Melly & me

Only one week to go....

...until a bit of a break. This time next week the patterns will all be written, Australian Quilt Market will all be over and I think there will only be one small deadline left for the year - man, I cant wait!!!  I am looking forward to taking things a little easier and catching up with some much needed work around the house, not to mention all that Christmas shopping and socialising!  Ahhh it will be great!! (famous last words, as I know it is always when you say you are on a break that the best inspiration comes!!). 

This time next week, I will also be able to show you all my 4 new designs, which I am really looking forward to. This is a sneak peek of my latest new creation....     

As well as new designs, there is also a new look, with my new "low maintenance" summer do!

 

But of course I had better not forget that today is Tuesday which means it must be "Tips & Tricks Tuesday"!

This next tip is again based on softie making.  One question we often get is "Why do you attach eyes, nose, mouth etc after stuffing, and how do you do this so that knots aren't showing?" So here is a tutorial that is perhaps not easy to convey with pictures only or words only, but hopefully with the two combined it will make a lot of sense!

To answer the first part of this question, attaching applique pieces after stuffing a softie has two big benefits. The first is that a softie can be quite unpredictable and depending on fabric used, width/size of fabric pieces, firmness of stuffing etc, the end stuffie can be quite different in proportion than you initially thought.  With adding details after the toy is stuffed you have great control over getting the perfect placement and having a balanced toy.  The second reason is to avoid distortion or damage to your applique pieces.  One concern when doing your applique first is that the stitches could become damaged or pulled by your stuffing tool during the stuffing process. Another concern is that the fabric stretches (as it will do if you stuff firmly) and this may pull your stitches or even make holes in your backing fabric.  Of course this is not a hard and fast rule but it is the way we usually like to work.

For the second part of the question I will need to employ the help of some photos.  For this tutorial I am going to attach a nostril to this unfinished "Drake the dragon" by "sinking" the knots....

In preparation for this step, you will have attached the nostril to your softie with the use of fusible web and your iron.

Now thread your needle with the specified stands of embroidery floss (In this case I am use 2 stands of black floss), and tie a knot in the end as per usual.  I recommend that you tie a double knot in the case of 2 strands or as a rule, ensure that the knot is roughly the same width as your needle.

Enter the needle into your toy at a point a short distance away with the tip coming out at the exact place you want to start your stitching...

Pull the thread through and you will notice that the knot will catch at your point of entry, but of course we do not want to leave an ugly knot at the back of our toy. 

Grab a hold of the thread, close to its exit point, and give it a quick short tug...

...this will cause the knot to pop through the weave of your fabric and "sink" inside the softie. You need to ensure that you do not tug too hard or violently or your thread will also come through the top side and you will need to start again.

....Now you can complete the sewing required on your softie. Of course this is not limited to just applique but is also the method to use for any stitching or attaching of limbs/ears etc etc....

Once you have completed your stitching (in this case, I have button-hole appliqued the nostril in place) and are ready to take your last stitch, tie a knot close to the base of your thread. Again ensure that the knot is roughly the same width as your needle as shown.

Take your last stitch, threading the needle through to the same area that your entered before stitching (I recommend the back of your toy)..

Again your thread will snag when the knot reaches the fabric.  Tug the thread again to sink this finishing knot into the softie...Cut the thread right at the fabric and this cut end will also sink into the toy..

...resulting in an appliqued nostril with no visible threads or knots!!

I hope that this tutorial has again helped someone and I look forward to the next installment!!  

You will probably not hear from me again until Monday when I will be back to show you the newly released designs. 

For the next few days I will be knee deep in pattern writing and getting prepared for the weekend. I am actually a little excited, as a few of us designers are going to grab a fancy room in the city during AQM to cut out all of that travel and have a great girls weekend (OK - there will be SOME work) which I am really looking forward to!  I hope you have a great week and I will be back to see you on Monday, unless of course I get to see you on the weekend - I do hope so!

Melly.

Tricks & Tips 1 - Turning small parts.

Well it is officially the first "Tips & Tricks" Tuesday.  Thanks so much to all of you that sent me suggestions for mini-tutorials, I hope that I will get to them all over time and also please keep them coming!  

As this is the question we get asked most often, it just had to be the first cab off the rank. Mrs Perkins' horns and other small parts can be tricky to turn and we often hear of people having piles of frayed horns after attempting again and again to turn the little fiddly pieces.  I actually find it quite easy to turn the horns with just the use of a wooden skewer, but this has come with practice and re-use.  This trick that I am about to show you it fool proof and so quick, some of you will give big sighs of relief, I am sure!Firstly, the sewing foundations need to be right to get the desired result.  With all small and fiddly bits you would be sewing on the traced line as this gives you much greater control as you work with a larger piece of fabric. We recommend that you always use a small stitch of 1 - 1.5 when sewing any parts that are to be stuffed.  It is also a big help to always use polyester thread for softies due to the added strength.  Cotton thread will break easily and may not be able to handle the strain of firm stuffing.

