The fabrics have arrived

With only 2 days to go till we shut the doors and make a move to our new premises, I was getting a little anxious that the range of fabrics we had chosen for our next BOM would not be here till the New Year.

Gail's Berries and Bluebirds lends itself to so many fabric options I did have a lot of fun looking around to find a range that would look AWESOME!.

Wingin' It by Buggy Barn for Henry Glass Fabrics is the range we have chosen.  I mixed it up with a bit of Etchings from Moda and of couse some creamy delights that we have in the store.

I am a bit partial to the teals and greys, and this, among a lot of other projects, will be in my hot little hands for the month of January.

My aim to to keep you up to date with my sewing adventures during my month off, and I hope you all get a bit of sewing time yourselves.

Mrs C xx

Christmas Cake baking

 

It's that time of year when I turn on the kitchen fairy lights, put on my red apron, get out the mixing bowl, dutch cocoa, tia maria, and all the other bits and pieces to make Nigella's Chocolate Fruit Christmas Cake.

NOM NOM NOM!!!!!

 

This is last years photo and this cake was devine!

I have the chocolate coated coffee beans ready for the top, thanks to my friend Christine from Kinglake.

 

This is such a simple cake to make and you can find the recipe HERE!

This is a moist, chocolatey, devine cake that will be sure to impress your friends and family this Christmas Season.

OH and it is one of the EASIEST cakes I have ever made.

Try it this year, go on you know you want to.....

 

Mrs C xxxxx

 



WE have a winner and I can't copy and paste to save myself....

HI,

well I was going to put everybodies name in a hat and draw a winner but we had 115 entries in our giveaway :)

THAT'S HUGE!!!!

I was going to be so clever and copy and past the auto number generator page and then put it in this post so you could see that our winner was drawn fairly....

BUT it didn't matter what I did the auto number generator would only have the number 100 in it... :(

So you will just have to take my word for this...

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

our winner is DELORES FAGEN....congratulations Delores and I truly hope you enjoy all your goodies.

I will be in contact soon to get your postal details.

I want to thank every single one of you in participating in this little competition, and I want to thank The Quilting Gallery for organising it.

May you have a blessed and Merry Christmas this year.

Mrs C xxxxx

COMPETITION CLOSED

Our final entry in our competitions was a post by Lynda at 4:19 (australian eastern standard time).....I'm off to find the winner STAY TUNED.....

Stitching when able

During the day when I can catch a breath I just love to sit behind the counter and listen to the kids in the primary school laugh at play while I stitch and stitch away on the shops latest sample.

This one is called Reindeer Fun.

I think the final quilt will have red stitchery, red fabric and red binding....why? cause it is so close to Christmas RED IS THE colour of the big mans suit.....I think thats a good enough reason ... OH Im cheeky today.

This is an easy pattern, fun and easy to follow.

We have the pattern here in the store and if you want a kit made up, you know all you have to do is ask......

And you know what? any one who would like a pattern or a kit and orders before 22nd December 2012 will get FREE POSTAGE!

The pattern is $18.00 (including postage)

and the kit to make the quilt top with binding is $90.00 (including postage!!!)

the quilt when finished will measure approx 46 x 46 inches. (117 x 117 cms)

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS and dont forget to scroll down and enter our BLOG HOP GIVEAWAY!

Mrs C xxx



Blog hopping and prizes

When we found out our friend Michele over at The Quilting Gallery was hosting a blog hop we couldn't HELP but hop along :)

As part of the blog hop we are running a competition here at The Christmas Beetle.  All you have to do to be in the running to win the following:

A Christmas Story pattern book by Anni Downs,

A Meme's quilt pattern (in a Christmas theme),

A Gail Pan pattern (in a Christmas theme),

and

A Hugs and Kisses pattern (also in a Christmas theme),

is to comment here on our blog and tell us about a Christmas Tradition you and your family have.

I love to hear about traditions, they mean alot to our family and I can't wait to hear about yours.

Merry Christmas to everyone, be blessed and stay safe this Christmas.

Mrs C xxxxx.

Friday Night Sew In

 

I really need this to get me moving on some Christmas bits and pieces, do you need it as well?

if sew :) join us by visiting Cheryll and signing up.

