WILLOW VALLEY STORE

Australian Homespun. No 79.

Here is the latest Homespun Mag - our Aussie fav!

 

wow check that out - its got my name on THE COVER! I am still getting over that LOL!

Inside this issue you will find 5 strawberry stitcheries and a clever bunting that I have designed.

I wanted to make some bunting unlike anything already available. Something that was fabric friendly - easy to make - reversible and interchangeable on a rope/string - and a shape that would be suitable for displaying stitcheries.

I played with heart, hexagon and rectangle shapes -  and came up with a fabulous scallop shape. The bunting can be made in any theme. Christmas, birthday, new baby, housewarming, sewing room - and you can just add to it as you go - reverse the pieces and change their position on the rope as you please.

I am going to make some out of old doyleys and 1920's fabric for my sewing room and hang them over a window frame. Hope to show you that soon and show you the possibilities.

In the mag I have stitched the strawberries in pastel shades but they also look great as redworks. Here is a close up cropped pic of two designs that I have stitched up in red DMC variegated thread.

I am going to put white ric rac around them in a circular shape - attached with red running stitch - and add a vintage red button. Then they will each be placed in white distressed frames. Lots of other possibilities for these! Pincushions, feature panel on a small bag etc etc

I hope you enjoy the latest Homespun over the Christmas holidays.

Best wishes always Catherine xoox

Christmas stitchery. Free download.

How are you all going on your Colonial Christmas Wreaths??

I've finished mine.

I added a touch of colour with my Derwent Watercolour pencils....

and placed it into a 8"square frame.(which I haven't laced onto the backboard yet -thats why the fabric still looks a bit wavy - but it will pull up nice and tight when I do). Seriously ruly truly need some more hours in the day! 

I chose the subtle background fabric as it kind of reminds me of a worn mans shirt. I am thinking that a colonial woman would have had to make do with whatever materials were on hand.

Those of you with eagle eyes might notice - I have added 3 more colonial knot berries to mine. Two on the right hand outer side of the wreath and one more just under the red ribbon....and an extra fold line in the ribbon (top left corner).

I would love to see what YOU are creating with your Christmas wreath.
Please feel free to send a pic and we can share it with everyone else as further inspiration. I am sure that there are some great individual variations and out there. 

If  you like my version - and you want to stitch it the same - I have created a file you can download and refer to.

Download Colonial Christmas Wreath stitchery guide

The download for the stitchery design is in the previous post.

xox Catherine

PS I have added the REBLOG feature. Has anyone had a play with that yet? I havent tried it myself yet but I thought it sounded useful....

Free Christmas Stitchery

Do you remember my Aussie summer beach themed Christmas last year? I was inspired by the colours of our wonderful coastline. Our tree was decorated with white, cream, aqua, light blue and gold. Amongst the branches were special shells and urchins collected from our many beach walks. I also made some fabric sea birds that I named "beach wrens" and "ocean doves" and some star fish too....

This year its about Colonial Christmas. A few things have inspired me. Firstly the fabric called Colonial Christmas which I have really fallen for...

some old family photos....

 
and some thrifted items that I've picked up locally over the years...

this little book is an absolute gem. It was printed in 1945 ish  and it is still so relevant. It amazes me -  the things that stress and hassle us about Christmas were the same then as they are now. Its just a delightful read and it has an anointing that seems to lift your cares away. I love the simple but detailed illustrations. It has a dedication in the front from one friend to another and it always makes me smile.  I have a few really good second hand book shops near me and I will be frequenting over the next few weeks to see what others I can bring home.

This pic I took ages ago at a farm near Janet's. I had a lovely evening there with Liz and Carol from Strath Sewing and Quilting in SA, Sue from Daises and Dragonflies and Janet from Wildcraft farm.

 

mini pine cones that we collect from the farm in Portland and old glass jars, like nana used to have, from the op shop for $2....and this image of kitchen canisters that I took at the Careforce Fresh Vintage workshop earlier this year....

