Welcome to Precious Time

New fabrics -and excitement of class

After a very quite Mother’s Day it felt like we were hit by a tornado on Tuesday.  Majella and I had a long list of things to do especially as we are welcoming Marg Sampson to Precious Time this weekend for class (more on that later).  The day started with our lovely Andrew arriving at the back door with boxes  - yah!  The only problem was that Majella and I got so excited opening the boxes, discovering the beautiful fabrics inside that we forgot to open the front door.  It was only that our postman arrived at the back door with parcels and politely informed us that there were ladies at the front door waiting….... a look at the watch, a shriek and many apologies to the ladies patiently waiting – what a way to start the day. It should have been a warning....

Marg is joining us for a weekend of whimsical applique and the ladies are so excited to be learning and sharing her eclectic style of mixing reproduction fabrics alongside contempory prints which give Marg’s quilts there unique style.  Today we cut and tied bundles of new, exciting fabrics for class along with a duo of yummy linen and delicious stripe for those ladies making Stars & Hexagons, which is just one of the fantastic quilts that is on offer in Marg’s class.  If you have fallen in love with Marg’s quilts and would like to join us please call the shop as we still have one or two places available.

 

The postman brought a parcel to make our hearts sing yesterday – our box of Aurifil applique threads.  While Sarah Fielke was visiting she encouraged a love affair between our customers and these lovely threads, which resulted in the birth of the Precious Time Thread Club.  It runs just like a block of the month with you receiving a selection of personally chosen threads each month – the first month you also receive a sturdy box which will house them all safely for you.  It is more tempting then a box of chocolates – and way less calories. 

 

The picture says it all.  Fantastic small prints that fit in perfectly with your reproduction or country quilt.  We have little Fat 1/8 bundles looking for new homes…….

More from Kaffe and his friends…..these won’t last long.  This is just a small selection of the beautiful prints that arrived yesterday……

 

Time to go and sew - we have been working on a quilt using the new Kaffe and bright batiks – it is cut and on the wall ready to be sewn.  Sorry no sneak peaks on this one.

 

“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”  George Bernard Shaw

Sorry I just realized that I haven't posted an update from Auntie Green - promise it will be next........have an enjoyable evening and stay warm.  The sting of Autumn has definately arrived as the leaves start to turn and fall, the rustle under foot sounds delightful.  Until next time........lisa

 

Back at work.......

  Hello…..I hope that you have all been keeping well and are busy stitching gorgeous quilts and keepsakes.  My apologies that I have been away for the past week – I had to have some time off work and there is always a list of things to be taken care of before you go, then of course you arrive back at work to a new list of things since you left. The rain has arrived by the bucket loads and the clouds are sitting so low that you can hardly see two feet in front of you today.  I don’t know where the delightful Spring weather has gone but can we please have it back.  Although I do have to say that this is very pleasant stitching weather.

 

Just before I left I was about to share the new books which had just arrived in store……so here are a few of them.  I have to say in my defense that I could not photograph them all and some of the images are blurred – the reason – a wonderful customer was buying them as quickly as I was unpacking them.  I will share the missing books with you when they arrive in our next order.  Man you have to be quick around here……

 

Kyleigh fell in love with the whimsical pink and black zoo print “Bundle of Jungle” and whipped up this sweet baby quilt to have ready in her cupboard. It was so quick to sew a pack of soft aqua’s and grey’s was then purchased to make a version for a baby boy for her expectant friend, who is in the minority nowadays deciding not to find out the sex of her bub. We can’t wait to see which quilt will be gifted.

 

Last year Kathy Doughty joined us for Quilting on the Downs teaching her fabulous quilt – Garden Party.  Our Dali Lama of quilting is of course the first to bring her finished top in for quilting – definitely putting me to shame as I feel this has been a year of unfinished projects for me.  I am in the midst of planning a Victorian sitting/sewing room (blame the Renovators) at home so I am hoping that I can turn my year around by having a haven to escape to. Kay is always an inspiration with her glorious quilts - the chant begins to go round in my head…....and if you haven’t heard Kathy will be joining us next year for Quitling on the Downs so as they say – keep watching this space!

There is nothing more exciting then arriving back and having the deliveryman come to visit.  So what did he bring – gorgeous of course –  was there any doubt.  This is the first time ever that we have brought the full range of Kaffe Fassett and friends as our collection was starting to look a little sad and in need of a lift.  There are new designs from Kaffe and additional prints from Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs have been re-coloured just to further entice us.  They look absolutely delicious standing in the boxes awaiting the chop…....so to celebrate their arrival we are cutting fat 1/8 packs for a limited time.  You can choose to have the whole collection or just the blues…or greens…. or pinks…. or yellows……not quite sure how you just stop at one or two colourways so good luck with that.  It never seems to work for us.  So here is the collection so that you can enjoy the dilemma of which prints to choose…….