 

I have to make 2 of these quilts by the end of the weekend for customers.

This should get me a good way through before the weekend starts :)

 

Mrs C xx

A week of presents.......

 

I dont know about you but I just love to get presents.  I mean dont get me wrong, giving is great, but when its your birthday week, receiving is just AWESOME!

 

Today I was greeted by the postman with a present from my friend De.  I was so excited I just ripped into the gifts and here is what I found

 

A box of HOMEMADE biscuits and some tea bags.... (now I know why she asked me 'how would you post homemade biscuits?)......

 

A sweet toothbrush holder in the form of a LADYBIRD! love love love it, a follow your dreams plaque to sit in my sewing roon, and a lovely hanging plaque to also place in my sewing room.....

I was so excited I didnt even stop to save the paper, SORRY DE :(

The next thing to walk into my store today were the orders from the Koolaman girls when they were here last month.

I, again, ripped into this parcel, and here is my pendant ..... with all the names of my children.  This is as close to going under the Christmas tree that this will get as it is already around my neck.

A pretty great way to start the day dont you think? And Im ending the day with a date with The Grinch before he flies out to Adelaide tomorrow.  AAAHHHHHHH........

 



The moment you have all been waiting for :)

I also met the lovely Lenna Green and the dahling Janice on the weekend.  I hope Lenna likes what I did to this picture, we had a hidden motive :)

 

Anyways, back on track.  This is another YEP I have been bitten by the BOM Beetle, and this one is called Garden of Dreams and we will be running this one next year.  It will coincide with May, where Lenna is our pin-up girl for May. 

 

More on our pin-up girls in the next post......yes yes yes I have been busy, my little brain is so full of ideas it is about to burst.  LUCKY for me I have a wonderful garden of fantastic designers to choose from.

 

This BOM is stunning, and we will be running it is a fantastic range of fabric.  All things going to plan I will be starting on this along with all the others in January.

 

Again, if you want to put your name down for this please just email us here.



We love our BOM's.......

Well I had a fantastic day on Sunday in Melbourne meeting absolutely LOVELY TALENTED ladies. I travelled down with 2 good friends, and they were a real pleasure to do that long drive with.

 

I have managed to pick 2 more BOM's for next year......

do you want to see them?

Really?

 

OK :)

 

 

Here is me chit chatting with Anni from Hatched and Patched, we laughed about things and she had some wonderful things to say about her Christmas Story BOM that we are kicking off in January.  Email us here if you would like information on costs etc, sent out.

There is only one kit left if you would like to join us....we will be sewing together here in the shop and there will be a blog set up so that we can all share our progress and any hints we come up with along the way.

 

BUT one of our new BOM's for 2013 is Anni's new Tillie's Lane.....

 

This is a gorgeous quilt, and I saw the finished one when talking with Anni.  We were discussing colour schemes and ranges that would suit,......BUT the fabric range that we will be doing it in has not been released yet so at this stage we are just taking 'expressions of interest' and we will email you all when we are closer to starting.

The BOM will run for a period of 9 months and it will cost as follows:

Full Kit and Pattern Set = $260.00 (includes binding)

Per month = $29.00 + postage

Optional Extra backing = $78.00

 

Stay tuned for the next BOM that we will be running, we will share what this is on Friday :)

OH OH OH I cant wait to get started on these, but first I need to get sewing on other bits and pieces to put in the shop.

 

Here is hoping your day is full of threads that never knot and a pair of scissors that are always close at hand.

 

Love to all Mrs C xxxxx



Fig'n'Berry Creations - Lisa Cantlay

We are really starting to get ready for a fabulous year in 2013.

On Saturday 27th July 2013 we will be having the lovely Lisa from Fig'n'Berry Creations to run a full day of stitchery and fun.

Lisa will be conducting 2 workshops for us, from 2 new patterns designed just for you on the day.

 

 

 

There will be one morning (10am) and one afternoon class (2pm)

 

The full day will cost $100.00 and you will recieve the following:

a kit for both the am and pm class,

morning tea,

afternoon tea,

lunch,

coffee and tea throughout the day,

a goodie bag,

and a chance to win a hamper (drawn on the day) made up from gifts and items personally selected by myself and Lisa.