To me Colonial Christmas is about utilizing things found in nature, adding old wares and getting back to some really simple pleasures. Displaying worn textiles and homewares.  Its surrounding yourself with preloved and recycling and making do.  How calm is that. Don't you feel better already.

I also have a few vintage Christmas linens. This one is my fav. Can you believe it was $1.  (should have pressed it nicely before you photographed it Cath!)

This old piece of beautifully worked linen inspired me to create my own vintage style Christmas wreath....and I would love to share it with you as a freebie download!

Here it is.....Download Colonial Christmas Wreath.

 I hope you enjoy it ! I look forward to seeing what you create. There is room in the centre of the wreath for a name or date if you like.

My design called Noel Sampler is another great stitchery to enjoy at this time of year.  Most of my retailers stock this one and its only around RRP $12 AUD. It comes with a re-usable transfer as well as a tracing sheet.

I want to THANKYOU for visiting me this year and for your lovely comments and emails. It would be a very lonely venue here without YOU ALL.

THANKYOU for making this little place special. xoox Cath

P.S. Remember its a birthday party.....what gift will you give Him?

Castlemaine

Last Sunday Robyn, Jenny, Julz and I had some fun in Castlemaine....Castlemaine is a quaint old gold mining town about 2 hours from here in central Victoria.

Lots of wide verandas, deep cobbled gutters, old world shops and treasures to find.Threadbear was a busy and buzzing place all day.... several familiar faces there ;-)  - HI!! 

and look at my goodies. These fabrics are from the range called Colonial Christmas.  
I first saw it at Quilts in the Barn and its been on my wish list ever since. Don't you just love it....way to nice to use for anything I think LOL!

Di Ford's quilts were amazing. Love that needleturn. So neat..no "punctured edges" old style fabric and timeless designs that will be loved for generations to come.

I also got these treats from the girls for being the driver(thats ok I LOVE country driving!!) I think they have my style worked out completely! Thanks Jen, Robyn and Julz! xo

and this followed me home too...another parsley cutter (pictured here at home with some other vintage blue handled friends - can you name them all???)

...and some lovely old lace that 
just makes me smile. Wonder what I will do with it. Probably nothing. Its too nice to use.

Here are a few more of my fav glimpses from around town... 

the girls are inside the shop waving at me through this window and pulling faces. But look what clever me captured instead - the reflection of the old buildings on the other side of the street...thats a bit unique huh!!

This is a huge lantern chandelier and it had a real tiny one at the bottom....

 

Several of the old shops have lovely tiled recessed doorways. This one was a butcher I think? How special is that for a gal who loves old and blue and hexagons too!! Love that!

 

ok gotta fly...

I am about 4 posts behind where I would like to be right now aagggh!! The latest HOMESPUN is out and I have a project in it.

Yippee! I have some ideas to share with you here soon about other uses you do with my featured strawberry stitcheries (they are fantastic little red works to frame) AND some other uses for the bunting I have designed - try a Christmas theme or even old doyleys for a vintage sewing banner. The unique tongue shape is very user and fabric thrifty friendly. My bunting pieces are reversible and interchangeable and its easy to add more bits whenever you want to.  ;-)

and I have to show you tiny teeny Peter Pan...the little bunny who doesnt want to grow up....

and I have designed a lovely old style Christmas wreath stitchery (with lots of detail) that I will share as a free download here real soon....so you have something to stitch leading up to Christmas...

and Brian and I have been playing with resin and fabric OMG!!!! Real excited about that...turning yummo fabric into pendant jewellery I can wear and buttons for embellishment is very very cool!!!!

see ya  xoxo Cath

Inspirational weeds

A few weeks back I was driving past the Salvos shop in Rowville. 

