Welcome to Precious Time

Cooking up a storm



The weather has been absolutely horrible but I know every quilter is secretly jumping with glee inside – we can’t wash therefore no ironing – we don’t have to take the children to cricket/soccer/tennis – we don’t garden in the rain but are very thankful that the plants are receiving water – what more is there left to do other than sew.  My darling Stephanie would say cook dinner but that never changes no matter what the weather does.  So it turns out that this horrible weather for the rest of the family is just perfect for this member of the family. 

The shop is still in birthday sale mode and we have a wonderful collection of fabrics still available – it is a fantastic time to come and grab gorgeous fabrics for the backs of your quilts at bargain prices.  As I run my hands over what is left I find myself contemplating– the quilt I had planned to make (never quite getting there obviously) – how beautiful the fabric would be in a shirt or better still a skirt or cushions and pillowcases – I love that the desire to create never stops flowing through my body.  Sometimes it gets a bit stuck when there is stress, deadlines or general busyness around but it is a drug when it starts flowing:  new fabrics – new designs – start now – that project can wait – I need new! 

 

So with the desire for new, we decided to freshen up the shop for the start of a busy 2012.  Time, as we all know goes so quickly and this coming May we will have been in our new home for 3 years – so it is well and truly time for a Summer clean.  If you haven’t been to visit for a little while then pop in and see the new layout – amazingly, not quite sure how – we have ended up with a lot more free space within the shop – it is open, fresh and definitely not so squeezy!  I know that you all can’t just pop in for a visit, so here are some images that I hope will give you an idea of how cozy yet welcoming the shop is. Of course if you can’t stay away we would love a visit and the chance to say hi over a cuppa and a homemade treat!

 

When my DH married me he didn’t exactly get “Little Miss Homebody” – I do love a clean house, the washing and ironing done and put away, the windows sparkling and a good evening meal on the table – it’s just that I am a little more interested in my quilting and the occasional: gift shop/theatre/movie/book shop/kitchen shop etc.  I get by with the basics around the house so in an effort to improve my game this year I have decided to take more interest in one of my household duties and of course the most interesting is food.  So this year I am taking some cooking classes – the first of which was today and I have to say that it was absolutely one of the best things I have done.  DH will be awarding gold stars if I can replicate my learning at home – on the menu was a Champagne Cocktail, Vietnamese Chicken Salad, Pan Fried Salmon (lemon butter) on a bed of kifler potatoes, beans & almonds with a homemade lemon and chive mayonnaise.  Of course there was desert, which was a twist on the classic Aussie Pavlova – all washed down with a glass of lovely crisp white wine.  I can hear the “yum’s” escaping your lips………..  I can’t wait to go home and share this newfound knowledge and skill with family and friends. 

Go along and see the girls at Sauce and book into a class you too will be amazed at what you can achieve and if you are already a smarty-pants in the kitchen go anyway for the experience, fun and new friends.  To prove I can cook here are the before and after photos (just in case you thought it may have been inedible).  

 

 

Above is another lovely quilt from our Dali Lama of quilting – Kay.  It is Lucy Boston, which is all English Paper Pieced.  Kay brought it in to share with us all and to inspire her to finish piecing the border – which is so close to being finished.  Another gorgeous quilt to encourage us to keep working on our projects – the delight you feel in the accomplishment of finishing is like a drug (different to the drug of choice when starting a new quilt) but still just as effective. I hope to feel it one day soon.  I have been fearless in stick ability in respect to my orphaned UFO and am one star away from finishing the hand applique border.  Soon it will have borders attached and be off to the quilter for the next stage in it’s renewed life.   I really am excited to be finishing this quilt – quilts bring different things to a home – in earlier times it would have brought warmth and protection to women travelling by wagon, to some it’s sole purpose would have been beauty, but to me this quilt brings a sense of warmth and love – I am very much looking forward to being wrapped up in it.

If you are stuck in the middle of this rainy spell I hope you have some stitching and the love of family and friends to keep you company.

The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.  Dolly Parton

............lisa 

 

It's our birthday and to celebrate we are on Sale.

