Welcome to Precious Time

Time to say good bye to old friends whilst welcoming new ones……….

Majella and I have been busy as bees the past two days as we pulled fabrics for our annual birthday sale, which starts tomorrow and runs until close Sunday.  Along with this we have moved fabrics, furniture, quilts and made new displays for a fresh start to the year.  We have a gorgeous array of workshop quilts now hanging in store and I don't know how you will decide which class to do as they are all delicious.  

One of the new quilts now hanging is Tulip Tango......yummy, yummy,yummy

The classroom is filled with fantastic fabrics for our annual Birthday sale - you will find great fabrics ranging from $5 - $10 pm.  Minimum cut is 1m.  Come along and grab a great bargain. 

So after we filled the classroom with sale fabrics it was time to move out to the front of the store....

We are so proud of our new display......

Here is a sneak peak of the store after all the hard work - to see the final results you will just have to come and visit.....

Even with all of this going on, we still had time to unpack a few boxes.......

M is for Mystery - vibrant reproductions that make you go ooohhhh

The above are from Botanica by Joel Dewberry......

The pink and brown print from Anna Maria Horner is my favourite......by the slightest margin of course.

Also arriving today was Quilt Grandeur by Kaffe Fassett - just in time for class.

I have quickly flicked through it and it is gorgeous......filled with 20 new quilts it is not only a feast for the eyes but also the sewing soul.  We are truly looking forward to sharing time with Kaffe again on his visit to Precious Time in a few weeks.

Sorry this post has few words (wee bit exhausted) - but I know that pictures can tell a story all on their own...... I hope that you have enjoyed what I have shared....

Happy stitching

Quilts on show…..

There have been some gorgeous quilts coming thru the door this week to be shared.....  Izabella has been busy as a bee working on her Kim McLean Flower Pots...she only has two borders to be stitched and her quilt is ready to go to the quilter.  

Whilst visiting Izabella collected a beautiful memory quilt that she has made for a family friend who's parents passed away ....such a lovely gift from Izabella.....quilters have such large hearts with the  wonderful capacity to share and support not only loved ones but at times ones we feel love for that we may never have met.  Quilters really are amazing!

Izabella used her trip around the world blocks and was thrilled with the quilting......funnily enough Linda brought her trip around the world quilt in to share.....42 blocks in total.....truly delicious.....

I have been busily cutting fat quarters - a whole tray in fact.....

for a new quilt that has just been added to the class list.  Circle Play - is a bright, fun quilt that will have you on a merry go round of colours and curves - check out the class list at the top of the blog to learn more about this quilt and it's teacher, Peggy.  I am sure this will be a fun class for everyone that attends.

So much stitching....so little time.....so I have to go and pick up a needle and thread before the night slips by.......see you soon......lisa

Introducing Peggy….

Peggy has been a passionate crafter and stitcher for most of her life and has a special love of all things quilting.  Her work has been exhibited and won prizes at both State and Local levels over many years.  A co-owner of Peggy & Bev's Place in Emerald for four years, Peggy further developed her skills especially in teaching and developing classes to meet the constant thirst for new and exciting projects.  

In 2010 she gained her Teacher Accreditation with Queensland Quilters and since then has continued to expand her skills and range of classes that she teaches by continually attending workshops covering a wide variety of disciplines to further enhance her skills.  

Fascinated by the beauty and complexity of Judy Niemeyer's foundation paper-piecing techniques and quilt patterns she travelled to Melbourne to attend a training course in these techniques with Judy.  Peggy now holds her Certified Instructors Certificate and loves the precision that results when using Judy's techniques.

You can see some of Peggy's classes at the top of the blog - be assured there are many gorgeous projects/quilts from which I had to choose.  I know you will have a fantastic time with Peggy in any of her classes.

 

 

It's our birthday….come celebrate

Yes it is that time of year again - we are turning 12.  We will be on sale from this Friday morning January 1 to Sunday Febraury 2.  There will be a wonderful array of fabrics on sale at $10.00 per metre and there will be a selection of bolts at $5.00 p/m - they are all fabulous but we have to make room for all the new stock which will be walking through the kitchen door in the next few weeks/months.  This is a great time to grab gorgeous fabrics for backings or look for an ecelctic mix for a new quilt.  It is amazing how inspired we can be when required.  Please note that we may not be able to help you with fabric selections in the sale section as I am on my own during this time.

Come along and grab a fabulous bargain.......see you Friday.......lisa

Kaffe wants you…..

There are still places available in both our lecture and workshop with Kaffe Fassett. Brandon Mably, his collaborative patner will be joining him on his visit to Toowoomba and I can assure you from time spent with both these gentlemen that your sewing soul will soom be overflowing.  

(Image from Kaffe's website)

Kaffe is a captivating storyteller and he has led a life filled with creativity and adventure from a young boy when his imagination was filled with the wonder of a bygone era to now being acknowledged as a visionary in the use of colour.  Kaffe was the first living textile designer to have a one-person show at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.  It is without a doubt that he will have a fantastic array of encouraging, humorous and stirring stories to share with you about his journey from young artist to current day textile artist.   

If you would like to join us and share in the life and works of Kaffe Fassett please call the store on 4633 4748 to book a place at the lecture or workshop - why not both! 

Spend time with Kaffe and step into his glorious world of colour.

 

 

A Ta Dah Moment

I just had to share this with you all. So so happy to have finished stitching one star for my White House Wedding Quilt. Short and sweet but there you go......wishing I could hide away and stitch for the day. Itchy fingers can't wait to keep stitching.
A quick lesson in Instagram this morning and I now have a page/account (not really sure what you call it), but another toe dips into the deep sea of social media. If you would like to see what I am sewing and what's happening at the store you can follow me (never thought I would be saying those words!) at PrecioustimeQuilts.