Rowville is a relatively new estate and I was thinking there won't be anything in there - this area is too new for old stuff. Went in checked it out and look what I got......

a gorgeous Grindley jug for $7 and a Woods Ware trio for $10. All in perfect nic! The next night on TV was the story about the "piece of furniture with thousands of dollars hidden in it" that was discovered by staff at the SAME store. You never know what surprises you will find at the op shop. Just keep dropping in.

I have a good collection of old jugs all picked up cheaply. Gorgeous shapes and all English made. The one I used in my pattern Amilee Rouge is Meakin  from Wantirna Trash n Treasure - think it was $4??

Roses, tulips, berries and bluebells are some of my favourite "inspirational botany" and I love using them in my designs. 

But lately I have been inspired by something else - WEEDS!!!!....

which is kinda good as there are a LOT of them in my garden and around the neighborhood at the moment. We have had lots of sunshine and rain and they just love that!!!

I went for a walk to the park with the boys - actually it was a sprint race - and I lost by a long way....and while I was there I started looking at the weeds in detail - and I found them a bit fascinating. We sat on the cricket pitch together and chatted about life and watched the sun set. Then we lay on our backs and watched the stars come out. Our local park has a clear view of Mt Dandenong. The towers on the top make me smile because when Jordan was young he asked if we lived in Paris. I said "yep we sure do - aren't we lucky". 

....so I came home with my hoodie pouch full of interesting bits - stems, leaves, buds and flowers.

The next day I started sketching them and adding details and mixing up their features - creating my own "new species" .

It got kind of addictive and I ended up with lots of  A4 pages of doodles. They started to become more and more fantasy like and I ended up with one that looks like she is wearing an old fashioned bonnet or strange petticoat on her head. I really like that one and will reserve it for a future project. It was heaps of fun and I really enjoyed it.

I have put some of my unruly weeds into my new/old Grindley jug and here is the result so far...

I am looking forward to adding more details, choosing the threads and stitch types and then actually stitching it up... I think I will hang it in the laundry.

I have lots of images hopping around in my head for some other projects, of lop eared bunnies playing amongst the over grown weeds too!

xo Cath

P.S. the very next issue of Homespun (December issue) has FIVE  "berries and flowers " designs that I created earlier in the year for you to stitch and enjoy. Here is a sneaky peak at 3 of them....   

 

WOW Pillow Fight Game. 1964. Milton Bradley

Spent some time today having a pillow fight with sis Jen!

This is our Milton Bradley Game from 1964 that we used to play for HOURS when we were younger. Unlike stupid moi - Jenny kept lots of childhood games, toys and dolls through her teenage years - when I discarded all of mine. I really wish I still had my Giggles. Drat.

Anyway Jen kept this one - Hooray for Jen - and for the first time in 30+ years - we played it...

Don't you just love labels that say Made In Australia!!!! I do.

So here is the box lid and some of the contents.....all preserved so carefully. This was one of our most prized posessions and we were so gentle with it.

Each side has 6 girls and a house mother, and a bed, a pillow and a clock to spin. The idea is to take out the team on the other side of the wall. To do this you have to flick the button on the end of your bed to launch the pillow and knock over the other team - removing them from the game....

Jen has just taken out my "Ebony"...this is not looking good...I only have 3 girls left and she still has all 6

and now she has started advancing them closer to the wall  - making them harder for me to hit!!But - A few lucky shots later...and I  WIN!! LOL!!!!

Did you like the writing on the box? Simple safe fast action - hehehe - and what about stating its for girls - is that considered sexist today? While we were playing I was imaging the house mother going off in the voice of that woman from Ladette to Lady.

What was your favourite board game when you were a kid? Who did you play it with?

xo Catherine.
 

Hatched and Patched trunk show.

Last night Karen hosted a trunk show with Anni and Pete from Hatched and Patched. At 5.45 pm I was still stuck in traffic in the city and still had to get home to feed the boys yet - so I think I got there 30 mins late. My buddy Robyn  saved me a seat which was real kind....and she had pressies for me too. Gee I am getting so spoiled lately. It was a wonderful night and the shop was packed. Lovely to meet up again with Tina Sharon Michelle Bronny Bernadette and have a chat!

