Di Mill

New eBook

As the new fabric ranges arrive, I'm always eager to see what quilt projects have been designed around each one. I've always got my fingers crossed that there is a great quilt pattern to go with the range. This time we are in luck as there is an abundance of great quilts to make. I've collected many of them and published them into an eBook so that it's easy for you to browse through them all.

 

Open publication - Free publishing - More craft

 

It's taken a bit of time but I'm happy with the result. Most of the fabric ranges are being delivered near the end of the year so this gives you plenty of time to plan ahead.  I will be working on my Christmas eBook next as we have an abundance of Christmas ranges this year and so many fantastic projects to make.

Enjoy....Di

 

 

Colour my day...

I am loving the new Anna Griffin fabric collection "Camilla". It has beautiful bouquets of soft roses in varying shades of pink,  with green leaves and accents of grey and aqua. Using Camilla as my inspiration, I started a photographic mood board:

 

gorgeous large border print.....

 

There is a tree out on my neighbours footpath that is covered in the most delightful flowers at the moment. The flowers change colour with age - starting out white and changing to pink as over a few days. I have no idea what type of tree it is but they reminded me of the flowers in Camilla and I couldn't help but bring some of them inside:
 

 

Inspired by the fabric range and the flowers above I started a mood board which included elegant lamps, vintage cutlery, rustic furniture, my favourite string of pearls, buttons and paint chips...

 

 

I love the clasp on my pearls - such a shame it is at the back, hidden underneath my hair.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking at all of this inspiration,  I got hungry...why is that?? I headed to the kitchen and made cupcakes. Cupcakes on pretty china... yum!

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoyed by photographs inspired by Camilla fabric.

Camilla is arriving in Australian stores very soon - keep an eye out for it or ask your local store if they have ordered it. Anna Griffin fabric is distributed throughout Australia by Lloyd Curzon Textiles.

 

Take care...Di

 

 

 

Colour my Day

Taking inspiration from the beautiful photo below, I've created a solid palette from Northcott's fantastic solid range called Colorworks.

 

 

Colorworks Fabrics

1st row: Antique, Tan, Putty, Foam

2nd Row: Dove, Powder, Cadet, Storm

image source

Colorworks is distributed throughout Australian stores by Lloyd Curzon Textiles

Take care....Di

Stonehenge - Woodland

Northcott's famous Stonehenge Range has recently been added to with the gorgeous "Woodland" story. With it's designs taken from inspiring aspects of nature, this range is right on trend with current Home decor themes. Bringing nature inside is certainly in vogue right now and Woodland will allow you to achieve the same look with fabric.

The range is available in 3 colours:

Spring:

 

Autumn:

 

 

Winter:

 

 

 

I saw the bedroom photo below and thought I would make a "Mood Board" using the Woodland Winter range. The colour palette was perfect and the designs enable you to achieve this style.

 

 

furniture and accessories by Freedom Furniture

 

As you can see the fabrics work beautifully with this theme and bring texture and warmth to the room even though the colour scheme is in the neutral palette. There are home decor items in every store that will work with this range and you can achieve a modern look with a twist of nature.

Woodland will be arriving in Australian Shops in September.

 

 Take care...Di

 

 

 

City Streets

When making a quilt for a child it can be difficult to choose a fabric range that will suit them for a few years, especially when choosing for boys. Jamie Wood has designed a great boys range for Clothworks called City Streets, that is suitable for boys from babies through to primary school. I love how Jamie has created a modern edge to a classic theme using fresh colours and funky designs.

 

City Streets designs include modern animation of cars, buildings, trees, and traffic lights and would look great in any little boys room. It's perfect for a baby as well as a 6 year old.

What I also like about this range is the prints that incorporate 2 designs onto the fabric.

The stripe has a narrow border down each side of the fabric with a car print so that you are getting two designs on the one bolt - great for border for your quilt or strips across the design.

 

There is also a tonal print that has 2 designs that are printed each on half of the fabric.

The bedroom below is perfect for this range and easy to replicate with an orange feature wall and green accessories, all that it's waiting for is a quilt or wall hanging made out of City Streets!

image source

Lloyd Curzon Textiles will be bringing City Streets to Australian Patchwork Shops around September.

 

Take care....Di

 

Wedding Dress

While reading the Clothworks Blog, I saw this sweet wedding dress that has been made out of one of Marsha McCloskey's Staples fabrics. The soft subtle colours of beige and ivory in a toile pattern are perfect for the bride who wants something a little bit different but not too wild! Marsha's Staples range of soft subtle designs are not only perfect for quilts but will also work beatifully in clothing.