There is a 50% deposit and time of booking with remaining due in April 2013.

 

Numbers are limited so book now to secure your spot by emailing us HERE!

 

The above picture is one of Lisa's previous designs, we just love her work and we know you will too.

 

We are all looking forward to meeting you on the day.

 

Mrs C xxx

 

 

Job about done

 

After two long weeks my faithful friend Jenny Janome came back from the sewing machine hospital.  She just needed a little R&R and is now back in full force and ready to sew.  Let me tell you if has been a long couple of weeks for me.

 

 

Our shop sample of The Magic of Christmas Block of the month is just about ready to be hung up on our wall.  I have finished the top and now with Jenny back I can put it all together and quilt it.

 

We did it a bit different to Gail's sample, as in we stitched in one colour and used a selection of our favourite country style fabrics. 

 

We love the way it turned out and if you would like to take part in this BOM just send us here at the shop and we can send you out a flyer with all the information on it.

 

It is a lovely quilt and very quick and easy to make.

 

Have a wonderful day, Mrs C xxx

SOLD OUT FOR 2013.....

 

WOW! we are thrilled to say that our class with Gail is now full.
We just know all of our lovely ladies will have a fantastic time on the day.
Stay tuned for our next class with Lisa from Fig'n'Berry Creations

 

 

 

Mrs C xxx

OK time is starting to really get away

 

My finger is on the mend, thank you so much for all your comments and thoughts.

I have 4 little stitcheries to complete and The Magic of Christmas will be hung proudly in our store for all to see.

 

Then it will be onto the next project which will be a tree skirt for your Christmas Tree showcasing the yummy panel from 3 Sisters Sentiments Range.

Here is the panel.



So I have pencils ready to go and some sketching paper at the ready, my poor little brain just cant seem to slow down and my little hands are falling a wee bit behind.

 

Do any of you have this problem? so many ideas so little time in the day?

Hoping you find a little stitchery time in your day today.

xx

 

 



A little kiss better.....

 

Well I was on such a roll with The Magic of Christmas ... but due to a little mishap I wont be making my deadline, well a couple of mishaps really.

 

First, my beloved Janome 6600 has had to go to the Dr.  I am hoping its not terminal but I should know in a weeks time.

 

I remember when I was very young, my little dolly had to sent to the Dolls Hospital and she never came home, trauma.......

 

 

And the next little mishap is that I pretty much tore off my pinky fingernail, nail bed and all and now it has rendered my hand nearly useless.  Who would of thought a tiny thing as a finger nail would cause so much pain when not attached to the finger.

 

 

So, today I am feeling sad and sorry for myself.  BUT eating Smarties is helping a little bit :) and they are helping me stop climbing the walls.

 

and just remember, it's only 47 sleeps to go.

 

Mrs C xx

Deadline Looming

A couple of weeks ago I set myself a challenge to finish The Magic of Christmas by Gail Pan in 2 weeks.

I just thought it would be something I could accomplish, but I totally forgot about my daughters 9th birthday party (held early), my sons 18th, and 3 corporate venues to decorate for Christmas!!!

 

I am not admitting defeat yet, but I am sad to say I am not sure I will make this deadline.

 

I have completed 7 Blocks of the stitcheries

 

 

and sewn 4 of the blocks together

 

 

I have 3 more blocks all ready cut and just waiting to be constructed, and I have traced all of the remaining stitcheries and they have been placed nicely in slip folders ready for me to get to them with needle and thread.

 

 

So while I may not have this finished by tomorrow I dont think it will be too far away.

 

If you would like to do this BOM with us here at The Christmas Beetle just drop us a line or phone the shop on (02) 6023 1200.

 

This BOM will start late November/ early December 2012.

 







 

and remember, chocolate is a food group.

 

Mrs C xxx

 

It's Christmas with Lisa from Fig 'n' Berry Creations

 

We are really excited about running another day full of Christmas Cheer in July next year with the lovely Lisa Cantlay from Fig 'n' Berry Creations.  Lisa will be releasing 2 new projects just for you at our workshop.

