This afternoon we received another entry into the Allthreads Challenge. This entry from Rebecca Jacobs is beautiful. Congratulations and well done!
   
Although everyone started with the same bag of goodies, each entry is so different. Keep them coming girls!!

As has been mentioned in previous posts on our blog, at the Koala Convention held in July this year, we issued the Allthreads Challenge, giving to participants of the convention, a small bag containing a piece of linen, red and white Gumnut Stars threads, some polyfil, a red/white button and some pearls. From this we issued the Challenge to design and stitch a needlework accessory. Entries are due in by the 1st November with all entries going into a draw for a shop voucher of $100.00. To date we have only received a small handful of entries, however this week we were thrilled to receive some new entries into the draw. Photos of these entries from Miriam Perkins (on the left) and Debbie Muir (on the right)are attached. Well done and thank you!

If you have stitched your Challenge, please send us a photo. If you haven’t started stitching, you still have time!

We have now received copies of Trish Burr’s latest book “Needle Painting Embroidery fresh ideas for Beginners”. This book combines in book form fifteen projects from numerous kits that Trish Burr has had for sale for a number of years. There are a variety of embroidery projects featuring traditional flowers as well as two small, colourful birds – the little bee-eater and the racquet-tailed roller.The book is easy to follow with step by step photographs and clear instructions. This book offers projects for all levels of abilities from the beginner to the more advanced.

Also now available is the latest issue of Inspirations – Issue 71. Featuring projects from Jenny McWhinney, Lesley Turpin-Delport, Alison Snepp, Helen Eriksson, and others, there is something for everyone.

We have recently received another entry into the Allthreads Challenge which was distributed to all those who attended the Koala Convention. We are thrilled that Kaye Baxter has completed her Challenge and created a gorgeous scissor fob.

Susan O’Connor has been a visiting tutor to the shop the last 4 days. The ladies who attended her workshop thoroughly enjoyed their days, with at least one of the ladies nearly completing her scissor fob by the end of the second day. It is always a pleasure to have Susan visit and share her vast embroidery knowledge and experience.
We will catch up with Susan again in Adelaide when we visit at the end of this month. Our plans for our Adelaide trip continue with only one vacancy left on this trip. We have a great itinerary planned for the week of this trip, including visites to the NUIDO World Exhibition of Japanese Embroidery, Country Bumpkin, Carrick Hill, Hahndorf, classes with Jenny McWhinney and more.
Our trip to Hong Kong and China in November has also been very popular and only limited vacancies exist on this tour.This trip departs Brisbane on November 20th and returns December 3rd. The tour is focused on embroidery and textiles and classes in traditional Chinese embroidery are included.
For further information about the tours we have on offer, please contact the shop by email – info@allthreads.com.au.
Until next time, Happy Stitching

Thank you to everyone who has sent me well wishes over the last few weeks. I really have appreciated receiving them.
Although I am still not yet back at work I am at home and working “behind the scenes”. This enforced rest has given me time to finalise our trip to Adelaide – happening at the end of August – and our trip to Hong Kong and China which will occur in late November. Details of both trips are on the website. We still have a few vacancies – drop us an email if you are interested.

Susan O’Connor will be visiting the shop to conduct workshops from the 4th to 7th August. She is teaching an exquisite Eglantine chatelaine. Featuring the quintessential English rose, Rosa Eglantine, this exquisite chatelaine is comprised of a needle book, pinwheel and scissor sheath. Stitched with pure silk and metallic thread onto silk satin, the elegant design is enhanced with carefully placed padding and fine gold outlining. Sparkling paillettes and gold, twisted cords complete the designs. For further details give us a call – there are still a few vacancies in these classes.

Classes this Saturday have been cancelled as Debbie will be away. Madi will be working so the shop will be open as usual.

We have received another shipment of crewel kits from The Crewelwork Company in the UK for all those ladies waiting on this stock.

Debbie will be conducting a workshop on her design “Wild Lace” commencing on the 4th August Ther are vacancies in this workshop if you would like to attend. In this creative embroidery workshop you take a photograph and then interpret the image with various stitches and embroidery techniques using a limited colour palette. (Off white, pale pinks, dusty pinks and mulberry). The subject is a field of Queen Anne’s Lace and its various stages of maturity, as you would observe in nature. The panel can be framed or used as a cushion insert.

