Mrs Billings update...

Mrs Billings is one of my favourite antique quilts of all time. The original is a stunning masterpiece created by a very talented seamstress at the end of the 1700's and early 1800's. The original maker is unknown but her quilt lives on. There have been many variations made from the detailed pattern I have written and here for you to see are a very small sample!

These quilts have been created by Mary, Laurie, Sue, Josephine and Joan. They are all amazing! Would you like to create your very own Mrs Billings? I will be teaching a two day workshop this April at AQC (The Australian Quilt Convention) here in Melbourne, Thursday 16th and Friday 17th. Visit here for more information and class vacancies.

     

A Mystery at Somerset revealed...

At last... the quilt is complete! Quilted with binding on and stitched in place - a start and a finish for 2015... 

can I keep up the pace! Probably not :) 

Here is the finished 'Somerset Mystery quilt'. Many of the girls started it over summer school this year and because it was a mystery to them (and in part to me!) there are lots of very different and very gorgeous versions, hopefully I can share some of those with you soon. You may have noticed that it turned out very big (89"x89"), to big to easily photograph in one hit! 

Pattern writing continues today with the full instructions available very, very soon.

Following on with the finish theme... here is Jan's hexagon quilt almost done using Kathy from Material Obsessions fabric. Another beautiful quilt!

More Lucy Boston blocks, I never tire of looking at these!

And as promised... this weeks fabric deliveries. Edith by Mary Koval, very yum in pinks, purples and browns.

Followed by these beautiful gold and grey shades by The Quilted Crow Girls.

They look very inviting in these little bundles!

More fabric updates and lots of show and tell soon...

Normal Programming resumes...

Normal programming has resumed (fingers crossed) and hopefully I will be free to update the blog a little more often! 

Our daily classes have started again with groups meeting every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings. 

Call the shop (03 9873 5992) if you would like to join any of these days.

Summer school was a hoot again this year with lots of intrigue with our 'Mystery' quilt!

Some of the girls haven't seen the finished top yet so you will have to wait just a little while before I publish a full photo... 

but in the meantime here are a few sneek peaks :) 

It won't be long now before it will be written up and ready to purchase as a pattern.

My mate Nelson can't wait until I get it quilted. I think he is tired of tippy toeing around it laid out on the living room floor!

During January we had a family wedding. Meet the happy couple... my handsome son Mark and his beautiful wife Jayne. It was a delightful January afternoon, Paul and I are very proud of them both xxx 

We have had quite a few fabric deliveries recently and hopefully I will fill you in with all of those very soon,

2015... it's time for Summer School!

Another year has been and gone... and here we are in 2015. I had a lovely Christmas and New Year and I hope you did too!

This Christmas instead of our usual Gingerbread house we made one out of Shortbread! A little different but very yummy. 

See our little cheeky monkeys peeping through the windows? 

What's happening for Summer School you ask?

Well this year due to some very important overseas visitors and special family events we are trying something a little different. The theme for 2015 is 'A Mystery at Somerset'... over the last few weeks I have been cutting and sewing up a storm getting a secret project ready to share with you in classes over the next three weeks.

Would you like to join us? 
Classes are on from 10am - 4pm Tuesday's, Wednesday's and Thursday's in January. There are still a few limited spaces available.

What do you need to bring? 
Lots and lots of scraps, 4 metres of background and a set of our Lemoyne star templates. 

For more details and information call the shop on 03 9873 5992.

Keep watching to see what we get up to...

Christmas and Summer School...

For the first time in many, many years Somerset Patchwork will be closing for the Christmas Holiday break. We will finishing up at the end of the day on Saturday 20th December and returning on Friday the 2nd January with normal trading hours.

During the Christmas break we will be putting the final touches on our very popular Summer School program for January 2015. This year we will be taking a slightly different approach with an on going class over 9 days featuring the new Block of the Month for 2015. It will be a...

'Mystery at Somerset'

Each class you attend you will be given another instalment of the new BOM, stitch along with us in the morning then take some quiet time for your own projects in the afternoon. Classes will run from 10am till 4pm at a daily cost of $35 each session. Call the shop for more information and class vacancies. (03 9873 5992)

Our travelling days are over for this year and that means a sale on our pre-cut 30cm strips. Call in for a bargain!

Until next time,

Houston highlights 2014...

Houston has come and gone for another year! There were many highlights including this magnificent display of Red and White quilts. The theme for Festival 2014 was Ruby Jubilee.

Sue and I had a great time too and it was fantastic catching up with so many of our blog, Facebook and Instagram followers! Thank you for calling past and saying hello.

These three ladies popped in to our booth with their matching carry bags. The bags were very full when we saw them :) I think they were having a nice time.

This was the display of my new quilt 'Kensington' and other sweet things on the Marcus Fabrics booth at Market! The lovely jacket is made from the Quilted Crows new wools and it looked amazing on top of the skirt made using my Victoria Park fabric!

And no trip to Houston would be complete without the compulsory visit to the Galleria and these two shops!

Today's adventure!

It's Sunday morning and I am sitting at the airport waiting to travel to Sydney, then catch a flight straight through to Dallas. Must admit the prospect of a 16 hour non stop flight is a little daunting but I know there are lots of adventures to be had once I arrive :)

While I am away there will be a slight change to business hours at the shop! 

Please check the times listed below before visiting... 

Hopefully there will be lots of fun to report on over the next few weeks!

Chat again soon, Karen

Travel time again...

Its that time of the year again when Paul and I start heading to Houston. I have been madly stitching, quilting and binding getting lots of new quilts ready to show. The suitcases are out and now its time to see what I can squeeze inside!

But before I arrive in Houston I will be visiting Eudora to stitch with the lovely ladies at Quilting Bits and Pieces and the local Eudora Quilting Guild. If you are in the neighbourhood stop by and say hello! Visit here for more information...

Almost Settled...

We have been in our new shop 4 weeks now and I think we are almost settled. Mrs Billings is on the wall, all the fabric is on the shelf and the delivery men have found us :)

There was great excitement on our first Friday stitching group with flowers, chocolate cake and of course something to drink!

But before the girls could join us, Sue and I made a trip to the local Ikea store for supplies...  Lots of pretty things to make the new shop feel like home. We filled three trolleys at Ikea and overloaded the car, it was touch and go there but Sue just fitted into the front seat. 

The shelves were filled with fabric and then it was time to set up all of our new tables and chairs! It was lots of fun but I think I am over building furniture for the next little while!

I am very pleased we looked at the instructions! Read first then call Ikea for help!

You only need 1 tool, some screws ... Yes, we supply a tool set for every chair, we assembled 12 chairs that day :) can you see?

Sue and I had a great day that day and felt very satisfied with the finished result...

Back soon with more,

Moving Sale!

Paul, Sue and I are working well towards our relocation in August to our new home. 

BUT!!!!! 

We have collected quite a lot of 'stuff' in the last 5 years and it is time for some of it to go! 

So... we are having a big moving sale to help us make the trip to Vermont easier.

There will be a large selection of fabrics on sale at $17 per metre

 with some at $10 per metre too!

Each day we are uncovering some little treasures that don't want to come with us! 

There are a variety of quilt tops in all stages of finish, even some completed ones! 

Last ones of Block of the Months, fat 1/4 bundles, special fabrics and more...

Come for a visit and help us make the move a little lighter ... 

We will be open from 9.30 - 5.00 Tuesday - Friday and 9.30 - 3.00 on Saturday.

See you there :)