What's New at TCQ - Effervescence

Ok, so these posts were supposed to be a regular thing each time I upload a new collection to the website. And yes, they've kind of fallen by the wayside (again) but rather than go back and pick up where I *should* go back to, let's fast forward to last week's delivery of Robert Kaufman fabrics and the absolutely stunning Effervescence!

This collection first came out a couple of years ago and I meant to order it then, but never got around to it. Kaufman have recently added some new fabrics to the collection and they really are awesome. First up are three ombre prints which change colour across the width of the fabric.

Bright Ombre 17061-195

Here's a closer look at the print

Detail, Bright ombre

The remaining fabrics are smaller bubbles in a multitude of colours and combinations. Really can't decide which is my favourite! Today I'm feeling the love for the Mardi Gras colourway...

Mardi Gras Bubbles 17062-297

The fabrics are a digital print so they aren't cheap, but I think they're worth it. They've received a lot of love on social media so I don't think they'll be around for long.....

You can order them here.

Quilters' Quarter Day

Finally got the time to blog about the first Quilters' Quarter Day last Saturday!

Sometimes you just need to try something new as there's nothing worse than wondering "what if?". And after umming and ahhing about it for most of last year I made the decision to have a pop up shop a few times a year; quarterly to be exact. Hence the name of my events!

The second week in January in a village hall in rural Hertfordshire might not be the best way to try out something new, but apart from the wind we were lucky it was a lovely day. 

I was truly humbled by the number of quilters who came along, some from quite some distance away! I think everyone went away happy with their fabric goodies and homemade cakes!

Here's a couple of pics of the hall before I opened

And ladies enjoying cake!

The next QQD is 11 April at Rushden Village Hall. Check out the website for more info

Joanna 

End of Term Report - 2014

So, another year has just zoomed by! More than a dozen quilt shows and group visits all over the country from Ardingly in West Sussex to Northumberland, Llangollen in Wales and Edinburgh in Scotland! It's been great seeing so many familiar faces throughout the year too.

 

There have been some really wonderful fabrics delivered this year; my fave being Terra Australis direct from Australia. I'm still the only shop stocking it in the UK, available by the metre or in fat quarter bundles.

 

 

Outback                                      Eucalyptus

 

And just delivered this week are the latest Bali pre-cuts from Hoffman. Super yummy as usual; my fave is Cockatiel I think

 

 


I have these as 2.5" Pops, 10" Crackers and 5" Snaps and they are already on the website.

 

Another pre-cut collection was released at Quilt Market in Houston featuring the 1895 collection of batiks in lovely colour combos. I may just have to order these.........

 

Looking forward to next year, I have some big plans that I am working on. Having dithered about them all this year I think 2015 is the year to be decisive and do them, so keep an eye out for news on this!

 

Joanna

 

 

New Fabrics.........and Dreamin' Vintage

I've had a few fabric deliveries in the last month. Mainly some alternative textured basics with a modern twist.

 

First in was some Bike Path and Pearl Bracelets from Makower.

 

 

Both these collections work well together as do the next fabrics which arrived in stock, Stitched Circles from Michael Miller Fabrics.

 

 

And finally the other week Dreamin' Vintage from Art Gallery Fabrics arrived. This is a really lovely collection based on bed linens from the 50s and 60s. Having seen some quilts made from vintage sheets online recently, the designer Jeni Baker has done a fantastic job with this collection. I love it. It makes me happy!

 

And of course I had to make a quick quilt with the fabrics. It's fat quarter friendly and the pattern will be available to download from my website shortly.

 

 

Joanna

Ardingly Quilt Show

Finally found a bit of time to report on the first quilt show proper of the year at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex. It's always a great feeling getting back out there and meeting customers again!

This show is also a difficult one though because the access for traders on setting up day and breakdown after the show is via about eight steps, especially for me as I don't feel I am strong or tall enough to try and push or pull a laden trolley down them! So this means carrying things down the stairs which all adds to the time it takes to unload and load again.

 

However it's a great show and there were some great quilts on display. I particularly loved this year's journal quilts with the theme 'Little Landscapes'. Some of them are truly wonderful!

 

 

The show was as successful as usual and I'll be back next year. The Bali pre-cuts were especially popular (well they are lovely colours) but I think it helped having the quilts hanging behind the stand.

 

Also excited to tell you the Peacock colour way of the Lumina Ribbon panel arrived in stock this week.............and its super yummy!



 

The other two colours almost sold out at the show, so get them while you can!

 

Joanna

Chiltern Quilters

I spent a lovely day today visiting Chiltern Quilters in Buckinghamshire. They meet six times a year in the village hall in Widmer End, near Hazlemere.
Today it was a UFO/Sewing day with a pot luck lunch..........can't beat a pot luck lunch! Quilters are excellent cooks as well as being pretty nifty with a needle.

 

 

I meant to take a photo of the lovely food........but left it too late!

 

I'm happy to say my wares managed to tempt them a little, with my threads

 

 

 

And fabrics, particularly the Hoffman precuts.

 

 

 

Tom and I usually work on our Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks when we go to quilt groups. He managed to finish his block today and the chair of the committee, Maureen, very kindly showed it to all the other ladies in their Show and Tell after lunch. His is on the left, I finished mine (on the right) this evening.

 

 

He always loves to tell people about what he is working on.

 

So all in all a great day!

If you would like me to bring my fabrics to your group, then please get in touch. I'm usually happy to travel within a 50 miles / hour's radius of North Herts.

Joanna

 

 

Lumina from Robert Kaufman

These fabrics have just arrived in stock and are available on the website. There are three colours to choose from: peacock, jewel and dawn. Haven't decided which is my favourite yet!

The main print is a panel which measures approx. 24" and runs across the width of the fabric

 

The panel is just so yummy and exciting! You could use it on its own as a wall hanging or make it the centre of a larger quilt.

 

The other prints I've ordered are this great swirl print

 

 

And then this kaleidoscope print which will be sold by the pattern repeat which is approx. 18".

 

Other prints like the Sunstreaks and Radiance, also from Robert Kaufman, work with this collection too.

I've been playing around with the fabrics over the weekend (perks of the job and all that!) and will post a pic shortly of what I've been up to. Just need to get ready for this darned Christmas first........and get the website ready for the sale which will start on 1 January

Anbo Textiles Open House

One of my favourite days of the year today, a visit to Anbo Textiles on one of their open house days with the chance to see the latest fabrics from Robert Kaufman, Blend Fabrics, Marcus Brothers amongst others.

 

I was very restrained this time but finally got around to ordering fabrics from the Lumina collection from Robert Kaufman. Otto (the boss) very kindly gave me a bundle of fabrics of the Jewel colourway.

 

 

So I have some to play with..........lucky me!

 

I haven't ordered all the fabrics from the collection but here are a couple of the exciting ones.

 

 

The top fabric is actually a panel runs across the width of the fabric. This is going to make a great centre of a wall hanging or bed quilt..............really excited about using it!

 

The fabrics are due for delivery in January and there are three colours altogether; jewel, dawn and peacock.