Sunday, January 10, 2010

Some little things

Sometimes you just have to get out and about  when the weather is so nice. Mr Q and I had a day wandering around historic Berry on the South Coast. There is one shop which is a favourite with anyone who likes to ply a needle or two of any kind. It's an embroidery shop called Sew And Tell (no website) and out the back is this shop which is part of it. It has beautiful gifts and items and is just delightful to wander around.

I never leave the shop without helping to support them. I picked up two books by Rosalie Quinlan, one half of the Melly and Me team. There are a few yummy projects in the books which would make great gifts.

I'd been looking everywhere for this DMC varigated thread so I grabbed three for stitcheries. It has a  lovely rusty brown and pink colourway. It'll be a nice change from the red varigated I've been fond of using.

I had to have this alphabet  fabric. I could imagine this would be a great for kids quilts but then I got to thinking how good it would be as pillowcases, crayon rolls or kids aprons. I could use a bolt of this but there was a limited amount left and I grabbed the whole 3 1/2 meters. Then I went back at Mr Q's urging and bought a bit of the co-ordinating stripe. I'm such a sucker for anything with text ot letters on it.


This week I got some lovely fat quarters of Jennifer Paganelli fabrics in the mail. I have no plan for them except to use them in scrap quilts and small projects eventually. I picked a couple of fat quarters to make a pincushion out of  the Raslie Quinlan book, A stitch in Time.

I'm a bit of a sucker for pincushions and especially if it means I get to use one of my vintage buttons.

The pincushion turned out huge, it measures about nine inches from one point to another. Too big for my use but I'm thinking of someone who could make use of it. These fabrics are just up her ally too.

This is my favourite pincushion that's been on my blog before. It fits next to my machine perfectly and yet it is still big enough. This one was made out of paper diamonds that measure 2" on each side. The sides are made up of the same diamond shape and it was all stitched with the english paper piecing method.

When I get tired of one side, I can turn it over and use the other.


I haven't been doing anything else that's new, I'm still working on my current projects which are not very blog worthy at this point so hopefully next time I can show some progress.

38 comments:

Terrie Sandelin said...

The pincushions are very sweet! I love the fabrics. And I can't even begin to say how jealous I am of that nice weather you mentioned!

Connie said...

I'm new at blogging, but I love you blog and the pin cusions, they are so pretty. I love to piece and quilt, working on different project. I also do pageant casual wear for little girls. My blog is grannyssewing room. Connie

Melinda said...

I really like word, number and letter fabric also. I just can't resist it.

I also love your pin cushions. I recently made about 40 selvage pin cushions for gifts. I think I will make one with the diamonds soon as I also enjoy English Paper Piecing.

Kaaren said...

I'd love to visit an embroidery shop. I've never been to one and have only bought supplies on line. It looks wonderful!

My friend Julie from Oz made me one of those large pincushions for my birthday and I love it. I place different kinds of pins in each point of the star.

You bought some lovely fabric, Janet. I know it will be put to great use one day soon. Your Mr. Q sounds like my Mr. PQ...always talking me into spending more money. But he never has to twist my arm. (wink)

Darlene said...

Oh, the pin cushions are adorable. And, I love the new books - on my list of wants (soon, very soon - LOL)
Sweet fabrics, too.

Claire - Matching Pegs said...

Your pincushions are lovely, and remind me of a similar one I tried to make following this tutorial
http://abyquilt.blogspot.com/2007/04/pincushion-tutorial.html

Mine actually turned out to be a completely different shape, but still rather nice.

I really love the DMC Variegated threads too, the colour transitions are a lot smoother than some of the other brands. I have not seen the rust coloured one before - can't wait to see what you make with it.

Deb said...

Hi Janet, I love those two books by Rosalie Quinlin. I have her first one, The Gift, its great.
Your pincushions are great.

busyascanbe said...

Wow so many fun things! I love your blog...so cute!

Jess @ Scrappy n Happy said...

The ABC fabric is great - so many uses as you say!
And your pincushions are lovely!

Nat Palaskas said...

I love everything and most of all the alphabets fabric. Good thing you got 3.5 mtrs of it. It will be enough for a border for a large quilt - Hugs Nat

Cathy @ CabbageQuilts said...

Thanks for showing your loot from that darling little shop! Love your pincushions, that is one thing I haven't made yet, you might have motivated me to make one! xo

Kerry said...

