Material Obsession

...holiday fabric magic!

Material Obsession.  It is the name of my shop but it is also the name of my wicked condition.  It is almost cruel that at this time of year when I should be concentrating and focused on my family, the upcoming holiday and two significant birthdays I am obsessed.  OBSESSED I tell you with the materials that have recently arrrived in the shop!  Anna Maria has done it again with Dowry.

Unable to select, we got the whole range and added in some delights from Jennifer Pagnelli as well!  The result, show stopping bays of glorious designs in engaging colour combinations and at a good price of $20 pm.  We can't get them on the website fast enough but if you would like a half metre range we could easily do that...I did! 

What happens when a range like this arrives?  Well, as we unpack the boxes you can imagine the squealing and dancing that goes on as one beauty is revealed after another!  However, the next thing is the mind goes into overload considering the possibilities of the fabric itself.  Words like medallion, border, shape, strip, diamond, square, triangle....all the components of quilts appear and fill with the fabric designs before our eyes.  This is my favourite thing...the promise of joy that we feel when we gaze upon the beauty of fabulously designed fabric.

 

As if that wasn't enough temptation to bring the devil on deck...

Amy Butler's FULL new range arrived.  The colour combinations are fabulous but Amy has given us a diverse mind emersion in fabrics that simply scream...CUT ME UP!  Swirling patterns & strong graphics all speak to a memory somewhere in my soul of life before my time somehow caught up in my time. 

I am grateful to these fabulous designers that have given so much beauty so that we can sew and sew and sew over the holidays.  If you are looking for a gift for yourself, this is a great place to start...speaking from my own experience!

Here's a few thoughts on the fabric...
This one has long trailing vines that would be beautiful used as long strips in a quilt.  Then use the colours of the other coordinating fabrics to make your favourite block patterns in the alternating strips.

The other fabrics have great palette stories in them.  It is easy to start with one and build the remaining pieces from the colours found in the "inspiration" fabric.  One of the great things about these fabrics, and other well designed fabrics like Mr Fassette's, are that they give you pointers.  I'd be looking for a variety of cool blues to lift these colours and set them with warm oranges and pinks.  Having the high and low saturation or value gives the pattern interest.

This is the kind of pattern that I find really exciting.  Hard lines can be frightening but they add so much to a pattern.  They can be used cut indiscriminently or fussy cut for drama.  Fussy cutting isn't hard but it does require more fabric so if you like that idea, get more of that print.
This pattern is amazing.  We pulled it out and hung it in the shop for a while to see the full glory of the way it uses pattern to create pattern.  It is another one that can stand to be used in big long strips or large squares....(like Avalon or Stripping Vine in Material Obsession One).  Saying that reminds me of way back in the beginning of Material Obsession when Amy Butler introduced her first range.  The large style graphics and big prints made me search antique quilt books for patterns that had open spaces for these prints....and now, 10 years later I am standing in the same spot repeating history yet again.

Funny thing about this print, as I stare at it I also see that the drama is great for big pieces but also for small.  Fussy cutting the petals of the flowers would make great hexagons!

And this one, my friends...well it takes the cake.  I LOVE the drama of those black and white triangles.  Cut up they'll create fabulous secondary designs throughout the quilt.  Cut big or little, this one is sure to make an impact with style. 

Color combo of the year???  I think I should have bought a mile of this one! 

And how wonderfully exciting is it wth Valori Wells plaid.  I have been declaring plaid the new black all year and here is proof!

It is an exciting time to be alive as a quilter when collections like these come out of the boxes.  I finally feel as though Christmas is upon us!  So what will quilt story will be revealed from these fabrics?  One of family, cleaning and cooking neglect?  More likely one of all consuming creative impulses and the execution of the promise of joy!

I look forward to the holidays after a long and productive year.  Material Obsession will be open through Saturday this week and then closed until 13 January 2014!  For some of us, this has been a year of Friday the 13th's and we look forward to flipping the calendar to a year of health and well being.  As always, if you are visiting Sydney over the holidays and need an MO fix, email us.  If the stars are aligned we can open up for special visits where possible.  Enjoy! k

creative birds

It is customary at this time to look back at the year now that the forward motion is slowing for a few weeks.

