Eureka! Hop & Skip to Houston...

It's International Quilt Market time and Emma Jean Jansen has just released her newest fabric line Eureka which is inspired by the Victorian Goldfields and all things mining. The range features geometrics representing quartz crystals and a fabulous print with gold highlights showing the veins of riches. There is a fabulous mine shaft map print and a stripe which is inspired by the cores showing the different colours in the earth. A wagon wheel is a great circle contrast and of course Emma had to include a Southern Cross Star print which was a symbol of the Eureka rebellion. The range features navy, chartreuse, apricot, turquoise and grey and will inspire you to create!  Her fabric is distributed by Ella Blue Fabrics.

Emma's new fabric range - Eureka

It was a huge honour and a privilege to assist Emma with her Quilt Market preparations this year.  My contributions are only small, but they were heaps of fun to make and a huge accomplishment for me to have some of my work on display at International Quilt Market.

"Hop & Skip" is a pattern by Australian designer Melly & Me.  Hop (in navy) measures 12' tall and Skip (in apricot) is slightly smaller and measures 9.5" tall. You can click HERE to purchase a PDF download of the pattern.

Hop & Skip in my sewing studio

Hop & Skip enjoying some fresh air in my garden

It was a huge EUREKA! moment for me to make my Quilt Market Debut.  Emma very kindly sent me this photo of the 'roos at Quilt Market in Houston. 

Emma's booth at Quilt Market.
Can you see Hop & Skip sitting on the table on the left?

Another photo of Emma's booth at Quilt Market

52 Quilters - Week 27 - Fiona Forsyth - My Influences

Inspire - to have an animating effect upon one's mind or emotions; to stimulate to some creative or effective effort; to elicit or create.

Who inspires me?  My tastes have changed as my skills have developed and I have found myself headed in different directions from when I first started quilting 3-years ago.  However when I sat and thought about it, I noticed that the majority of my work is centered around some of our fabulous local Australian designers, so I thought that I would introduce you to some of them.

Emma Jean Jansen

I have been a huge fan of Emma's for a number of years.  She's a Ballarat Girl (so is "just down the road a bit") & a fellow cat lover.  I have made "The Daisy Quilt" from her "The Linen Cupboard" fabric range; I still have "Harlequin Stars" and "Peace Quilt" waiting to be made and "Outback Blossoms" is currently on layby together with her new fabric range "Matilda". 

 http://www.emmajeanjansen.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/emmajeanjansen/

Jodie Carleton - Ric Rac

Jodie is a gem!  She is guaranteed to make me laugh until the tears stream down my face every time I see her or talk to her!  She is also a Ballarat girl (& so lives "just down the road a bit") and I have had the pleasure of meeting Jodes quite a few times now.  She is a school librarian turned toy maker & now fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics. I have made a number of her toy patterns for myself & for gifts.  Her "Cats Pyjamas" fabric range is my absolute favourite and I have made PJ pants from this range together with some other items.  Her newest fabric range "Bunny Trail" is totes adorbs!! 

http://vintagericrac.blogspot.com.au/ 

https://www.instagram.com/jodiericrac/

Leanne Beasley - Leanne's House

I am yet to meet Leanne in person, but she is based near the Dandenong Ranges where I used to live in Melbourne.  Leanne is famed for her embroidery patterns (distributed through Creative Abundance) and she is now a fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics.  I have made up quite a few of her patterns including the BOM "Journey of a Quilter" and am 3/4 of the way through "Mrs Beasley's Sampler Quilt". I have also made her "Hearts and Happy Flowers Bag".   I still have her original "Leanne's House BOM" waiting to be made. I also have all 12 editions of her "Vignette Magazine"

http://www.leanneshouse.com/

https://www.instagram.com/leanneshouse/

Rosalie Dekker - Rosalie Dekker Designs 

(formerly Rosalie Quinlan Designs)

Rosie is one of the loveliest people that I have ever had the pleasure to meet!  I first met Rosie at Bendigo's Craft Alive in 2004 & I attended an Embroidery Masterclass with her.  I look forward to catching up with her each year when she travels up to Bendigo for Craft Alive.  I have sewn a number of Rosie's embroidery patterns & I have quite a lot of her fabric hoarded away in my stash. Rosalie has designed 7 fabric ranges and is now a fabric designer for Ella Blue Fabrics.

http://www.rosaliedekkerdesigns.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rosaliedekkerdesigns/

Four of my Faves courtesy of @EllaBlueFabrics
Jodie, Emma, Leanne & Rosalie

Jen Kingwell

I am a mad Jen Kingwell convert!  Last year I attended one of her classes which was hosted by Cotton Factory in Ballarat.  It was here that I learnt many of the techniques used to make her "Circle Game Quilt".  I am currently making "Georgetown on my Mind" and have more of her patterns in my sewing queue. Jen owns "Amitie Textiles" shop in Melbourne and she is now a fabric designer for Moda Fabrics.

http://www.amitie.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/jenkingwell/

Claire Turpin

I have to admit I have only recently found out about Claire Turpin Design but have fallen in love with her patterns.  Her "Kitty Cats" pillows are on my lust list; as is her newly released "Catface" applique quilt.

http://www.claireturpindesign.com/

https://www.instagram.com/claireturpindesign/

Sewing Connection - Pakenham

Back in April I travelled by train down to Melbourne and stayed for a few days with some friends in Drouin.  On the way down they met me at Pakenham station and took me to visit The Sewing Connection.  I had never been here before but my friend Ashleigh works here part time so I was keen to check it out. 

 

 

 

 

Although the shop specialises in Bernina and Brother sewing machines & overlockers, they have a very good selection of fabrics, notions and threads. I was impressed that they had a good selection of Kaffe Fassett fabrics (which I needed for my current W.I.P.) and a good display of Emma Jean Jansen fabrics.  I was also able to purchase a template that I had been hunting for.

 

The Sewing Connection

115 Main St, Pakenham VIC 3810
Tel: (03) 5941 2244

 

http://sewingconnection.com.au/

 

Opening Hours

 Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday 9:00 am - 4:00 pm