Category: Valerie’s Blog

Posted on

Cotton Price Increasing (186)

Hi Everyone, have you heard this vicious rumour about the price of cottons increasing? It has to due with terrible whether in countries like India and Indonesia. I have a call into my supplier to find out more but my other supplier of battings has also told me pricing will increase come Jan. I was connecting with my of my favourite blog journalists and she said the same things…

Here’s some interesting articles regarding this topic.

This first one from The Times is dated 1923 but in this article it tells you how much cotton we consume as a whole across the world…thought that was neat.

This second one is from Shine through Yahoo talking about the quality of our apparal having more of a blend then the natural cotton.

This third one is from the Daily Times of Pakistan provides a bit of insight into how the cotton in traded there, India, USA etc.

Fourth if from The Shopping Blog talking about our clothing companies struggle to maintain the balance between margins, resale pricing, and audience as well as battling with the economy.

Market Place in London talks more about the droughts in China and Pakistan and China playing a big role and the sale pricing and cheap know down priced clothing will be far and few between very soon.

What have you heard? Let me know or comment here as I’d love more insight to this!

Until next time, stay warm, happy and creative,

by puting the spirit of Christmas into everything you make!

Posted on

Pie Anyone? (185)

This English Paper Piecing I’ve been working on for our Pies and Tarts Block of the Month has been so satisfying…I can’t honestly believe how easy it is 🙂

This is month 1, there’s 10 of these and 10 of the tarts blocks to complete…after about half I got into a rhythm and they whipped up really quickly. All pieced by hand onto these paper templates…amazing technique, look at how nice the rounded edges turned out and the points in the middle…if you haven’t tried this before, I’d recommend it!

Here’s a good video I found to give you an idea of what’s involved.

Until next time, stay happy and creative, 

Posted on

Around the Net: Stash Manicure (184)

For those of you who missed it I was a guest blogger over at Stash Manicure a few weeks ago and I thought I would share my post with you also here 🙂

Hi, I’m Valerie (you can find me here on most days) and I LOVE to Quilt! I most especially LOVE Block of the Month clubs as they are an excellent way to make a stunning quilt by creating a new block each month while learning a barrage of techniques as you go.
I need help deciding which one(s) to do…
My Block of the Month Club programs teach with private step by step how-to video blog and picture tutorials weather you’re a beginner or an advanced quilter, my tutorials are an excellent way to start your skills and hone them and I will show you how, sound fun?
Pastimes Online provides you everything you need to get started, silk pins, sewing machine needles, 100% cotton hand dyed floss and wool, 100% silk floss and luscious dupioni silks…sound enticing now?

 

We are about to launch a new array of block of the month (bom) clubs from beginner to advanced. One of these will suite YOU! Each bom will include all of the above plus prizes (i.e. scissors, rulers, fabrics) each month.
Help us pick which ones YOU would LOVE to do by Voting through our Block of the Month Poll!!
Crazy Christmas by Lynette Anderson, 12 month bom, quilt as you go, to include stitching & the cutest Christmas wool applique within a crazy patch design.

Life is Beautiful by Hugs and Kisses will be set in the mood of creams, browns, lilacs and purples, with an interesting applique & quilt as you go technique. A ‘beautiful’ journal pattern including all the blocks.
HocusPocusVille by Crabapple Hill was one I just couldn’t resist. Starting with the amazing drawings that will be stitched in veriegated flosses, and the adorable 9-patches will be perfect to hang during the fall.
Pies and Tarts by Sue Daley is one that is just stunning, with the overwhelming beauty combination of the curves and piecing. This will sure to be a show stopper. English paper piecing technique will be mastered throughout this process. Acrylic templates, paper templates and more included in this kit.

Truly Scrumptious by Cinderberry Stitches is the most adorably whimsical piece of patchwork and embroidery I’ve seen, this will look amazing in any hallway, or bedroom making it joyful and happy.
So I want to say, “thanks so much!!” Madame Samm for having me spend the day here with all of your wonderful viewers in this fantabulous community of quilting, sharing and loving each other up so much!! I’ve had a great time and would love to come back and chat about my favourite cutting tools including the desirable Gingher line of scissors, Gingher’s unbelievable rotary cutter and sew much more on my next visit. If you need a fix or want to read up on Pastimes at www.PastimesOnline.ca, and sign up for our quarterly newsletter, The Times!
Until next time, stay happy and creative, since this post, our boms are ready to sign-up 🙂