Cinderberry Stitches

Patterns now available

The three new Christmas designs have now been released so if you are keen to get started on a project for this Christmas or maybe next Christmas...now is the time.  As Jen said last week it is only 3 sleeps till Christmas....October, November and December!

I have just added a new photo album from the weekend at Candleberry Country and to celebrate the release of the new designs comes another great competition, just leave a comment and on Friday 5th October I will draw three random winners who will each receive a special prize pack.

A parcel of patterns tied up with string....

Enjoy & good luck!

This one's for you

After being inspired last weekend by the scrumptious things at Candleberry Country how could I possibly leave Yarragon with out taking a few things back home?  The decision was not easy as every which way I turned there was something gorgeous waiting for me....decisions, decisions...how can a girl have so many choices???

You all know red is my favorite color...

and then I turned around to find this....

I left these at the shop but at least I can look at them from time to time still and dream a little.  As I packed my car last week to come home I did appear to take a bit more back than I left with - either that or I had lost my packing skills somewhere along my journey.

To be honest I have only got around to unpacking some of my bags today, a bit sad really but kind of like Christmas day I guess....now you are all well aware I brought a set of Moda tea towels and although Jen and I had fun with our photo shoot I am not expecting any phone calls requesting us as cover girls, however here are a few of the things I found as I unpacked...

It looks like I have some "hand me downs" from Grandma's house but I just love the colors.  Natalie had this piece from Moda hanging in her shop & Viv and I were in love with it...

Hmmm...I wonder if Helsey could whip one up for me?

It's time for me to go and relax in my bean bag but I thought I would tell you all that after 44 years Geelong has finally won the AFL Grand Final...now, I am not really that interested in football but living in Geelong it is hard not to get on the band wagon just for one day.  After all last time they won Dad was only 16.

So as I gaze out the window and look to the stars in the night sky - Jack, this one is for you XXX 

It's a Candleberry Kind of Christmas - Chapter Three

Chapter Three: "Moda photo shoot"

Viv and I went shopping down the street of Yarragon on Friday and Saturday and found a gorgeous gift shop that was having a massive sale, I came away with a set of pink retro kitchen scales and scrumptious Moda kitchen accessories...a set of these Grandma's crochet towels and Cottage Rose pot holders.

Saturday night I was showing off my new Grandma's towels to Viv and suggested they were actually so large and too nice to use for drying dishes that maybe I could turn one into an apron? 

My thought's crossed back to earlier that morning when there was a knock at my room door....still in my pink and white striped pj's at this stage I opened the door to find Jen peeping back at me (ooops! didn't she get a surprise..lol).  So after a sip of wine, Viv & I decided it would be rather funny for me to dress up in my new retro crochet towels and give her another surprise.

With some help from Viv and some paper clips to "hold me together" this is what Jen saw when she opened the door...

           
 

"oh my goodness! I have been sewing all day and have nothing ready for dinner!"

This was my moda "photo shoot" - now I hope you understand why these tea towels looked too nice to dry my dishes with, and why I laughed so much my cheeks hurts!  Honestly, I did only have a little sip of the red wine....

Jen decided to get into the designing mode too and with the help from Viv came up with this gorgeous little number (below left) hmmm wish I had more photos!- It is amazing what a group of girls can get up too, in fact to get these photos for you I did make a dash back to my room dressed like a 50's housewife - I don't think anyone saw me?

           

It appears that Viv was the sensible one who stayed on the right side if the camera!
Time for me to go and put some dinner on and gaze longingly at my gorgeous tea towels, I hope you all enjoyed a great laugh at our expense.

From the 50's housewife...Nat x

It's a Candleberry Kind of Christmas - Chapter Two

Chapter Two: "Not a Creature was stirring"

It's time to share the projects and release the designs I have been working on over the last few months.  I decided to have a theme through each of my four designs and introduce a new creature - little Christmas mice.  Some of the fabrics I chose are from the Mistletoe Manor range, gorgeous rich reds and greens - polka dots and floral swirls.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house;
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St.Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore is my favorite Christmas story - it also features in two of the new designs.

Pattern One - "The Night Before Christmas"

Pattern two - "Christmas Belles"

Pattern three - "Christmas Mice"

I hope you love the new designs and the little mice (mouses)

I will share Chapter 3 with you tomorrow and show you what a couple of designers can create in the hotel room with a few Moda tea towels and a sip of red wine.....this is why my cheeks hurt from laughing so much!

Till then
Natalie x

It's a Candleberry Kind of Christmas - "Chapter One"

I am back from an amazing weekend and I have so much to show and tell, as I sit on the edge of my chair I am like an excited child on Christmas day...let me tell you a little about It's a Candleberry Kind of Christmas - there are so many things to show I have decided to  share them with you over the following week.

Lets start at the beginning
Chapter One: "A welcoming friend"

My weekend was spent a few hours away at Candleberry Country in Yarragon, Natalie's shop is just amazing - as soon as I arrived I wanted to wrap it up and take it  home with me, I think you will understand why...

I have asked Brad kindly if he would make me a bookcase like the one above...I don't like my chances but a girl can always hope!

