Australia Day in Berrima

Berrima has been traditionally a place that the Southern Highlands come to on Australia Day. The town really is packed on this day as there is a large market in the park with live music, display of vintage vehicles, stalls, food stalls and rides for the kids. At lunch time there is a parade through the town put together by the community which often includes marching bands, clubs from the area, some of the schools also have floats and many vintage cars. It is a fun day to be had by all and really gives you a great sense of what it is to be Australian and to enjoy the day. If you haven't been to Berrima on Australia then perhaps next year it will be the place to come!

Here are some pictures of the parade

First Class of the Year

Today was our first class for 2010 - Easy and Fast Log Cabin. The ladies all had a great time and once again the selection of fabrics all varied greatly and produced fantastic results. Here are some of the photos from the class. This class will be run again in later in the year and has proved a very popular class.

Everyone working hard in the class

Sharon's Log Cabin Blocks, same block, just reversed.

Lyn's Log Cabin Blocks, same block, just reversed. Lyn used the Aster Manor Fabric Range, designed by 3 Sisters for Moda

Judy used the Morris Workshop Designed by Barbara Brackman for Moda. Once again same block, just reversed.

Annemarie's Log Cabin block in beautiful purples

New Book in Store - One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects

A new book has just arrived in the shop. One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric! (Hardcover-spiral) By ~ Rebecca Yaker and Patricia Hoskins

I was fortunate to meet Rebecca and Patricia while in America and to see samples from the book. This is a fantastic book if you are new to sewing or like to make items for around the home or as gifts. As you can probably tell from the title this book contains 101 different projects, each of the projects just takes one yard of fabric (91cm) There are so many projects that it is hard to decided what to make first. Some of the projects I know that I will never make however with the variety in the book, 101 patterns there is defiantly something the everyone., The book contains paper patterns for the projects so you don't need to photocopy out of the book. The book is also hardcover spiral bound which is great when you look through it and work on a project as it sits flat without having to worry about breaking the spine.

The book is split into sections-:
Dwell Redux contains projects including Smocked Pillow in the Round and Mailbag Pocket Duo
Household Affairs contains projects including Hanging Laundry Bag, Cottage Apron and Obi Inspired Hot & Cold Pack.
Craft Organization contains project including All-you-need Sewing Kit, Origami Organizer, Craft or Garden Apron.
On The Go contains projects including CD Pocket, Quilted Lunch Bag & Jewelry Roll
From Head to Toe is a whole section on clothing (from just 1 yard!) this section includes projects such as Pintucked Top, Bias Skirt, Mother-Daughter Halter Top & "Good Hat Day" Hat
Carry It All is a section which is all about bags, 8 Different bags patterns (if you where to buy that many patterns by themselves you would be spending over $90 so this section allow makes the book good value)
Outfit Your Small Wonder contains some very quilt outfits for children, they include Newborn Flyaway Jacket, Toddler Pinafore Smock Top, Ballet-Neck Toddler Dress and "Twist & Shout" Twirl Skirt
Following on from children’s outfits the next section is Accessorize Your Little One. This section is full of ideal little project which would make a fantastic gift for your little person including a Convertible Craft Apron, Toddler Art Smock, Baby Gift Set and Bird Mobile.
And of course every kid needs toys and games to play with so Playtime is the next section and would have to be my favourite. There is an array of stuffed toys in this section including Cuddly Bear Cushion, Leisure Suit Lapdog, Peg Bear, Flodie The Elephant and Steggie, the Pull-Along Dino.
The final section in the book called Your Furry Friends, which is of course for your 4 legged friend. Projects include Pampered Pooch Walking Set, Cozy Dog Bed and Dog Walking Coat.
We have several copies of the book now is store.

2010 Classes

The list of 2010 classes has just been released. We have yet another exciting year of classes with something for everyone from machine quilting to needle turn appliqué to painting with dyes and creating realistic landscapes. This years teachers include - Michele Hill, Deborah Louie, Kay Haerland, Chris Jurd, Jennie Osborne, Christine Sands, and myself (Tamsin).

The current newsletter is available a http://www.berrimapatchwork.com.au/pdf/newsletter.pdf

Michele Hill is teaching twice this coming year - in March and November. Author of William Morris in Appliqué Michele's classes are based on William Morris designs. The appliqué can be by hand or machine.

