Hugs from Helen

Tilda Tea Party

Don’t you just love Tilda?  and a Tilda Tea Party or trunk show – how cute would that be?

I received some lovely pieces of the new Tilda fabrics several months ago and was asked to create some projects that could go on one long trip around the country….

Jo actually made them up for me as I was making these little projects in my Basically low fabrics – we both made our own versions.

This little block book is perfect for keeping your 6-8” applique or stitchery blocks in as you work on your project. Its very quick and simple to make and is finished nicely with a touch of ric-rac

This is Jo’s tilda version

And my original version in Basically Lows

We have patterns and kits available for both versions If you cannot get to a Tilda tea Party in your area.

Our second little project is this very useful project bag… These are so handy, you need more than one if you are a true quilter/stitcher like me with many projects on the go.

This was my original version in Basically Lows and Basically Hugs (new oranges)

See the clear pocket so you can easily see which project you are grabbing – and those easy peasy and very pretty lace zippers – no zip insertion here!

And this is Jo’s beautiful Tilda version…

The pattern includes our fantastic iron on/leave in EPP clamshell iron ons and applique paper.And includes a bit of EPP, a bit of gluestick applique and a touch of embroidery – all my faves!

Again, we have kits and patterns for both versions of these (the tilda kits are not yet on the website, please ask for them in the comments section) – but you may be able to see them yourself if you are near a Trunk show location

 

Next time I need to get Quarter Inch on this trip I think.

A huge thanks to my sidekick Jo for making up the samples – however I know she love’s anything Tilda and will quite happily take these home to use once they’ve finished their little journey.

so, who likes Tilda?

hugs for today

Helen

Market inspiration and trends

I don’t get out much at market to drool and be inspired as I'm pretty tied to my booth and doing what I'm there for, but on a few runs down the aisles I snapped what took my attention. I thought you’d like to see some of the wonderful things I managed to snap….

		Spring quilt market 2016 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

The International Quilt market is a trade only show held twice a year – Spring rotates to different cities around the USA whilst Fall is always in Houston and is followed up by Festival – which is for all to attend as most of you would know about. This year we were in Salt lake City Utah.

All manner of exhibitors attend to show their wares and the latest and greatest products, trends, notions, tools, patterns and trims….anything that can be sold to a business in the quilt and soft craft industry.  It can even include things like accounting programs, websites, anything you can think of really…

I make the trip normally once a year to sell my wares, show my designs, put my heart on my sleeve and hope that someone in the quilting world will like and want it.

For other market trend reports visit these sites who had much more time for a good look.

Diary of  a Quilter

Moda cutting table

And Quilts Inc Quiltmarket FB page has lots of pics too

 

hugs for today

Helen

home again home again jiggety jig..

Yes I have been home a couple of weeks but you know – there’s lots to be done when you arrive home – especially when 2 children have been minding house on their own…. and the pantry is empty and the dust – well, you know…. they did good, no complaints here but lots to catch up on.

So, some market and US trip reports to come…..  I’ve so much to tell you and catch up on… and of course lots of yummy new things to show you too.

So first…. I travelled with the most wonderful Sue – who just came along for the ride – and I couldn’t have done it without her. Sue used to own a quilt shop in SA and her knowledge plus her friendly country charm was just perfect for a travelling partner and a helper in my booth..

We arrived the day before setup and to stay awake I was able to show Sue a few sights (since it was my 4th visit to Salt Lake City) – downtown and the Tabernacle precinct is always just so pretty and peaceful…

Then of course it all started! we started with this  

(and yes Sue was busy sewing on bindings any spare minute she had for me)

I was so fortunate to have a local friend to help me too. The lovely Kari of Fresh Cut Quilts was my savior – even Ethan was called in to assist – and a visit to raid her lovely home of props just rounded out our day…

 

So with Kari and Sues’ help we managed to turn that empty square of concrete into this.

For this market a group of us Aussie designers banded together to form the Aussie Aisle for a bit of fun… We had bunting, tim tams, vegemite tastings and photos with our un named mascot – she was the subject of many cuddles and a guess my name competition… with the lovely winner gaining this amazing basket of goodies from us all.

now apart from going to market to do business, the most fun is had catching up with new and old designer friends and others in the industry…. being a total failure at selfies, Sue again popped in as photographer extraordinaire…

so that’s enough for now, I’ll be back with a few more installments!

hugs for today

Helen

Show n Tell Tuesday

Look at Sam Brown’s version of Nice People Nice Things made in Tilda fabric! wow…

Sam will be teaching this as a class at Loose Stitches in WA.

hugs for today

Helen

They stitched with Helen & Nat

we head yet another wonderful day of stitching and sharing on Sunday here in Hobart.

As always my wonderful friend Jo added all of the special touches, this time aided by Judy – another one of my wonderful team who keep me on track..

the room looked amazing, in fact many said they felt like they were walking into a wedding!

