Schools back!

Hello to all my blogger friends. I have been a little busy preparing for the return to school finally. Unlike the rest of Australia Tasmania still only has 3 school terms which means we have the long 8 week summer break. So although all of our mainland friends and family have been back at school for a good two weeks, we just started today. So, yesterday was spent taking hems up, letting hems down, replacing buttons, replacing worn out names, stitching up holes in seams, polishing shoes (well actually I noticed as Miss M got out of the car this morning that this little job was forgotten) but we should have polished shoes! and last but not least replacing the placket and collar of a worn out rugby jumper... ugghhh! I cant believe I made hundreds of these years ago with another clothing business I used to have..... actually, I must have 'dumped' the knowledge as it took me 20 mins to work out how to do it again.... anyway #2 Tess was happy with the end result and happily went off to school this morning with a jumper which looked brand new! yes I know its the middle of summer, but it is also Hobart! - for non-Australian friends Hobart has a reputation of being cold at the best of times...

anyway, whilst looking for some tape for the placket I found this little treasure which I was only thinking about a week or so ago when discussing school sewing projects with a friend

This was the very first project we had to make in Sewing in year 7, our first year at high school. It was a little sewing caddy, see the pockets? Thread, needles and my very first pair of 'good' fabric scissors went into the pockets then the caddy was rolled up and tied to secure. There are even a few of the original threads deep in the depths of the pockets. And my name tags. Mum obviously gave me her 'less than best' threads to have for school. I wonder where my scissors have gone?

This little treasure was my first attempt at silk ribbon embroidery. After leaving school I joined the Army and was later posted back to Adelaide in my first position. I took my first class at Country Bumpkin in silk ribbon embroidery..... and look where that lead me to.... It is still the most beautiful store with the most beautiful books and magazines and I can say that it started me on the path to where I am at today - I dont think I can attribute that to the sewing caddy experience above but I guess that had some influence also:)

So enough of my reminiscing for one day. If you are doing the Nice People Nice Things Block of the week project I have just put up an extensive tutorial over on the blog to help you out with my back to front quilt as you go method. If you are not doing it you may be interested to see how it works anyway..

hugs for today - my first almost child free day in 8 weeks - poor little Tilly is really missing her big sisters....

Helen

new things....

I have been running a giveaway over on my NPNT blog for a new product I am working on. Lots of things being planned and worked on at once here for 2008, I think I actually need to write a plan and a to do list each day as I seem to be dabbling in too many at once... Anyway, as I said at the top I have been running a little giveaway....

mmm. what is this you ask? well its a new box, actually about 50 of them, they are the cutest little noodle boxes and I have them in four delicious colours so far... They are going to contain a selection of designs from the Nice People Nice Things kits - just one in each with the preprint, pattern and a needle, all you need when you go away on holidays without a project and are having stitchers withdrawal.... my problem is, I dont know what to call them. Now I have had Huggettes, Tempters, Little Love Notes etcetc..... So the competition is, to name them - you can see some suggestions on the NPNT blog but I am not completely sold on one yet....(but blog friends who gave suggestions, you are still in the running to win so dont panic!)

Want to see some more peeks on new projects? Look at these gorgeous threads which arrived today to go with these to die for fabrics I have been drooling over for a few weeks now waiting for thread..... the designs are done, I now need to get to stitching...

I also have a very exciting blog project in planning stages with some wonderful talented designers from across the globe, it will be a little while before we get going as you can see I have my brain going in many directions just now, but it will be worth waiting for...

now what else, I think thats enough for me and you to handle for today.... please keep me in your thoughts as I take on far too much and stretch myself far too far because I love it and just cannot resist!

oh, the giveaway - I will send out two noodle box kits - yet to be named to two lucky commenters - not necessarily the final namer but you do need to give me a suggestion...

hugs for today

Helen

back from market

Yes I am home and sorting through all the details of the events of another great Quilt market in Melbourne. For those of you wondering this is an annual trade show for stores to shop and view new fabrics, notions, patterns and all things quilty. I love catching up with my stores face to face and all the other wonderful designers and inpirational people in our industry. After setting up on Friday it was all systems go for Saturday and Sunday trading days. I finally met face to face Rosalie, Melly, Leanne, Gail and Leanne M, Di from Ricketty Stitches, Liz and David from Teddlywinks and caught up with old friends Lynette, Natalie, Brenda, Kerrie, and many others too many to mention. We enjoyed a lovley greek banquet on Saturday evening and shared experiences, life and the bubbles!
This was my floor mat made from Verandah Scraps and pieced by Tess for me - well she started piecing then took over the pressing whilst I finished it. I thought it would brighten up the floor of my booth and make it more inviting but do you think people would walk on it??? I insisted it was just scraps but they tip toed around the edges and almost fell over rather than stepping on it..

a few quick visits to spotlight (who still happen to have my credit card I am assuming now that it has been lost in action, presumed dead and cancelled) for some quick props - unfortunately living on an island I cannot bring beautiful furniture and lovely props across the seas to 'dress' my booth so I am restricted to what I can do in an hour when I arrive. There is a funny story about my curtain rod, perhaps I'll tell that one another day.

so now that market is over and Nice People Nice Things has been released to a flurry of excitement, it is ready for shipping. I have listed all of the stores who decided to order at market on the npnt blog on a new page called stores. All of the new releases are also now on my website.

So now its packing time.....

I am really happy with the boxes and everyone else seemed to like them....

