Cinderberry Stitches

Sketch & Stitch

Two of my great loves (not including the Family - that's a given) are my sketching and stitching.  I was drawing long before I ever picked up a needle and thread and often wish I had more time to get lost in a blank piece of paper.

I love sitting with pencil and paper sketching and waiting to see was comes from my imagination, sometimes I know exactly what will appear from the pencil tip - other times it just happens, a squiggly line becomes the tip of a leaf or a circle turns into an elfin face.

So when I was thinking of a new design I wanted to combine the sketch and stitch inspiration and settled with a circular needlecase and book jacket (covering one of my Moleskine sketch journals, the perfect size for travelling).

Here are a few photos from the cover shoot last month.

Be on the look out for the pattern cover.....

This is Sketch & Stitch

The Sketch & Stitch needlecase features the button bird and bird cages that appear on the latest bag - that way thay make a perfect pair.

Now you can sketch, stitch and shop in true Cinderberry style.

Inside the needlecase is a collection of hand stitched needles and a little bird just keeping an eye on them for you.

The book jacket can be made to fit any sized book, photo album, diary or journal cover.  Both samples were stitched using Cosmo threads and Flower Sugar fabric from Lecien with a little DMC perle thread around the edges.

So now all I have to do is fill the pages of my Moleskine sketchbook with more pencil drawings and tuck it away for Isabelle to find in years to come. 

Oh, that's my third love......a real picture book.

Be on the look out for the two new designs appearing in your local patchwork store - or if you would like to place an order online patterns will be arriving soon at: Cookies and Cream Craft, Under the Mulberry Tree or Daisy Cottage Quilting in the USA.

Hope you love the two new editions!

Till then,

Natalie x

 

The Ruby Bag

It's time for a new pattern release.

Or is that patterns?

Actually, two new patterns over the next few days plus a sneek close up peek at the new single bed quilt that is almost finished.....I think it is going to be a fun week.

If you managed to find me at Houston quilt market, this was the bag I was carrying.  She was one popular bag and a perfect size for the goodies I collected along the way.  Her name you ask is Ruby.....so 'The Ruby Bag' it is.

Red bird cages, blue polka dot dress and emerald trim.  Ruby is one stylish girl, even if she has knobbly knees.

You might remember a few months ago I showed you the little photo below - my Cinderberry button birds.  I love them so and still have plans to add more to the collection in the new year.

The Ruby Bag has three of these beauties stitched onto a faux (pretend) pocket, because when it comes to pockets sometimes it is fun to fake it.

The sample is featuring Flower Sugar fabrics from Lecien and Cosmo threads, a little DMC No.8 perle thread and 'miss matched' rolled handles.

Here is the pattern cover -

I am pleased Ruby is kicking up her heals while listening to her friends whistle, makes me kind of want to relax and get into the Thanksgiving mode like my U.S. friends.

Oh, and I sure wish I had a pair of shoes like those, complete with red laces.

Hope you love The Ruby Bag, keep a look out for it next time you visit your local quilt store and I will be back soon with more stitching inspiration.

Till then,

Natalie xo

 

 

To market, to market

I am just recovering from the latest AQM (Australian Quilt Market) which was held over the weekend - it is a trade only show, lots of fun and hard work but a perfect opportunity to meet and chat to shop owners and designers in the Australian industry.

I managed to snap a few photos during Friday's set up and prior to schoolhouse on Saturday morning before market 'officially' opened  - these pictures are just a few of the booths that surrounded me during the three days.

This is Rosalie Quinlan's latest fabric range for Lecien at Charles Parsons booth - it's called Sweet Broderie and happens to be the collection have used in my latest quilt design. 

I Love it.

To the right was Sarah Fielke's new line also for Lecien called From Little Things.  Sarah's quilts are amazing and that birdcage is awesome......surely I could find a little corner in my studio for one of those, if only I could have tucked it in my suitcase.

Around the corner was Creative Abundance and the place I spent most if my time, I wish I had photos of all the girls booth displays but it seems I got busy in all the excitement and forgot to take more pictures.

Leanne's new Vignette magazine - I love the term 'collectable inspiration'.....

A little bit of the latest and first Creative Abundance fabric range called Where the Wind Blows by Melanie Hurlston (of Melly & Me)

Not to mention the Melly & Me softies and Sew Little designs - loads of eye candy!

I also managed to meet Toni from Make it Perfect over the weekend who is lovely, when I just want to play and not 'work' it is often her kids clothing patterns I turn to.

And finally, I snapped a few photos of my little part of the world on set up day showcasing designs and new release patterns from over the last twelve months.

This is me Cinderberry Stitches....

Yes,  if you look closely you will see at least three new designs I have not shared with you as yet so I guess there will be a few more blog posts over the next week.

How many can you find?

For now it is time for me to do some stitching on the last 'must do' project for 2010!!! 

Once that is finished I can finally play and unwrap some of my market goodies and start thinking about the exciting opportunities and creations planned for the year ahead.

Till then,

Natalie x

Quilt Market Inspiration (part 2)

So what did we get up to while in Houston....?