My weekend was shared with Amanda Browning, Viv Robertson, Jennifer Knol and a room full of wonderful ladies from far and wide who took time out for themselves to spend the day with friends stitching and relaxing.

& who is this?

That's Amanda and me - I would like to say "I knitted that top" but I didn't!

It was lovely to finally meet and put faces to names of girls who visit my blog and share the stitching journey with me, to wander around tables to listen and share stories, ideas, projects and in some cases varigated Sulky thread! - but most importantly, in a room full of stitcher's everyone is a welcoming friend.

Each table was set with special bags, tied with red and white Christmas ribbon and filled with patterns.  Now I can finally tell you what was in that parcel all those months back.....a linen tea towel and apron.

For Chapter Two of this wonderful weekend, drop in for a visit tomorrow night - it's time now for me to pick up the needle a thread, relax on the couch with a glass of red and spend quality time resting my cheeks from all the laughing a chatting over the weekend!

Goodnight girls -

Natalie x

A cherished quilt

My quilting journey began some 12 years ago when Mum and I wandered into a shop in town called The Quiltery - I remember gazing through the window of a quaint little shop in awe at a quilt displayed in the window, always interested in a challenge we decide to sign up for a beginners class and stitched a four panel sampler quilt that now is tucked away in the back of the cupboard and rarely sees the light of day.  Now scattered around our home are quilts. Some finished, some waiting to be finished, some in cupboards, some on display. I cherish all of them and each of them tell a story about my sewing journey.

As I pack my bags and get my samples and things together for the Candleberry Country weekend I thought I would show you my Baltimore Quilt called Timeless Treasure.  This quilt took 2 1/2 years to finish and it was while I was making I discovered a passion for stitchery and red work - hand appliqued and quilted the last stitch was sew in August 2001 the label features an extract from the movie "How to Make an American Quilt"

Life is like making a quilt.  You have to choose your combination carefully.

The right choices will enhance your quilt, the wrong choices will dull the colours and hide their original beauty.

There are no rules you can follow, you have to go by instinct and you have to be brave.

Here are just a few of the blocks (12 in all) - no one told me it probably wasn't the best quilt to choose for someone new to needle turn!

Time to go now and pack the car and when I get back I will share stories of the weekend with you - and show you some new designs released at Yarragon.

Till then, Natalie X

Springberries Needlecase

I received two emails today from Deb and Wendy very keen to start their version of the free pattern Springberries Needlecase.  When the stitchery design was scanned into a .pdf file on my computer it adjusted the size of the design (I didn't think that was possible but not being computer savvy I guess anything is!)  I have scanned the design again and Deena in the States has emailed a new version of the pattern found here.

Thanks girls for letting me know & happy stitching!
Natalie

FOUND...Ric-Rac on steroids

Have a look at the size of this ric-rac I found this morning....it's HUGE!
Now I am thinking madly of what creation I could make with my red ric-rac on steroids...hmmm maybe a cushion or another bag?  I better put the thinking cap on and see what I can come up with.  In the meantime it will rest in my lolly jars in the studio - that is some massive eye candy!

This morning I spent a little time at the creative girls hardware store which has just moved around the corner from my place, it is one of those places you nick in for thread and come home with, ric-rac, braids, paint brushes, paint, wooden cut outs, curtains, dinner sets - the list goes on & on.  What's worse is when you come home with a great new project only to remember you forgot the thread that made you go there in the first place...have you been to a place like that?

This afternoon I spent time with the family down at the play park for a picnic - I think a bit of time out from the studio was great for clearing the head.  This play park is the same place we would go as kids and most of the equipment is still standing, unfortunately the ice cream man "Mr Whippy" is long gone but we had a great time anyway.  I even went on the twister slide and was hoping I wouldn't get stuck half way down and appear in the front page of tomorrow's news paper! Ohmygosh, how bad would that be?

Tonight I have set a deadline to finish stitching the "Cottage Blessing's" for Jenny and start getting some patterns and trunk show organised for next weekend...I am so excited - only 6 days to go!!

Well, I better go and finish that project - there nothing like a deadline to make you get your act together.

Nat X

Garden inspiration

I have been asked the following question many times...
Where do you get inspiration from and how do you come up with new designs?
I get inspired by many things, so here are just a few:

1. Fabric design and texture
2. Colour & tone, light, dark and negative space
3. Flowers and petal shapes like the one pictured below with "curly" bits
4. Window shopping (no need to explain that one!)
5. Family & friends - giggles and journeys
6. Look around and take time to notice

Here are a few pictures taken over the weekend
This is what I see...

'Curly' stamens and bright green buds...

Rows and rows of preloved pots...

And little creatures hiding among leaves...

Till next time
Nat XX

Time out for a cuppa?

I think it's about time I put the kettle on for a cuppa...would you like one?

I have spent the weekend working on a new project called Cottage Blessing's for Jenny's Stitchery Retreat and it is looking a bit gorgeous, but it is now time to separate myself from the sewing machine and take time out...to do a few of the mundane chores around the house.  I have never understood how a girl can iron patchwork fabric all day long but have trouble finding the same enthusiasm for the ironing pile in the laundry.

Kettle has boiled so time for me to go and find my "inner ironing lady"....
Nat X