Cinderberry Stitches

Flat Nat's case goes missing

During Quilt Market I sent out a message to my Twitter and Facebook friends about Flat Nat and her miss adventures during market.  It read something like this:

"Travel alert!  The infamous Flat Nat's suitcase has gone missing at International Quilt Market. She has no travel insurance and needs your help!  If you see her hand stitched luggage anywhere, please return.  Thanks a Million."

Her bag is still missing.

Feel free to share this post, and help get the message around - I guess you never know where her case might appear next.

This is the case, it's cute and little -10cm x 8cm (4″ x 3¼″ ) when closed.

Open and inside is the contents, this is a pic I snapped the night before I left for market...kind of wish now I had taken more images at the time.

It was last seen right here in the Woodland display

The fabric in the lining inside the case is the yellow Woodland print below

Here is a better image of the inside - image from the original version 'Flat Nat 1.0'

Ironically, my suitcase also went missing on the way home from America. 

Yes, the two of us - Flat Nat AND Not so Flat Nat hanging out with no luggage.....must have been a full moon. I can laugh about it now, but there is nothing worse than waiting at the airport baggage claim area for a bag that never arrives. 

Believe me, it's 1,000,000 x worse when your case is filled with samples.

I was lucky, mine arrived by courier 24 hours after I got home.  I wonder if Flat Nat will ever be reunited with hers?  Please, let me know if you catch a glimpse of the case anywhere around your neighbourhood.

Till 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

 

In the studio this week

If you are an avid reader of the Cinderberry blog you would know Flat Nat went to live with Happy Zombie a few months ago, I believe she is having a blast of a time in her studio...lucky Nat.

Enter stage right - Flat Nat (#2)

I decided it was about time I made a second Flat Nat complete with suitcase for my next travel adventure and of course to meet and great those attending the AQM in Novemeber, afterall - what's market without a Flat Nat?

She has the same personality as the original, this time stitched in the new Flower Sugar fabric range due to be released in Houston next week.  Just when you thought Flower Sugar couldn't get any better, they blow me away again with a new release.

When I was here a few nights ago I was thinking -

Natalie, Natalie, what do you see?

I see charm squares looking at me.

This is what I mean.....you see, I have also been playing with charm squares these last few days especially for the newest Quilt Fabric Delights club "It's Charming" to find out more pop over and see Sarah.  I have been using a combination of linen with Tweet Tweet by Keiki for Moda.

So this was scattered on the studio table...

with a little of this....

Fingers crossed this evening I can just sit for a while and hand stitch, my needle is missing me.

Till then,

Natalie x

Winners & the virtue of patience

Gosh, maybe I will have to work on the idea of sending a second original Flat Nat around the blog world because so many would love a visit one day.  

I especially love the idea of sending your Flat Nat's off with a travel journal to record her journey, how much fun would that be to read on her return? It is an idea many of you have emailed me about and I think it is fabulous. 

Flat Natty Fabulous actually.

To the two random winners because if I had to pick two myself I simply couldn't.

Sandra Port Coquitlam B.C.....Hi, I have been following your blog since your baby was born and have purchased a lot of your stitcheries from Quiltopia in Maple Ridge B.C. I just love them and now can pick your designs out from the rest. Keep designing

and

May Britt....I love Flat Nat and would love to give her a journey through the Norwegian country. She could come with me to different sewing parties and quiltshops, and I guess she could write "home" and tell about her experiences :)

Congratulations to you both an email will be in your inbox shortly so I can get your postal address.  Thank you to every one who took a moment out of their day to pop a comment on the post so we can all have some fun.

I'm Flat-tered.

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This week in the studio.....

I have been playing around with a few ideas this week and having a little fun with different elements to my designs.

Lately I have been stitching a lot of things I can't show you fully *sigh* and to be truthful patience has never really been my thing.

It is making me crazy actually.  

I have even started talking in short sentences.

Well, you'll have to trust me - some wise person said once that good things come to those who wait - it must be true.  He was talking to me, right?

So this is what is ruffling me lately (in a good way).

Then I started making a few little bag tags, and couldn't stop at one.  It's not surprising, I often get carried away in the creative moment.

On the crafting front, I also brought a holder for art paper at Ikea.  I said at the time it was for Isabelle - that was a fib.  I really wanted it for myself.

I have to tell you my funny story about my Ikea visit, it goes like this...

I was so excited I had actually made it to Melbourne and found the store.  I had 40mins spare to shop to my Ikea loving heart out.  Not a long time in Ikea, I tell you. (it could take that long to find the exit).

Truth is, I was so lolly shop ikea excited I was there, that I forgot to remember where I parked my car.

*crickets*

I got all hot and bothered, there were almost tears.

About 10 minutes later I realised there was more than one exit to the car park.

I had an ikea moment.

Ten minutes can feel like an eternity.

Till then

Natalie x

So long, farewell xo

Yesterday I packed Flat Nat for her #1 International journey to the USA, she will be living with Happy Zombie and seeing the sights meeting people and hanging out on the shelf just being flat. 

Her new home will be Monica's studio.

I am a little envious. 

Her studio IS amazing.

