Hi and Welcome, May has begun, the days are shorter and my office here is cold, so I will quickly give you an update of what has been happening. April was so busy with 4 shows! Fairholme quilters had their 30th Anniversary show and it was a gem as always and  Caroline Bay had its 3rd quilt exhibition and the only disappointment on the weekend was the weather. The rain just had to make an appearance! One day later I was off to AQC in Melbourne and thank you to everyone who made this a very enjoyable show. The response to my patterns and items was overwhelming and I have only just completed the after show orders!   This stand was just amazing. They sold lovely braid and habby items. As you can see it was like going back in time....beautiful.   And of course my favourite stand at the show Somerset Patchwork...always something good to buy from Karen. The last weekend of April saw me at the Springwood Quilt Exhibition which as always is a wonderful event. The big news for me is that on Monday May 12th my husband I will be heading over to America to exhibit at the Spring Market Wholesale Market in Pittsburgh. After lots of encouragement from friends we made the big decision to go ahead and do this and oh how that time has come around so quickly. We have no expectations, only to enjoy ourselves and have a bit of a holiday afterwards. Louise will be here on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help you so give her a call if you need anything. I will keep you posted via Facebook. So be sure to jump on over to FB and take a peek next week.

Enduring Legacy/Old Sturbridge by Judy Rothermel has just arrived in 13 wonderful choices. I am having a slice of all of them!   click here to purchase.     Yorktown c 1930 is certainly lovely in  muted colours. New  from Blue Hill fabrics I am sure you will enjoy these beauties.   Click Here to Purchase    Four lovely fabrics in red and brown are here from Moda. Millbook 1852 is rich and beautiful.   And of course Ladies Album by Barbara Brackman has arrived but is selling fast!     Click here to purchase   Carol

It has been quite a while since I wrote a BLOG on what has been happening at Cherry Pie Designs.
Well don't think that I have been sitting with my feet up watching the telly (I wish!).
Lots has been happening, we had the Shop Hop in February which was a great success, the prize winners of which will be publicized at the end of next week and  March is all about getting ready for April and May.
And I have found a little time to make these two lovely projects in linen. You could of course use cotton fabric.

Two  gorgeous little projects new for 2014 that you can pick up now are......

Rosie...

So cute Linen needle book and pincushion. Easy to make and a great gift. Pretty in Pinks. Available as a pattern or kit.

Click here to purchase.

Sewing Sachet and needle book...

Also in linen is the right size for your sewing and fits A4 patterns or a magazine.Available as a pattern or a kit.

Click here to purchase.

April you can come along to the Caroline Bay Exhibition 5th and 6th April
Gosford Regional Gallery 36 Webb St East Gosford....(Japanese Gardens)

or you might like to take a peek at the 30th Anniversary Quilt Show of the Fairholme Quilters
April 5th and 6th April, Thorleigh Community Centre, Phyllis Ave Thornleigh.

I will be at both!

Home for a day and then I will be off to Melbourne for the Australian Quilt Convention. Wow I will be busy!.

Happy stitching
Carol

New Arrivals

How exciting it is when the delivery man just keeps arriving everyday with lots of goodies for us.

On the left there is a selection of the new range from Molly B's....Romantic Renaissance, lovely pinks, blues and greens and on the right is Bordeaux & Sienna by Paula Barnes. Rich warm colours.
There are some great fussy cutting opportunities with these.

Click Here to see these lovelies.

New from Moda is Front Porch by Jan Patek, soft and pretty greens, reds and creams.

And Grant Park. Very refreshing in Red, White and Blue.

Taking all the wrappings out to the bin from my deliveries and discovered this little fellow.

A grasshopper, so delicate and pretty, I have never seen one this colour.

Carol

Miss Elizabeth

Thought I would share with you two lovely images of "Miss Elizabeth" at different stages of production.
Helen and Robyn were both searching for additional fabrics for this project and found their choices yesterday whilst participating in the shop hop.

Helen above, opted for a lovely dark blue for her final border to showcase her 6 pointed fussy cut stars,

and Robyn chose a lovely silvery green as her final border.
Can't wait to see them finished.

Carol

I decided today that I would have a sewing day and nothing else.
With that decision made all things started well......

I finished off my latest Blackbird Designs pincushion..."Summer Iris" and can't wait to begin the next in the series.

I began working on my challenge quilt for our quilt show in April of this year. Those little hour glass blocks have been so fiddly! And why is it that all is going well until 1pm and then out comes the quick unpick and the thread keeps coming out of the needle of the machine.....arrrrr!

Anyway it seems to be coming along ok. At least I will finally have something to display for the show.

And whilst working on the challenge, all I can think of is the next project.... Will I paper piece or hand piece the 8 pointed stars?

....no wonder I don't sleep.

I am thinking I will paper piece using this beautiful piece of Yuwa fabric for the centre.

Now 2 weeks ago my husband was out the shed making my new cutting table when.....the angle grinder jumped up and cut his knee, requiring 8 stitches.

So 2 weeks later I know have my new table.

The lovely Oregon legs are from an 80 year old bed frame and the top is beechwood from our old kitchen bench tops. You can see we don't throw anything away!.

Yay, no more sore back from working on a  table that wasn't the correct height.

Happy Stitching

Carol

It has been perfect weather here this week. Just enough rain (we can always do with more!) to green the grass up in time for the month long Shop Hop that begins this Saturday.

Come along and join in the fun and prizes, make a day or two of it as you will be able to shop on the Central Coast, Katoomba and Bathurst.
For all the info go to.....Shop Hop 2014, get your passport and off you go.

My husband and I took time today to go out to the Wollombi Markets. These are really worthwhile, 4 times a year on long weekends.....so much to buy!
I got this lovely little dolls cot....just the thing to put fabric in of course.

I have also been longing to do some needle work again. This was where I first began stitching, finishing off old duchess sets of my mums and counted cross stitch when I was only five. I stopped there for a while because I couldn't see the stitches, but a new pair of glasses and all is good. I think I will make one of each of these little beauties from Blackbird Designs.

One of the Tuesday Ladies made this quilt  using my pattern ...."Aunties Wild Sponge Cake". 

Great if you have 2 layer cakes. That's all you need plus an additional 1m of fabric.

Great for beginners.

Carol

Shop Hop 2014

Welcome to 2014.
I do hope that your festive season was rewarding and relaxing and fingers crossed, we all have a great 2014.
Lots has been going on at my place.
I have a new look image for the BLOG, a new business Logo and soon a new look to the website.
Everything takes time, so I am hoping that the saying.... "slowly but steady wins the race" is true!

I have also been madly stitching away.....3 new quilt patterns will be released shortly as well as other smaller projects.

The next item on the agenda however is the Fab Feb Shop Hop 2014.


As the name suggests it is the month for shopping and hopefully winning some lovely prizes as well.
But you know you have to be in it to win it!
All the details are on the website, so follow the link, get your passport and join myself, Pieces to Treasure, Blueberries, Hatched and Patched and The Stitching Post for some fun in February.


See you soon

carol