    

Parasols - Kaffe Fassett                                Wrinkle - Brandon Mably

 Rings - Brandon Mably

 
            Pom Pom Dahlias - Philip Jacobs                        Frilly - Kaffe

 

 Japanese Crysanthemum - Philip Jacobs  Primula - Philip Jacobs

  

Iris & Peony - Philip Jacobs                            Dancing Paisley - Brandon Mably

Beaded Tents - Brandon Mably

 Herringbone Stripe - Brandon Mably Tile Flowers - Kaffe Fassett

  Baba Ganoush - Kaffe Fassett Violets - Kaffe Fassett

 Luscious - Philip Jacobs

  Rings - Brandon Mably

I know that there have been requests for the latest class list, I will be working on that over the weekend, it should be posted on the website by Monday evening at the latest.  Thanks for your patience.

Have a great weekend..........love the ones you are with.   Lisa

 

 

 

Delicious new..........

Oh my gosh where to start.  You know you are in trouble when the deliveryman parks bum in at the shop to deliver your parcels. The doors opened and excitement turned to nervousness as box after box was unloaded. Majella and I look at each other with the same “deer in the headlight” look - what had we ordered?  The answer was simple – loads of delicious fabrics that are just waiting to be made into scrumptious quilts, stunning cushions and decorator items, a gorgeous skirt or a new bag for summer – the list goes on and on.  Also arriving in store were new voiles - they are so fine and just slip through your fingers - you will have to pop in to the store to see them, they make absolutely divine backings for your quilts. So here are the new fabrics – I hope they tempt you as much as they did Majella and I………….

Heirloom - from Joel Dewberrry......

 

Loulouthi - by Anna Maria Horner

 

New from Martha Negley                         Taza - from Dena Designs - I am in love with these soft shades!

 

Isn't this just the cutest combination of grey, pink and black for a baby girl. Such whimsy!

 

These delicious browns and pinks are from Judie Rothermel - The Cocheco Mills Collection from the American Textile History Museum.  What a mouthful!

 

Also arriving at the shop today was the new book from Kaffe Fassett – Quilts in Sweden.  Kaffe choose to display his quilts in the oldest open-air museum in the world, the picturesque Skansen Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.  The book is filled with beautiful quilts taking advantage of sensational colour stories from Kaffe, Brandon Mably and Philip Jacobs.  This is a wonderful book just waiting to be added to your quilt library. If you are a collector or lover of Kaffe's fabrics then keep an eye out for the new range of fabrics due to arrive in store shortly.  Majella and I loved them all so much that we just couldn't make our minds up so we ordered the whole collection.   I hope you enjoy the following snapshots from inside Kaffe's new book…….

It is so dreadfully cold here at the moment - I don't know where that gorgeous spring weather went that we were all delighting in just a few days ago.  The smell of fresh coffee along with the realisation that I have some of my mum's chocolate caramel slice (the best in the world) in my bag is dragging me away. There is also the small matter of what to make first from all the new arrivals - so a busy day ahead for me.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein

Enjoy your weekend.......lisa

Teahouse Carry Bag arrives at Precious Time

Obviously Winter wanted to remind us of it’s strength before leaving us to make way for Spring and Summer (my favourite months).  It was absolutely freezing – when I left for work on Saturday morning the temperature was 3 degrees with a wind chill factor, which placed the temperature at 1 degree.  There were lots of ladies visiting Toowoomba and I felt terrible for them because it was so, so cold and I‘m sure they were all in shock at the fierceness of the wind.  Sunday wasn’t much better – 5 degrees when I left for work – amazing how much warmer 2 degrees makes you feel.

Kyleigh who makes some of the beautiful samples you will find in the shop has brought in another gorgeous project – this one is from Bronwyn Hayes and is My Little Teahouse Carry Bag.  It is a darling bag that will hold all your sewing necessities for class or visit to your sewing circle.  We have made our sample from Pom Pom de Paris –  a great choice for this carry bag.  So here are the photos for you to enjoy.

 

The Sunday slipper girls filled the shop on Sunday along with all the visitors so there was lots of show and tell, laughter and “have you seen this” and “what about this”…….it is always a treat to have new ladies come and enjoy our quilts, projects and selection of fabrics.  Ros collected a yummy selection of Kaffe fabrics, as she needs to make two quilts for some important men in her families lives.  I am sure you will agree that her choice of fabrics will make warm and heartfelt quilts.

 

The delicious stripes are for the backs of the quilts - lucky men.

We are counting down to classes starting on Saturday for Quilting on the Downs.  Our tutors start arriving on Friday and I am hoping that the weather will be warm and inviting.  I know all the ladies are getting excited and gathering supplies in readiness for their classes.  We will be sharing photos of the classes on the blog so keep watching this space…..

One of our gorgeous customers lost someone dear to them this week and it is a harsh reminder to us all to love and care for those close to us. 

 

Until next time………..lisa