New Season Fabrics in Store, Join Quiltaid 2010
QuiltAid 2010
Twelve stores in Australia have developed a block for the QuiltAid 2010 quilt and we have all designed a unique finishing kit. Click here or on the Quilt aid tab on the menu bar to see our Angel of Hope block and finishing kit, and help this worthwhile cause. Our block has been designed by Anni Downs and the finishing kit by Kerrilyn Gavin.
Becky Goldsmith from "Piece O' Cake Designs" Visit
Our second day with Becky was an eye opener! Becky took us through her traditional method of perfecting needleturn applique. Then we broke loose. Out came the Perle 12 thread and we began stitching across the top of our applique and our perfect and tiny stitches were a thing of the past. While our politicians did not get a result that day, we all sure did! We hope to get Becky back to Australia in the future.
Was there really an election today?
What an amazing day our students have had with visiting American tutor Becky Goldsmith. Today they conquered their lessons in improvisational background piecing. Groundbreaking for most of the girls as they mastered this new approach to their quiltmaking.
Tomorrow they tackle new approaches to applique. We can't wait. Who cares who won the election.
What a great weekend with Sue Spargo.
Lots of colour, new and exciting threads, new stitches to learn. With a collection of fabrics, wools, linens, prints, velvets, not to mention all the braids and trims. Fun was had by all including all our interstate students. They add such a good time. Sue Spargo is definitely a name you need to add to your “Must Do” list. Watch for the next time she visits Australia. Our thanks also to Melissa for her help with felting and button making.
Prints Charming BOM
Our first meeting of our Prints Charming Block of the Month was a great success - it is amazing how many different ways the blocks can be stitched! The BOM filled very quickly and has been so successful we are looking to do a new course with completely new and exclusive designs in 2011. So let us know if you want to be on the expression of interest list. We already have quite a few names and the group size will again be strictly limited.
"Cloth" Fabric
Have you seen the new Cloth range of fabrics in store? Designed and hand screen printed in Australia, this gorgeous range of hemp and linen fabrics comes in stunning designs. We have used this fabric to make quilts, cushions, skirts you name it. Cloth is such an easy fabric to work with. Exclusively available in Canberra at Addicted to Fabric.
In Canberra exclusively at Addicted to Fabric Maria Martin Introduces her Pattern Drafter Ruler
On Sunday 29 August, Maria Martin will be holding a one day workshop to demonstrate how easily you can achieve perfect dressmaking pattern results using the Pattern Drafter. Places are strictly limited.
The Pattern Drafter is an all-in-one ruler that can be used to create basic block patterns for dress, skirts, tops, jackets, sleeves and pants in any measurement. With the addition of the easy-to-follow instruction book, designers of any age and skill level, including fashion students, can create clothing patterns with ease, accuracy and simplicity. Suitable for sizes 8 to 30 Australian.
So if you have been frustrated with the results you have achieved in the past this is the session for you. Cost $150
A promotional session will be held in store on Saturday 28 August.
Kaffe Fassett Workshops - Get in Quick!!!
Kaffe Fassett will be conducting workshops at Addicted To Fabric in Canberra on Tuesday 15 & Wednesday 16 February 2011. Strictly limited places are now available for either of two Kaffe Fassett workshops and they will fill quickly. On his last visit ( see picture at left), many disappointed customers missed out on the fun. Don’t miss this opportunity to take part in this workshop with this world famous colourist, designer and quiltmaker. Contact the store to secure your booking. Just don't leave it too long to decide!
Prints Charming Visit
We had a wonderful and rewarding time with Cath and Kirsten from Prints Charming this weekend. We watched on as they demonstrated their screen printing techniques (the household variety). Then it was even more fun as everyone tried out some of the stitches in their exclusive range of embroidered panels.
It was such a great time that we have teamed with Prints Charming to offer an exclusive Block of the Month program. We are just finalising details but we will be offering panels uniquely designed for this project by Cath and Kirsten. Let us know if you want to be part of this program as places are strictly limited.
Minneapolis Spring Quilt Market
We are just back from Minneapolis trade show checking out the new offerings from all the quilt fabric manufacturers, plus all the new patterns and goodies on display. We will be making our final choices in the next week or so and you can expect to see the results in store over the next six months. There were quite a few new designers as well as new offerings from some of our favourites including Anna Marie Horner and Amy Butler (pictured). If only we could buy them all, but you can be sure our collection will include some more quirky fabrics for you to enjoy.
It was fantastic to see an ever increasing Australian representation at the show and all were doing well with great crowds of interested buyers from around the world. Kellie Wulfsohn of Don't Look Now had a stand that was very popular - you might just see her in the background of this photo. We look forward to welcoming her back in store later in the year.