As the rain falls on our roof tonight and my girls rush around making last minute preparations for school tomorrow it brings back memories of my mum taking us to school in January in our bright yellow raincoats and hats.  I wonder if they still sell them – so cute –my girls would probably say not!  I have a big year ahead with my eldest starting the final year of school – so of course this means a busy year with school work, her part-time job at the Dance Shop and of course all the social events that go hand in hand with Year 12.  

Not only will I have a busy year at home but also at the shop as we host a bevy of wonderful tutors during the year and it is also my commitment to keep having gorgeous quilts and projects in the shop to inspire you to create beautiful heirlooms for your home and family. 

So it is refreshing to start the year with a clean slate and what better way to do that then with our yearly birthday sale.  This year we celebrate our 10^th birthday and as I sit, typing this post I feel truly blessed to have been able to spend those years sharing my love of quilts and fabrics with you all.  I have loved sharing your quilts, I have laughed and cried over shared stories, have been overwhelmed by your hunger to learn and inspired by your appreciation of the wonderful quilt makers that have gone before us.

So enough reminiscing – our Brithday Sale starts on Friday morning at 9.30am and runs until close on Sunday afternoon.  Due to the Australia Day holiday the sale will only run for 3 days instead of the usual week.  Our sale hours will be Friday 9.30-4.30, Saturday 8.30-4.00 & Sunday 9.30-2.00.

Majella and I started to pull the fabrics for the sale today and let me tell you there are some fantastic fabrics available in the sale this year – we have a fantastic range of backgrounds, country, bright, pastel all from our favourite designers like Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Blackbird Designs, Kansas Troubles – just to name a few.  You could make a mountain of gorgeous quilts from the fabrics that have been chosen for the sale, but I warn you they will go quickly and as always if you bring cash your dollar will go further. 

This week we welcomed a very happy range called Pam Kitty by Lake House.  Pretty pinks and soft cherry, crisp and clear greens, delightful blues and happy yellows make up this range – we have a project under way and I am sure that you will all be absolutely thrilled when it is revealed. I hope this truly delightful fabric tempts you.

 

 

These last few fabrics are from a different range - Home to Roost - they are so darling that I couldn't leave them out. Hope you like them.

I always love to see the quilts that my customers and their friends or family members are working on and it is always such a pleasure to be able to share them with you all.  So today Majella and I were so excited when both Kay and Kyleigh (must be something special in the letter K),brought in quilts to share.

 

 

 

Quilt:  Flower Pots

Designer:  Kim McLean

Fabrics:  Kaffe and Friends

Started: Februay/March 2011

Finished: January 2012

Method:  Machine Appliqued

 

 

 

Quilt: Square Dance

Designer:  Sue Daley

Fabrics: Kaffe and Friends, Anna Marie Horner

Started:  December 2011

Finished: January 2012

Method:  English Paper Piecing and Hand Applique

 

It makes me want to start working again on my Flower Pots but my stick-ability is staying strong and remains loyally attached to my orphan quilt.  I have one flower and two stars remaining to be hand appliqued and the borders to be sewn and voila!  I promise I will share it all with you when it is finished – my sewing soul is excited by the thought of finishing this much loved quilt.  Of course it will then set my SS free to start something new – yah. 

This post seems to have gone on for quite a bit and am fearful that I will soon bore you.  In the next post another date claimer for next year (already – I know – I hope I have you wondering), a new class with Bev McClune and more new fabrics and books to share with you. 

A quick housekeeping matter before I go.   Class registration forms will be going out in the post after the sale so please keep an eye out for them. You need to complete and return the form to ensure your place in class. I have been so excited by your response to the wonderful tutors that are visiting Precious Time and look forward to sharing these fantastic classes with you. 

Quilts draw us close to those we love and pull our hearts toward home.

Catch up with you soon………..lisa

 

Wendy + fantastic fabrics + fun + good food = wonderful weekend of quilting

With February fast approaching I thought it would be a good time to remind you all of our upcoming class with Wendy Williams.  Wendy’s playful nature has everyone quickly at ease and her happy personality ensures you will have a thoroughly enjoyable two days with her.  Wendy has been working on some new quilts and cushions and we are thrilled to share her latest raw-edge, machine applique cushion with you. 

