Hatched and Patched

It's Showtime!!!

What a whirlwind of a show at Darling Harbour this year!! A great time was had, and thanks to all who came to say hi! It was great to put faces to names from people who put comments on my blog, and to see my regulars (yayay) as well as others!!
Pete and I LOVE the show for this very reason!
I was hoping to show you the process start to finish of the setup, but of course, I only took my little camera which didn't quite stand up to the challenge hohum, so... box upon box to unpack - very much like moving shop...

all done!! Just the tweaking to go..
...it takes about 13 hours for me to set up...maybe too much tweaking ;)

...then tada, the next morning the doors open and madness and mayhem begin...

I ran away from my stand for a few minutes to take some photos of my favourite quilt finds at the exhibition...


...not suprisingly most of my favourite quilts were those designed by teachers who teach at my shop - Margaret Sampson-George and Sue Cody!! How lucky am I??

I am now back home and unpacking all the boxes again! ....or maybe just a quick snooze under a quilt or two....

...Until next time
Anni

Alice Angel & Tiny Town go to Darling Harbour....

It's that time of year again where I'm running around in circles, balancing on my head and feeling slightly flustered (no, not slightly, TOTALLY), getting ready for the biggest show of the year for me! Darling Harbour is looming WAY too close now, and I have been cutting kits furiously, trying to get ready in time. Like always, I think there is plenty of time, then someone flicks the fast-forward switch and HEY PRESTO, deadlines are THERE! All is fun though, so best not to panic ;)

If you're around Sydney between June 12 & 16 you HAVE to come to the Quilt and Craft Fair in Darling Harbour. The quilt show is fabbo, not to mention the other exhibitions they put on, as well as all the stores... fun fun FUN!

Strangely enough, I have finally completed a few new projects which I was taking my own sweet time on, two of which are....Alice Angel Pincushion.... just love those warm wools, especially now it is cooling down here!

Tiny Town Table Runner...measuring 14"x40", it has applique houses & trees on each end, with stitchery windows and flowers, and a bit of jumbo ric rac to complete it.

....and a close-up.... I will show more when I get back from Darling Harbour - hopefully I will see some of you there!!
Stay warm
Anni

New Zealand & Quiltmania

I have been holding out on you, not because I wanted to, but I had to MAKE SURE it was really going to happen! Quiltmania asked me to do a book with them, and I can now officially say that everything has been accepted and the book is going ahead!! YAYAY!

The projects for my New Zealand workshops are some of those I have been working on solidly for the first part of this year which will appear in the book. I know I promised to show you these projects, but because of the whole book thing, I am only going to be showing you PART of one (sorry guys)...

....and now you will have to wait a good while longer before you see the completed bag. This bag contained all things I love - stitchery (A LOT of stitchery!!!), woven wool applique, needleturn applique, and English paper piecing. One side of the bag has everything to do with sewing, the second side, everything to do with home - again, my two great loves.

All going well, the Quiltmania book will be released in April 2014 - I know!!! SUCH a long time to wait. The way time moves though, it will be on our doorstop before we know it.....

Until next time,
Anni

Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks

Look what just arrived in the post! How I love getting mail! I was asked a while ago to submit a design for this mag, and it was accepted! You'll find my block in this issue, Volume 7, Summer 2013.

Since I had just completed the 'Love to Garden' range when I was asked, I thought this would be the fabric to use for my block, so TA DA! ....
Of course I HAD to do some applique! I hope you like it.

I promise my next post will show you what was made in the workshops over in New Zealand! Thanks for being SO patient ;)

Until then
Anni

New Zealand in a Nutshell

...in a nutshell, Pete wants to move there! What a FABBO place!

As you probably know I had two workshops lined up in New Zealand, but instead of just rolling in by myself, we turned it into a holiday, and a holiday we had!!

First things first though. I landed in Rotorua in New Zealands north island, and was greated by the lovely Jill Brake of Cottage Flair, who took me out to the peaceful Lake Okatina Lodge where we had a blast for the weekend!

Jill (left) with her paymates Cindy & Shelly at Cottage Flair who help at her shop

It was hard to leave this view from my room to teach - luckily everyone was SO gorgeous, I was tempted into the workshop to teach for awhile ;)

Here's the group who made my weekend even more enjoyable!

The following day we visited Hobbiton from the Lord of the Rings saga, which was AMAZING! There were 47 hobbit holes as well as the tavern - SOooooo well done! Tim was in HEAVEN and didn't want to leave - his feet aren't quite hairy enough to be a hobbit, so onwards he had to go.

While in the North Island we also did a night kayak near Tauranga which was spectacular - we paddled to a gorge which was full of glow worms - magical. If you ever go to New Zealand you have to do that!

We flew over to the south island, with the first stop the glorious Akaroa - raining slightly, but a serene and picturesque village.

