Natalie Bird

A Good Old Favourite

Today I decided to treat myself to a little fun, at one of my favourite places, the Paddington Antique Centre in Brisbane...

This is a gorgeous old theatre, which now houses antique stalls of all sorts of amazing treasures. I usually find great furniture pieces and props for my books here.

An old eye chart, and I love the Union Jack suitcase.

Aren't these old hatstands beautiful? So decorative, I wouldn't want to put a hat on top of them.

If only these 1970's platform shoes were in my size, I would have brought them home. These were hand-made and in beautiful condition still.

 

Visit to Buggy Barn

I'm very excited to be going back to the U.S. in May. The lovely ladies from Buggy Barn, Pam and Janet, have invited me to come run a workshop, as part of their 'Going Down Under' weekend.

Here's the project I have designed for the workshop, a sweet little wool bag and key fob, with punch needle.

If you'd like to join us for the workshop, just visit the Buggy Barn webpage for details: http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=182626543261826&Store_id=425&page_id=23&Item_ID=4006

FairyLand Update

My very first book, FairyLand, has been out-of-print for a while, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to up-date it a little, before reprinting again.

I have added a brand new project, a cot-size, butterfly quilt. Here's a sneak peak...

The new, improved FairyLand book, should be available in stores in February.

Some more recent projects, in stores now, include, Flaxton Fields Pocket Tote... a small tote featuring a cute stitchery.

Little Critter Purses... 2 designs in the one pattern – little zippered coin purses.

and, Love & Friendship Sewing Set, a zippered case, large enough to hold cutters, scissors, markers etc, and pincushion.

Happy New Year everyone! Hope 2013 is a great year for us all!

Cheers, Natalie.

Bronwyn Hayes has done a Feature Story on me, on her blog: http://www.red-brolly.com
She's offering a couple of great giveaways featuring two of my latest books, Red Home and Tis the Season, and you just have to see the pretty fabric she designed to represent me- based on my idea of what sort of fabric I would be, if I were a piece of fabric!
Bronwyn is an incredibly talented lady and one of the nicest people you could meet. Thanks Bronwyn!

Coming soon... New Book!

I have been a very busy beaver, getting my latest book ready to release in June.

The book, Red Home, is just about at the printers... Here is a quick sneak peak to whet your appetite.

The book is full of RED projects... quilts, bag, redwork stitchery, pincushion...

Stay tuned!

 

New Stitcheries

I have been busy designing and sewing a couple of new things... 2 new pre-printed stitcheries, with cute buttons by Theodora Cleave, and a little star/applique project which can be a table runner or a wallhanging.

This is the new stitchery, Hearts Return...

and a new one for Christmas too, with the cutest little reindeer button... Simple Joys.

I have used a diamond (or 6-point star) paper for this tablerunner/wallhanging, and there are 3 cute little applique/stitchery designs in the centre of the stars. This pattern is called Starry Eyed.

These should be available in stores in the next week or so.

The LOVE B.O.M.

This is a new Block of the Month, LOVE. It is made up of 9 pre-printed stitcheries about, you guessed it!, LOVE.

It's probably a bit hard to see the stitcheries clearly, so here's some of my favourites, up close:

If you are interested in which shops are running the BOM, just email me: [email protected] and I can give you a list.

I have a couple of new things coming (slowly)... a small wallhanging/tablerunner with stitchery & applique and paper-pieced stars, and two new pre-printed stitcheries with buttons from Theodora Cleave. I hope to finish all three by the end of next week, so I will post some pics soon...

This week, I will be at the Brisbane Craft & Sewing show, Stand No. E21. Please come and say Hi!

A Bottle of 'More Time in the Day' Please

For the last few years, I have had two businesses to run... my design business, The Birdhouse, and a shop, Thread & Ginger. I also have 3 beautiful daughters who are teenagers, and about-to-be-teenagers (and a fairly low-maintenance husband). Like everyone else these days it seems, we set so many goals for ourselves and our children, that we are running ourselves ragged. So at the end of last year, my shop partner & friend, Caryn and I, made the decision that our lives needed to be a bit simpler... a bit less busy and stressful, and closed our beloved shop. It was a difficult decision, as we both enjoyed so many things about the shop, our lovely customers, many of whom have become friends, playing with fabric, and having lots of laughs together.