Prints Charming Book Launch 5 June
To celebrate the launch of their new book, Cath and Kirsten from Prints Charming will be at Addicted To Fabric on Saturday 5 June at 9.30am. They will bring along a number of their exciting new projects for you to see and the girls will be happy to sign copies of their new book Prints Charming. Attendance is free.
Following at 10.30, you will have a chance to sit and stitch with the Prints Charming girls. We will provide the thread and Cath and Kirsten will bring something special and unique for you to stitch on. Just bring your scissors, thimble and needle with you - that's all. Very limited numbers for the stitching session. 10.30am to 1.30pm - cost $50. Contact us for bookings.
Sue Cody Workshops
What fun we have had with Sue Cody teaching in store for the last 3 months. The workshop participants are well on their way to creating their masterpieces. With Sue’s careful guidance some great quilts are surfacing. These workshops have been so popular that Sue will be running a second series of workshops in the second half of 2010. Trinity Hall, Safron Sari and the Sugar and Spice Coverlet are the quilts that Sue will teach. Contact the store if you want to be part of this hand appliqué group. Limited places are available.
More New Ranges Just Arrived
We keep getting new ranges into our collection and four more have been added since our last update. They include wonderful new fabrics just in from Japan ( some pictured left), a quirky and diverse range called Vera's Garden ( on the right) as well as two interesting designs Hunky Dory and Dill Blossom. See our new ranges page for details.
Kerry Gavin Block of the Month Fully Subscribed
Kerry's Block of the Month Midnight Garden has now closed as it is fully subscribed. We started after Easter the massive job of cutting the more than 200 fabrics and packing up the kits (see the pictures left and right). We know all those participating are in for a wonderful and challenging experience. The first blocks will be issued starting 17th of April.
Classes Update
Our class schedule has been quite hectic in the last week or two. Sue Cody and Carol Pasfield ( pictured at right) taught over the weekend to enthusiastic students. And some finished cushions have come in from Kellie Wulfsohn's recent classes - isn't Karin's work shown on the left just beautiful!
A Contrast in Fabrics
Some new fabrics of note have come into the store in the last week. Check them out on the new ranges page. It is a case of class and brass! We are the exclusive Australian supplier of On The Rio Grande - which is a wonderful range with our favourite motifs and wonderful colours. And for a touch of brass, don't miss our Tradies Uncovered novelty print. Like its predecessors, this cheeky print is destined for quite a few quilts, pillowslips and aprons.
Current Projects in Store
We have been very busy with a flood of new dress and patchwork fabrics, learning the new PFAFF overlocker range and running some very exciting interstate tutors and planning for our overseas visitors in the mid year. Still, Samantha and Jenny are up to some mischief with the new cotton-voile Anna Maria Horner fabrics and we are developing a new option for our popular Pies and Tarts kits for those who are time poor. And we can announce that Kerry Gavin is running one of her limited edition block of the month groups. The quilt is called Midnight Garden. Call in if you are interested - the quilt is on display.
Young Pattern Designers Selling Well
Wow, doesn't Amanda look great wearing her brand new dress from one of our patterns called "Rooibos". This slim dress with high insert waist, gored straight skirt and scalloped pockets is just one of the many new dress designs from our independent young Australian and international pattern designers. In store now.
More New Fabrics
Four new ranges have arrived in the last few days and they are on the new ranges page. Don't miss the cotton voiles from Anna Maria Horner in the Little Folks range - there are 48 to choose from! And the quirky Boogie Monsters are proving a hit with the younger generation.
Don't Look Now Visit
Last night Kellie gave her trunk presentation, telling all of us about her journey as a quilter and designer. It was a wonderful and informative evening, enjoyed by all. Today the girls finished their cushions and were all amazed at their outstanding results. Everyone has gone home with great ideas and inspirations for their next project. Kellie will be coming back to the shop in September. Places will be in demand, so contact us if you want to reserve a place. Details/timings etc on our Classes Page
What a great day of stitching and information from Kellie. Phew stitching... stitching and more stitching. Everyone is well on the way to completing their unique cushion ready to embark on their Willow Cushion tomorrow.
All Aboard for the Kellie "Don't Look Now" Wulfsohn Trunk Show.
$10 with drinks and nibbles provided. Contact the store for more details
On Hemp, Yak and Organic Cotton
We normally have a quiet January to catch up and plot our little plots for the year. This year has been flat out and it is heading into late February already! We have been adding lots of stunning new fabrics so check out the new ranges page. Our beginners class has started, fully subscribed. All our wonderful Friendship Groups are back and stitching away ( see the picture opposite). And we have a busy and diverse series of workshops from some of the best tutors in the world.