I love your pincushions. May need to make one of those.

antique quilter said...

love that alphabet fabric and the stripe very cute, the girls will love anything made with that!
oh those pincushions too cute, don't we all just love pincushions????
never have enough
ok, I love the pillows on the cover of the book on the right, I want to see more..
yummy fabrics I can see why you bought them!
Kathie

Unknown said...

I have those 2 books too and they have some lovely things in them....love your pin cushions!

Carol said...

What a cute, cute new pin cushion...love it!

Abby and Stephanie said...

I have a fat quarter set in green of the cute text fabric (Girl Friday I think it's called). Wow that is a big pincushion but so pretty. Now that's a shop that looks like you could spend some time and money in.

ranette said...

I could just get lost in that shop....lots of eye candy there.

I have a thing for pincushions as well. Yours are very cute.

Have a great week Janet.

Deb said...

Fabulous post Janet. The pincushions look great - I think I'm gonna have to make one. And your fabric - can't wait to see you work your magic on that lot!

Rhondi said...

Hi Janet
I haven't been by in awhile so I am catching up this morning. I want to see all the wonderful projects you are up to! The pin cushion is so sweet. Do you know I've never made a pin cushion? Seeing your cute little one today makes me think I need to!
Now I'm off to read your previous posts.
Hugs, Rhondi

alobsiger said...

What a beautiful shop! Look at all the treasures. Makes me swoon! Good thing you snapped up the rest of that alphabet fabric -- such a fun fabric! Love the stripe. And now I'm admiring your book purchases, your pretty new fabrics and your pincushions. Ahhh, so much to enjoy here, Janet!

Nedra said...

I love your pincushions. And I think it's wonderful that your husband encouraged you to go back and get more fabric!

Unknown said...

That shop looks just beautiful. No wonder it is a favorite. You picked up some beautiful fabrics too. The pincushions are adorable, but I have to say from my perspective on the computer the first pincushion looks like a normal size. Can you put it next to something to show us how big it really is? I am curious.

Anonymous said...

What do you use to fill your pincushions? They are wonderful! Oh and you mentioned the weather....I'd love to swap with you about now as I write with cold fingertips.

Lori said...

It looks like you had a very lovely day out. Your purchases are absolutely yummy!!
That is a huge pincushion. I don't like them too big either, although it is very beautiful to look at.
I am going to have to look for the DMC variegated thread...so pretty.

Crispy said...

Oooo that shop is so inviting!! You have lots of pretty fabric to play with, it's a bonus to have a hubby that urges you to buy more LOL.

Crispy

Robin said...

Lots of fun new treats! And your pincushions are very cute. You're right though. 9"? Wow. That's one big pincushion!

Miriam said...

Sounds like you had a very lovely day.

I love your pin cushions. I think i might try to make a diamond one. :)

Steffi´s Candy Quilts said...

Hello Janet!
Oh yes, there is the beautiful pincushion! I could not remember where I saw it, I only knew that it had one red side. :-) I hope it´s ok that I made one for myself.?
Thank you for your comment!
Steffi

Janet said...

Your new pincushion is very pretty! Excellent stash enhancement :0)

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh that little diamond pincushion is adorable! But your right, 9" one is HUGE!

Anonymous said...
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Christine said...

Gorgeous pincushions. I like the fabrics you used for Rosie's design.

Beth Karese said...

Lots of goodies! The Jennifer Paganelli fabrics are so pretty. Love the pincushions... you always show such cute ones. (But 9 inches?! Yipes, lol.)

Barb said...

I too love letters and buy them when I see them. This one is a good one!
pretty pretty pincusions!
barb

QuiltedSimple said...

what grea fabrics! and i love your pincushions
kris

*karendianne. said...

Cute, cute, cute pincushions! Oh my. And the alphabet fabric is fantastic. It's all so pretty. Then I had to laugh at you. You with the projects that are not very blog worthy. I totally dig how you keep it real. ...although I wonder what the standard is for that? :)

Anonymous said...

Oh my! And, I'm a sucker for vintage buttons. Looks like a marvelous day! ; )

Chookyblue...... said...

oh I love Berry........family have just moved there so have got to go a couple of times and they have such lovely different shops..........that one you showed is esp delicious...........