 

I have been a bit overloaded and neglectful of my Out of Line class despite their great work this year!  We started the year working collage style  inspired by Mark Hearld's Workbook in the raw edge style.  Each bird started at the same place but the great thing about it is that they all end up somewhere different!  The idea of the Out of Line class is that we examine design inspiration from many areas of life.  Books, photos, memories...all food for thought when creating.  Where does an original idea start?  Where does it end?  What always amazes me about my own work is that no matter how hard I concentrate on one idea it always morphs sideways into something completely different.  I simply can't copy...if only because I can't follow directions...or because I have a wandering mind...or because I simply have too many ideas.  It drives my family nuts.  Even when making dinner I start out trying to make one dish but by the end they all sit down with a shocked expression and say, "but I thought we were having....!"  From furniture to the basic routines of life, change is inevitable.  Start from a basic plan and let the mind release onwards to something new.  Fortunately in Out of Line that is exactly what we want to do...start somewhere and simply go forward.

Moira moved on from the birds to a landscape. It captures the essence of where it started but changed based on materials, layout and simply desire.

We then moved on to more geometric shapes.  Here we can engage with straight lines of recognizable shapes that create another image entirely.  The personality of the birds changed from funky chicken to sleek starlings!

For this exercise we looked at the work of Ashleigh Abbott Love Birds stationery  

I picked up a packet of these cards at the Bower Bird markets in Adelaide last year and have had them on my desk all year.  They were a fun starting point for making birds using geometric shapes and I have been tossing solids onto the wall in these shapes as well
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Cath, in her signature colours, created this stacked bird set.

 

 

Combining both the solids and the birds, Helena got this together.  Sorry about the angle of the photo...sometimes the risk taking doesn't produce the desired effect as this photo could have been a lot better taken straight on!

Margaret was visiting from New Zealand and joined us on the day to work on this medallion quilt.  The fabrics move from happy to brooding creating a perfect balance of mood.  It was interesting working through this border set, made with the Hex N More template.  That name is right because it is a hexagon template and so  much more!!! Some of the things we thought would work didn't until finally, it all came together like this.

It was a study in persistance, analysis, bravery and consideration.  All key to getting where we want to go. Making decisions and moving forward is part of the game.  Bringing elements of colour and design throughout the bordered layers adds unity.

One of our testing methods for building the birds was to use coloured paper.  Theresa was new to the class but got busy using solid paper to layout her bird shapes.

She turned up with this version...the colours were changed but the process of using the paper helped to break down what we were looking at and also creates templates for the new shapes.

 

I have enjoyed this Out of Line class this year.  Each time we met I worried that the plan would be too much of a test and that at the end of the day we might end up without a result.  However, each time I was surprised by the magnitude of concentration, imagination, skill and thoughtful processing of the idea.  This last time I was suffering a bit of a headache and was not chatting but rather simply listening to the mood of the room.  Machines buzzing, rotary cutters flying, photo snaps, fabric auditions and more made up the sound of creativity.  At the end we had an exciting collection of work.  I hadn't realised that they were all still working on their birds and had set the new challenge of working from a memory.  Theresa took it up and made an image from her childhood home.

On other fronts I have been snooping in Wendy's class and Judy has made this sweet scene using a combination of design elements.  Can't you just imagine being that pig tailed chick swinging on the swing? For me, my favourite childhood memories involve a swing and a tree so I am in love with this.

Best spotted perle 8 keeper was this sectional storage unit from K-mart!  How good do Adele's perle 8 balls look here!!!!  That is a good idea for under the tree

I am now out of time but BUT if you are looking for a gift for a new quilter we just received a shipment of Material Obsession one with a special price of $30!  If you don't have it OR you want to encourage a budding quilter to take the plunge, this would be a great gift for Christmas!  Full of easy to intermediate patterns, it is the perfect book to inspire or re-inspire with easy to achieve great results. 

Working at staying focused as the mind drifts off to shopping for presents for my boys!  Speaking of my boys, Noah's band Wild Native has a new song on JJJ's Unearthed site. The new song Echoes is waiting for you to listen.  The first song got to number 42!!!! Have a listen and make a comment!  Thanks, k

close to home

 

My favourite place in our neighborhood is the Lebanese Loaf.  Early in the morning I go there to smell the bread baked on site, then bagged, then stacked on the counter for a short time until it disappears. Is there anything nicer than the sensational overload caused by the smell of fresh bread that is warm to the touch? I can't resist so it is only a matter of stacking up the hommus, tabouli and special treat, the manoosh...oregano flat bread pizza on the bench.  I can hardly resist the olives, feta cheese or haloumi either.  Tough choices but there is something so nice about a family run business.

I have gone there for so many years and always found smiling faces and happy chat.  I have received advice on raising my sons, recipes and most recently was rewarded with a new item on the menu...hommus with beetroot!  OH MY MY MY.  I am addicted and return regularly for this special and very pretty treat.