Seasons Greetings and a Taste of 2010
We are featuring patterns from Don't Look Now and kits - see the Lilly Pilly quilt below- using these patterns and selections from our fabulous fabric collections.. Most importantly, we have a good stock of the background linens used in most of these patterns.
New Lilly Pilly Kit Available
We thought the pre-Christmas period would be quiet, but the new ranges of fabric keep on coming. We have 100 new Kaffe Collection prints to add to our huge range and some wonderful new ranges from Riley Blake. If you don't believe us look at the scrumptious fabrics from Bloom and Grow shown at the right Keep checking the new ranges pages for more.
Houston Quilt Market was only last month and we are used to having to wait many months for our ranges to arrive. So imagine our surprise at the line up of trucks in our driveway in the last two weeks. We have put six new complete ranges on the floor - Feedsack Melody, Hope Valley by Denyse Schmidt, Petal Punch, Flora and Fauna by Patty Young, Nicey Jane from Heather Bailey and Baby Love. See the new ranges page for details - we are sure you will find a few fabrics that look just right for your upcoming project.
Fresh from Houston Quilt Market
Many of our customers have been asking about the new Amy Butler range called Love . Well it is in store now and up on the new ranges page. We think it has been worth the wait.
New Collections
We have placed ten new quilts on the kits page including some great childrens' quilts. Many of the previous kits on the page have been removed as we have sold out most of the older kits. Most of these new quilt kits feature recent release fabric ranges from our collection.
Filling The Shelves
Our workshop program has been full and varied over the last few months and we are now filling up the remaining classes for 2009. We have limited vacancies on the last Beginners Course for 2009 starting on 13 October. Recent classes have included Hitomi Fujita teaching a Japanese applique and Sashiko quilt and Jenny Bowker's Images in Applique class. Still to come are free machine quilting with Helen Godden, Celtic quilts with Kerry Gavin and Topsy Turvy houses with Beth Miller - to name just a few! So check out the classes page or come into the store for more details if you would like some fun before Christmas.
Our July sale left some serious holes in our patchwork collections around the walls of the shop. Just as well, as the new ranges have been flooding in since and we are almost back to (over) capacity again. We bought all 130 bolts of Kaffe's Collective - Kaffe, Brandon Mably and Phillip Jacobs, and they make a wonderful splash of colour. There are plenty of new and quirky ranges and special buys of Japanese wall quilt panels and other goodies. So come into the store soon or have a look at some of them on our new ranges pages
Our Workshops and classes list was updated on 29 September 2009
More New Ranges Arriving this week
We now have the new range of Oliver & S children's patterns in store. Various sizes and styles are available. We have a few of the patterns made up as samples with wonderful patchwork cottons from our collection to give a stunning and unique look for your favourite little girl.
New Amy Butler Tote Bags Now in Store
The first of our new season ranges are starting to reach to store, and the trickle will become a flood in the next few weeks and months. Check out the new fabrics as they arrive on our New Ranges page. Here are a sample of our fabulous new red, white and black range. and a quirky pear range - great for clothing and bags as well as quilts.
Yes We do plan to have a mid-year sale
Quilt Market opened today and we have to choose from a huge range of new fabrics from our regular favourite designers and some new faces. We have already acquired a big range of samples as shown on the left. Our problem is how to get them all back to Australia! Market gives us a chance to talk to the designers about their ranges. At right, Jenny talks to Valori Wells about her new range from Westminster Fabrics. We will have some more photos to give you a flavour of the show soon.
Spring Market In Pittsburgh
Three new kits - Arcadia, Lattice and Paisley have been added to our kits page. They use very modern colours that combine with very easy piecing techniques for a quick and impressive result. It is just as well that we have finished some new kits as many of the recent kits have sold out over Easter and the School holidays. We will leave the sold out photos up for a few days as some customers use the pictures for fabric selection. They are marked as sold out or one left as appropriate. We are sorry if one you were looking at is gone - we only make a limited number of each and some only last a couple of days!
Sue Spargo Workshop
We have had a lot of younger, new sewers looking for fresh and simple projects that have that personal touch. Just the antidote for the mass-produced products in the shops. We have assembled some great ideas for you including bags, soft toys, simple skirts, childrens clothes and many more.
We also feature some innovative new books containing a range of quirky projects. You can combine a few simple projects to make a stunning gift - a combination of an Amy Butler nappy bag and Melly and Me soft toy in the new fabrics makes a fantastic and individual gift for your next baby shower.
