Wildcraft Farm: Madly Stitching ... WOW, Where Has The Time Flown?

Okay, first of all I need to come clean ... this is the FOURTH attempt I have made in the past 24 hours to type to you in blogland. We have had very bad weather up here in the Dandenong Ranges (actually I think it is across the whole State), and the power kept going off last night - was NOT a happy camper/stitcher!

So, it's been a while, but I've actually been fairly active in the social media chit-chat ... yes, I found facebook!!! Never thought it would be for me, but I must admit I love the instant opportunity to upload a pic and talk to stitching ladies all over the world.

But 2 days ago I was scolded by a lovely friend/customer who advised me I need to get back where I chat best, where I can chatter away and not worry that I'm about to run out of letters. So I have set up an area where I can use my laptop, not feel closed in with home life or work life, and here is where I promise to retire to and keep blogland up to date with what has been going on at Wildcraft Farm.

The first thing I should say is that I have been very, very busy stitching. I have 3 new items about to hit the counters of your favorite Quilt Stores, so here is my chance to share a little about how the first one came to be ...

It is a new greeting card in The Quilt Card Collection, it's called "All Hearts Come Home For Christmas". It's journey started when I went to a Quilt Show in Melbourne back in April, I saw the fabric displayed by The Patchwork Teahouse, and fell in love with its "non-traditional" Christmas colours, plus Farmer Rowe and I loved travelling throughout the Scandinavian countries a few years ago, and I thought I could make something to remember that time.

So I placed an advanced order for the entire fat quarter collection (heaps and heaps of fabric!!!). The more I stared at it the more I thought I could have a go at a small sampler quilt, include some stitching and applique and maybe turn it into a Quilt Card. I contacted Lynette Anderson (the fabric designer) who I have known for years, originally as a customer when she owned a store in Queensland, and we keep in touch via email nowadays. When I suggested I make a quilt card in her fabric she was very supportive, and even offered to send me some offcuts from her quilt (all she had left till her stock arrived) so I had a better idea of colours and style.

Then a little while later I got the exciting call that some (not all) of the fabric had arrived at The Patchwork Teahouse, the rest would be there in a week ..... exactly 1 day before we were to leave on a mini-break skiing. So after spending the day madly cooking and packing and sorting and racing around like a chook, I took off to Warburton to collect my precious fabric. I was so excited, even though it was beautifully wrapped, I had to rip it open and fondle the fabric all the way home :0)

When we finally got to our ski lodge (I decided not to ski this year), I would sit at a big table each day, with all my fabrics, threads, sketch pads, pencils, rulers all surrounding me .... made so many friends those 3 days, everyone wanted to come and fondle the fabrics (extra inspiration was all the snow outside).

Fastforward to the finished piece, I thought it needed an extra touch, so Lynette organised some of her wooden buttons that would compliment the fabric to be sent down before she flew off to Europe.

And so here it is .... "All Hearts Come Home For Christmas"

This is the most detailed Quilt Card instructions I have written, I wanted to make it easy whether the stitcher was a novice or experienced. So inside this large size greeting card (imagine an A4 sheet of paper folded in half) is a large size envelope, detailed instructions, full size pattern (which can be enlarged to make a bigger quilt) all inside a zip lock bag. Of course you could also stitch individual pieces and display separately.

So do you like it? Lynette put a pic up last night on her blog, and I put one on facebook this morning - my email inbox is overwhelmed with enquiries on where they can be purchased. As stock is only going out today, ask your favourite stockist to check out this page or our facebook page, and they can order in for you - that's probably the quickest way to get your hands on one.

I think I've overloaded you ... the 2 other projects are going to have to wait - have to go and deal with more emails.

Love being back with you, hope you are safe and well,

Much hugs of love,

Janet XXX

ps (bet you thought I'd forgotten my ps's ....... I know many stitcher's who send out my Quilt Cards and Kit In A Cards early so that the recipient can start some stitching before Christmas ... start spreading the cheer a little early)

Comments

Ooh! So pretty and it doesn't look like there is a snowman in sight (I just can't do snowmen for Australian Christmases LOL) Do you know whether Jane at The Patchwork Apple will be stocking it or will I have to shop around?
Gorgeous design Janet!

Posted by: Nell | Friday, 30 September 2011 at 09:04 PM