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.Help for Christchurch.

I’m sure that most of you have been as I have the last few days…staring at the television screen in disbelief over what awful destruction has taken place in Christchurch, NZ after the earthquake struck earlier in the week.  I can’t begin to imagine the fear and heartache that so many people are dealing with at the moment.

A group of crafty women from New Zealand have rallied together and are running Handmade for Christchurch to raise much needed money which will go toward the Christchurch Womans Refuge and The Salvation Army.

On the 27th February, quality handmade items will start being loaded to Trade Me – where you can go to start bidding on items.

If you would like to join in and do something to help, visit the Handmade for Christchurch Facebook page for more information.

You might have something that you have made that you would like to auction off to help raise money – all details can be found on Facebook.

I know how much good we did as a crafty community for the Queensland floods – lets do the same for Christchurch!

Edit: If you are interested in donating Softies for the Children of Christchurchclick here.

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.February Cool Shops! QUILT FABRIC DELIGHTS.

 
Today we are welcoming another Cool Shop! to our great list…Quilt Fabric Delights.
Quilt Fabric Delights is an online only fabric store that has been around since 2006.  Sarah Leak carefully handpicks each and every item in the store, making sure that everything in stock is beautiful and suitable for crafters who are wanting to make unique handcrafted items for loved ones.  I know I’ve said it before, but there is nothing like a bit of online shopping.  It means that you don’t have to round up the kids in the car and then battle with them in the shops and you can browse in the comfort of your own home.  The best part about online shopping has to be the postie turning up with a special parcel for you though!
I hold a soft spot for Quilt Fabric Delights and the lovely Sarah as she was one of the first stockists of my patterns when I started up my business.  As well as stocking a huge range of patterns and books, Quilt Fabric Delights carries a LOT of fabric and has a great range of kits that you can purchase, making light work of deciding which fabrics to choose for your project!

Quilt Fabric Delights has the cutest range of little suitcases – perfect for storing fabrics, sewing supplies or your current project.  Sarah surprised me by popping in this gorgeous green suitcase (she must know my love for green!) as a surprise.  It is so cute and looks adorable sitting in my fabric cupboard.

As winter is approaching (sob!) Sarah also sent me some fabric to make Lil a new Uptown Girl jacket in.  This fabric is part of Riley Blake’s new Love Birds range and it is going to look great as a winter coat.  I really need to get started ASAP after the chilly winds that we experienced today.  One good thing about the change in seasons is being able to do new sewing for the kiddos…I’ll keep you posted on my progress as I finish the jacket.

 Take a look at some of the super fabric in store now…

 And some more…

As I was browsing through the store, I noticed there is HEAPS of fabric that has just been added to the sale section – this could only mean one thing…that they are getting ready for loads more fabric to add to the store!  I suggest getting in now and stocking up on discounted fabric while you can!

And don’t you just love this great Red Polka Dot Suitcase Set?

Quilt Fabric Delights also has a fantastic blog, QFD Creative, where a whole heap of crafty ladies share tutorials from time to time.  what a great place to get inspiration for your next project!
 
As part of her Cool Shops! review, Sarah is very generously offering Make It Perfect readers 15% OFF THEIR ORDER until the 1st March.
(Use code “15off” during checkout.  Offer valid 23rd February-1st March.)
 
As well as receiving 15% off, when you spend $100 or more, you will receive a special Quilt Fabric Delights gift bag of beautiful usable scraps with your order!
(To receive this offer please enter “Make It Perfect” in the comments section at checkout.  Offer valid 23rd February-1st March.)
 
Thankyou Quilt Fabric Delights for your great offers and providing such a lovely store for us to shop at!
 
Important Quilt Fabric Delights Links:
 
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.I Pin!.

I’ve recently become hooked on Pinterest.  A fantastic new website that is like a virtual pinboard.  I love it for visually displaying the hundreds of pages and images I had bookmarked in my bookmarks folder.  Bookmarks aren’t handy.  I had so many things bookmarked and knew that in reality I would very rarely visit them again because of the effort it takes to open each one and remember why they were bookmarked.
 
Solution = Pinterest!
This place is great and has been taking up a bit of my time lately.  I’m happy to say that my bookmarks folder is cleared out and I’m loving the beautiful visual display of prettiness I can see everytime I visit my pinboards.  Also lots of fun is checking out other people’s pinboards and adding some of their favourites to mine!
All of your images are easily organised into groupings…check out some of my pinboards for some inspiration!

 

 

 

 

 
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.Re-vamped Inspiration Board.

I love a quick craft project and enjoyed a bit of “trash to treasure” therapy over the weekend.
It started with a couple of frames that I scored for $2 each…

 
I removed the picture and glass from one, gave it a quick sand and wipe clean then painted away.  Paint colour is the same as our front door (Dulux Scarlet Ribbons) – I love it!  After a few coats, we cut a sheet of noticeboard material to the right size, covered it with some fabric and popped it inside.

It was so simple, and looks great.  This one is destined to become my “Inspiration Board” for the wall behind my sewing desk.  I’ve got fun plans for the second frame too…

SUPPLIES:
Michael Miller, Ta Dot in Stone

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.Do you think I need help?.

My husband thinks I need to go to Fabrics Anonymous.  I think it is perfectly normal.  And besides, it looks pretty…

What do you reckon?

 

I’m looking forward to inviting you into the rest of my sewing room over the next few weeks.  A room that I have never formally introduced you to on my blog because I have never had it “just right” but it is almost there and I’m excited to share my creative space with you!

This is the cupboard (Billy Nyckelby – Ikea) that houses all of my bigger pieces of fabric – 1 meter/yard+ (and a few full half meter pieces).  As well as my collection of sewing books and other pretty bits and pieces that I still need to add to.  I worked out that I have around 400 meters of fabric in this cupboard – yikes!  Maybe I should sign up for one of those challenges to use more fabric than I actually buy…nah, boring.  I have another cupboard that stores my smaller pieces of fabric – under 1/2 meter and a big box for my small scraps (I’ll share all of that with you soon).  This is the best fabric storing system I have ever had and I love it!  

 

While we are on the subject of fabric, here are some of my most favourite recent additions to the “stash”…or should I call it the “shop”?!

Marine by Dan Stiles – I LOVE this range.  Like REALLY REALLY love it.  So much cool stuff can be made out of this for boys, and it is really hard to find a good boy fabric.

Irving Street flannel by Erin McMorris.  I’ve mentioned quite a few times on the blog how much I love Erin McMorris so treated myself to some of her new flannel range.  It is super soft and I think Lil and I are going to get some cute winter jammies out of it!

Dream On by Urban Chicks.  This fabric is destined to be a massive picnic blanket for our family.  When I ever get around to making it.  Any ideas for a quick and easy quilt pattern?  I am thinking of backing it in a flannel-backed, vinyl tablecloth so that it is waterproof.

Macaroni Love Story by Heather Ross.  Super, duper cute!  I have no idea what it will become and I blame my purchase totally on peer pressure from Anna

Now that I’ve shared mine – you share yours!  How do you store your fabric?  What fabric have you purchased lately?

P.S. I’ll tell you a little secret…every now and then, when I use a favourite piece of fabric, I repurchase the same print because I don’t want it to run out.  That doesn’t mean that I have to go to Fabrics Anonymous, does it?!