Once you have sewn your small shape, cut it out approx 1/8" outside the sewn line.

The next step is to grab yourself a drinking straw.  I suggest getting one that is a little sturdier that your "bulk pack" variety. The ones that you get from fast food stores or a re-usable plastic straw would be perfect.

Take your horn between your two fingers and twist the fabric against itself to open it up.

And then slide the horn over the end of your straw.

Now you need to get your second tool (an essential tool for softie making!!) which is a standard wooden skewer - the type you find in your supermarket for skewering meat.  Making sure that you are using the flat end of your skewer, push the sewn end of the horn into the straw opening.

Keep pushing the horn into and through the straw so that it is turning the horn right side out.

Continue pushing the horn through to the other end of the straw....

And Voila!!!  A perfect turned horn - without the sweat and tears!!!

And while you are equipped with your wooden skewer, it is the perfect tool to stuff your horn as well!

So there you go!!!  The first installment of Tips and Tricks Tuesday!  I hope that this proves to be a really helpful tip for a lot of you and that I may have ended a little bit of frustration.

I have created a categories link on the left hand side bar which is labeled "Tips & Tricks Tuesday Tutorials" You will be able to find this and all future tutorials there for easy reference.  

Now I need to go spend the rest of my Melbourne Cup day writing patterns - oh joy!  Have a great day!

Melly.

Rainy day...

Today has been a rainy day, and we need the rain so desperately here in dry old Melbourne!  But why is it that the rain always comes when I have outdoor plans??  This morning I completed my second new design, got everything organised to go out and take the photos and then have spent the rest of the day waiting for the rain to stop.  I finally decided to get on with something else, and the photos will just have to wait, I cannot change the weather with my will - as much as I might like to!

The reason for my impatience is that I was so excited to complete the 2nd design and I always feel anxious to do the official photos straight away as I know that either myself or one of my kiddies are sure to spill a drink on it, draw on it, accidentally cut it (and yes all of these things have happened before!!). It always feels like tempting fate, just having it laying around, but I am sure I can keep it in one piece until tomorrow.  Here is a sneak peek to keep you guessing again!

 

One of the things that I have always wanted to do, since this blog began, is to have instructions/tutorials with tips and tricks about sewing our designs.  We often get the same questions asked, such as "Is there a trick to turning Mrs Perkins' horns?" etc.  We have thought about doing podcasts, we have thought of all sorts of things but there never seems to be the time or energy to do it all.  This morning I was thinking (after answering that question yet again) and decided that the time was right, but instead of being too fancy, or making it something too big to chew, how about a tip a week?  A mini tutorial each week (where possible!) showing a simple trick or tip that make make your creating a little easier?  How about......

 

Starting next week I would love to start sharing some little tricks with you.  Some of you may know them all already, but I hope that there will be some great "light-bulb" moments and sighs of relief when you see how simple things can be.  Please feel free to comment or email with any tips of tricks you would really like to learn and we will see where this all goes. 

Im looking forward to it!  I am also looking forward to the long weekend - Yay!

Melly

I know I'm a tease...

In about two and a half weeks we are due to be exhibiting at the Australian Quilt Market, which is Melbourne's quilting industry trade fair.  Every year it has been so close to returning from Houston that I have not been able to design, write and release any new patterns in time.  This year Houston was 3 weeks earlier that usual which gave me a bit of a chance to get stuck into some new designs.  I am hoping to have three or four new patterns that will be seen there for the first time.

Yesterday I finally completed pattern 1!  I did have to do a couple of drafts on this one and then also had to make a boy version to satisfy the demands of a great web friend (you know I'm only teasing Maree!).  I am now so pleased with this new design and cant wait to show it off in a few weeks time.

The weather was perfect today to head to the park with Boo and do some photography, which I am going to be nasty and not show you!!  But I can always keep you guessing with a sneak peek...

 

Any guesses??  That is the girl version and this following peek is the boy version.... I know I am giving nothing away here!

 

If you can guess what they are, you are a very clever cookie!!  

I already have pattern 2 all sketched and ready to begin tomorrow, so hopefully I will be back to tease you a little more in a couple of days!  SORRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYY (not really, I do enjoy it a little!!)

Melly.

Freshening up!