It is just darling (dreaming that I had returned to Houston last year). If you have wanted to master raw edge applique this is a fantastic opportunity to start on a small project. Of course Wendy will be teaching any of her quilts or smaller projects over the weekend –Growing Up (which so many of you fell in love with), Hooterville or choose one of her new applique cushions or garden wallhanging.   What better way to start your quilting year then with a fun filled weekend of playing with gorgeous fabrics and the opportunity to increase your knowledge of colour and its placement in your quilt. 

 

 

Growing Up (pictured above) is an absolutely fun filled quilt and of course you guessed it - it is on my list to make.

What better way to start your quilting year then with a fun filled weekend of playing with gorgeous fabrics and the opportunity to increase your knowledge of colour and its placement in your quilt.  Call the shop to reserve a place in this class and join Wendy for this fantastic weekend of quilting.

There is much to love in January - beginning a new year which is filled with the promise of wonderful events, new and old friends along with inspiring projects - the re-sharing of memories as we come together again after the Christmas break - time to look at my orphan quilts and decide if one can be sent to a loving new home - deciding on actually finishing one of my orphan quilts. Which brings me to the thing I love most about January - the tennis!  So tonight I have a date with my orphan quilt and a glass of wine.  My DH has just finished making home made pizzas so it is time to go as the aroma is calling my name.  

Enjoy your Saturday evening whatever it may have install for you ...............lisa

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 - A new year with Sue Ross

Sue has a wonderful array of quilts that she is working on for the year and so to tempt you to come along and enjoy all the wonderful experiences and sharing of knowledge in her class here are some projects that she and her students have been working on.  Of course next month Sue starts teaching her mystery technique class which would be a fantastic way to gently ease your way into her eclectic style of quilt making – I confess that I have seen the first two blocks of this quilt and they are extremely beautiful and entirely different from each other.  The first thing that sprung to mind was the different size of the blocks – Sue just smiled, saying I would have to wait and see what magical applique/pieced-thingy she would create to bring them together (such technical terms).

One of Sue’s current “works in progress” which summoned large ooh’s and aah’s from the girls was the following applique and English pieced hexagon project.  There is a centre, which didn’t make the trip to Queensland for a holiday but rest assured it will be another have to make quilt, seriously.

The pickle dish quilt was started in September for Quilting on the Downs and is now on it’s way to completion – the first border has been added with delightful paper pieced stars, with the final border still swimming around in Sue’s head – can you imagine going for a dip in there.

 

Cathy started Sue’s pinwheel quilt in a weekend class last year, we posted images of it not quite finished on the blog – we are so thrilled that the final borders have now been attached and here is the quilt ready to be sent off for quilting.  Well done Cathy – it really is a beautiful quilt.  It is to be gifted to a member of Cathy’s family – lucky man.

 

Janette has also been working on Sue’s quilt – Swinging Corners.  Janette is the mother of our wild and wacky Katrina – she is the most beautiful sewer and has completed this quilt all by hand.  Now it is time for the borders to be attached and voila – it can be sent off to the quilter for quilting.  Will try and remember to take another image to share with you once the borders have been attached.

This gorgeous vase of flowers is another of Sue’s creations and the technique is aptly named Colouring with Fabrics.  Pick a stunning array of flowers from our friends Kaffe Fassett and Philip Jacobs and with imagination and carefree placement you will be well on your way to producing a gorgeous floral bouquet of your own.

There is so much to gain from a class with Sue and we are immensely proud that Sue will be joining us for her 4^th year of teaching. If you are looking to extend your skills or are wanting to try new techniques and gain confidence with colour and the mixing of new, old and ugly fabrics this is a don't miss class. If you would like to learn more about the quilts Sue teaches please give the shop a call for further information.  It will be a busy year with Sue being here every month for classes – I wonder if you could talk her into moving to Queensland (we can be very convincing).

