Closed Sunday and Monday at Patchwork

This week we have been busy getting ready for the Australasian Quilt Convention at the Old Exhibition Buildings in Carlton. It runs from the 29th until the 2nd of May. Call past and say hello if you manage to make it.
We will be closed on Sunday and Monday due to ANZAC day.
Unfortunately I have let my number one son borrow my camera so photo's for the next week or so will be scarce.
See you at the show.

Old Tasmanian Quilt

Quite a few years ago I found this quilt in an antique shop in Hobart. The shop owner told me it was a very early Australian Crazy quilt.
I had forgotten all about it but unearthed it in in my big cleanout.
It is quite lovely and is made with velvets and silks (some have not lasted) the colours are still vibrant and it was obviously kept in a dark room or in a cupboard.
So I am bringing into Patchwork tomorow to display for a while.

Screen Printing Workshop

Last weekend Em and I had a fabulous time at the Ink and Spindle studio with Lara Davies from Harvest Textile Studio learning the finer details of cutting our own stencils and then screen printing our own fabric.
Lara runs a really informative class and inspired everyone to end up with excellent hand printed fabric.
Here are a couple of pic's of what we did. for more about Lara and future classes click on the link on the side.
It was really nice to do something just for the fun of it.

Liberty Quilt

As anyone who comes into Patchwork knows, we have the largest range of Liberty of London fabrics in Australia. I have always been a huge fan, since I discovered the fabrics when I was first working in the 70's and would go and buy small pieces at to just have. Later I made dresses for my youngest in it. (I get told now how disgustingly I dressed her)
The colours in the fabric have always been so subtle and it is just beautiful to work with.
It is nice to see that it is being re discovered at the moment and loved the post on it on an US blog truup.
Lucky me now I have a shop full, so dress regularly in the fabric. We have a wonderful dressmaker that will make up my favourite dresses and blouses for me. This is also a service that we offer to our customers and there has been some lovely clothing made in the past.
The photo's are of a quilt Mum made many years ago using scraps saved. The pattern is available at the shop free for anyone who buys any Liberty fabric in April, in the shop or online.
Enjoy your week.

Dyeing is more Fun

Well! So much for thinking that job would take me a couple of days. I didn't realize how much stuff I have brought into my house in the last few years. All with good intentions of course. (You know what they say"the road to hell is paved with good intentions")
That is what happens when your children move out, you fill up their rooms with stuff so you don't notice them gone.
I got Geoff to take eight boxes and a few baskets of very desirable fabric back to the shop and quite a few more coming, also taken a large amount of old china as well, and much more to come.
I got Geoff to do it because I know I would have been grabbing this and that back.
If anyone is interested you better be quick before I change my mind on the best pieces.
Yesterday when I was so so sick of this cleaning project I decided to do some dyeing. Some worked some didn't.
I was really happy with results. It was interesting how different everything turned out when I used the same dye bath. Definitely more fun.
Here are the photo's of what I did, and what I left (still there)
I know what they mean when they say it took a month of Sunday's.

Happy Easter!

Whoo Hoo! I have four days off in a row, but before I get too excited I remember what I have planned on doing. House sorting! My feeble excuse for having a messy house is I am busy, but if I face the truth it is because I bring too much stuff into my house.
So this Easter I am having a purge. I may even be gutsy enough to put before and after pictures on the blog.
Patchwork on Central is only open on the Saturday over Easter and Scarlet is closed for the four days.
The pictures I have put on this post are the bundle of fabrics I had on my blog a week or so ago.
I cut out and did the placement on my sewing night (Saturday night at the shop, I hate football!)
Adrienne M did a beautiful job of sewing it together, thanks Adrienne.
It consists of 8 x 8 squares, 10 half metres (again) cut into 9 1/2"squares, 9" finished. Then randomly placed, ends up being a really nice size. I still love good old squares quilts. It really is about the fabrics, I think this one will be hand quilted. It turned out so nice.
Have a great Easter!
P.S. Welcome to Rita from Red Pepper Quilts to our teaching team!