Today I have spent much of my afternoon modifying all of our pattern templates to suit our "new look" Melly & me covers!  It was so much fun to print off that first cover on our new paper and then see how the photos look on top!  Too cute, if I do say so myself!  I think this new cover with our new logo is a much better representation of our design style and I am glad to say that as of tomorrow all patterns that require re-printed will go onto the new covers - Hooray!  I thought you might like a little look see...

 

I also have spent some of this week making hard decisions about a few of the offers in Houston.... Decisions are made now and it is time to look to the future and new projects.  I have an exciting new adventure to look forward to, but for now will have to keep you in suspense!!!

Kelly was also lovely enough to let me use some of her photos from Quilt Market so I thought you might like to see a few close ups of the booth.  These are much better photos than any I took, so thank you so much Kelly!
 

A close up of my cute lanterns, hanging from the front pole with Rosie's gorgeous suffolk puff string!

 

Leon lazily basking in all of the admiration from passers by...

 

And a few of his friends hanging about in the corner!!  Go check our Kelly's blog for more stunning eye candy from Market!

Tonight my job is to finish writing the pattern for my "Stitchery of the Month" project for Under the Mulberry Tree, so any of you who are part of this club can expect to see my project in the post within the next couple of weeks!  And then to get stuck into some new designs to release at the Australian Quilt Market next month.

Dreaming of that holiday at the beach in January....

Melly

Home sweet home.

Last Friday, after too many hours of travel, we came home from Houston to our beautiful families.  It has taken me the weekend to get over my jet lag and post-show exhaustion and today it is back to my normal life and routine.  We always have such an amazing time, but boy, isn't it lovely to come home?!  

In my usual fashion, I did not get as many photos as I may have liked.  I sometimes wonder why I even bring my camera as I get so caught up in the experience and forget to take snaps.  

 

Here is our booth that we called home for the 2009 Fall Quilt Market.  You can probably see it a little bigger if you click on the photo.  As usual, it is packed full of the samples that endured being stuffed into our suitcases and was put together with pins and hooks!  We set up in record time this year and felt like we finally knew what to do rather than getting so overwhelmed and mesmerised by the size of quilt market.

 

Here we are after set up was complete, only to realise we had to dismantle again for Rosie's Schoolhouse session and sample spree that night.  Sample spree was complete mayhem and it was our first time taking a table there.  There is so much excitement and frenzy and it was also a great opportunity to catch up with old and new friends.  Of course I did manage to do a little shopping before the doors opened. Mmmmmmm fabric!

 

During set up we also got the immense pleasure of getting to know Brenda Riddle, who would have to be one of the most beautiful people in the world!  Brenda, like Rosie, had her first fabric range being released at Quilt Market and It was such a pleasure to spend time with her.  She became our voice of sanity and reason during a lot of information overload and we so appreciate you Brenda!

 

The show was amazing and we were astounded by the level of interest this year.  It seams that our designs are becoming better known in the US, so a number of people were eager to make contact and grab some patterns for their stores.  This year we had our hubbys with us and we initially had such grand ideas of them sight seeing and helping out only as needed.  To all of our suprise, they got stuck at our booth almost the entire time as we were just so busy!  I think they loved being a part of it all and I think the male Aussie accents were a great asset to us!!  My hubby now knows what applique and stitchery is, LOL!!

One of the best parts of Quilt Market is getting to meet all of our blog and email buddies from the States as well as our customers and new friends.  I would love to mention everyone but I am sure you don't have the patience to read it all and I worry about missing someone!!  So I wont try to mention everyone but I want to show a couple of lovely gifts that we received.

 

This gorgeous felt leaf was part of a beautiful gift bag from Suzanne Kuhns that was full of maple candy, moose chockies and other symbolic treats from her home town.  It was such a lovely thought and boy did we enjoy those treats when an energy rush was needed!  Thanks Suzanne, it was such a delight to meet you!

 

It was so fabulous to get to meet the gorgeous Katie Trott again who spoiled us with a copy of the above book!  This book is so stunning and such eye candy, the talented Katie has a fabulous project on page 98. I think I bumped into Katie everywhere I went over the 3 days of the show and each time it was so lovely to be greeted by her sunny, welcoming smile!  You are such a gem Katie and thanks for all of your sweetness and for just being the beautiful person you are.

 

We did manage to leave our booth to see a few of the aisles and of course no trip to Houston would be complete without stocking up on some yummy vintage buttons!!  We also grabbed some stunning wool fabric pieces and were inspired by the amazing quilt show.

So all in all it was an amazing whirlwind!!  So many new people, products, fabrics, opportunities and experiences. I think it may take a few more days to process it all in the relative quiet of normal life.