 

 Here is a picture of some of Lisa's recent work

 

 

 

Lisa will be conducting 2 classes in our store on Saturday 27th July 2013. 

A day full of fun, laughter, stitching and fabulous food and tea/coffee.

 

The full day will include a morning class with morning tea, lunch, an afternoon class with afternoon tea, a goodie bag and a chance to win a hamper full of lovely bits and pieces to help you in your creative activities.

 

Numbers will be limited so get in quick.

 

Cost of this day is $100.00 (please note a $50 deposit is required at time of booking).

 

Mrs C xxx

   

Winners are Grinners

We have drawn our October competition and the winner is......

DE!!!!!

 

This must be your lucky month De.....

Congratulations and happy sewing.

 

Your parcel will be sent out in the next couple of days.

 

Mrs C xxxx

 

A couple of things in the post.....

A couple of things were sent off yesterday in the post.

First, was a couple of tubs of Marshmallow Creme to my cousin in Adelaide, why? Because its fudge making season :)

 



The second parcel was our jelly roll which was won by Hueisei in MALAYSIA! Congratulations Hueisei again, and please let us see what you make with this lovely Jelly Roll.

 

Tomorrow I will put up my progress on my Magic of Christmas BOM by Gail Pan that I am trying to get finished.

 

but until then remember, chocolate really can make the world a better place.

Mrs C xxxx

Time is running out

Time is running out on our latest competition.

Why not try your luck and simply leave a funny story about your sewing on our post HERE!

The competition will come to an end on 31st October.

Even if you are not a quilter you could give this as a Christmas gift this year.

Only 59 days till the gorgeous man in the bright red suit visits.

I wonder what competition I will do next month?

Mrs C xxx



The Magic of Christmas - Gail Pan

 

I have to say I am a bit of a groupie of Gail Pan's work I love her simplicity and just her natural approach to her work and the dedication she shows to her craft.

I have decided just this week, well today actually, that I will be getting in more of her Block of the Months.  I am currently working on The Magic Of Christmas

 

 

 

 - we will be starting this one as soon as I can show you a sample.  I am not doing it in traditional green and reds, but there are greens and red in it.

I am doing it in a mix of country primitive fabrics that are from some of my favourite collections, such as Red Rooster - Whimsicals, Anni Downs, Winterberry Lane, and Sandy Gervais.

Here is a little sneaky peak of the fabrics......

 

 

The full kit will be available for $200, a saving of $26, (plus postage) and that includes the pattern, the fabric for the quilt top and border.

 

A binding and backing kit is available for an additional $68.00 (plus postage)

 

The Block of the Month will be $22 per month (plus postage) and will run for 10 months (does NOT include binding or backing fabric)

 

So register your interest to start this gorgeous quilt NOW!.....

 

Why wait till next year? Have this project to do while you are holidaying this Christmas Season.

 

Love to all, and just think its only 61 days till Santa arrives ....

Mrs C xxx

 

I get by with a little help from my friends.....

OR A LOT in this case.

Remember last week when I shared that I had a challenge set with regard to a quilt for a magazine deadline and I had cut up some fabric and I was just going to go with the flow and see where it took me?

This is where it took me.

 

I was very blessed to have had Pat from A1 quilting spend the afternoon on Saturday with me machine quilting this.  Love Pat's work and her patience with me :)

And I spent an hour this afternoon walking around our Botanical Gardens taking a few snapshots of the quilt......

I like the way it turned out....

 

This weeks challenge



So I thought I had a little more time, but I was talking to the gorgeous Chris yesterday and I am now on a deadline to design a quilt, make a quilt, quilt a quilt, bind a quilt and photograph a quilt before early next week.

 

I am going to be using this in one of our new advertisements in Handmade.

We are really excited about starting up this relationship with this magazine and keep an eye out for many more that are also in the works.....you might even see my little noggin in amongst the photos 'giggle giggle'.

 

I looked around the shop yesterday and came up with these fabrics, they are from Red Rooster and the range is called "Weeds and Tweed's.....let's now get this locomotion on the road and start to get creative.

