It's getting closer....

And that is about all I need to say really.... Hope you can drop in and grab a bargain!!

Time to say goodbye

Hi there

I hope that when you have walked in our store that I have had the chance to say that to you....

Unfortunately I won't be able to say that to you for much longer as we have decided to close during September of this year.

We began Threadneedle Craft about 7 and a half years ago and have enjoyed our time immensely.

Now it is time for us to regroup as a family and enjoy some time together - the boys are getting bigger and it won't be long until they fly the coup!

So... what does that mean for you? Well, I would love you to come in and say goodbye... we will begin our closing sale on July 27 (closing on Sunday 26 to prepare) with everything at 25% off (unless already reduced further).

At regular intervals this amount will drop by 5% until our complete closure on Sunday September 13.

All fittings and fixtures that are for sale will also be marked at a fixed price so come in and grab a bargain.

And before I sign off I would just like to thank you all for your support during our time here and for your cheery selves popping in the door.

We wish you all the best in craftiness

Merrilyn & David Sim
Threadneedle Craft Daylesford

Ottoman - Large size

Given it has been a long time between posts I thought I would give you a quick update on the Ottoman exercise...

Started the one for home making the "pattern" 20% bigger. This is the back of our old couch that had never seen the light of day and was still in good condition (the front was fraying to shreds and had that decidedly grubby look of boys growing up with it...)

This one also has some seriously heavy duty interfacing (ie swear inducing sewing was required as the stuff became so stiff I could barely move it) to keep the shape.

Stuffing - I think I mentioned that I used clean old cushion inserts so that I didn't have all the "air" in them.  Well this one has on complete old couch feather and foam cushion insert in it with a few more feathers.

Yes I had to open the bag and yes I am still finding feathers in the back of the shop.

It also has about three cushions to get in to all the corners.

But its done - I think I made it firmer than it needed to be but I am happy with the result.

The only thing now is to stop the boys throwing it around (v. heavy) and using as a weapon!!!

Another large size is getting made for a friend... sigh... after my fingers recover.

Noro Knitting - Addiction Maybe??

I have talked about this in Twitter and it is still not finished....

This book, Noro Vintage, arrived a while ago and I just loved the different designs that were available.  Jane Ellison is amazing with her patterns for Noro

 So then I opened it to the pattern Clara - the picture shows the long version - there is a shorter version

Now to be perfectly honest I definitely don't look like this (read short and greying!! Hello hair dye), so I am not going to do a picture of my swanning around in this ... just show you it using Silk Garden 309 but really any Noro would work.

Since this photo it has grown quite a bit - now I am up to reducing the stitches... so here it is now

Definitely a new addiction kicking in here.... (let it be known that while the pattern is one page in the book - for me to get my "pattern head" on, I had to write it out in detail..definitely a knitter in training here).

With any luck it should be finished by end of the winter...

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

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.....

What a weekend it was!!

It came and went in a flurry ...

We had a smaller group than usual but it meant I could have our "shop" inside which meant I didn't have to keep disappearing and missing out on the fun.

And then there is our amazing designers!!!
First Natalie with her amazing stitcheries and quilts - and just for us, Butterfly Dreams.....a bag, a canvas and a needlecase option.

Then Jodie with Robots, Christmas and bags all using wool or felt....

Then Kate came along in the afternoon and showed us some of her stunning crochet as well as answering our questions about all things yarn.

 Instead of me showing you about your homework - some of our talented ladies got to demonstrate their button making skills.....

And then there was the large quantities of food .... all day (all YUM!!!)

That was just Saturday!!!!

More photos to follow - along with many more thankyous!!!

A little bit of Tranquility

We are getting quite busy (ie FRANTIC!!) here at Threadneedle. 

Ordering and planning, sending tickets and homework out (what is it with 38mm???). 

Checking out the designs for the retreat. Jodie and Natalie are amazingly creative and each are doing very different things.  You might see some sneak peaks on their blogs or facebook if you wander over there.

But sometimes we get some fabric in that well is just... lovely....

Introducing Tranquility.... there are a number of pieces in the range that we have in our online store and here are a few of them....

The colours are soft but it is quite simply pretty - and calming.

In addition to a panel there is a lovely border fabric that is begging to become a skirt (although I reckon I am too much of a grub for that really - maybe a panel in a skirt).

So when I am getting a wee bit FRANTIC... I look around and realise how much lovely fabric there is out there....  And yes I will take it to the Daylesford Craft Experience... I promise. 

Ticket time

The mailman has come and take some of these away...

As you can see there might be a little bit of homework...

So... are you coming to find out what mischief Jodie and Natalie can get up to??

And then there is Zoe and Kate creating "yarnage" in the afternoon

Me.... I'll be a model of decorum, snorting in the corner....

Hand Printed Fabrics

I know its been a loonnngggg time between posts - heaps has been happening on the family front as well as my having stalls at some lovely quilt shows in the area - namely Melton and Ballan. 