Thank you to all of you who came to see us, we enjoyed meeting each and every one of you - we cant wait until our paths will cross again!  

Melly.

No more sleeps.

There are officially no more sleeps and later today we will start our Journey to Houston!!  Just a few more things to organise before we start the drive to the airport.  I had intended to have a photo to share, but unfortunately time has gotten away from me, so just a quick post to say "off we go"!!!

We will be back in about 9 sleeps and I hope to share with you some pictures and stories then!  To all those going to Houston - see you there!!

Hoping for smooth skies and quick on-time flights,

Melly

Red Noses

Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose!  

 

It seemed very appropriate to sing this song while making these two Rudys while sneezing and sniffling with my own very red nose!  Yes, I have caught a lurgie before the trip but I suppose this can be seen as a lot better than getting it when we have to go.  I have not been able to let myself stop as there is still so much to get done, but I did sit about very quietly making these fellas.

Only 5 more sleeps to go and lots to achieve, but I think I may have finished the sample making now..... I think..... I know I still wanted to make some Bambinos but maybe I should just let it go...... will see if the need for distraction rears its head and then I may end up making them still.

For anyone who is heading to Quilt Market we will be at booth 1013 this year, and we would love for you to come by and say hello!  We will also be at sample spree with sample bundles of our patterns.

To anyone who is not heading to Quilt Market but wants to keep up with our journey then you can always follow us on Facebook as we will try to update that when and where possible.

I will try to do another post before we head off in the sky (oh dread!!!!) 

Wish these guys could take me on a nice comfy flying sleigh instead!

Melly

The production line continues....

The Houston creating is continuing daily.  Over the last week Rosie and I managed to package up our boxes full of patterns and books and get them placed into DHL's hands, which is a huge relief!!  When we weren't sorting and packaging we have both been making samples aplenty!  We had decided that this year we wouldn't put so much effort into making heaps of new samples, but it just kind of happened!  You look at all of the samples you have (which are lovely but you are so used to seeing them) and you look at that stunning stash of fabrics waiting to be used, and what can a girl do??  

Two cute new Magoos have been made.  I just love making Magoos as I really adore him and love seeing him made up in different colour ways - each and every one feels like a person to me - scary I know!  I decided to make the muzzles out of coloured linen this time and I love the way it adds more fun and colour to the end result.

This blue and pink girl is my FAVORITE magoo I have ever made!!  I am so in love with her and I have decided that she just as to come back home with me to grace my studio - How fun is she??!

Next was on to the phoebes and I just love the fabrics I chose for both of these - they just make me smile!!

This second one is made using a new fabric from the "Minny Muu" extension range which is about to be released (I think in Houston). This is my favorite fabric in a long time and even better it is heavy weight!!! ahhhh heaven!  I was already a Minny Muu aholic and this just seals the deal!

Then I decided I had to use a beautiful piece of linen that I purchased from Studio Mio at the most recent quilt and craft show.  I just HAD to have this linen, it is so soft and beautiful.  I have been having trouble finding new outfits for Houston so I decided I had to make a new top from my precious linen, even though the temptation was to never cut it but just admire it!

I think this is going to be super cool and comfy while working away!  I am thinking about making a second one out of cotton, but I doubt I will find the time before we go as it is only 9 sleeps and there is still so much to do! 

I best go and keep doing it!

Melly

That time of the year!

It is officially that time of the year when stress sets in!!  Ask any of the people around me and they could fill you in on stories galore about all of the insane things I find to stress about before going to Houston.  I hate having to leave things in the "what will be, will be" box and cant handle all of the uncertainties, not to mention feeling like an ignoramus talking to freight companies, my fear of flying etc etc.  But I am trying to let it go!!! Because it is true.... what will be will be!!!  Any amount of worrying wont change things, other than making me an unpleasant person to be around!  Sorry guys!!

Amongst all of the worrying (how many extra calories to you burn worrying???) I have made a new set of samples for Houston and just love my new "Hooty & Tweet"

The old samples were looking oh so very tired and they didn't mind the facelift!  I have again updated the pattern photo and boy these new photos are going to look so cute when our new-look covers come in by the end of the year.  I cant wait!

Of course I also forgot all about the giveaway with all of my pre-occupation.  I am so glad that you as excited about my lanterns as I am.  I am hoping they will survive the trip to Houston as they will look so cute in our booth.  

The three winners who have won their own copy of the "Lantern Strings" pattern are Sarah Lou, Michelle Duncan and Gnomeangel.  Email me with your addresses girls and I will get them posted right out to you!

Back to figuring out freight and new samples for me now.... 

Melly.