 

(needless to say some of the quilts and projects I had on the boil are now on simmer till after this quilt is finished)

 

Stay tuned for more progressive photos.

 

Mrs C xxxx

I have started my Christmas List.



Last week we had a flying visit from Santa Claus while 2AY were here doing a radio broadcast.  It was a fantastic afternoon with lots of fun and laughter.

I had a chance, when he wasn't being surrounded by children to have a little word in Santas ear with regard to my very own Christmas List.

I mentioned a little fabric range called 'American Banner Rose', and even though the range has been out for a little while I have only just come across it and I LOVE IT!

Well blow me down, if a fat quarter bundle did not arrive the next day in the store!!!

I am being a good little girl and Im going to wrap it and put it under the Christmas Tree to be lovingly unwrapped this Christmas.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE HARD :)

I hope you are all starting to put your Christmas List together.

Love and Blessings to all,

Mrs C xxx

Doily Swap

I was also in Fee's doily swap this month.  I have just about finished my little creation for my partner Teresa BUT that didnt stop me from opening my little parcel that also arrived yesterday.

 

What we had to do was send a doily, an embroidered doily and some buttons and some ribbon to our partner who would then make them into something wonderful.

Teresa has really outdone herself in what she has made me.

There was a little purse - for all my patchwork shopping spondoolies for the Adelaide trip in March :)

and there was also a sewing pouch where there was a pair of scissors and some pins added as a little extra touch AND an angel pin for me to wear in the shop.

Teresa I love these thank you for making them for me.

Now I best get back to work so I can get home so I can finish my projects.

Mrs C xxx

It's a day for presents for Mrs Claus

 

 

I was also in the Once a Season Swap and this Season is "Spring" here is my lovely stitchery quilt sent to me by Claire.

 

What a gorgeous quilt this is and one that I will hang with pride in my sewing room.

Thank you so much Claire, I love the colours and the stitchery......just gorgeous.
OH I also got some Chockies.....mmmmmmm

 

Mrs C xx

A package swap just for me :)

 

I joined up to do a swap held by Jos and my partner was Dzintra, and a BIG hello to JoJo who I know helped her mum pick out some of these gifts...

I received my parcel today.  Our brief was to send some fabric ( 1 meter), some ribbon/lace (2 meters), at least 4 buttons, a spool of thread, and a pattern and anything else you think your swap buddy might really love and appreciate.

Here is what Dzintra sent me: 2 ribbon dollies with some gorgeous ribbon wrapped around them, a lovely raspberry cake of soap, a packet of rusty bells (just my thing for some Christmas Stockings), a lovely stitchery kit called Christmas Goodies with fabric and thread, and 2 pieces of Rouenneries Fabric by FRENCH GENERAL - A FAVOURITE!!!

 

 



 

 

A while ago I started making this quilt called In The Woods - A Meme's Quilt Pattern.  We stock a lot of them in our shop, and we get them directly from Sherri - we love Sherri.  Anyway back to the point of this post :)

Today with the weather being really really wet - it left me some time in the shop to start auditioning backings as I finally finished placing the borders on this .....

This is what I came up with, a gorgeous dark blue checked fabric with teeny tiny red stars all over.

 

 

Project this weekend is to now - get the quilt all assembled and pinned ready for some quilting.  I wont be hand quilting this one, I think it will just be an all over random job. Maybe some stars? Who knows where the machine will take me.

I look forward to showing you more of this quilt in the next couple of weeks.  It will then be hung very proudly in our shop.

Have a tremendous weekend,

Love and Blessings to all, Mrs C xx

Sit and Sew on and on and on

This afternoon in the store we are having a sit and sew, I have many plans of what I would like to do. I mean I have great expectations that I will just be on a roll and get a lot done. One of the projects that I want to finish is the Christmas in Italy top.  All I have to do to finish the top is hand stitch on the 4 paper pieced stars. Not a lot really.

So when that's done I hope to finish a little project I have been working on with one of our panels.

I wonder how far I will get, between having a nice hot cup of coffee and a piece of walnut and apple slice.....oh and the chatting of course.

I hope you are all managing some stitching this weekend, only 79 days to go :)

Mrs C xxxxx