Anni and Pete are just the nicest people ever. It was really special to be able to see Anni's work up close and to handle it too. She works with felted wool a lot so everything is very tactile. Her stitches are tiny and neat and her needleturn applique is inspirational. They had so much to show us. Love that hand dyed wool on woven backgrounds (hounds-tooth and  checks etc) Did all those goodies really all come out of one trunk????

As I am a mum of boys myself -  Anni's latest book "A Boys Story" was a must have. The best part was getting it signed by Anni. How special. I loved signed books. Makes it really personal and it continues to feel special every time you open the cover and read the message.

xo Catherine

Joyeux Noel

I love the city because it is full of old stuff - and things from the past are a constant source of influence.
 
There are lots of architectural details in stone and wood that I admire -but stained glass and tiled floors stop me in my tracks!

Sometimes I am inspired by a fabric range too. When I came across Moda Glace some time ago I went Mmmmmmm and I had to have it ;-)

Influenced by shape layering seen in tiles,  "Glace"  and a bit of an interest for "Merry Christmas" in other languages...I have been having a play and made a table runner.

I am now up to the pattern writing and quilting stage.

It has some lovely vintage red buttons to go on yet - on some plain cream strips.

The design comes together quickly and is easy to organize. It uses a charm pack, 4 fat 1/4's and a dash of cream. The back only needs about 1/2 metre across the fabric width.

xo Catherine

Blue bunnies

Don't be silly bunnies don't come in blue!

Oh... but these ones do....

Arent they CUTE! How lucky am I? Kim sent me this vintage ribbon in my fav colour with gorgeous bunnies cos she knows I really love them - and she even included the original label - cos she knows I even like them too!!     WOW thanks KIM!!!!!!!!  How perfect!  xoxo

Here is Louie relaxing in the shade. Not matter how many times I have seen this pose with his legs sticking out the back it still makes me smile. He is a funny boy.

He chases our 2 Burmese cats and then rests like this to cool off quicker.  I have been trying to get a pic of all 3 of them sitting nicely together. No hope.

xo Cath

Castlemaine rock

Its hard to be a Victorian and not know this treat.  I remember buying some on a school camp in Grade 5 to Swan Hill. Sitting towards the back of the bus and shaking the tin - to unstick the candy - and enjoying their peppermint flavour. 

I've photographed my tin in front of a few old ads that I bought super cheap at Camberwell market a while ago. I havent got the contents of the tin to show you cos I ate them all ;-)

...but I can tell you they are golden in colour  - which is interesting when you consider their history - as they are linked to the goldrush....

Thomas Barnes was born in 1831 in England. He learnt his trade as a baker and confectioner. By 1853 the Australian goldrush was in full swing....so lured by the prospect of finding his own fortune, he too left England and sailed to Australia.

He travelled inland to the gold fields of Castlemaine.  Unlike others who left behind everything in the "old country" - Thomas had 'Plan B' - and bought his equipment out with him from England. That was smart!

With around 25,000 people living in tents around Castlemaine - the little comforts of home so far away - must have been highly sort after.Thomas started making acid drops and humbugs and the now famous golden Castlemaine Rock - selling it from his tent. Apparently the Rock is still made by hand using the same recipe - by the descendants of Thomas Barnes - in Castlemaine and with the original cutter too.

Even the tin is exactly the same as I remember.It has a quality weight to it and you have to use something flat to pry the lid open.I like that.It hasn't changed AT ALL!

I like collecting old bits of history and its pretty good if you can EAT them and then have a nice tin to keep too!

xo catherine

P.S. speaking of Castlemaine - dont forget the upcoming launch of Ann's Legacy which will be in Castlemaine  at Threadbear.