All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” –Walt Disney

See you soon........lisa

Date Claimer - Sue Spargo - 22/23 July

We are thrilled to be able to share that Sue Spargo will be visiting the shop on Sunday 22 & Monday 23 July.  Sue was born and educated in Zambia but currently resides in Uniontown, Ohio.  Sue is influenced by the energy and colour of traditional African designs which stirred her love of "primitive" arts and crafts.  In 1989 she moved to the States and it was here that she met many wonderful quilt enthusiasts and through them added abundantly to her knowledge and creativity.  Her focus is now designing quilted items using textural fabrics and embellishments, teaching, creating books and patterns.  Her other passions include her family, tending her garden and travelling to exciting destinations. We are very excited that Precious Time is her first destination in Australia on her teaching tour of Australia and New Zealand.  If you would like further information on Sue's class please email the shop to be placed on the interested list.  We hope that you can join us for this wonderful class..........lisa

 

Chintz Delight - coming soon

 

These rolls of pure scrumptiousness come to us from Den Haan & Wagenmakers and contain 20 strips (4" x 60").  All the strips, excepting the tone on tones showcase three different prints in the same
colourway to give you a total of approximately 65 prints - if my math is correct.  They would be wonderful for paper pieceing - I feel a new project coming on - or for an applique quilt as they are absolutely gorgeous to sew.  A must for any lover of fabric and because they are so beautifully packaged they will look divine on your shelf if you can't bring yourself to use them.  They will be in store in a few weeks but if you don't want to miss out please give us a call or send an email and we can reserve one for you.  They won't last a minute.

 

Before Christmas we received stock of the most fantastic light made by the very clever people at Daylight.  It is perfect for travelling as it only weighs 1/2 kg and is so slim that you could carry it in your handbag.  It runs on batteries and comes with a USB cord that will allow it to run off your computer.  It is just perfect to take when on holidays because as we all know the light in hotels is never good enough to stitch under - it is also handy when visiting friends or family as it sits on the table or arm chair - no need to search for a plug or have the worry of moving furniture to obtain better light.  A must have for every stitcher.

Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

- Norman MacEwan

 

 

 

Welcome the start of a new year with Auntie Green

We are back at work and the shop is once again open and filled with anticipation of what this year will bring.  The Christmas break went all too quickly but I was blessed to have had a few days away at the beach and a wonderful few days with my mum – then before I could blink it was back to Toowoomba and back to work.I hope that you all had a fantastic Christmas whatever you did, wherever you were and wish you a year filled with happiness and the love of good friends and family.

I do have to say that it was a nice way to start work for the year – the shop was filled with excitement as the ladies all eagerly awaited the next installment of Auntie Green’s Coverlet.  The work of these talented ladies is truly inspiring and helps those of us (me!) that may be lagging a little behind.  

 

So here are the first two sides for the centre – and in an attempt to keep us inspired and continue Sue quietly let us know there was a total of 25 hours stitching in the two sides, which doesn’t include tracing, auditioning fabrics and placing them ready to stitch – it’s a wonder there wasn’t a race to the door but the history and beauty of the original quilt keeps us busily stitching and looking forward to the day when we finish our quilts, place them on our beds to be used, loved and cherished. 

 

We are constantly in awe of Mary Allen Wellen and her sewing skills – unlike us she probably didn’t have access to an unlimited supply of needles, matching threads and not to mention a lack of gorgeous quilt shops filled with metres upon metres of fabric. I can’t say that we are spoiled but fortunate that our lives belong to a different century.  I hope you enjoy seeing the quilts in varying stages from the class on the weekend.

this is Val's quilt so far.........

Katrina was hiding behind her Auntie Green........

Cathie from Warwick decided to introduce her Auntie Green to Kaffe Fassett.......

Margaret travels with Cathie from Warwick and is making her Auntie Green by eye - she is not marking her quilt at all.........we are in awe of her confidence and free spirit.......

Bev is the proud owner of this Auntie Green - Izabella says it is a homage to the Adams Family - all stalks no flowers.........

This is Kay's Auntie Green - breathtaking isn't it.  Her, Majella and Izabella (Pictured below) are the only three to have completed their centres.  Congratulations ladies.  

Last but not least is Bronwyn - 

It is always such a delight to see all the quilts and the progress that everyone has made.  If this quilt keeps calling there is still room to join us..........

I have to fly - customers await, but I do have lots of other news and pictures to share with you all.  I promise it won't be so long between drinks.  

Back soon........your in stitching........lisa

Fabric Lust........

