Rudy the Reindeer

This is "Rudy" the Reindeer, a Christmas creation from Melly & Me.

I've helped to make about ten of these cute critters, with a group of local school girls who have been learning to sew with me during the last few weeks.

We will have more workshops for kids during the school holidays. You can view our class list at www.threadneedle.com.au

Best wishes for Christmas to all our customers ... I look forward to seeing you again in the new year!

Sweet Life Bags by Amy Butler

Amy Butler has released a fabulous range of bags designed with crafters in mind.

The bags are constructed using mid-weight fabrics from Rowan & feature Amy Butler's "August Fields" fabric designs. The bags are 100% cotton lined with co-ordinating prints.

They have lots of pockets & tool channels, strong & long straps for carrying comfort, expandable side panels & bag bottoms.

I only have two of these gorgeous bags available in-store (a third vanished into my Christmas stocking!)

The bag on the left below is the "Dew Drop Sling" (Forest/Seafoam) & on the right is the "Diana Sling" (Orange/Coral).

These bags retail for $198.50 & $155.50 respectively (plus postage).

Make!

"Make!" is a great new book by Cath Kidston from the UK ($34.95 + postage).

Inside there are 48 fantastic projects to make & masses of tips & further ideas.

Cath shows you how to update an old cardie, bring new life to a boring bag & introduce her personal touch throughout your home.

All the techniques you will need to complete the projects are explained in the book.

So you can get started straight away, tucked inside the front cover are:

• a blank Cath Kidston tote bag
• a Cath Kidston pencil
• a skein of embroidery thread
• a colour chart of threads used in the projects

Learn to Sew for Kids

Here are photos of some very accomplished young ladies who have just finished making handbags in our recent after-school "learn to sew" workshops.

The workshops were held over a 4 week period during the beginning of the school term.

We will soon begin another after-school workshop series where we will make "Rudy the Reindeer", a cute soft toy from Melly & Me, just in time for Christmas.

We will also begin a machine sewing class for adults on Tuesday evenings for 3 weeks, commencing 3 December, where we will make the Bella handbag by Moonshine Designs.

Maisy Mouse

We've just received a great new range of "Maisy Mouse" fabrics designed by Lucy Cousins for Andover Fabrics.

The range includes a fabulous picture-book panel & alphabet design that would be ideal for a sewn fabric book for young ones.

The fabrics from this range are $26.00 per metre (plus postage).

Maisy Mouse panel

Alphabet panel

Maisy Mouse design on white background

Stars - Red & Yellow

Wave - Blue

Flower - Red

French General

We have a gorgeous book & French country-inspired gift collection from Moda Home.

Historically, young French girls embroidered their initials on their finest linens.

The initialled letters were always blood red because red was a strong & endurable dye that could be easily seen.
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"French General - Home Sewn" by Kaari Meng contains 30 French-inspired projects for every room in the house.

"French General - Home Sewn" by Kaari
Meng ($55.00 + postage)

The French theme is used in the gift range shown below, that includes a sewing case, sewing bag & note book.

French General - Sewing Case ($28.90 + postage)

French General - Sewing Bag ($74.90 + postage)

French General - Note Book ($38.90 + postage)

Made in France

Ooh la la ... more French-inspired craft books!

A little thread, some linen, a needle & a few easy stitches, "Made in France" includes more than 50 pretty projects worked in cross stitch, stem stitch or French knots.

Elegant & timeless in red, white & blue, these exquisite needlecraft motifs can be used in a multitude of ways to create unique gifts & home accessories.

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"Made in France" with Agnes Delage-Calvet, Anne Sohier-Fournel, Muriel Brunet & Francoise Ritz ($34.95 + postage)

Be inspired by the earthy texture & elegant shades of linen & a stash of irresistible ribbons.

"Linen & Thread" by Monique Lyonnet shows you how to use this versatile fabric to create & embellish 40 beautiful accessories for the home.

"Linen & Thread" by Monique
Lyonnet ($34.95 + postage)

Grand Opening!

Finally, we're open in our new location ...

The move last week was "fast & furious", but thankfully everything is now in it's place & we're back at "work".

The best news is that we have a 10% - 20% sale on all stock this week to celebrate our re-opening. The sale ends on Sunday, 13 September.

Here are a few photos of what you can expect to see ...

Above, is the view towards our fabric section. We have lots of new shelves to fill with fabric. The new bead shelves are shown on the left.

At the front of the shop, we have threads & embroidery on one side (above) & books & craft for kids on the other side (below).

Shown below is our workshop table with art supplies & card-making products in behind.

We look forward to seeing you when you're next in Daylesford!

Threadneedle on the Move ...

Our final news this week is that we are moving our shop in Daylesford ... next week!!

We are re-locating from our current location (across from the Primary School) to a great new spot in the Coles walkway, next to Kabuki.

We are already expanding since opening less than two years
ago! The new shop is bigger & will allow us to increase our product range (especially our fabrics!).

The central location will also be more convenient for customers.

To enable the move, we will close for a few days commencing on Monday, 31 August. We hope to re-open on Friday, 4 September.

Here's a few photos of our preparations to date ...

This is a painter's ladder that David found at a local auction. He has transformed it into a set of fantastic display shelves!



Daylesford Engineering has fabricated a wrought iron stand to hold shelves for beads.

This is a view of the new shop looking towards the rear ...

This is looking towards the front ...

We look forward to seeing you at the new shop from late next week!

The new shop address is Shop 2/52A Vincent Street, Daylesford.

Bonza & Beaut

These two cute creations are "Bonza & Beaut" designed by the talented girls behind Melly & Me.

