The Quilted Crow Girls

Feast your eyes on this . . .

Whilst we were in the States at Quilt Market, we met up with Mary Flanagan and her husband Scott who are in the business of selling the most beautiful hand dyed wools. 

All the bundles were  just screaming at us to take them home . . . "PICK ME, PICK ME" they kept yelling.  So after many hours of drooling, these are the babies that we chose to come live at Crow Central . . .

 

Aren't they just wonderful? 

There are ten different textures in each colour bundle . . .

We chose twelve colourways and we are thinking that we may mix up the bundles so each one has twelve different colours and textures - not sure yet - but in the meantime, we will just keep patting them . . (heavy sigh) . . . and tease you all with one more photo . .

We'll keep you posted!!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls
 

 

An Autumn Gathering - 2010

We are on the ball for our next Autumn Gathering!  Next year is gearing up to be another big one so we thought we should get the ball rolling by booking our tutors early! 

We are excited to announce that Marg Low from Marg Low Designs and Gail Pan from Gail Pan Designs will be our guest tutors at our next Autumn Gathering. 

The Gathering will be held on Saturday 27th March at our usual venue in Campania.  They are so much fun - I just wish the time didn't go so fast on the day . . . if you are interested in coming along, don't forget to book early so you don't miss out!  Just give us a call at the shop to book (03) 6234 8338.

Just a short post today - not even a photo!  Cutting all our Laura's Legacy and BOMs this week - keeps us really busy -

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

 

Back from Market

I have just returned from our Australian Quilt Market which was held in Melbourne on the weekend.  Deirdre opted to stay and look after the shop but it just didn't feel the same not having her there - usually we are joined at the hip and go everywhere together.  She will not be allowed to stay home next time!!

The lovely Jo from Jo in Tas came along with Helen and I to help for the three days and thank goodness she did because we couldn't have done it without her.  It was wonderful to catch up with Johanna from One Red Robin who spent the day on the stand with us on Saturday with her popular 'softies'.

Here is how our booth looked after I set it up . . .

I just like this photo because it is warm and fuzzy!

 
 
My new Block of the Month "1864" (runs over six months) which you can see in the above photo was sent home with Tracey Browning from Constantine Quilts to be quilted - I was too scared!!  It was well received by everyone - thanks for your lovely comments about it and as soon as Tracey gets it back to me (no pressure Tracey - end of the week would be good!!) the patterns will be ready to go out to everyone who placed an order.  End of November is probably around the time it will be ready.

This is a close up photo of Deirdre's 'Calendar Quilt' (still a work in progress!) which proved to be very popular - it will run as a 13 month program.  You  make the centre piece first with all of the stitchery (days of the month) and then each month a different block which buttons on and off.  The 13th month a bonus pattern is sent out which includes all of the twelve blocks made up into a large quilt - it was a real hit!

 

We enjoyed dinner on Saturday night with the lovely Kellie from "Don't Look Now" and her friend Jan as well as the ladies from Hettie's Patch.   A passerby saw the three of us looking very silly trying to take a self portrait and obviously felt sorry for us so offered his help - much better than we could have done!

As usual it was great to catch up with everyone and for those of you who don't know, I do enjoy the odd chat now and then! 

You couldn't help but feel inspired by all of the yummy stuff around.  Makes you get really excited and just want to come straight home and hit the sewing machine.  There are so many clever people around - how do they keep coming up with all of these wonderful ideas?

Time to scoot and pick up the kiddlywinks . .

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

One week since our Gathering . .

Can you believe that it is one week since we hosted our Christmas Gathering out at Campania and this is the first post from us about it!??  Good grief - where has the time gone?  I know we have been really busy cutting our Block of the Months, Pincushion Clubs, Laura's Legacy and Fabric Club, but we're not making any excuses!  Well may be just a couple . . .

We had the most fantastic day.  A group of 80 ladies joined us in the hall for a day or stitching, eating, chatting and just having a good time.  Would you believe me if I told you I forgot to take the camera . . . I was not happy with myself . . . so Helen said I could blog lift some photos from her blog - such a lovely girl . . . (on ya Stubbsy!) along with some other bloggy friends . . thanks guys!

Here's the hall all ready before the troops arrived . . .

All the ladies hard at work . . .

Rosalie Quinlan's new fabric range which we received just in time for the day . . . and the ladies loved it!

We have already had ladies book for next year and we haven't even set the date yet!   Will probably be late March or early April but we will be sure to keep you posted.

Will try to get some more photos to share with you over the next week but for now it is time to get some bits and pieces together for Quilt Market in Melbourne this week - jet off on Friday morning, back late Sunday night - no rest for the wicked!

Until next time

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Making new friends . . .

How wonderful it is to meet new people and make new friends.  Even though we have already been home one week we would like to share with you some of the wonderful new friendships that were formed whilst on our trip away. 