We have had quite a lot of fabric come in lately - I appear to have a new obsession with chooks (mildly freaked out by this - we have some demented chickens at home - needing some serious therapy - they have made sure that I am not generally a chook kind of girl).

I had to get some more of Kristen Doran's prints and stitcheries in so I thought you could see just how lovely they are:
Winter's nest is a favorite of mine - I have seen it finished as a skirt panel, a cushion or stretched over canvas - Kristen has just finished an amazing quilt with it in fluro so your imagination is the limit.

A more recent addition to the range is the Gypsy Caravan.

These are just a couple of the designs we have as well as the stitcheries like this Retro Caravan cushion.....

You can find these and others at our online store here

You might have seen the retro caravan at our Daylesford Craft Experience last year.  Here is Kristen talking about the stitching etc on the day.

Well, I can finally say IT'S ON AGAIN! A little bit different, a little bit later in the year and a lot more fun with craft. 

More on that very soon................. Hope you can come and play

Daylesford Craft Experience - Oh My

That's about all I can say about the amazing weekend that was!!

With the help of our three gorgeous designers and their equally stunning designs we went to Peppers and had a great time!!

(Melly, Jodie and Kristen found out that they can grapevine together - always important to learn new skills... )

I must thank a whole lot of people in addition to the designers.  First of all my helpers and sanity keepers during the weekend, Jill, Mark, Claire, Jody, Michelle, Gaynor.. just to name a few - through injury (that was a sharp rotary cutter!) and smiles they all did a fantastic job and are the real stars of both days.

A lot of people also kindly provided items that were in the goodies bag or as door prizes and they should be recognised as well...

Peppers, SSS Sewing group, Craft Book Wholesalers, Victorian Textiles, Birch Haberdashery, DMC, Zoe and Andy from Purl's, Lark, The Bathhouse, Black White & Rouge, Sweet Decadence, She-Tea, Cleopatra's Soaps, Lily loves Pearl, Jules Soaps, Crafty Squirrel and the support of the Daylesford Makers Market just to name a few...

And finally, and most importantly, thankyou to all those who came - I hope you enjoyed being with us and just ... well ... taking time out of your busy lives to ... indulge in your craft.

So with that.. the tired (and emotional!!!) Threadneedle will go and eat some chocolate and maybe have a glass of wine...

.........................and start planning 2012..........................

Resin Classes in April

You might remember in November we did some great resin classes with Sylvia Nevistic and we had an absolute ball creating beautiful pieces.

Well she has kindly offered to come back and let us have another play!!  This time we will be starting with the making of the moulds and then creating our own individual resin pieces from them.

This will be a series of 3 classes held on the first three Saturday afternoons of April. More details are available on our web

I can't wait - I keep looking at things thinking that they would look great as a brooch or a bangle... or on a chain... or in a ring... or.... or....

Hope you can come and join the fun.

Inviting a Little Menagerie to Tea

When Melly's lovely Little Menagerie fabric came in I just kept looking at it.  Then I looked at Jodie's Tea Set pattern... and well...

Ellie and Claudine needed a chat and a cuppa...

So I made them a tea set so they could be refined ladies ..... discussing all things crafty....

I think they might be talking about the Daylesford Craft Experience and what will be made by our three crafty designers...  (Saturday is nearly booked out!! Yay)

Or maybe about next weekend's Chillout activities and what time they will visit the Daylesford Makers Market..

What ever they are plotting I am sure it will involve craft and lots of tea!! (and probably chocolate as well)

Anniversary Sale - Its on again

Our Annual Sale starts today for two weeks. 

I can't believe we are actually 3 years old!!


There are bargains available all over the store with up to 20% of our range of products.

Hope to see you there!

Daylesford Craft Experience

We have started sending newsletters out and contacting people with respect to the Daylesford Craft Experience.  If you haven't received any information about it you can go here to get some information and the booking form.


 Last year we had a great time at the beautiful Peppers in Hepburn where we were well fed and cared for.  So this year we thought there was no other place to go and therefore on either June 4th or 5th you can come and indulge...

Our talented designers include Melly and  Jodie, who were both there last year and provided so much fun and inspiration that we cheered when they both said yes to come again. 

Our final designer is Kristen Doran who is from NSW and does some amazing hand printing and design.

 

 Unfortunately with all the excitement comes a little sadness... Zoe from Purls Palace, my lovely friend, mentor and partner in last year's Craft Experience is closing her doors on Sunday, February 6 for good ... due to family issues.  If you can drop in prior to then to say goodbye I am sure that she would appreciate it immensely.  I am absolutely sure that Zoe will succeed in anything she undertakes.

I have promised to bring her to the weekend (ie threatened to "kidnap" her) so that she can come and say hello and have some fun.

So I hope you can come and indulge yourself in craft with us in June...