Coming soon to a store near YOU!

 We had a good weekend at the Australian Quilt Market.

The new-look patterns were received well.  Ordered for stores around Australia, New Zealand and online.

 This was my little patch... very stark and white in the world of quiltiness.

I didn't take many photos, but I managed this one of Saffron Craig and  Two Monkeys Fabrics. Fabulous stuff.

 And I captured a bit of this Melody Ross  fabric at Lloyd Curzon Textiles.  I thinks I'm in love.

Today I took the day off.  I was so exhausted I couldn't talk or think, so there seemed no point in going to work.  I spent most of the day mooching about at a snail's pace, lying on the couch and watching dvd's.  In the afternoon, I played with my knitting machine.

I'll keep you posted on where to buy my patterns, hardware and interfacing as we send out the wholesale orders.  Hopefully by then, I'll have experienced the return of my brain and the ability to construct sentences.

Right now, it's back to the couch....

A bit famous again

Gosh - I'm feeling a bit like the golden child (being Homespun Magazine's "Favourite" and all).

...and I'm very, VERY busy (getting ready for the wholesale show on the weekend).  So that's it from me for now.

Seeya on the other side of Sunday!

Honey.... I yarn-bombed the kids!

It was the wee girl's birthday week.  The festivities wound around her being 6, losing a first tooth and having an enormous ball of machine-knitted jumbo yarn. 

Many thanks to Angela from the Machine Knitters Association of Victoria for the inspiration and for actually KNITTING the jumbo yarn for us. 

On the birthday day, I was "special guest" at school aftercare, with a bundle of yarny crafts and the jumbo yarn. The kids loved being a human knitting machine and the carers loved having all the kids tied up engaged. 

 Today was the party day.  My plans for a low-key, set-the-kids-loose-in-a-park idea was relocated and reformatted when rain was predicted for this morning.  Plan B was my studio and craft activities.....

 ...and a human Knitting Nancy.

I'm not sure what the kids thought of it all. Some were totally into it and others didn't seem to get it at all. 

There were whispers amongst the adults about leaving the kids there and going for coffee.....

We didn't.  We stayed and had fabulous cake.  But that deserves a blog post of its own (and I'm too exhausted to post it just now).

Ah, Sewjourn...

A little oasis of calm and a much-needed break from busy-busy brain and crazy-crazy life..... I need a dose of Sewjourn at least twice a year. 

I'm incredibly lucky to be able to go each May and November.  I'm truly blessed to share the experience with an amazing group of women.

Lara, Annie, Karen, Rachel, Kathryn, Megan and Tanya, THANK YOU for a restorative, calming, inspiring weekend. You are truly wonderful people and fabulous company.  I'm looking forward to May already.

 Jodie and Catherine - you were missed and we hope you can make it next time.

It was lovely to see Tanya making my Petal hat (from my book).  I'm sure it'll look even cuter on a little someone (with a head).

The fashion parades were great, too.... Lara was busy making tops that fitted and suited Kathryn, Rachel and Karen.  And it was a thrill to get up close to the amazing array of Annie's quilt blocks that appeared on the design wall.

I didn't get any sewing-for-me done.  I didn't even get the planned  AQM bag samples done.  I finished the wee girl's quilt.

 That colour kinda hits you in the face a bit, doesn't it? 

I was up into the wee hours, free-motion quilting hearts all over the thing. 

Before I started, I had NO IDEA how long it would take to do the quilting bit.  That was probably a good thing.  I'll be thinking long and hard about all-over motifs if I ever venture into Quilt Land again.

Another surprise was how long it took to decide on the arrangement of the patched-together backing.... and how much it resembles a Licorice Allsort. 

But I think my trip to the craft show in Caulfield a week or so ago, to get a fat quarter of the "I love my Kitty" fabric, was worth it.  It really brings the whole thing together ...don't you think?

You might have noticed...

I've been somewhat absent from the social media scene (and any other scene you care to mention) for a few weeks.  I have also been somewhat absent minded. 

I've been busy... very, VERY busy. 

You might have also noticed a new look about this little bloggy space.  Around about the real-life place, there is similar evidence of a very talented graphic designer/art-director type having had a hand in things. 

Yes.  New logo.  A proper grown-up one.  (Clever girl, that graphic designer).  And I'm rebranding the whole bizzo.  Goodbye "Nicole Mallalieu Design" (as if anyone could ever say it, anyway*...) and hello "You SEW Girl!"

What you may not have noticed is that a new layout on ALL of my pattern instructions and covers is underway, to rebrand, streamline the printing process and bring early work up-to-date.   While I'm about it, I'm also improving instructions, making bag samples, taking photos and drawing diagrams.  A complete overhaul.  An ENORMOUS. CAN. OF. WORMS.  I'm trying to remember why I thought that I could do it all in the given timeframe.