Deborah has introduced two new classes this year: - a Free Motion class to give you confidence and knowledge on how to free motion your own quilts and Stage 6 Key Line Quilting is based on Deborah's award winning quilt from the Sydney Quilt Show. Using black thread the quilt design is quilted onto fabric and then coloured.

Designed and quilted by Deborah Louie

Kay Haerland is back with us for another year and her class Tactile Surface Embellishment is an fantastic class which shows you artistic techniques, which will assist you in all kinds of future quilting embellishments and landscape enhancements. Kay's classes takes you from traditional quilting techniques and guides you into creating realistic landscapes using many different techniques and methods.

Ayres Rock/Uluru by Kay Haerland

Chris Jurd once again is teaching Mariner's Compass, the quilts created in the class last year where amazing and all different - check out the photos of some of the ladies work on Chris' blog. http://chrisquilts.blogspot.com/2009/10/busy-girls.html Chris this year will also be teaching a New York Beauty Class - if you want to learn how to foundation piece Chris' class is the one to do.

Oriental Journey (the quilt that was the raffle prize for Springwood Quilt Show 2009) designed by Chris Jurd

Jennie Osborne is teaching two stunning quilts this year - Dawn which features needle turned appliqué and hand piecing (though you could machine piece) is a large quilt suitable for a queen size bed and Peaches is a smaller quilt which features Dresden plates (paper pieced), needle turned appliqué and stitcheries. Jennie is traditionally a hand quilter and her classes are relaxed where everyone moves at their own pace. Jennie is also teaching two other classes - Introduction to Needle Turned Appliqué and Introduction to Hand Quilting, these classes are a great way to get a sample of these two techniques.

Dawn By Jennie Osborne

Christine Sands is our other new teacher for 2010. Christine will be teaching dressmaking and exploring your overlocker. Having years of experience teaching people of all ages and skill levels and Christine will take you through the steps to create a beautiful and wearable garment. Her overlocker classes will expand your knowledge of how to use your machine and open up whole new knowledge of what an overlocker is capable of doing.

My (Tamsin) classes this year cover everything from beginner's quilting to painting with dyes. The classes that I teach are fast and easy were you will walk away with a finished or near finished project. Three classes - Painted Geisha, The Fans and Introduction to Sashiko by Machine have an oriental theme. In Fast and Easy Log Cabin and Scrappy Schoolhouse Quilt you will be using templates/rulers designed to make the quilt construction faster and accurate. The new series of Make and Take Classes are half day classes designed to give you a taste of simple fun projects.

Painted Geshia, Introduction to Sashiko By Machine and The Fans By Tamsin Harvey

Sugar and Spice Range

We have just received the new range of Sugar and Spice. This is a great range of pastels in spots, checks and other designs. Fantastic for kids quilts, either using a mixture of the colours or just in one colour way. What is even better about this range is that it is only $18 per metre!

Here is a picture of a quilt we created using the Sugar and Spice Range I and a pattern from Kookaburra Cottage the kit is available from the shop.

Sashiko by Machine - Class

Today was our final class for the year - Sashiko by Machine.

Sashiko means in Japanese "little stabs" and is a method of stitchery which is often done by hand. Using a thicker thread you can sew these pattern on the machine with ease and alot less time. The ladies completed 4 different samples and learnt how easy this method can be.

Here are some photos from the class-

Show and Tell

Kay has been taking part in Jennie Osborne's Mosiac Garden Class and today she brought in her finished quilt. It is just simply stunning, it is all needle turned applique and what is even more amazing this is Kay's first completed quilt!

Sue also this week brought in her quilt from our Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class with me (Tamsin). She used the Aviary Collection by 3 Sisters from Moda for her quilt. It is beautiful in the mix of aqua’s and soft pinks. This class shows you the easy way of making a log cabin, no more having to use foundation’s or strips, we show you how to cut in a special way for correct sizing and no stretch!

Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class with Tamsin

On Sunday we held the Fast and Easy Log Cabin Class. Using a Marti Michell specialty ruler it is very easy and fast to create the perfect log cabin. Everyone in the class had very different fabrics, and when all sewn they looked amazing. One of the benefits of everyone using different fabrics is that you get to see different combinations and start writing up a list of future combination you want to make! We can't wait to see some of the finished quilts. Below are some photos from this class and our previous log cabin class.