For me, this means I can concentrate on my first loves... my family and designing. There are always more things swimming round in my head, than I can keep up with, and I have lots of plans for exciting new things I want to do with The Birdhouse this year.

Thread & Ginger Patchwork Boutique

In my last post I gave a sneak peak of a few new things I was working on...

This is the latest Christmas pre-printed stitchery, available in stores now, so you can get busy stitching for next Christmas. It's called 'Snow Buddies'.

Also, a small wallhanging applique quilt, Harvest Time, uses cotton fabric and woven wools together.

As we have a bit more time now, we have delved into screenprinting our own pre-printed stitcheries. We find these are great for time-poor people, no tracing, just pick it up and start stitching (sigh!) So... here are a couple more pre-printed designs, also available now. This is 'Angels Danced Cushion'.

Lastly, I have used a couple of gorgeous 'Theodora Cleave' buttons in this stitchery design, 'Friendship Tree'. The pattern comes with the pre-printed design and the two buttons inclusive. Some stores are stocking the distressed white frames for this also, or it can be made into a wallhanging or anything else you dream up!

I will be at the Brisbane Craft & Sewing Show in March. Stand Number E21. Please come and say Hi, if you're there! Our stand is Thread & Ginger.

*To Mrs A, who was asking about the Angel Project Tote pattern... sorry, I couldn't find an email address to reply to you... if you haven't located the pattern yet, please email me and I will put you on to a shop who stocks it.

Happy Stitching everyone!

What's on my table?

Last week was the Brisbane Craft & Quilt Fair. I had a great time, manning our stand (Thread & Ginger) with my good friend Sonia, and my lovely mum, who both gave up their time to come in and help out.

As usual, the tempting displays all around me, meant that I came home with lots of new goodies to play with...

I have been sitting at the family table (where I work), surrounded by some of these new treasures, and things I'm working on at the moment.

Right across from my stand at the show, was the very inspiring Jane Davenport, who is a very talented artist. I came home with some new 'paint dabbers' which I've been playing with, for background colouring (great texture effects), and some pencils, which are so nice to use. They're really soft like crayons, and can be turned into watercolour. The picture of the angels is a new stitchery I've started on... not sure what it will turn into yet.

New fabrics! Etchings, from 3 Sisters. The blue is so pretty.

This is also a new pre-printed stitchery, which will be available soon. It is a follow-on to previous Christmas pre-printeds, Making Spirits Bright, Christmas Angels, Jolly Santa and Deck the Halls. I'd better get this one finished soon.

Yes, that's right... More hexagons! Stretched, long ones this time. I can't help it, I'm totally addicted. Not sure what these will be turned into.

I've been working on a combined wool/fabric applique quilt also. Here's a sneak peak at a few of the blocks.

That's me in a nutshell (it really does feel like that sometimes).

Happy Stitching!

Sewing Angels

I imagine angels do sew. I have always thought of angels as more life-like than 'spirits'. I think that's because I have met many beautiful 'real people', who have blessed my life, whom I think of as Angels. One of my favourite sayings is 'Angels are not so very few, because in my life I have you'. Sorry, I don't know who wrote it, but it is a lovely expression.

I've just finished two angel-themed projects recently. One is a sewing project tote, Angel Project Tote, which has pockets and scissor-keep inside, to hold all your sewing supplies for your project-in-progress.

The other is a lap-size, or wall quilt, featuring four sewing angels; love to sew, love buttons, love quilting, and love fabric. The quilt also features a grandmother's garden border (still got to have some hexagons in every project!), the quilt is called Sewing Angels.

Here's another new design, Fabric Baskets. These are great for displaying a collection of old spools, or to use as a thread/scrap catcher when you're sewing. Both basket designs are in the one pattern.

Thanks to all the lovely ladies who came to visit us at the Craft & Quilt Expo in Darling Harbour recently. It was so nice to meet so many on-line friends in the flesh. Happy Stitching!