First there was the moment Flat Nat and Pam Kitty Morning met - Pam is a sweetie I could have talked to her all day and you have got to love those ears she was wearing! 

Flat Nat popped over to say hello to Joanna from Fig Tree & Co.  Joanna's booth was beautiful and you know how much I adore Fig Tree fabric and colour.  One word, awesome.

Around that time there was a little bit of map reading going on.

Boy I was glad to see the "You are here" signs - you know, just in case I forgot.

I was so excited to finally get to meet and chat to Brenda from Acorn Quilt and Gift Company after emailing and tweeting each other for the last year or so.  Brenda is a real sweetie - her new line with Lecien is called Georgia Lou and I love it - gorgeous.

Around the corner was more awesome-ness with Tula Pink....you really must take a peek at her booth (over here) actually, the entire booth has been moved and rebuilt back at the home of Tula Pink, The Quilt Shoppe - "Pinkerville" so if you can, run to the store and check it out.

Around that time Flat Nat needed a break and time to hang out, with Dr Pepper of course - or is that Big Red?

Ok, after taking a break it was time to go catch up with Thimbleanna over at Don't Look Now's booth...Thimbleanna is so much fun, just like her blog and she really enjoyed talking to Flat Nat.  Kellie's quilts are nothing short of amazing.

Leanne and I also met with Pokey Bolton where she managed to film the two of us.....gosh, as soon as someone mentions the word film or interview I freak out a little so watch it for a bit of fun.

So that just about wraps up the meeting and greeting at market.

But I just wanted to show you a little picture I shared with my Facebook friends today.

When Leanne and I arrived in Book-a-Million in downtown Houston we decided to find a magazine to read.  Not a difficult job, I hear you say.

Well just take a look, this was just half the selection.

Till then,

Natalie x

Ps. Thanks so much Leanne for your amazing photos x

Market inspiration (part 1)

Time to share a little eye candy inspiration with you from quilt market. 

The booths were amazing.....no, I mean A.M.A.Z.I.N.G - just think the only supplies you have when arriving at market is a booth made of metal poles, a table and a chair.  Anything above that is brought in by the designers or fabric companies - it just adds to the wow factor and the logistics of it all when you see boxes in the isle like these.

turned into a 'market oasis' like Amy Butler's booth.

Kind of makes me want to stay up till midnight and wallpaper the house.

Then there was Patty Youngs booth.  I love Modkid Boutique patterns and have made a few things for my daughter's wardrobe this year.  There is nothing like handmade clothes for kids and Patty's designs and fabric are an awesome combination.

Of course I was pretty excited to see the new fabric line from Anna Griffin was called "Isabelle Christmas".  I will just pretend it was named after my little munchkin.

(I guess I don't need to remind you right now.... it is Christmas next month)

ok, moving right along.....to the amazing Tula Pink.

She rocks, so does her new fabric line Parisville, along with the painted photos on the back wall, the spray can quilt labels, personalised Tula Pink M&M's and the quilts.

and then there was the quilting. One word.

Tula-mazing.

Wish you were there.

Ok, so down the isle and around the corner was the Echino booth.

How gorgeous are the butterflies....

The birds...

The crying elk.... 

(Possibly crying from standing in one spot for 3 days.  In a kaftan)

So that is just a portion of the inspiration that surrounded me, of course there was more - way, way more and so many things I thought I took photos of that I didn't.  So next time Flat Nat and I will share with you some of the people we met...and those antique quilts *sigh*

But before I go, have a peek at this photo....

Would you like to hire a scooter to see the show in comfort? No kidding.

Told you things were big in Texas.

Til then,

Natalie x

 

 

I'm back from the U.S

Wow, I made it to the USA and back and boy, do I have some stories.  So I was thinking this morning where do I start and I guess the answer is at the beginning....time to rewind my week and share some fun things with you along the way.

My plane flew out of Melbourne last Wednesday around 11am - Qantas QF94 (A380) and it wasn't long that I discovered there was such a thing as sky cam.

This is a picture of me flying over the Pacific Ocean.  That's me on the left just over the wing.  Cool hey?

At the time I was somewhere between Australia and New Zealand.

So anyway, I landed in the USA and made my way to Houston, Texas.  It was during this time I realised I sounded funny when I talked so chose to keep quiet (trust me, that never lasts for long) and about two minutes later I was feeling more myself.

I guess you want to know, if everything is bigger in Texas like they tell us?

The answer is YES.

There was leggo store at the Galleria, like a lolly shop don't you think?

The U.S flag and the LOVE of it.

The buildings and reflections

The red carpet

The lifts in the hotel

Ticket box

and wooden boxes

And all that was before the doors were even open at market - that's a whole other story I will share with you in the next post.

So what was Flat Nat doing while I was enjoying myself in Houston with Leanne, Rosie, Melly, Nel and Bec?  Well, I think the photo says it all.....

She was (sipping) Naked in Houston.

Will share more with you soon, right now I am off to try some Tootsie Roll.

Till then,

Natalie x