I have to say, closing the packing box and taking the original Flat Nat to the local mail center was kind of like sending my child off to boarding school.

I made sure she packed a few of her favorite things for the journey so she won't get homesick, and Monica could have a little taste of Australia.

Hmmm....I wonder what that will be?

Now, Flat Nat did whisper one word to me as I closed the box and said goodbye.

It sounded something like....."Competition"

So...especially for Flat Nat I have two patterns sitting by my side waiting for a new home. 

Could it be you?

To take part just leave a message on this post between now and next Wednesday the 11th August 2010 to be in the draw, two names will be chosen at random which means a Flat Nat pattern could be making it's way to your home.

***Competition is now closed and winners names have been drawn here***

Let's have some fun!

Till then,

Natalie x

Flat Nat - The Pattern

What's flat, postable, cute and ready to travel with her bag packed?

If you guessed Flat Nat you are 100% right - the patterns are ready and I wonder are you itching to stitch her too?  Have you got the Flat Nat bug?

I can see her sitting beside you while you sew, she is ever so quiet and doesn't eat much.

Here is a picture from the pattern cover, there are so many different parts of Flat Nat to photograph.  From her Babushka back with pocket, to her sweet stitched front, suitcase and packed contents I thought the only way to capture her for the cover was with a collection of my favorites from the photo shoot.

If you would like to read more about her pop your head in here.

Keep a look out for her at your local/online quilt store or ask sweetly and they might order a copy in just for you.  Just be warned, I think she will be addictive.  I have fabric in mind to make a few more when the opportunity knocks.

**Update** - Flat Nat patterns and kits (complete with fabric and threads) are now available at Quilt Fabric Delights so if you are keen to make a Flat Nat just like mine pop over and place your order.

I can't wait to hear where she travels to next and what countries she will see!

Maybe your place?

Till then,

Natalie x

PS.  You still have time to enter the latest fabric giveaway so pop over and have a peek.

Good News and a chance to win

Good news - Flat Nat will be added to the pattern range.

I think I underestimated how much everyone would love Flat Nat, maybe even more than I do.  But what started out as a little giggle with Monica has grown into something you could all be a part of.  Can you imagine Flat Nat in your home town, showing us all your local patchwork store or the city sights?  How many countries could she travel to?  What friends could she meet?

Will she visit you?

I hear Flat Nat is enjoying herself at Quilt Market and yes, I wish I was there too!  I will post some photos shortly so you can see what she has been up to.

So while I pattern write and keep an eye on all the Quilt Market twitter updates let's have a little fun...in the form of a competition.  Remember these last two patterns to join the Cinderberry Stitches pattern line? I have one of each pattern looking for a new home.

To enter just leave a message on this post and answer a little question:  "If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?" Two entries will be chosen at random next Sunday, 1 June 30th May 2010 so let's have some fun!

Till then,

Natalie xo

(This competition has now closed, be sure to pop over here to see the winners)

 

Who, what and where is Flat Nat? (Part 2)

I couldn't wait till morning.

Would you like to see what else Flat Nat has packed in her suitcase?

Her favorite things of course, needle, threads, Isabelle dolly, jelly rolls.

She packed so fast for Spring Market she didn't realise she grabbed odd shoes.  Not to worry, I have heard at Market "fashion stops at the knees" so hopefully no one will notice.

Where does her suitcase live while she is travelling around the world you ask?

Just turn her over.

 

Her babushka holds the suitcase in her skirt pocket.  She loves travelling as much as Flat Nat, just look at the little smile on her face - it's bliss.

It was suggested (thanks to Brad) that this could in fact be Fat Nat.

More details? - ok, the fabric for the stitchery is white Hanky Linen. The beautiful red floral, red stripe and green fabric inside the suitcase is from the new Flower Sugar collection by Lecien.  Have a peek here at the full collection it is better than chocolate.

I can hardly wait to see where Flat Nat will appear next.

Till then,

Natalie xo

Who, what and where is Flat Nat?

The question is...."Who, what and where is Flat Nat and why does she refer to Monica as Aunty Zombie?"

Let's start at the beginning...

You see, what started a few weeks ago as a little emailing back and forth with Monica has become what can only be described as soo much fun.  I couldn't get to Market this year but imagine if there was a postable Flat Nat that could.  She could see the sights and spend a few days, weeks, months with Monica.  Flat Nat the Travelling Stitcher.  How much fun could that be.

Kind of like when your garden gnome goes missing and sends you a photo of himself at some famous landmark.

So it got me thinking and drawing.....and this is what happened.

Here is Flat Nat hanging out in my studio eyeing off the precut collection.

But wait.  If you think she is cute, pop over and visit Monica - her Flat Nat will make you *gasp* she is gorgeous.

Once I began, the ideas started rolling. 

If Flat Nat was to travel overseas she would require a passport and a suitcase so she could take her favorite things with her...she couldn't just turn up to Market with nothing, she will need a place to put her goodies in case she gets to Sample Spree.

And so her suitcase was created.

Yes it opens.

I believe this is the moment FN & I fell in love.

 

And here is her Passport.

Just wait till you see the rest.

Tomorrow I promise.

Till then

Natalie xo