working overtime.  Thanks girls - I had a fun weekend and look forward to the next one.

Happy stitching,

Carolyn

Stitcheries

I just love stitcheries.  At the end of the day when my brain is too tired to think, I plonk myself in my comfy recliner chair, prop my feet up, turn on the TV and stitch away.  I always need to be doing something as I find I fall asleep whenever I sit still.

These gorgeous giftcards by Rosalie Quinlan have been around for a couple of years.   The card includes a pattern which you can keep for yourself then give the card to a friend or make up the stitchery and give them both away.  The card would also look lovely in a small frame. 

If you're like me and love stitching then why not make up the set into a small wallhanging.  I used the Flower Sugar Range of fabric by Lecien and a couple of other spots and a tiny floral.  It was a perfect match for my stichery colours.

The cards with a pattern are $11 each or $59 for the set of 6. (6 cards with 6 patterns plus wallhanging instructions)

Being a bit of a Rosalie Quinlan fan (she did after all tell me "to follow my dream and just go for it" many years ago when I opened my shop in Wangaratta) I have also made her lovely christmas stitchery.

This comes as a kit, screenprinted with red Cosmo threads.  All you need is some weaveline (stops threads from showing through) ironed onto the back and you are set to start stitching.  When finished, no need to frame it, just staplegun it to a canvas and you're done.  Now that's my kind of kit - super easy and ready to go!  Just $31 for the screenprinted linen and threads.

Time to go and fit in a few moments of stitching before bed.

Happy stitching,

Carolyn

P.S. I think I have the whole hyperlink thing worked out.  Computer savvy I am not!

Pre-christmas shopping night

With only 9 weeks till Christmas, many of the shops in Rutherglen (where Veronica Violet Stitcheries is located) are holding a pre-christmas shopping night on Thursday 27th October between 5pm and 8pm.

Do you need new fashions & homewares? Melbourne Cup Race hats & fascinators? Need to start your Christmas shopping?

If you are lucky enough to live in this gorgeous part of the country then why not pop along and make a start on your Christmas shopping.

Some of the local shops participating are Bella's Ladies Fashions, Molly's on Main Antiques, NewXpress Rutherglen, Passionflora Gifts & Homewares, The Little Bit Diff'rent Store, and myself - Veronica Violet Stitcheries.

Visit each business to find out the special shopping discounts or lucky door prizes they are offering.

Veronica Violet Stitcheries will be offering 20% off all fabric and 10% off all patterns (excludes books) from 5pm till 8pm on Thursday 27th October, 2011.

Hope to see yourself and your friends on Thursday night.

Happy Stitching,

Carolyn