These gorgeous stacks of fabrics are new into the shop and are a mix of Blueberry Crumb Cake by Blackbird Designs and American Banner Rose by Minick and Simpson.  The delightful blues, creams and tans are a perfect mix of fabrics for your next quilt receipe.  I have always loved two colour quilts but have never made one – red & white, blue & cream or pink & green.  Looking at these fabrics you can only agree with the dynamic duo from Blackbird – they are tasty and would make the perfect Blueberry Crumb Cake, although I couldn’t help myself – I would have to make a Blueberry Crumble.  So here is something you should know I am not a great cook – I wish I were – but I stumble through the week cooking the regular kid friendly meals.  My DH has asked that I don’t experiment with new menus, especially when they are all hungry after a day of work and school.  Why you ask – one night I cooked a new receipe given to me by my mum and instead of a teaspoon of chilli I used a tablespoon of chilli.  It was so hot they couldn’t eat it and I had left them to go to class unaware of the chaos I had left behind. I think I could manage a blueberry crumble though!

 

 

So I may not be a great cook but I can sew ……… ta dah the modern cabin made with the scrumptious mix of blues and creams and in doing so have made my first two colour quilt.

 

Our superstar of the week is Christina, pictured below holding her gorgeous quilt, which her mum made for her.  They were both in the shop today to choose borders and binding so it can be quilted to lie on her bed either at home or uni.

 

Also new in the shop is a collection of fabrics - Indian Summer from Laundry Basket Quilts.  The moody blue floral is my favourite with the birds taking advantage of the fading blooms before they welcome the autumn months. 

 

 

I have fabric lust for this following stack.  Majella will tell you that I have never really loved yellow/mustard/gold and always reject it when sifting for my final palette.  It wasn’t until a very clever customer (you know who you are) was mooching around the shop and started collecting some of these soft golden yellows for a friend. I had fabric lust – yes lust because I just couldn’t let go of them to put them back on the shelf – they have been sitting beside my cutting bench for over a week ..…some have been added and so they continue to wait I’m not sure why - but maybe they were just waiting to be shared…………I hope you fall in lust with them too.

Hope you are all embracing the joy of the Christmas season.........it is a most wonderful time of the year...........till next time.....lisa 

 

 

 

Missing in end of year activities

I have been absent from the blog for a few weeks as end of year school celebrations seem to have had me running the girls from one event to the next.  It is such a busy time of the year for everyone.  So while the girls were having a good time celebrating the end of another school year my DH and I were in Terrigal having a celebration all of our own.  My husband works for a computer company and this years Christmas party was in Terrigal.  We were flown down and accommodated for the weekend at the Crowne Plaza – heaven – no children, breakfast (that I didn’t have to cook), a few nice dinners (Le Chat Noir was simply divine) and drinks by the pool – what more could you ask for.  We had a relaxing weekend looking around the area, which is so picturesque; there are gorgeous lakes, stunning beaches and breathtaking bays.  Definitely somewhere I would like to visit again.

 

So after Quilt Market in Houston all the fabric reps hit the road with the new fabric swatches to try and entice all good shop owners…..every year their job gets easier and easier as the fabric gets more irresistible.  The colours, designs and fabric stories are like candy to a child – so many beautiful colours and prints…..yummy.

So what have we ordered I hear you ask. Gorgeous, gorgeous and more gorgeous.  We have ordered the full range of Barbara Brackman’s new range titled Battle Hymn. In 1862 Julia Ward Howe published the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a moving anthem still sung 150 years later. This reproduction fabric line remembers the first full year of the Civil War, its battles and losses.  Muted colours recall the mood of mourning.  The original prints date from mid to late 19^th century, many drawn from an 1860’s mill sample book.  Print styles fashionable in the 1860’s include small figures in formal repeats, floral trails and a floral spray that might be a cotton boll (the pod from which the cotton fibers grow).  The flag print may date to the 1870’s, a postwar celebratory fabric to commemorate the Union’s Centennial.  This is beautiful fabric and we loved every print in the range.  I am sorry we forgot to take a photo of it when we ordered it but you can have a look at it by clicking on this on this link (hope it works).

 

Another range that we fell in love with was Athill Range by Cabbages and Roses. After a lunch with a divine lady named Diana Athill the perplexing task of naming their latest collection was solved.  Her name, demeanor, elegance and wit, her fine head of coiffed hair, everything about her stated “English Lady”.  Born in 1917 she worked as a literary editor with some of the most important writers of the 20^th Century.  In essence their collection is brim full of vintage English charm and the name Athill seemed so fitting.  Moda has adapted the prints into tiny, medium and larger scale prints with just the right amount of colour.  Cabbage and Roses hope you embrace this collection.