We were really excited to meet Donna from our "sister shop" The Quilted Crow in the States.  We don't know who was the most excited, her or us.  Unfortunately her partner Sue wasn't able to make it to market so we weren't able to meet her but I'm sure Donna passed on all the excitement!

Then the lovely Julie Hendrikson from JJ Stitches and Renee Plains from Liberty Star - what a fun duo these two are - just absolutely delightful and we're making plans for them to come and play with us in Australia in twleve months or so - what a hoot!

The lovely Betsy Chutchian whose first book 'Gone to Texas' (published by Kansas City Star Books) made it into my suitcase - we were lucky enough to see the antique quilt that was featured in the book . . . sorry, but I can't get this photo to work . . and it's a lovely one of Betsy with THE quilt!!  Sorry Betsy!!

And Pam from the Piecemakers Quilt Shop in Hackensack - thanks for the invite to come and play with you next year after Spring Market.

 

These are just some of the lovely people we met - thanks for making our time so special in your lovely country.

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

The crows at market . . .

Well after some scouring around antiques shops looking for props it was time to head down to the George R Brown Convention Centre to start setting up.  Here’s what we faced . . hmmm . . . where do we start?

So after lots of moving things about, up and down ladders, here is what we came up with . . .

And then the view of the complete stand under the “Pattern Press” banner with five Aussie designers . . . Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi  . . .!

We left the venue about 11pm that night, starving hungry and sleep deprived.   Order in pizza was the go, and after an hour and a half it finally arrived!  Check out the size of it!!

One slice is all I needed!!!

So with full tummies it was time for bed at 1am in readiness for the days ahead. . . lots more to share with you . . .talk soon.

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Quilted Crow Girls

It’s all about Deirdre today -picture heavy

Now for those of you don’t know, Deirdre is the cowgirl of the two of us.   We had to stop at her “little piece of heaven” the famous “Cavendars  Boot City” store just out of town.

Even though she thinks she’s a cowgirl, she doesn’t do the line dancin’ so I showed her how it was done .. .

Aren’t these just the cutest little things . . .

After all her spending money was gone it was time to crack the whip and get out of there .. . . EXCESS BAGGAGE LOOK OUT!

the

Then it was time for a bit of fun in Walmart in the Halloween isles . . . the girls getting ready to cast their spells . .!!

And yes, I just had to try it on . . . HOT DIKKEDY DOG!!

And our ride back to our accommodation . . . we wish!

More later

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Boot Scootin’ Crow Gals

We’re here in Houston!!

After a long and exhausting but very exciting trip, we finally made it to Houston yesterday. 

Now this is what I call a BIG plane!   It was enormous!

.

Deirdre just doing another time check . .  “now if it’s 11am here then it’s going to be . . .” and so on it goes!

After a  very long flight (which was loads of fun) we finally made it to LA and then onto Houston with another airline.

The weather is unbelievably hot and humid – a vast difference to our Tassie weather which family tell us is a chilly 8 degrees cels today.

Today saw us doing some shopping for our booth (and our families who have put in one or two orders!).  It’s an amazing place – most of the shops are all underground – tunnels everywhere – and food – my goodness – there is so much to chose from!  And tomorrow off to Galveston for some sightseeing before the real work begins.

But for now it is time for some sleep before we pound the paths again!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre – The Quilted Crow Girls

Just one more sleep . . .

We can't believe that it is only one more sleep until we jump on that big plane.  So many things to think about . . . Have I packed this?  Do I need that ?  It's a sad state of affairs when your clothes have to fit in your carry on because your two large suitcases contain all of your samples!!  Guess it's a good excuse to have to do some shopping over there! 

I have just about finished my new block of the month which we will be taking.  I ditched the 6" appliques in favour of some piecing around the centre block and I think it has worked well.  I just have to add some leaves now to the flowers in the outside borders - which I will be stitching on the plane!

And I must be mad . . . I have decided to hand quilt this one!   Obviously that won't be done before we get to Houston!

Here's a photo just taken out in the backyard - my two little helpers not doing such a good job of keeping it straight!  But it gives you an idea of how it's looking!

Lots more to do so must be off - our next post will be from HOUSTON!!  Woo Hoo!!

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls

Four days to go . . .

Woo hoo . . . four days to go til we jump on that plane . . . we are bursting with excitement - mind you, the list of things we still have left to do is as long as our arms . . . and that's all four joined together!

For those of you who are coming to our Christmas Gathering on the 31st October, here are some photos of Deirdre's projects . . . I told you she was a smartypants . .

"Christmas Wishes" . .

"Kiss under the mistletoe" . .

"Punchneedle Purse" . .

And just because our Gathering falls on Halloween and Deirdre is the Halloween Queen, she just couldn't help herself . . . introducing "Crazy Cat" and "Pumpkin Jack", two little backpacks for trick or treating . . . won't the kiddies love these!!

Back into 'crisis mode' .

Until next time,

Leonie & Deirdre - The Quilted Crow Girls