Angela loves quilting @ Sew Bright

This Monday’s Art Quilt Play class is going to be exciting. I have received heaps of new products for embellishing fabric and I can’t wait to play with them! For the last little while, I have been practicing my drawing skills by keeping a watercolour journal. I have been inspired to do this by Jane LaFazio and Jacqueline Newbold. I am getting better, I hope to be able to interpret my journal pages into art quilts. This all started last year when I attended Mt Buller Summer School and took and fabric painting class with Helen Godden. I absolutely loved it, but decided I needed to improve my drawing/painting skills if I was to start using these techniques in my quilts. I have since attended other painting classes and next week I am going to Victor Harbour near Adelaide to do the Textured Treasures class with Lisa Walton (who I aslo met at Summer School). I have so many ideas swimming around in my head I want to get them down on fabric or paper and am looking forward to this weekend.  

So, the new products are Ezy carve blocks for stamp making/printing, brayers, carving tools, Zig Water brushes, watercolour papers, pearl ex watercolours and Lumiere and Neopaque paints in Exciter Packs. These products will be on the website soon.The watercolour paints in the picture above were a bargain find at our local op shop this morning. The stamp I have carved features a design I photographed while on holiday in Siem Reap, Cambodia a couple of years ago.

Art Quilt Play class is held on the third Monday of every month. Call me on 03 5755 5118 to join in.

I am pleased to announce the tutors for Stitch & Quilt in Bright 2012. This years event will be held Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th October at Brights’ Community Centre. The tutors for the gathering are Helen Stubbings, Leanne Beasley, Rosalie Quinlan and Rhonda Shallcross. Each day, participants will receive a brand new, specially designed project from each designer, tuition with our four dynamic tutors, morning tea, a light lunch, afternoon tea and other yummy treats. Those who attend both days will receive an extra goodie in their gift bag.

You can also attend the Wine & Cheese tasting on Saturday afternoon where locally produced wines and cheeses will be on offer. The Bright Spring Festival will be in full swing, so if you bring the family with you, there is lots for them to do while you are at the gathering.

Registration is now open and there is an earlybird offer - Book & pay for both days before 30th June 2012 for only $260. That’s a massive $40 off. Download the flyer here and get all the information. Places are limited so book early. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need any more information or suggestions for accommodation.There is also more information at www.brightspringfestival.com.au

The classes page on the website has been updated, so I thought I would let you know of a couple of classes coming up.

Thursday April 19, you can make a Hand bag in a day.

COST: $25 for the class and pattern, fabric at various prices
Choose two fabrics, some co-ordinating thread and I will show you how to quilt, embellish fabric and make your creation into this compact yet stylish hand bag.

Saturday April 21, you can make a Stack & Slash Quilt.

COST: $25 for the class and pattern, fabric at various prices
9 Fat Quarters are required to make the centre of this quick,
fun quilt sewn in just a day.
Add some borders and you will have an
individual quilt to admire for years to come.
Project may not be finished in one session,
optional finishing sessions available
for $5 each session

Friday 27 April, come along to the Pattern Drafter Demo Day

Maria Opresnik, inventor of the Pattern Drafter will demonstrate this innovative tool.

Learn how to draw dress, pants, sleeve and collar patterns the quick and easy way.
You don’t need any previous experience in pattern drafting.
Patterns are drawn in your measurements and are a perfect fit.
Learn how from one pattern you can create all designs. All shapes and sizes are catered for.

Come along at 10.30am for morning tea, demonstration starts at 11am.

RSVP for catering purposes 25/2/12

Starting Good Friday, the Saturday Stitchers of Mt Beauty are staging their biennial quilting exhibition in the Visitor Information Centre Auditorium. I was lucky to be asked to set up a display in the foyer.(I forgot to take a photo)
The exhibition is open 10am - 4pm daily until Sunday. The ladies have been busy! There are over 50 quilts on display as well as some ready made items for sale.  It is well worth a look.

You can then continue up the Kiewa Valley to the Kancoona Stitch & B#%&H exhibition at Running Creek,near Dederang. Saturday and Sunday only.

Of course, don’t forget to stop in and see me at the shop where you can complete your day with some retail therapy. I will be open everyday until Tuesday.

Today’s new bag sample is Thelma’s Day out by the Janelle Wind Collection. This version has been made with fabric from the Kaffe Fasset Collective. The fabrics are designed by Philip Jacobs and I love the big bold prints. I have the Floating Mums fabric in three colourways. The belt is Moonflower and the frill is Scallops. The linen print is from Kennard & Kennard. I finished it late this afternoon, so I have priced the kit yet. It will be approximately $40 for the fabric plus $17.60 for the pattern. I think I am going to replace the buckle, not sure about the colour.

With Easter almost upon us, it is time to change the window display. This month the focus will be hand bags. I have been busy making up some new samples. This week so far I have made a new version of my Eco Shopper and the Studio Bag.

The Studio Bag is from Leesa Chandler and this one features Leesa’s fabric range Under the Australian Sun 2. The bag is quick to make and is a very practical size. The kit is $49.50, which includes the pattern, fabric as shown, bag batting and a pair of self covered buttons.

The Eco Shopper is a great way to cover your reusable shopping bags to give them personality. In this version I have used Metro Cafe fabric from Robert Kaufman. The kit is $22 which includes the fabric as shown and the instructions. The pattern is complimentary with fabric purchase or purchase the pattern only for $10. The fabric tags are $5.50 each 

Just finished stocking the new Signature thread stand. My husband Steve assembled it for me last night. Signature threads are 100% long staple cotton 40wt threads, which are strong with a high lustre and low lint. There are 36 colours in the variegated range and 24 sold colours to choose from. The little stitch out gives you an idea of what the thread looks like when they are used in your projects. The spools are 500yds and the variegated colours are $9.95 each and the solid colours are $7.95 each.

Yesterday I travelled to Melbourne to see the new fabric range from Tilda. It is just georgeous. Bright, fresh colours in beautiful designs. I have order the range called Sewingbird. There are 10 fabrics and I can’t wait until they arrive hopefully next month. The thing I like about this range is that there are also co-ordinating ribbons, wrapping paper, scrapbooking paper, cutouts, stickers, decorative tins and fabric brads to match. Of course, I had to order just about everything!

Some of you have probably heard of Tilda from the lovely books they produce. Now you can get the fabric they use here in Australia. It is a little wider than others at 140cm (55″), this means you get an extra 10″ - 12″ (25cm) per cut. I will let you know when it arrives.