 

image source

 

 

This toile is sold out but there are plenty of other designs in the staples range that will entice you.

Pop over to the Clothworks Blog to see more photos of beautiful gowns using the staples range. Staples IV will soon be available.

 

Take care....Di

 

 

 

 

 

Sail Away

Growing up in North Queensland, my family was fortunate enough to have a beach house that we stayed at for 6 weeks over summer and weekends etc throughout the year. I loved it - I would lay in bed and listen to the gentle lapping of the waves when the tide was in, and spent many hours walking and exploring the pools of water left behind when the tide was out.  I would often see sail boats out in the water with their colourful sails puffing out fully in the breeze.

 

The photo below is taken right across from where our house was at the coastal town of Seaforth. 

 

image source

 

When I saw Sail Away by Northcott, all those childhood memories came rushing back. It's nautical theme is perfect for boys of all ages or for those of us who are lucky enough to reside by the ocean.

 

 

Sailing boats, lighthouses, flags and great stripes all blend beautifully to make this a fantastic range.

There are some great patterns available in the market that have been designed for this range. "All Sails Set" by Jean Boydfocuses on the stronger palette of mid to deep blues and reds.

 

 

"Annapolis Bound" has been designed by Loretta Shriner & Bonnie Johnson of Designs by LOBO. The quilt has a "lighter" palette focusing on the lighter shades of blue and white with a touch of red.

 

 

A beach bag never goes astray in summer and this Kwik Sew pattern "All Occasion Handbags" is perfect.

Sail Away will be arriving in Australian stores in June/July. Northcott is distributed throughout Australia by Lloyd Curzon Textiles.

 

Take care....Di

Robin

Clothworks have a new range of fabric arriving in Australian stores in May. It's called Robin and is sweet, stylish and modern. Designed by Erin Ries, this range is in the cool calming shades of the ocean - blue, aqua and green with touches of brown and white. This range is perfect for the modern baby who needs current decor yet soothing colours, or any girl of any age. It's perfect for bags, skirts, jackets, cushions, quilts, artwork panels, and any home dec project.

 

 

 

There is a free pattern download that is available here

 

 

 Inspiration rooms that Robin would work in:

 

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Look for this range throughout May. Clothworks is distributed throughout Australia by Lloyd Curzon Textiles.

 

Take care...Di

 

Woolies

I am really enjoying the new fabric colours in the Maywood Woolies Range. They are so rich, warm and vibrant. I was looking for a pattern that I could use the Woolies in and I found this new pattern by Lynne Wilson of HQW called It's A Breeze. I like the combination of rectangles and diamonds.

 

 

I dragged out my drawing pad and had a bit of fun tracing Lynne's pattern and then substituting the fabric and this is what I came up with:

The quilt takes on a completely different look when using the Woolies but I like it just as much. Instead of a bright summery quilt, it's now warm and inviting and ready for using on a cool Autumn or winter night. Woolies are designed to look like wool but they are flannel so you don't have the cost of wool or the weight to deal with.

Below are the fabrics that I selected

 

1st row (L-R) F1813-E, F1813-R5, F1840-G2

2nd Row (L-R) F1879-M, F1840-S, F18131-R

3rd Row (L-R) F18142-A2, F18127-G3, F18123-A2

Lynne has a plain fabric incorporated into her design but I used one of the Woolies:

F1841-T

Woolies is distributed throughout Australia by Lloyd Curzon Textiles. Lynne's patterns are available through Australian Patchwork Stores. Contact HQW for stockists.

 

Take care...Di

Warming up with Woolies

I have to be honest...I don't like cold weather. I wish I did as I love the fantasy of it:

The beautiful countryside covered in snow

image via Soulemama

 

Being able to wear gorgeous long tailored overcoats that meet your boots

 

image source

listening to the crackle of an open fire while having a glass of wine

 

But sadly I really feel the cold which is probably due to the fact that I've lived in the tropics all my life. In Brisbane as coat like the one above would sit in the wardrobe all year and if I was ever fortunate enough to have a fireplace...we would all be siting in front the fire in our shorts and t-shirts..sweating.  

In the meantime I can dream...and grab some of the new Woolies flannel fabrics that Maywood Studio has produced.

Here are some shots of my new Woolies Sample Card:

Yummy dots ...

 

and spots....

 

and checks.....

 

and tweed.

The Woolies flannelhas a "Wool" design which gives your Woolies quilts a beautiful rich warm feel. Woolies is distributed throughout Australia by Lloyd Curzon Textiles.

 

Take care...Di