Amanda used William Morris Workshop designed by Barbara Brackman for Moda

Annette used fabrics from her stash

Sue used the Aviary Collection designed by 3 Sisters for Moda

Jennifer used a selection of fabrics from the shop

Barbara used a selection of Oriental Fabric

Tahnia used Amy Butler Fabrics

Class: Creating Realistic Landscape Quilts with Kay Haerland

This past weekend Kay Haerland was teaching the two day intermediate course of Creating Realistic Landscapes Quilts. In this class Kay takes the students through the various steps of fabric selections and to look at fabric with a whole different approach to give the quilt a realistic look. Using quilting techniques the landscapes come alive. Here are some photos from the class. The Uluru/Ayres Rock Landscape is a new sample quilt which Kay has created.

         

What are they?

We have been asked several times what are jelly rolls, honey buns, Bali pops and several other new pre-cut fabric. Generally these pre-cut fabrics are cut from a single collection of fabric. Below is a list of what exactly each of these pre-cut packs are:

Jelly Rolls, Honey Buns, Layer Cakes, Turnovers, Charm Packs and Dessert Rolls are all made by Moda and is part of their Bake Shop Range.
A Jelly Roll is typically made up of 40 (sometimes this will vary due to the collection) individual 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44"
A Honey Bun is 1.5" x 44" they are typically made up of 40 strips of fabric and are a narrower version of a Jelly Roll
A Layer Cake are 10" x 10" squares of fabric. Usual they are made up of 40 - 42 pieces of fabric (this will vary according to the collection). They are similar to a charm pack but are larger.
A Jelly Cake is made up of a Jelly Roll and a Layer Cake
A Turnover is a collection of 6" half-square triangles. They usually contain 80 pieces (made up of 2 pieces of 40 different fabrics)
A Charm Pack this collection of fabric are 5" x 5" squares of fabric, they can range in number of pieces of fabric due to the number of fabrics in a collection.
A Dessert Roll are 5" x 44" strips. The number of fabrics can vary once again.

Moda has a fantastic site http://www.modabakeshop.com/. This site provides online recipes which you can use with a wide range of Moda Pre-Cuts. The projects are created by various moda designers and shop, well worth a look at!

Other Pre-Cuts Include
Bali Pops are created by Hoffman Fabrics and are 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44" Usually have 40 pieces.
Sushi Rolls are created by Lecien and are 2 7/8" strips of fabric x 44" made up of 45 individual pieces
Fat Rolls are created by Windham Fabrics and are 5" x 44" strips and can be made up various numbers of individual fabrics due to the number of fabrics in a collection however all the fabric is from a single collection.
Roll Ups are created by Robert Kauffman and once again are 2.5" strips x width of the fabric 44", number of fabrics included by vary but are from a single collection.

If you still not sure how to use all these different pre-cut fabrics we have in the store several patterns and books using them.

The Gnomes have arrived

The Michael Miller Summer Gnomes have finally arrived in the shop. This is a very cute range of "worker" gnomes fabric, there are several different designs in this series. Not sure what to do with the fabric? Michael Miller has a free pattern on their website for this quilt (pictured below)

New Fabric in Store: Rouenneries by French General

New in store. We have had this collection in for just over a week now and it is a stunning range of fabrics. It is a range designed by French General: Kaari Meng for Moda and is called Rouenneries. The collection we have is made up in shades of red and natural colours. Rouenneries were cotton prints in Rouen, France during the mid 18th century. Kaari designed this range based on a collection of old prints and stripes from that era. Kaari is the author of several books and is the owner of the French General workshop located in Los Angeles, California (www.frenchgeneral.com) Her online shop is amazing with a collection of vintage craft kits, old millinery supplies, beads and fabrics.

All I want for Christmas is a Bernina

The Bernina Sewing Machines are now at Berrima Patchwork.

We picked them up yesterday and today they were in the shop. There is nothing like a brand new shiny sewing machine to make ones day AND what could be better timing as Bernina has their current promotion "All you want for Christmas is a Bernina".

There are some wonderful special deals available for this Christmas so maybe it is time to get that machine you have been looking for, go ahead and spoil yourself or that someone special this Christmas with a brand new Bernina! And for those who already have a machine there are also deals on Bernina Accessories or you could always buy another machine!

Patchwork Illusions

This past weekend we held the class Patchwork Illusions. This is a class uses the patterns design by Karen Combs and her fabric range Shade Cascade. The blocks are designed to give a quilt a "3-D" look.

The Ladies had a great time and designed many wonderful blocks for their quilts. Despite the same range of fabrics being used by everyone each block is very different especially those created on the second day.