         

We have lots more beautiful to share with you so keep watching for the next installment.

 

Kay brought her finished Antique Baby Quilt in to show us and I know that you will all agree that it is truly stunning.  Someone asked Kay which baby was going to receive this wonderful quilt to which she replied  - this baby, meaning herself.  The quilt is large enough to lay on top of a queen bed.  I am sure that I have said this before – but I really want to make this Marg Sampson quilt – it is on my list – I hope I live long enough.

 

Another to have finished a quilt of super size is our bubbly Izabella.  She collected her Love Letters by Blackbird Designs this week, after Majella did the most beautiful job of quilting it.  This is the first needle turn applique quilt for Izabella and her fellow class participants are extremely proud of her – if truth be told they may even be a little jealous – good jealous though – the jealous that makes them want to finish their quilts so that they can be as proud and happy as Izabella.  So imagine our surprise when we show Izabella her quilt only to be told she has another ready for quilting.  She has also completed her William Morris quilt, which she started a couple of years ago in a class at the shop.  She is starting to put a few of us to shame – or more precisely – me.  Her William Morris quilt is a credit to her hard work and persistence to see it finished.  Congratulations Izabella!

 

Precious Pyramids is the latest creation from Majella, made with a delicious mix of fabrics from Joel Dewberry and Anna Maria Horner you will be able to whip this quilt up in no time.  We have precut all the fabrics for you so that all you need do is go home and start sewing.  All the fun without any of the tedious cutting – I wish all my kits came like that – what joy.  If you come into the shop have a feel of this quilt as we backed it with one of the many beautiful voiles that we have in stock.  Not only does it feel divine but it also makes the quilt so light and the drape is like an antique quilt – soft and dreamy.

 

As it quietens (not sure if that is a word - but I'll run with it) down there is still a mountain of work to be done at the shop.  We take this time to work on the class program for next year, clean and freshen up the shop and best of all - make new quilts.  If you have been to visit in the last week you may have had a peek at some new quilts on the design wall. 

I hope all is well at your house and that you find some time to enjoy your stitching.

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.  ~Laura Ingalls Wilde

Lisa

Exam hideaway.......

With the days going by so quickly our thoughts begin to be consumed with end of year events. For those of us with children still at school there is a lot going on and mums and dads are trying to keep everyone on an even keel – exams, op’s, formals, end of year parties – the list goes on. My girls are in exam week so things are a little tense at our house – chocolate helps!  It seems the best thing to do at the moment is to keep feeding them and not ask too many or any questions at all.   So with all this going on at home it was delightful to hide out at the shop and catch up with the Sunday Slipper girls and see what they were all up to.

Amanda fell in love with Majella’s (Kookaburra Cottage) Two French Birds so she set about laying her applique out on Sunday and as you can see she has gone with a completely different palette – clear and fresh it looks gorgeous.

 

Margie is working hard on her Marg Sampson quilt and is getting ever closer to the finish line.  All the girls fell in love with the beautiful elephants at the top of her quilt – it always amazes me how each one of us looks at a piece of fabric with different eyes and sometimes we see such different stories.

Thanks for making us look at this gorgeous fabric with new eyes…… 

Bev tried hard not to have her photo taken by looking like she was very busy laying her Auntie Green cable down.

 

Cath decided that she wanted to make the Toothbrush Rug and her fabric of choice was Kaffe – so delicious you could almost eat it.  Cath says with a big grin on her face that the rug is for kitchen in her donga – this will be the best-dressed donga out west if this is anything to go by. Once her new house is finished it will take pride of place in the kitchen but I do wonder if she will be able to bring herself to use it – will keep you updated.

 

We have been visited by the fabric reps in the past few days showing all the new must have - can't live without fabrics so keep watching this space to see some of the beautiful fabrics that we have ordered for next year - not too far away if you fall in love with anything or everything (like us).

Congratulations to all the parents who have survived yet another school year.......enjoy time with the ones you love.  Lisa