Recently we were sponsors of the Koala Convention, a needlework convention held annually in Brisbane. The Convention was again a most successful event with tutors and students from all over Australia and overseas attending. It was great to catch up with so many old friends and to meet and make new friends – and of course the embroidery was inspirational! And like all those who attended, I now have some extra projects to continue to work on.
Every year as part of our sponsorship of this event we put goodies in participants’ Goodies bags. This year we decided to give everyone a Challenge – to make a needlework accessory using a precut piece of natural linen, a skein of red and white Gumnut Yarns Stars; a red/white button and a small number of beads. Over the coming months and until the challenge ends on the 31st October, we will publish photos of the finished entries on our blog. All entries go into a draw for a $100 Gift Voucher. So if you attended Koala and haven’t looked inside your Goodies bag, get out the challenge and start stitching. Already we have one completed entry from Michelle Long in Perth, which we now display. We are thrilled that our challenge has been taken up so rapidly!

Until next time, Happy Stitching.
Kerryn

Unfortunately I have taken ill and so I write this blog from my hospital bed in Brisbane. For someone not used to “going slow” or being sick for that matter, the last few weeks have been very difficult. It has however shown to me firsthand, the good and bad of our health system. It has also made me appreciate how important good health is – something you take for granted when all is going well.
So meanwhile back at the shop… Debbie is being kept very busy, particularly as the Koala Convention of which we are sponsors, begins on Friday. For those of you not familiar with Koala it is an annual needlework convention held at the Brisbane Girls Grmmar School each July. We have been sponsors for a number of years now and always have a display shop at the Convention. Embroidery teachers from around Australia and overseas conduct workshops at the Convention and there is a shop where many of their kits are sold. The following year’s projects are always on display so it is a truly inspiring experience.
An Open Day will be held at the Convention on Sunday 3rd July from 10.00am to 5.00pm. If you are in or around Brisbane we recommend that you drop into the school on this day. You are sure to be impressed.
So in my absence from the shop Debbie has been preparing for Koala – a feat in itself. Always in the lead up to this event we try to source a range of products from around the world that are new or different. So if you can’t pop into Koala this Sunday, come by the shop some time over the coming weeks and see all of our new things. We have needlepoint ipad and electronic book covers from Alice Peterson, a large range of Sajour products; new products from Kelmscott Designs including some different needleminder designs; beautiful wooden footstools, both round and square, locally made here in Brisbane, and much much more.
We have received some patterns from Jenny McWhinney of her Clowns and Kokeshi Dolls. These are exquisite projects and not at all difficult to do.
unfortunately because of where I am I am unable to accompany this blog with photos – sorry!

The weekend before last we hosted a visit by Margaret Light, renowned for her crewel embroidery designs. Marg visited for four days during which time she conducted two workshops. In the first workshop the girls worked on a redwork necessaire, which proved a fun project and one which they have all pledged to complete. Margaret also taught a gorgeous footstool design which was stitched with Gumnut Yarns Daisies on linen twill. This was a very popular workshop and all who attended were thrilled with the design. Margaret will be returning in September to teach another of her redwork designs.

Last weekend Catherine Howell visited and taught her designs “The Gatsby Girls” and “T-Cups”. These are some of Catherine’s fun designs and certainly the girls who did the workshop had a fun time. They achieved amazing results and several had nearly completed their projects by the end of the two days.

                        We have a large range of Catherine’s kits in store if you would like to try your hand at these techniques.

Last week we received some new kits into stock. They included some small stitcheries from Jenny McWhinney – Ballet Lessons – which can be embroidered onto ballet and library bags, a quilt, wall hanging – wherever your imagination takes you. There are a series of little girls in ballet tutus for you to choose from. Stitched with stranded cotton they are a great way to use up some of your existing stash!    

Jan also has released her eagerly awaited “Ark” kit as well as her gorgeous “Balancing Hippos”. The Ark kit contains everything you need for the project, except the wool blanketing. The Balancing Hippos contains the velour and stabiliser and instructions but does not include the threads. Both designs are just gorgeous and have enormous appeal when embroidered onto wool blankets.

While visiting South Australia we met up with Sharon Venhoek of Aussie Heirlooms and have a range of her minipiping in stock. In plain colours as well as checks and stripes it is just beautiful to finish off cushions, blankets and of course little girl’s dresses.