Award Winning Quilt
The quilt uses fabrics from our store and we think Helen has combined them all beautifully.
New Patchwork Ranges Arrive
Fabulous new collection of textiles.
We have sourced environmentally friendly fabric, designed and printed in Australia suitable for use in home decorating, clothing and bags and accessories. Come in, have a look and be inspired.
This is just the first instalment of a number of fabrics that we have or will be sourcing from unique Australian designers and distinctive international ranges. We know you are just going to love our new designer series.
We have just placed four new quilt kits on the kits page. All are simple to make and quite stunning to look at. All use recent ranges of fabrics in the store. As always, we only produce a limited number of each quilt so don't leave it long if you like them.
Our Workshops are filling fast
We love the range of opportunities this year. Sue Spargo is here from the USA in April. Jenny Bowker is back from the Middle East and is running her popular Ramallah Quilt techniques featuring designs and colours based on Palestinian cross stitch techniques. Beth Miller is also coming back to teach her Topsy Turvy Houses which was a huge hit last year. Beryl Hodges is wowing everyone with her reversible quilts ( see photo opposite) Also new to the store is Carol Pasfield and Jenny Peterson with some applique, bag-making and a new lunchtime workshop. Helen Godden is back with her machine quilting class after the first one was sold out and Kerry Gavin is teaching her gorgeous Celtic Quilt.
Congratulations to Lesley Hodgson, whose quilt, shown opposite, has just been awarded the Champion quilt at the 2009 Canberra Show. We are delighted to see this recognition of her hard work.
Sue Spargo To Teach in Canberra
Sue has developed a new quilt - Magnolia - shown opposite for this Australian tour. The quilt is inspired by home, garden and family and the picturesque town of Magnolia, Ohio. Her unique folk-art quilting style is recognised world-wide and her workshop will be a lot of fun.. See our classes page for details.
All the New Kaffe Fassett, Phillip Jacobs and Brandon Mably Ranges
The picture opposite shows just a fraction of the range we carry.
Our first kit for 2009, Ripples, is now complete and ready for sale. As usual, stocks are limited. It is on display in the shop now. Details are on the kits page. It is a gentle and heartwarming quilt and would be a great holiday project.
Congratulations to staff member Irma Armytage whose quilt has been judged into the Japan Quilt Grand Prix Exhibition to be held as part of the Tokyo International Quilt Festival from 16-24 January 2009
We now have Prints Charmings brand new range The Rainbow Garden in stock. Well done to Cath and Kirsten on this wonderful range which is already selling well in our store There is more information on the new ranges page.
Just in is Anna Maree Horner's new Good Folks range. She is one of the most popular designers of patchwork fabric so come in and have a look or check out the new ranges page for a little taste of the colours and textures!
Congratulations to all of the girls who completed their The Two Of Us block of the month quilts and well done to those who are almost there. It is a considerable achievement for you all and the results are stunning. The design phase is well underway for the 2009 quilt. Contact us if you want to be part of the next quilt. Places are limited for this exclusive program.
Well, we did suggest it
Two more of our sale winners were presented with their prizes during the week. kathy(right) won one of our quilts to donate to her favourite cause - Brindabella Gardens Nursing Home, and Rachel (left with her Mum, Sharon) won a special gift pack of Michael Miller fat quarters. Rachel is just completing our last Beginners course for the year, so she now has the fabrics for her next quilt.
New Patchwork Range in store
See our new ranges page for these collections and other new acquisitions as they arrive.
Congratulations to the following winners of our sale prizes:
We now stock simple yet striking patterns from Toni Coward at Make It Perfect We were so impressed with this easy wrap skirt that we have decided to run a workshop in January with Kylie to show you how easy it is. See here for details on the workshop. One of our customers bought the pattern on the first day we had it and wore it in the next day. Our staff have the bug as well. It is a great way to use some of the wonderful colours in our patchwork cottons and we have some fantastic kids clothes made up as well to show you.
Our Birthday Sale
Our Final Kit For 2008 - Phew!
Our final classes are in Christmas mode as our program for 2008 winds down. Kerry's popular techniques class held its last session on Friday 28th of November. The Block of the Month and the last Beginners Course for the year will conclude in the next two weeks. We are working on our 2009 program and should have it up on the website in mid January.
Sale Details
In case you didn't know, Christmas is on the way. We have been seeing decorations and Santas for a few weeks now- every year it seems to get earlier. However, we have held off until a month to go. So come in for some great contemporary Christmas stockings patterns using our patchwork fabrics to brighten up your home.
More Kits Using the Latest Fabric Ranges
Earlier postings are here ( Houston 2008 and back)