So for all of you who were not at market I have a little giveaway for one of you. Three mystery patterns from the new releases to be winging their way somewhere across the seas. I'll draw a name from comments when I have all the orders processed and out. That could be Friday or a week from now!!

so its off to beddy bies for me tonight.

hugs

Helen - sleep tight

the quilt pic as promised

Nice people Nice Things quilt will soon be available. Here is the finsihed pic of the front. It measures 81" x 63" so is quite large but remember it is a Block of the week, so only one little 5" stitchery plus a verse to stitch each week - just enough to feed your addiction but quite doeable in a busy lifestyle or amongst other projects. It is put together in a Quilt as you go method so again easy to grow as you stitch or spend a week or two before Christmas putting it all together. It took me 4 full days to piece it all so I dont actually reccommend leaving it to the end. I prefer the idea of watching it grow. Of course the cards can be used for anything, even just cards to give away to special people in your lives or for many other projects. I am getting onto the blog which goes along with it where I hope people will share their projects and Nice stories. I will be featuring a different block from the quilt each week for 2008 as we stitch along.... I have used my favourite Presencia Finca #16 thread to stitch all the blocks. I'll show more about that later....Now I just hope the boxes arrive in time (slight problem with cutting dye today), the stickers from the other new printer, the card is delivered today, the printer holds out to print and cut them, and I get the brochure artwork finished and to the printer in time...! oh, so much to do... hope you like it, fingers crossed and everything else I can possibly cross
hugs, Helen

the back view, with 52 sayings or verses, I cheated and used fabrico pens to write instead of stitch them all in 3 weeks!

Nice people nice things

Firstly, I want to say a huge thankyou to all the wonderful ladies who shared our Stitching in the Valley charity day on Sunday. Do you know, I had my camera and was so busy and chatty all day forgot to even take it out of its bag - so I have no pictures to show you. I do have a queen size quilt here ready for quilting however so shall show you a pic once it is finished. We are also well on the way to selling our raffle tickets for it with proceeds going to the Snugglybug project for the next 12 months.

On Monday my Love is fabric finally arrived.... how exciting, all this fabric to play with...

Actually it was to 'work' with as all was ready and waiting for its arrival. Nothing like a deadline and last minute panic. I have since been sewing to the wee hours each night to have this quilt of the week - yes 54 designs, 63 blocks - finished within a week (instead of a year) for photography tomorrow for release in 2 weeks... finally got it all laid out to put together today, I had no area large enough to lay them out so had to do some rearranging.... It is now in five rows to be finished tomorrow... fingers crossed I have something to take with me to Melbourne in two weeks...

And of course fingers crossed people like it and the concept of Nice people and Nice things - remember if every stitcher did one nice thing a week across their family, their street, their town, their country or the world, wouldnt it be a nicer place...

A huge congrats to all the juried entries and winners at Houston, what an amazing display of quilts and well done to all the Aussies.... wish I could be there one year.... will keep dreaming...


now remember only 4 days to the Last Minute Christmas Gift countdown!

hugs for the last time today

Helen

Madly stitching

I am madly stitching and have worked out I need to finish 2 or 3 stitcheries every night to get this Nice People Nice things project ready for you all in time, and thats without my other designs to stitch and finish also. So just a quick peek of tonights here although I still have another to finish so back to it I guess.
My babies are back from camp, very tired but having had a wonderful time. Poor Molly had many new experiences the most memorable meeting the ocean face to face whilst leaning over the side of the boat for the entire fishing trip... Lucky fish I guess. Snorkelling was their favourite seeing a gummy shark and many fish and corals off Maria Island. Many stories to tell, many new friends and many adventures. I am so glad we are were able to give them this chance.

Now I also have to say 'Go Cats'! sorry Leonie, they certainly took it to them and my pulse was racing.... next week will be very exciting...

so needle and thread in hand, away I must go for now

hugs

Helen

Challenge - with rewards...

HI all, I have been a busy busy girl so sorry for my tardiness in posting here. Have had two shows the last two weekends and life in between. What have I been doing to fill my spare time I wonder. Well.. I did attend a Hens night on Saturday where I learnt Bollywood dancing - actually quite fun but I dont think I'll be performing it anytime soon.

My big success this week is that I finally figured out my Illustrator programme enough to draw my new designs for a large new project I am working on for November release. It has 104 designs - well actually about 52 designs and 52 verses or sayings...yes, one per week for a year. It is called 'Nice people, Nice things' and I plan to start another blog or group for all who participate with the hope it will inspire people to do one nice thing a day or week. Just think, if everyone in this world did just one nice thing out of the goodness of their heart each week, what a nicer place the world would be... So whilst I have mastered drawing on Illustrator I am not really up there with blog design and artwork so I have a challenge to any who may be reading my blog....

Design me a blog header and theme for 'Nice People, Nice things' - just has to be simple, nothing fancy just functional and suited to the theme. (although there are some really lovely blogs out there that I wish I had time to emulate) I can supply themes and designs..... the winner will recieve a full pack of the Pattern when released in November. Now as I am fairly new to blogging I dont even know how many people are reading this, so feel free to forward this challenge or get together with friends to have a go... It will be a place to list nice things that people have done, post extra patterns or designs, watch each others progress, share thoughts and dreams, successes and failures in life and in stitching. What a nice thing you would be doing.....and you know, it actually feels good to something nice for someone else.... so lets heal the world in our own small way

'One woman can only do so much but a group of women can do SO much.'

hugs for today
Helen