Also new to the shop this week is a range of Jarrah wood frames and hoops which are proving very popular. Already many sizes have sold – and we only received them in on Wednesday! Made in Australia these frames are solid and represent excellent value for money.

If you are interested in any of thes eproducts be sure to check out our website. They can ordered online if you are unable to visit us in person! http://www.allthreads.com.au

Last weekend Debbie and I again packed our bags and this time headed to Adelaide. We were met at the airport by Jenny McWhinney who was our host for the weekend – and what a great host she was! We went straight from the airport to several quilting shops – within an hour of our arrival we were shopping! It was almost surreal.
We stayed at Jenny’s studio which was a real treat.
On Saturday morning we visited the Adelaide Markets which were amazing! If you ever visit Adelaide you must surely put this on your list of “Places to See”. The food was so fresh – and so enticing!
We met up with Sharon Venhoek of Aussie Heirlooms and joined her for breakfast in the markets. We spent a leisurely day visiting the Art Gallery and the many other attractions that Adelaide has to offer.
On Sunday we went to Haandorf in the Adelaide Hills where the Autumn leaves were stunning.

We visited Adelaide with the view to planning a group trip later in the year and this we achieved with ease. It was a very successful weekend and we managed to plan a lot of our trip which will occur in September.

Check out our website in the coming weeks for further details of this trip. If you are interested be sure to email us. The tour will include a workshop with Jenny McWhinney, a visit to the Japanese Embroidery Exhibition, visits to textile shops, a viewing of the William Morris Collection and more.

Recently we went on a weekend stitching retreat to Gloucester in NSW. The weather was superb for us and we had the most relaxing time. We stayed at The Ridge in Gloucester which I can highly recommend.( http://www.theridgegloucester.com/) It is a large home set on the ridge above the town and overlooking the Barrington Valley. The views were magnificent and ever so peaceful.

We spent one evening with some ladies from Gloucester which was just lovely and made our weekend all the more enjoyable. Coming from the city we were in awe of their stories of life on farming properties.

Amidst the socialising, cooking, eating and drinking, we did manage to do some stitching, each of us working on our different projects. Judith ensured we had plenty to eat at all times and finally on the Sunday, we went for a walk to eat off the many calories we had consumed over the weekend.
It was a wonderfully relaxing weekend and one which we hope to repeat next year. It is always such fun to go away with like minded friends!

Happy Easter to you all. We are very spoilt here in Australia having 5 long days of Easter holidays. My family and I have enjoyed a very quiet break , taking the time to rest and relax. As some of you may know, a group of regulars to the shop have joined Debbie and I in stitching Susan O’Connors beautiful “Flowers for Elizabeth” blanket. I have made the most of these holidays, stitching quietly away. It has been very relaxing and even more rewarding as I am now on my last large block of the blanket. With 12 small blocks still to embroider, and the borders to complete there is still many hours of stitching ahead of me, however it is very rewarding to get this far.
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the project, Susan published the book “Flowers for Elizabeth” last year. It incorporates the designs for 12 large floral motifs and 12 small ones which are worked together on the one piece to create a superb large throw. They comprise the favouritte flowers and fruit of Queen elizabeth 1.
With Winter on its way, it is an ideal time to consider embroidering a blanket. Blankets and throws make ideal presents for all – it is so comfy to snuggle under a soft blanket in the winter when watching TV. Blankets are also fun to stitch as they grow quite quickly. The blanket I am working on uses Paternayarn wools which I have really enjoyed using. They are a three strand 2 ply wool and are available in a vast array of colours.
Transferring a design onto wool blanketing can often be the hardest part. With new products such as water soluble vylene, slovy and iron on transfer pencils, this job is made easier. I have chosen to use water soluble vylene. I have traced the designs onto the vylene and tacked it to the blanket. I have then stitched the design and cut back the vylene when each block is finished. Once I have completed all blocks and the border I will wash the blanket in tepid water with a Colour Catcher and the remaining vylene will dissolve. I will then lay the blanket flat to dry. I have used cashmere wool which washes nicely and can be ironed with a warm iron. So if you are looking for a project to embroider in the coming months, consider a blanket! You won’t be disappointed. Happy Stitching!