Wool, glorious wool

I had planned to write a blog before Easter, the before the school holidays finished but the best laid plans have yet again fallen by the wayside....(it is the last day of school hols at least!!)

Just before the school holidays started, we received a whole bunch of wool from a local supplier, Tailored Strands...

You might remember our two alpacas (they are a bit bigger and a bit naughtier now - read chasing ducks out of their paddock and sticking their noses in the food before we can even get out of the container!!

Well we actually bought them from John at Tailored Strands and each year he comes and shears them and takes the wool as part of the arrangement (believe me when I say although spinning sounds amazing I simply cannot add another type of craft to the list!!)

So for quite some time we have been thinking about putting some of his wool in the shop and now we have - and now we can even say that there could be a little bit of our own will in there!!!

Soon this will be available via our website but I have to tell you that it is so amazingly soft and light - I absolutely adore it.

This cowl was a free pattern and can now be found on ravelry  (fable cable cowl) and came together beautifully.  I knitted it in Suri Silk Wool from John which is a combination of Alpaca, Finn Sheep and silk.

 So now if it is a nice cold winter - well I will just have to do some knitting wont I?

Storybook Lane

A while ago, these two panels came in called Storybook Lane.....

I had seen the finished product and loved the idea of a little girl carrying her "house" filled with toys around so that she could play anywhere, anytime. (Yes, I have boys... no chance of that happening in our house!! - but I can dream)

The first thing that worried me was that there were no instructions.... Daunting at first but actually not so bad... so finally during some quiet time I put one of the houses together...

As you can see the come with an inside wall...

And some dolls to make and play with ...

The nice part about each panel is that there are enough parts to actually make two doll houses from each panel as well as a smattering of dolls.

So of course I finished it before I found out that the designer Kelly Lee-Creel had provided instructions on her website!

If you would like to buy the panel (60cm) - you can at our website www.threadneedle.com.au.

Changing with the times

Phew... it has been a long time since my last post and for that I apologise!!

What can I say.... the holiday that wasn't.... then school..... then work ......

I only feel like we are now getting organised and into the old routines to make sure that everyone gets out the door with the right lunch, the right sports equipment, the right musical instrument..... I am just tired thinking about it.

During the holidays that amazing and talented girly called Jodie decided to come for a quick visit... Amongst the stories and gossip that inevitably happens - she has given to me her latest creations, namely one Arthur Cabbage... and here he is...

 Such a handsome looking bloke - I definitely have to make Elsie as she keeps looking at me as if to say ... Well.... what are you doing, hurry up...

By the way - take a look at Jodie's amazing Red Nose Dolls and the amazing ladies that have made this possible - of course the dolls have their own blog as well

That said I have been playing with some wooden bag handles that I have had for a while and make a quick little bag that uses them quite nicely.  (if would like to find out more about the handles just send me an email)

The fabric is Nancy Wolff Elephants by Kokka that is a sturdy cotton canvas and lovely to use....

And inside just some homespun and a little leftover fabric pocket (mind the threads - as usual not quite finished!!)

On another note, my husband and erstwhile partner in crime setting up Threadneedle has decided to return to the workforce and now travels daily.

So we had to think about how we could manage.  Our new hours are....

Monday          10.00am - 5.00pm
Tuesday          Closed
Wednesday     10.00am - 5.00pm
Thursday         10.00am - 5.00pm
Friday             10.00am - 5.00pm
Saturday         10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday           11.00am - 4.00pm

Hope to see you soon

School Holidays

We always have a range of school holiday activities running and this year is no exception.

This year we have opted for some advanced sewing classes as well as a series of craft beginner classes that included, beading, papercraft and stitching...

Whilst my beading photos were - lets just say dodgy! I am happy to show you some slightly better ones of the placemats and coasters done in our papercraft class. As you can probably see bling is an essential element of any papercraft activity! These are very talented 6 and 7 year olds!!

And the last one is beginner cross stitch utilising the Make It wooden cross stitch frames from Leutenegger.  Small and achievable and they can look amazing as a brooch or necklace... This is the owl I did but there were mushrooms and ladybugs getting worked on during the morning.