There is something heartwarming about a place where food is still close to the source.  Bagged by hand and sold out at the end of the day.  In a world of overwhelming choices consolidated by huge businesses it is nice to step into a shop that reeks of "old country" and where community still has meaning. 

Now that the hurdles of 2013 are slipping into the memory bank it is nice to go just a bit slower and to enjoy the treats of the day.

Another local place to visit is the newly relocated Achieve Australia.  Formerly Crowel House this is a bower bird hot spot for crafters.  It is dedicated to selling second hand craft items to raise money for families with disabled children.  The new location on Bowden Street Meadowbank is just next to my gym.  On the return from a run I spied some bolts of fabric in the window and made a bee line inside!  It's really well organised and full of things to rummage through. Stacks of doilies.
Books galore...

A  treasure trove of trims...

and here on this rack I found my new obsession.

Yes! I have discovered tapestry at my ripe old age. I am not sure if I would have thought about doing this is I hadn't seen Bronwyn at Marg George's house doing her own design on the back of a tapestry a while back.  At the time I was amazed at her work but filed it away in the memory bank.  When I chanced upon these roses all I could see was the bird from A Wandering Mind hiding in the flowers so I sketched in on top and away I went.  I had to get Cath to show me the needles and wool and give me a quick lesson.

Now catch me working on this in the morning while uploading photos...at night in front of the tv with my other projects scattered out of view...at the Dr appointment in the waiting room...on the bus...waiting for toast...while on skype doing my radio interview....(catch it here...American Patchwork Radio ) Just about anywhere I have been for the last week I have had this to work on.  It is so mindlessly wonderful work to do and at this stage that is all I can handle. 

I did put it down last night to start a project with the some samples of A Wandering Mind...

To be honest, I found it almost impossible to cut into the sampling.  I was weirdly stuck hovering with my rotary but once I made the first cut I could hardly stop.  We'll see what happens tonight as I might get an earlier start on the project and see where the design wall takes me.  Or maybe I'll stay home today! Not likley. k

Pat Sloan's Radio & Swap Day!

What a modern age we live in!!! Tomorrow I'll be waking up to skype with Pat Sloan, "the voice of quilting" for the American Patchwork and Quilting Radio show!  You can hear the interview here . How fun is that???  Live on the radio for the first time and talking all things patchwork.  You can tune in on the radio at 4:30 or visit Pat's website here and download the podcast if you aren't around tomorrow.  We have lots of fun things to talk because we are quilters...and the rest.

That is tomorrow and here is a bit of yesterdays...Swap Day was a huge success.  Sincere thanks to my partners at Material Obsession that seem to never tire of making things happen around me!  We gathered on Friday afternoon to set up and then again early on Saturday morning.

For the first time in 8 years there was no rain in sight!  The day was perfect.  Lou's Made Local pottery added just the right amount of texture and earthy delight.  I love the way the pots seem to have a patchwork design to them!
The quilts hanging on the sandstone always give me a thrill.  They represent the work done by our wonderful teachers and students throughout the year and create a beautiful look for our space.

We always release our class list for next year at this event.  This year was no different but we have made a few interesting changes.  One big one is we are now offering a series of one day workshops.  The purpose of the one day plan is that those of us that have busy schedules can make room for one quick burst of inspiration.  For example, with the very talented Catherine Butterworth.  We recently got treated to a show of her fabulous work at a NSW Guild meeting.  I am sure a day with Catherine and her fabulous way with colour will be just the ticket.

We are also adding the talented Deborah Louie to our schedule.  Deborah is a wonder with machine quilting skills on a domestic machine.  I think the first name on the list is mine as I need to hone in on my machine quilting skills to keep up with my patchwork.  I am looking forward to some expert advice.  We are thrilled to add Deborah to our list of tutors!

We are also excited to have Saffron Craig  booked for screen printing workshops! 


It is a pleasure to walk around on the day and watch the excited appreciation for all things creative in the shop.  People came from all over for the day which is an honour for us...visitors from Adelaide, Melbourne, Newcastle, Wollongong, Blue Mountains, Bathurst and more made appearances!  Thanks to all of you for making the effort to come!

It was also heartwarming to have a day to spend with Liesel on deck!  Being a trustworthy Saturday gal meant I didn't see much of her throughout the year due to travel and well, lets face it, a bit of illness.  So I was thrilled to run past her calm natured spirit at work at the front desk.

Out the back we had our specials and swap buckets.  It is the perfect example of one man's trash is another man's treasure as the swapping went on and on and on all day. 

Robyn, Grace and Gary worked non stop selling discounted fabrics.  Biggest seller was take the bolt for $5 per metre.  I am having a major clear out to make room for 2014 so there are still bolts available at this price until they are GONE!  Currrent fabrics at slashed prices for backings and borders and applique backgrounds.