I love making these popular patterns because they can be made from any pieces of left-over fabric from your scrap-bag.

The fabric colours & patterns don't have to match (as you can see below) & children absolutely adore them as gifts!

These great patterns retail from Threadneedle Craft for $17.75 + postage.

Wheat Bag Pig

So much has been happening since my last blog!

First, I want to show you a talented group of girls having fun making wheat bag pigs. We started with four in the class, now there are seven!

The girls have been working hard after school every Thursday this month. The design for the pigs is from the book, "More Softies".

Also shown below, are two I made for my boys so they could be cosy in bed during Daylesford's cold winter!

More news to follow later this week ...

Jordyn, Georgia, Isabella & Lily (with me in the middle)

Cute Wheatbag Pigs from "More Softies" ... my boys
have named them "Pig-Boy & Piggle"

More Prints Charming Fabrics

Look at the gorgeous fabrics that have arrived from Prints Charming! These fabrics are from the "Rainbow Garden" range.

We've been waiting for a while for these fabrics to arrive.

I'm so glad they're here ... just what we need to brighten the shop during these dreary winter months.

These fabrics retail for $26 per metre (plus postage).

"Paisley Garden - Purples"

"Rainbow Garden - Purples"

"70's Rainbow Garden"

"Offbeat Spot - Pink"

"Starburst - Orange"

New Bernina Sewing Machine

I've got a bit behind with my blogging this month ... we've been busy during school holidays, juggling family & the shop.

During my time away from the shop, I've also been "playing" with my great new sewing machine, a Bernina Aurora 440QE!

I've been enjoying the new machine immensely. It's so quiet & is fantastic to work on.

Not that my old Janome was bad ... I still have it for classes so that participants can get the feel of a standard machine.

EMOtional Anna & SebBATstian

Hi again ... I've been busy!

Let me introduce you to "EMOtional Anna & SeBATstian". Another of the lovely Melly & Me patterns ($17.75 + postage).

I made this for a good friend who is a musician. Instead of a teardrop, she has a musical note beneath her eye.

She looks difficult to make, but she's not at all. The pattern is great & covers everything you need ... I really enjoyed making her!

The best news is that she is made mainly from homespun fabric, so she is relatively inexpensive to make.

Fat Quarter Bag

This is my latest finished project ...

It is the "Fat Quarter Bag" designed by Melanie Hurlston & Rosalie Quinlan from Melly & Me.

The handbag was great fun to make. It's made using 4 fat quarters & involves some quilting. I would rate this as an intermediate level project.

The fabrics I've used are from the "City Blooms" range by Kitty Yoshida. They are imported by XLN Fabrics from New York.

The pattern & fabrics may be purchased from Threadneedle Craft. The pattern is $17.75 & "City Blooms" fabric is $25 per metre.

William Morris

William Morris has influenced crafts-people & fabric designers for more than 100 years. As a textile designer, printer & weaver, his designs integrate nature into art & art into life.

We have books inspired by William Morris, such as "William Morris in Applique" & "William Morris Needlepoint".

Both these books include sections on basic techniques used to finish the selected projects.

"William Morris in Applique" by Michelle Hill

A collection of 6 stunning projects made from over 40
patterns ($49.95 + postage)

"William Morris Needlepoint" by Beth Russell

Revised version of this popular book with 21 designs charted in colour ($89.95 + postage)

Dumpling Dynasty & Rosie Flo

We have some fantastic new products for kids from Lark.

They include the "Dumpling Dynasty" Sewing Kit & Easy Sew Bunny Kit ($29.95 + postage). These introductory sewing kits for children are extremely popular.

The Bunny Kit contains instructions & all the materials required to stitch a cute felt bunny.

We also have the "Rosie Flo" & "Johnny Joe" colouring book series.

These beautiful colouring books by Roz Streeten feature clothing & costumes & are printed in the UK ($14.95 + postage).

Gift Ideas for Kids from Lark

Dumpling Dynasty Easy Sew Bunny Kit

Flower Fairies

The timeless & exquisite Flower Fairies, first published by Cicely Mary Barker in 1923, have been an inspiration for craft lovers for generations.

We have a selection of gorgeous Flower Fairy fabrics, needlework books & kits available at Threadneedle Craft Daylesford.

"Flower Fairies" fabrics from Michael Miller Fabrics

"Apple Blossom Fairy" panel ($26 per metre + postage)

"Blossom Fairies" panel ($26 per metre + postage)

"Flower Fairies in Ribbon Embroidery & Stumpwork"
by Di Van Niekerk

Easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions
translating 5 Flower Fairies into exquisite ribbon & stumpwork embroideries ($46.99 + postage)

The "Candy Tuft Fairy" Counted Cross Stitch Kit from DMC

Includes 16 count aida, stranded cottons & needle ($44.00 + postage)

"softies" & "more softies"

We have both of these great books available in our store.

The "softies" & "more softies" books each have 22 "friends" for you to sew, knit & crochet.

The books have been extremely popular & the soft toys are easy & fun to make.

The books may be purchased for $29.95 + postage via mail-order.

The "Pocket Gnome" from "more softies" is pictured below.

The fabric in the background is from Moda Fabrics'
"Wonderland" range by Momo ($24.00 per metre).

Paper Embroidery

During the past month there have been many birthdays in our family.

David's mum, Helen, is a talented crafts-person, who excels at most things she turns her hand to ... I'm very jealous!

These are cards that Helen made for David & our two boys. They use a technique known as paper embroidery.

Frogs, Ducks & Snails

Cute Frogs on a Lily-Pad

Ducks Swimming on Pond

Snails on Blades of Grass