One day I think Jo will be an event organiser or decorator…http://www.thebirdhouse.com.au/http://www.thebirdhouse.com.au/

Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse had travelled down from Brisbane to share her project on the day (and sorry I don’t have a pic of the gorgeous little needlebook she designed for the day – but Im sure someone will share it)

 

My project was this useful little project bag. It is perfect for storing your project for stitching on the go – in fact I think I need to make about ten of these…. I went a complete blank on a name for this so it is called ‘Vicky Victoria’ – meaning nothing at all, it just came to me..It has a little clear vinyl window so you can see which project you are grabbing to take to stitching group today. I included some gluestick applique (and I even pre printed all the shapes onto the Applique paper for the girls so they could get right into learning and appliqueing) And I used one of my favourite lace zippers so no insertion required

of course there was plenty of stimulation, inspiration and retail therapy available…

a little instruction and charity work to be done..and as always, we put a lot of love into yummy treats to keep the energy levels going.. Thanks once again to my three very clever girls for catering..We finished the day with lots of show n tell – Dee and Diane are always gold star finishers – they had many more to show…

a huge thanks to all who travelled from near and far to share the day, to Jo, judy, Linda, Molly, Tess and Tilly for working hard to make it happen and of course to Nat – it was lovely to chat and catchup for a few days

our next day was announced and details and bookings can be found on our website here.

hugs for today
Helen

PS: we have a few spare kits for Vicky Victoria available on the website also.

Scrappity Doo Dahing right along….

For those of you not on the Facebook group I thought I’d share some progress shots on the Scrappity Doo – dah EPP quilt along project. Many have finished or nearly finished their tops and the array of fabric choices is amazing.. all looking just as great as the next.

Many are now only just joining in- particularly after doing the EPP Craftsy class and wanting more…. and some shops are about ready to start their instore programs with help along the way.

This is Marg’s from Seriously Crazy’s  version

And Lee’s from Threads and Tangles – she's already quilted hers! how amazing does black and white look?

Lisa from megelles soft and sweet version

Lyn opted for jewel colours on black!

Nicole's version

and Maggies – see how different they all are?

from batiks, to liberty, aunt grace to Tilda, they all look fantastic..

Linda White of Gumvalley patchwork will be running this one with her stitching customers..

And of course the original version – in Fancywork Box and Basically Hugs fabrics.. – packs are still available.

 

hugs and inspiration for today

Helen

Kona Solids are in the house!

well, actually in the shop – and now on the website…

Over the two weeks we’ve been open at Quarter Inch, every single visitor has entered the Kona room and drooled. It is a feast for the colour senses….

Colour  is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, blue, yellow, etc.

Because perception of color stems from the varying spectral sensitivity of different types of cone cells in the retina to different parts of the spectrum, colors may be defined and quantified by the degree to which they stimulate these cells. These physical or physiological quantifications of color, however, do not fully explain the psychophysical perception of color appearance.

Wikepedia.

Here’s some peeks to stimulate your senses…

Lots of samples and magnificent quilts by Kat Jones.

Kat will be teaching these amazing techniques once our classroom has been built.

enjoy!

or pop in and see them in real life… and of course you may like to take a few home.

Would anyone be interested in a Kona fabric club – fat 8s each month? there are 300!

If the need is there, we can accommodate.

hugs for today

Helen

Show n Tell

I love it when students bring show and tell to class…. it always makes me feel so happy that they’ve actually finished something I designed… and that the pattern worked!!!

have a look at these goodies…. inspiration for us all to finish something..

This little set is called 'Inspired to Stitch'These projects are all part of the Get Knotted Embroidery program. The Patchwork Garden ran this as an instore monthly club where the ladies came and learnt their stitch and all made 12 projects…I just love how they turned out…

do you have show and tell to share? Please email it in to me… I love to see it…

hugs for today

Helen

show n tell Thursday

I first saw a peek of this quilt on Facebook…. and could see straight away it was an adaptation of my Blessed Baltimore quilt which was originally done in Colourque and in my Faux Applique book published by AQS.

Sherry has done the design instead in needleturn applique… and doesn't it look just absolutely stunning?

Sherry had emailed me earlier and I couldn't wait to see how it had turned out..

Well it turned out it won a blue ribbon! and then also the prestigious Viewers Choice at their show in Florida..

Sherry wrote:

The Quilting was done by my friend Deb Levy who now lives in New Orleans, USA.  We were members of the same quilt guild in Florida before she moved there.  I'm fortunate to be able to spend my winters in Florida and the guild I belong to with over 300 members have so much talent and give me inspiration.

 

Deb the quilting is just spectacular….

I just love seeing how people use my patterns and designs differently to suit their style…

thanks soooo much for sharing this with me Sherry, hopefully I may get to see it in person one day….

hugs for today

Helen

Show n Tell Tuesday

I know its Wednesday!  but we had a public holiday Monday and I’ve lost a day…

Today we have these gorgeous Grans Sewing boxes to show you

Janine and her friend Jan made them on a sewing weekend away.. I dream of a sewing weekend away, just to sew, chat, laugh and relax….. one day I’ll be at that stage where its just for me, not for work….

These two are so different in colour but I love them both.

When I made mine I used double sided fusible Peltex but now there are many other products more easily available in Australia like Annie’s Soft n Stable, Matildas own bag batting, Inn Control plus (which we refer here to as incontinence batting) and recently I've heard about IN-r-Form plus fusible foam which I’d like to try. 

Have you tried any of these, I’d like to compare them all.

hugs and inspiration for today

Helen