NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

2012 is upon us, and in the spirit of fresh starts, turning leaves, best feet forward and clean slates I've decided that my mantra for this year will be one word. SIMPLICITY. How long will it last? Well, that depends on how cynical you are (and how well you know me). I'm being optimistic and aiming for at least February. And what could be simpler than just three colours? When I first saw the samples of the new Bridgeport range from Andover Fabrics I confess my first thought was "Meh". Red, black and brown? I don't think so. For shame! After playing around with it for a while it's now one of my favourite things. The perfect thing for a gentleman's quilt (and lets be honest, when it comes to quilts, the gents are often sadly neglected). So, grab some Bridgeport, keep your life simple and make a discerning chappie happy.

SOMETHING FOR THE HARDCORE STITCHER

Like cross stitch? I mean REALLY like cross stitch? Then the new Chinese Immortals publication series from DMC is for you. There are eight designs in the range, each measuring 35cm x 60cm when finished. That's a lot of stitching,but the results are spectacular.


Han Xiang Zi for health and healing.


He Xian Gu brings luck for marriages and family.


Zhang Guo Lao brings luck for descendants.


Tie Guai Li for wisdom and healing.

With Chinese New Year just a couple of months away, now's the time to start stitching. The back of the publications has the influence, element and direction for each Immortal in the series, so you can make sure your feng shui is just right.

DECK YOUR HALLS...

...with a bit of bunting, courtesy of Pearl and Lydia.



And here is the rather gorgeous finished product, perfect for the adornment of mantelpieces far and wide.


Wish your mantel looked this festive? Of course you do. Download the free pattern here.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING, THE GOOSE IS GETTING...

...ready to stitch! All kinds of festive bits and pieces have found their way into the warehouse, and I intend to make use of at least some of them before the big day hits (my house was sadly non-celebratory last year). If you pop over to Lisa's blog at The Red Thread you can check out the gorgeous Christmas designs we're well chuffed to be distributing for her. Meanwhile, we have two new designers to fill the sparkly shoes of Gertie, who's busy being mum to a beautiful little pudding of a boy. Lydia and Pearl have been working wonders, and I've decided that to use Lydia's fab folk iron-on embroidery transfers for this years bedecking of the halls.


How good are they? Perfect for Christmas, versatile enough for the rest of the year and you can reuse them up to seven times so you get a lot of embroidered bang for your buck. Perfect. I'm thinking that I'll be going with the Babushkas, before the marvellous Dot left us for shiny new pastures, she started on a project using the Festive Folk Words transfers.


Pearl has taken up the needle, stay tuned to see what she comes up with.

BLOOMIN' LOVELY

Windham Fabrics have just released two gorgeous, romantic, old-fashioned floral collections that are guaranteed to make even the most stalwartly sensible come over all girly. My personal favourite is Home Sweet Home, those Beidermeier style bouquets on the panel are just divine and the all-over overblown rose print has got to be the blousiest fabric I think I've ever seen come into the warehouse. Meanwhile I think you'd have to beat The Maven off with a stick to get near Wellesley. She's genuinely fearsome when it comes to shabby chic...

WELLESLEY




HOME SWEET HOME

PRIM(ITIVE) AND PROPER

There are some designers that it seems quilters just cannot get enough of. When it comes to prim, The Buggy Barn is a name that tops the list. They have the knack of producing the look that prim fans adore, and when prim fans adore something, it doesn't stay in our warehouse for long. Just in is the latest collection from The Buggy Barn, Bramble Berries (the old-school blanket style plaids in this range I just love).

FOXES AND BUNNIES AND HEDGEHOGS, OH MY!

The trend for woodland creatures continues unabated, and I for one am very glad of it. The fabulous Lizzy House has created another gorgeous range of fabrics for Andover and they're in stock now! Yippee! I just love these, the colours are delicious (and that's from someone who wouldn't claim to be a fan of purple or yellow) and the patterns folky with an edge. Which means that they definitely transcend the "for children" category. Yes, someone wants a foxie frock...