Enriched!

If you shared in either our Kaffe Fassett workshop on Tuesday or lecture on Wednesday evening, I think that you will be like me - totally inspired!

Where do I start?  Do I pick up the knitting needles, crack some tiles and have a go at a mosaic, pick up a needlepoint and stitch frantically, or start a quilt or two.  Well for me I decided it was back to a quilt I began some time ago, finish it I must, and a new crochet project from some amazing 2 ply crewel wool we are sourcing for the shops.

Kaffe and Brandon have given us all permission to have at least 15 projects on the go at any one time, and who am I to argue this point!  I am all for a little over indulgence!  There is nothing like spending  over an hour being gently swayed back into the colour groove.  Kaffe has been an inspiration for me since an early encounter with his knitting books, and during his lecture he took us back down that road, and then led us back up to his current works, at all times showing how he manipulates shape and colour to achieve beauty.

We have a long weekend here in Perth, and for the first time in the longest while the heat has moderated, so I must strike while the climate is cool and the iron is hot!

Share the pics we took at the workshop on the slideshow to the right and I am sure you will agree that our 30 participants excelled.  Their good humour and enthusiasm was contagious as the day turned on the heat, and our portable air conditioners were tested to the max.  Memorable is the word here.

How joyful it was as some of the emerging quilts reflected their creators personalities so entirely - right down to their selection of clothing for the day!

And of course Brandon always is in for a giggle, from dancing with our air conditioning 'robots', to skylarking in the ocean off Carnac Island.

Liberty of London - Spring Summer 2011 - 'The Story Book Collection'

The latest Libert Art Fabrics have arrived in Balmain and are oh, so close to arriving in Perth.  We have about 100 of the latest collection, created by the Liberty Design Studio in collaboration with up and coming and award winning British illustrators.  They are just divine.  Sarah x

Hexie Love

Happy Valentines Day!  On the day where all things are a flutter of love and romance, I thought I'd share a little hexie love. c & i balmain has just received a shipment or two of Japanese sewing and crafty books to make the heart sing.   Amongst them was this cute little book that contained this gem made in Liberty fabrics.

By this time next week, our shelves should be filled with gorgeous new Liberty seasonals. And as one elderly customer who walked in a few weeks ago and exclaimed 'how very excitment', I think of this coming Liberty shipment and  I'm thinking the same - how very excitment indeed!

Sarah

x

Selvedges

There has been a little bit of talk about Selvedges of all kinds recently at c & i balmain. Amy had a bit of a selvedge thing happening at the beginning of the week, but my week has been all about the new Selvedge magazine that's just out. Loving it. Perfect for the pooch lover!

  

Featured is the clever artist Peter Clark.

Always such a great magazine - available at both stores.

Images from here.

catching up

Maybe February sounds in the new year for me, as I completely lost January in it's flurry of activity.  I have gratefully accepted a couple of 'days off' and feel quite fresh - as a new year usually makes me feel.  Lots of possibilities... a few may make it to fruition.
The latest class list is out for Mosman Park, and classes are filling well.  I suspect you are as eager to start a new year project as I am.
If you haven't seen the list pop over here 
One of the new classes this term is our smocking class with Janette Medcalfe.

Jody Pearl offers a class for the beginner sewer.  These sessions will have you stitching everything from a bag, simple patchwork quilt, pj's, pants and a drawstring top... so many choices!  Below is a sample for the pants and top.

We are working on our first class offering for Balmain presently, and have had some sparkling talent  offer their teaching services to date.

Lynnie has made a new sample for the shop which is causing a stir as customers enter our doorway.  Taken from the Rowan Magazine no 47 it has that gypsy feel that Lynn captures so well (a past life or two inevitably peek through into Lynn's project choices).

Lynn chose a newer Rowan yarn named Revive for this project and enjoyed the speed in which it crocheted together.  We all love a quick and easy project that looks so good.

Well that's my new year started, maybe we can help you get your new stitching year moving forward with a flourish...

onward...

Balmain calico & ivy has opened and continues to be visited by many.  Thank you so much for such positive support.

Sarah and I visited the flower market on Monday to collect some fresh flowers.  So many bustling, happy vegemites at such an early hour (5.30 am)... and such a colour explosion!

 

and into the shop they went...

 (Liberty betsy made into the fun bubble dress by Oliver & S patterns)

We have released the sale of tickets for Kaffe Fassett's workshop over here in Western Australia this week.

Tuesday March 1st - 9.30am - 4.30am

 

This will be a day of colour and pattern experimentation with guidance.  Kaffe and Brandon both entertain and inform, and all participants leave with colour placement achieved for an eye catching quilt.  We have chosen the Bordered Diamonds quilt from Kaffe's book Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts as the subject quilt, and still have a few places available for the day.

The cost of the workshop is $300.00 which includes a light lunch.

Please call into the shop or phone on 9383 3794 to book or for more information.

A word of thanks...

The above images are of some special pieces we have acquired to furnish calico & ivy balmain. 

Ken Wallis owns an amazing emporium named Seasonal Concepts in redfern, nsw. 

During our establishment of the balmain shop,  Ken has offered valuable advice and assistance, and just so much neighbourly friendship.

I encourage you to visit this stunning shop to experience their collection of vintage Australiana and exciting and unique flowers and greenery. 

The mannequin and stand (we use for books and patterns) below are a couple of other treasures we sourced at Seasonal Concepts...

Almost......



Our Balmain store is almost ready.  On Monday we open our doors to you all for the very first time!

We are so excited and can't wait to share a bit of 'Calico' love with Sydney.



Months of dreaming, planning, painting, building.....

............choosing, sourcing, waiting.....

       

........scouring.....

                                                                       

...........tying..............

                                                                     
       

...a little bit of sewing....

...primping, preening, tweaking....... and ' Little Calico' is oh , so nearly ready.

We open our doors:

 10am - 5pm  Monday - Saturday

10 Birchgrove Road, Balmain

9555 9909

And because we are in Balmain and Balmain is all about the dog, I need to share with you a little dog love.

This is Otto.



Hoping to see you in the shop soon. Sarah