As to the more advanced sewers - there was a number of owl posts made with an assortment of letters to go in the pouch. Jodie - this pattern is an absolute pleasure to make up.


And as for me, I am working through some Apples to Oranges from the Straight Stitch Society.  Love making these - and of course I had to make both the Orange and the Apple

Hope your holidays are going well ... we are about to have some time with our boys!! Yay

Threadneedle will be closed for the final week of January.

Its that time....

So.... progress.... if you want to call it that... (more like why do I keep adding things to the to do list???)

Managed to finish the Christmas bunting and hang it at Threadneedle before the actual day!!! The "Merry" portion will have to wait for next year (loved doing it but... not sure if I am mad enough yet).

Therefore, we wish you a Merry...

In between working out what decorations to make for teachers, what to take for the family Christmas dinner and of course Christmas shopping we of course decided to do a bit of renovating at home....

I am proud today to say my washing machine is back inside and working (goodbye laundromat!!!).

So out of the chaos that is Christmas at our house a few things have been created and have come into Threadneedle.

Jodie's Owl Post has arrived and it is amazing.

One of my sisters has loved owls for a very long time - so I think the white one on the right is going to be hers ... The brown one is a model for our School Holiday program that commences in January.

Jodie's is the beautifully finished one whereas mine still needs a bit of work (tummy feathers etc).

I have also been playing with one of Melly's bag patterns - namely The Sleepover Bag after one of our local quilters decided to make three with great results. 

This picture frame fabric from Kokka is awesome, so I had to make it (for the shop of course I said)!!!

This is a great bag - it is not for the absolute beginner but the end result is amazing - I am really happy with how it came out

So, be good and I hope Santa comes and brings you all you wish for. Stay safe and well over the festive season.

XXX

Still trying to finish....something!!

My fourth quarter resolution (lets face it - three months is about as long as I can resolve to do anything consistently) has been to get stuff finished....

As you can see from the last post there has been some success and some continued works....

Well I am please to report the conclusion of Natalie's Woodland quilt samples...

And Butterfly Dreams Needle case - only the canvas and bag to go in this pattern (sigh).... pattern will soon be available - but I think Natalie has been a bit busy (Congratulations on a gorgeous baby boy Natalie)!!

But of course there had to be some new things as well....

I had shown you the lovely range of Benartex fabrics called Tranquility.  Well I found an free online pattern for this fabric, modified it (as you do), and, well, here is the quilt top (note the word top - as in not finished....).

(Don't ask me why but blogger decided that the only way you could see this was sideways!!!)

The problem is that new fabric has come in and I want to play with that as well......

One day, one day I will only have one or two things not finished, not fify bazillion!!!!

Keep stitching and smiling.....

Making/(nearly) Finishing

Like most I have a mountain of WIPs.... And as usual after our Retreat if I haven't already made the items I promise myself that I will do so.... with mixed results (and confidence).

This year however something has happened and I have been like someone possessed for the last couple of weeks and working on a heap of things at once.

I have already done Jodie's Robots with some kids during the School holidays - they had a ball and the results were amazing... 

We also did a class making Chubby Birds - I suspect that they might become and addiction as they come together so beautifully.

The Stacks on Robots and the Cafe Bag patterns have just arrived - am in the process of making the Cafe Bag in our Strawberry Seed wool.

Then of course I had to complete Natalie's stitcheries for the quilt.

For the Woodland Quilt we decided to use the Woodland range and it really looks great...  We had the multi coloured option

Or the red/grey or aqua/grey

 

(You might notice the pins and the lack of small stitcheries in the multi coloured - Yes still not finished - backing made but not quilted or bound!!! That is next week)

Then I had a go at Natalie's Butterfly Dreams patterns - the needlecase is almost done....

Mind you in that time I have also finished another quilt top (will show you next time) and am in the process of making a whole bunch of rosettes for the Hepburn Swiss Italian Festa.... 

(I now notice that less than half of these are truly finished.... sigh.....)