"Timeframe?" (I hear you ask).

I've booked a stand at the Australian Quilt Market - the WHOLESALE show - in a couple of weeks (trying not to think too much about the number of days).  I've also made the decision to wind down the retail side of my business and focus on design and wholesale.

To suceed in a niche retail business requires a pro-active, interactive approach.  While I've been busy, pro-actively interacting, I've managed to keep my little business going.  BUT.... it's seen me working six days (and nights) a week with no time to work on new patterns.  And I've got to thinking....

What is it that I actually DO...?  
Am I a craft retailer or a designer-patternmaker-teacher-thingamie?  (I still haven't worked out the job description, but I like the second option best). 

Oh, and wasn't there a home, child and bloke to think about...?  Perhaps spend some time with...?

So far, there's no timeframe for the end of the online store, but that is indeed the plan.  We'll continue to sell my patterns, interfacings and a selected range of hardware WHOLESALE while winding down retail.

We'll keep the showroom-shop going at the studio. If you're in the neighbourhood, you'll still be able to drop in and stock up. If you're doing classes with me, you'll be able to buy all the bits you need. But the online shop is not going to be the focus of the business anymore, at it appears to have become over the last few years.

If you want access to my patterns, hardware and interfacings, perhaps you could have a brief word to your favourite local or online fabric/craft store and suggest they stock "You SEW Girl!" products. (And please don't just ask them to get the goodies in  - you need to actually BUY them!).  

• You'll be happy to be able to get the new and improved patterns and bits when you need them - with no postage or handling.
• The stores will be happy to have another stream of income that also helps to sell more fabric. 
• I'll be happy, because I can focus on finishing  a few of the kazillion pattern ideas I have.
• ...which will also make you happy (again) because you'll have more patterns to play with and more new tricks to learn from them.

It's win, win...errr...win, win, win, win.....  in theory, at least.  Who knows how it'll all pan out, but sometimes we have to take big jumps in order to evolve, non?  I've never shied away from radical leaps into the unknown and my crisis-management and survival skills are finely honed from a lifetime of doing just that.

If you're a retail store or a producer of  handcrafted goods, you'll be able to buy from us at a wholesale level.  If you haven't contacted us before about this, feel free to drop us a line at sales@nicolemdesign.com.au .

When I get through the next few weeks, I'll be able to think about a class schedule for next year. I love teaching and will continue to do that as often as I can.

Phew.  It feels better to just put it out there.  I'm not sure what the future holds, but I hope that you'll stay with me.  I need all the support I can get.

xxxnikki

PS. I'm still trying to figure my way through the blog-button and HTML jungle, and can't seem to get the buttons to display clearly on a sidebar.  If anyone is expert-ish in the area (or even if you have half a clue), I'd appreciate your help.

*To get the flat Australian tongue around the name "Mallalieu", try saying this three times, quickly...
"Mal - al - yoo"  (the "al's" rhyming with "pal").

A grand day, altogether.

A lovely Bag in a Day Class.  Great company, gorgeous fabric, fabulous bags... (and an abundance of Helens!).

I cracked the metaphorical whip and kept them hard at work -  although we managed to have a good chat,  lots of laughs and we even rescued a cutting mat after it had a little run-in with a steam iron.

There was a reasonable amount (..ahem..) of fabric envy, on my part.  Cathy had this amazing (vintage or incredibly high-quality repro) Venice street scene fabric.

  

Andi made herself a new camera bag with Echino camera print and my Large Tote pattern.

 In fact, there was a bit of an Echino-fest going on. 

(One of the..) Helen's Hobo bag was gorgeous mix of all sorts of Echino fabrics.... and that A-line skirt she was wearing looked right at home in there, too!

Thanks girls, for a fabulous day!

'Twas grand. 

A Day at the Races

Was had by this little Kiss Purse.

 I made it to accompany a fabulous outfit made by Zanet Couture and am looking forward to seeing photos of the whole ensemble's appearance atthe Melbourne Cup Fashion on the Field.  The dress was a vision of 1950's-inspired glamour!

I went NOWHERE today, except from home to work and back again, despite having two free passes to the Melbourne Cup.

I'm in the middle of a huge revamp of pattern covers and instructions.  All other activity (except the occasional theraputic knitting of a Persian cat and a sock) has been put on hold. 

I shall hopefully have something to blog (or even perhaps a tweet to Twitter or an update to Facebook) at some point soon.

Right now... nothin' but a big can of worms.