Happy stitching.........lisa

Jewels…..fabrics…..every girls wish

 Patrina and Margot have been busy little bees over the Christmas holidays.  Both visited with their Crown Jewel Tops ready for borders to be auditioned……exciting! 

 

Margot's Crown Jewels is looking very chic.....with her palette of red, black and white

 

Patrina's palette is making gorgeous use of A Day in the Country basics.....

Both of these girls are prolific with the amount of quilts they finish each year.  “Who wants to do the housework” Margot says – she just keeps quilting so that there is no time for cleaning, vacuuming or washing  – if only!   Although I do have to admit that one of my guilty pleasures is the Australian Open so for two weeks tennis and sewing are the only things on my mind.

 

“Tour Des Fleurs” is a sweet little range of fabrics that have arrived on the doorstep this week from Mary Jane Carey of Holly Hill Quilt Designs.  This lovely soft reproduction style fabric in soft blues, beige and red is reminiscent of French General and would be a welcomed addition to your stash. 

An easy mix of prints that would transfer into modern or classic style quilts – I can’t wait to use it in my hexagon wedding quilt and then it is crying out to be chopped and pieced into a new design – stars, baskets, squares, log cabins – the list goes on.  Just as well Majella is here today – we can play and work on something delicious together.  But wait there is more – the best news is, it is the best valued fabric we have had through the doors for a while $19.00 per metre. – actually I’m pretty sure that is the lowest priced imported fabric Precious Time has ever stocked.  Majella is chopping 1/4 and 1/8 packs whilst I am typing away…….I know we will be chatting soon…..I’m sure it will fly off the shelf.

All you need is love…..

Finally Love has arrived at Precious Time - the fabric that is.  

Jelly rolls, layer cakes and this absolutely divine kit for a clamshell quilt all arrived the day before we closed the doors for our annual Christmas holiday.  I feel totally head over heels - lusting after this fabric and quilt.  It is a reproduction of an antique quilt (going back to my post for notes - hang on).....

Above is the original antique quilt that inspired the owner of Moda - Howard Marus Dunn to recreate the stunning clamshell quilt below.....

The kit includes all the fabric for the top of your quilt - with the clamshells already cut out for you - yah!

Then you just follow the steps.....

and voila....your own clamshell quilt.  We also have the following fabrics available now in store.

I have started cutting them up to put them into my White House Wedding quilt - they definately are scrumptious.

If you would like to learn how to make this fabulous quilt then all you need do is click here.

One of the nicest things about returning to work are the new quilt arrivals - a product of everyone's hard work over the Christmas break.  Amanda is never one to disappoint and arrived with three (yes 3) quilt tops ready for quilting.  

The first is a design by Kim McClean that was published in a recent edition of Quitlmania - I am sure you agree it is darling.

 

The second of Amanda's quilts is one that she started back in 2006 as a row of the month - there were some issues in regards to measurements, so Amanda is quite relieved to have the quilt completed. 

Time to get needle and thread in my hands, so I will bid you good night......happy stitching......lisa

Holidays …..what holidays!

It is always a wrench that first day back at work after holidays.....  It was time to say goodbye to my holidays and step back into the world of fabrics and pop on my shop owners cap.  It always amazes me how quickly the time goes when you are on holidays..... now back in the real world it was lovely to hear the shop bell tinkling away allowing me to re acquaint with my customers swapping Christmas and holiday stories.  One clever customer who was visiting with a girlfriend from South Australia asked if I was playing morning music - it took me a few seconds to realise she was playing with words and meant mourning music - wondering if I was sad to have returned to work. 

There were boxes to be opened so who could be sad about that, especially when they contained gorgeous fabrics anxious to be put on the shelf and made into gorgeous quilts, items of clothing and homewares. 

 

How yummy are these.....

 

and these..........

Kyleigh was a welcome visitor at the store today bringing in some of her Christmas projects to share with me...one of these was Growing Up by Wendy Williams....apparently I am not the only one who has it on their finishing list for 2014

I am sure you would agree that she is coming along splendidly - no onto those outer borders and more applique.

Another delicious range of fabrics to arrive is Sunshine Roses by Tanya Whelan.  This range is filled with full blooms along with delicate spots and small posies with Tanya's trademark stripes and checks to fill the range out.

 

but this print is my absolute favourite (yes in every colour)....

There is more to share with you from my first day back at work but as the evening is quickly turning into the morning it is time for this working girl to close her peek a boo's.

Looking forward to sharing your quilting journey in 2014.......lisa

Finally

I am sure that something mischievous happens to the clock when you are on holidays. One of my joys is laying in a little later reading a good book - something I never do any other time of the year. If I read it is usually at night before I close my eyes to dream of quilts and fabrics. I found a gorgeous book at Berkelouw Books in Eumundi called Mrs Poe, a novel set in New York in the mid 1800's. Am totally engrossed in the characters and storyline.
Anyway back to that silly clock - I'm sure that it runs faster as you go slower. A late start in the morning followed by a lazy breakfast and then maybe a jaunt into town or the beach and before you know it the day has slipped away and little progress has been made on the quilts. One of my mothers favourite sayings is "lazy as a log" - but in all truth I can honestly say apart from watching some Tennis I have been on the go most of the time. So it is with a sigh of relief that I can now show a finished quilt - yah!!!!!
It is our last day - tomorrow we pack to return home, silently longing for the day we can return to this peaceful place.

"no matter how slow you are going, you're still lapping everyone on the couch"

Happy stitching ......... Lisa