The following weekend we went to visit Rachel Maw at Annie's Country Quilt Store in Ashburton in the South Island. Rachel wined and dined us (my family), showing her amazing cullinary skills - I think maybe a cafe on the side of her shop is in order - yummo!I don't know if my son looks too impressed about visiting a patchwork store...

I'm afraid my photo-taking took a dive around this stage, so no pics of the great crew in Ashburton (very bad bad bad)- ran off my feet, but a great time was had here too.

My family then continued south going to Lake Wanaka, the Queenstown area, and Milford Sound where Pete and I had done a treck over 20 years ago - it was great to see it looking as beautiful as ever. My photos just don't do it justice. I had my small basic camera which I will blame for the sad photos - couldn't be my skills at ALL!! ;)

Now we are home which is sort of nice, but I think New Zealand will always be beckoning me back - SUCH an amazing country.
Until next time
Anni

My NEW Fabric!

Woohoo! I'm SO excited!!! I have just received a parcel in the mail. I couldn't wait to see what was inside, so it is now slightly ripped - yes, I'm one of those people who ALWAYS rips my presents open, MUCH more fun ;) - and inside was the first strike-offs of my new fabric range '12 days of Christmas'!!!

This is my second Christmas range and I can't wait to start designing with it. The fabrics won't be hitting the shops until May/June this year, so you will have to hold your breath for a little while yet. I only have VERY small pieces, so I think it will be planning in action rather than making, but HAPPPPEEEEE AM I!!!!

This is the panel - the theme was based on a long stitchery wallhanging I did in my book 'A Christmas Story'. I think it was the most popular project in this book, so made it into fabric for everyone to use. I think the first thing I'd like to make is a garland, or maybe a quilt, or maybe some Christmas bags, or a table runner, or.... hmmmm.... my head is spinning!

Until next time
Anni

Simply Vintage

Woohoo!! look what just came in the mail. I LOVE this magazine, and now I am featured in it!

Simply Vintage is an all French mag, so hmmm, a little hard for me to decipher - hopefully my French-learning daughter will be able to help soon - but it is OH SO GORGEOUS!!! IF you haven't seen a copy before, it is from the makers behind Quiltmania, another magazine I am totally addicted to. As far as I know, Simply Vintage is not around to buy in Australia, BUT, Quiltmania DO come to the quilt show in June at Darling Harbour where I bought a previous copy last year - FABBO!
So you want to see the project I did??

I used some of my favourite things in this design - delicious linen, hand-dyed thread and woven wool.

For all of you who have the same dialect problem as me (hohum), I WILL be making a pattern for this soon, and yes, kits as well. When I say soon, they won't be ready until May I believe - just too much to fit in before then.

Stay tuned!
Anni

...Stitching Continued...

Here are some more peeks of one of the projects for my New Zealand workshops...

There are lots of components in this project, but not all have to be used... just a medley of my favourite techniques!!

I am having HEAPS of fun with this. I just wish there was more time to SEW!!!

Until next time...
Anni

Stitching Away for a New Zealand Adventure!

Well, it's official! I'm flying to New Zealand in April to do some workshops YAYAY!! I have been working away on some projects which incorporates much of what I know, so am doing a sampler of sorts. Here is a sneak peek of SOME of the components.... I am in love with the vintage style fabrics around at the moment, so HAVE to use those - YUMMO!

I can't wait! The last time I visited New Zealand I had just completed University, now THAT was a long time ago... sigh.... I wonder how much it has changed...

If you were wondering, I am doing a workshop at Cottage Flair in Rotorua (North Island) on April 12 & 13th, and one at Annie's Country Quilt Store in Ashburton (South Island) on April 20 & 21st. Hopefully I'll see some of you there!!

Happy Stitching!
Anni

Cornflower Needle Roll

While I'm hitting myself over the head for my tardy efforts at posting on my blog, I should also mention ANOTHER new pattern I worked on at the end of last year, and didn't say anything about.....

'Cornflower Needle Roll' is for my Quick & Easy range - it includes a pre-printed stitchery panel ready to stitch, plus a very easy needle roll to put together, using a soft blue check on the outside, and inside, my very own fabric from my Love To Garden range....

....of course, you can use ANY fabric you want!

Hopefully there are patterns in shops near you NOW, as it was released as a pattern in late November (whoops to me for not saying anything earlier). In saying this, it is only NOW that I have FINALLY created kits for this pattern.

If you didn't know, Margaret, my wonderful friend and co-worker, left for retirement at the end of last year. Margaret worked in my shop and spent most of her time cutting kits. Now, at the moment, I am doing much of the kit cutting myself, so everything is slower in being released in kit form.... ho hum.... the good news is I have a couple of newbie's in mind to help me soon - YAYAY!

Happy stitching
Anni