Material Obsession gals at work in Elaine's booth purchasing uniforms for work!!!

Pausing for a photo!

Friends from all walks of life came through the gate. Bronwyn and Izzy...Izzy looking amazingly grown up and beautiful!

Henrietta, one of my longest friends in Australia is not a "quilter" but has found Wendy's cushion patterns and has had great success making gifts for friends and family!

 

Reece was hand over fist with his beautiful Australian native screen printed fabrics.

When you see this hot spot of colour it is easy to understand why he and Matteo were exhausted at the end of the day.

We are also now stocking the new look Homespun magazine which this month features Wendy's rag bag and next month a quilt by Megan and February one of mine!  The new look makes this a must read magazine.

So, as we cast our eye to the new year we anticipate lots of new look solids, stripes, templates and more. 

Come along and make it happen at Material Obsession!  We are also adding Open Studio days to our schedule.  Got something you want to work out on our design walls? Or a group of friends looking for a space to play?  Open studio might just be what you are looking for!

So, I have sat here for an hour staring at the photos with a smile on my face being forever grateful for the people that surround me.  Thanks to John for all the prep work and beautiful photos.  Thanks to Megan and Bundle for the Class Schedules, calendar and brochures. Thanks to Robyn, Grace and Gary for the sale section and for not minding their dirty feet in the grass!  Thanks to Kate, Gai and  Liesel for their steady, effiecient presence...Wendy for the magnificent work she brings to us and a never say die happiness...to Carolyn for being here since day one with love and energy and to Cath for her casual but ever so appreciated approach to holding things together.  Each year we end the day with a few gin and tonics, laughs and stories.  It is at this time that I raise my eyes to wherever heaven is and say thank you for my beautiful friends, co-workers, customers and family that make life so worth living. Having said that, I am done for the year.  Breath in...and breath out. love, k

Kaffe coming to town!!!

 
As if Christmas and the holidays aren't enough...Kaffe and Brandon are coming to town!  No matter how many times we top up the bays the Kaffe Fassett fabrics continue to come in and go out.  Each collection has treasures that find their way into our hearts, stashes and quilts.  Kaffe and his team of merry quilters continue to inspire us each year with books full of swoon worthy images.  Images that make the imagination kick in and the creative side of the brain jump up and down with joy.  At the moment we have the entire new collection of shot cotton stripes.  When I look at them I am reminded of the first time many years ago I saw them...a mirage of divine colour combinations.  In my stash I still have one of the original stripes stored as a treasure!  I simply can't cut into it!

Cath has started a quilt with them using a 12'' 60 degree template.  Quick quilts with fun tools are a mainstay in our collection.  Funky!  Fun!  Facile...(that's French for Easy but it started with an "F"!)

There is something delicious and moody about these stripes and if i wasn't a slave to working toward the weekend I'd be cutting them up right now.

In February we are proud to be hosting a workshop and lecture with Kaffe Fassett and his partern in colour, Brandon.  This duo has so much to offer toward taking us to the edge of colourful delight.  We will be doing Kaffe's Big Bang quilt!!!! Nothing like a bit of a challenge to get us all up and clapping.

Sadly, the workshop sold out to our core but we have lecture tickets available.  The lecture will be held on 15 February, 2014 at St Aloysius College followed by nibbles and chat on the rooftop!  I wiggle in my seat anticipating sharing the beautiful aspect of Sydney with my favourite designers and our favourite quilting friends! Contact us at the shop by email or phone if you are interested in attending.

So, that is something big on the horizon...not just the bridge but the event!  Just a few things left on the calendar before we turn it over to the new year.  Crazy right?  This past weekend on my way to the NSW Guild meeting I had a rare opportunity to stop in the shop on a Saturday.  Much is my relief that after years and years and years of triple sporting events I now can slip away from the sidelines and visit the shop...health and travel permitting.  Upon arrival I met the happy people in Marg's class working away on their projects.  This is a classic photo of busy fingers and Marg, completely absorbed by Susan's quilt and about to empart some words of directional wisdom.  


The quilts made in these classes radiate personality.  Generally full of dedicated hand work there is one that might be done in short time but still resonate with the essenses of time!

That's it for me today.  I am bursting at the seams to get up and go.  My six week recuperation period is now complete and I am going for a run!  I can't believe how hard it has been to sit still and now that it is over how much harder it will be to resume the exercise routine.  A tiny part of me enjoyed not having the discipline routine for a while but I miss the surge of energy and the release of tension that exercise provides so here I go to find my runners...enjoy! k