Guest Blogger Edwina Foskew Tell and Nostalgia

Today’s guest blogger is Edwina Foskew Tell from Western Australia. We sent her a package of the Nostalgia line debuting this November and told her to create something wonderful. We love her stunning chair and hope you do too!

I’m Eddie… I’m a fabricphile … work full time as a Nurse at nights, but my dream is to own a fabric shop/quilt retreat/ coffee shop selling only the loveliest fabrics (no muddy reds and browns) and teaching quilting and serving home made cakes…. and nice tea in fine bone china cups….

I’m married to Ian, we have 4 children: 15, 17, 18 and 25 and 3 grandchildren…. 3 dogs, 3 Devon Rex cats and a ferral Australian cat who was sent home from work with me one morning after I had worked a nightshift in ED. I co admin The Real Quilters of Australia (and sewers) … and ‘own’ the Nanny Gruff page…. which isn’t kept up to date because I’m too busy.

We live in Rockingham, Western Australia …. just 10 minutes walk to the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of the Indian Ocean and a 30 minute walk to natural bush and wild kangaroos…. Its a wonderful country… vast. You could fit the whole of Europe into Australia land wise… and the population is relatively tiny. Australia is a red brown and blue green country… very different to the greens found in the England I grew up in.

I make ‘useable’ quilts… ones that can be taken to the beach, to a barbie, sat in front of a bonfire with and dragged around the house then thrown in the washing machine… week in week out…. not ‘works of art’ …. but I DO love making them in fabrics which are works of art in themselves (and Minions… the grandees love Minions).

What else can I tell you? Quilting is my ‘therapy.’ Its my ME time… and along with the medications it keeps me sane …. almost. I love sharing my skills with others. I love the social aspect of quilting… and yes, sometimes getting together to quilt is sometimes an excuse to simply chat and eat chocolate cake.

People ask me to make them a quilt…. and my stock answer is, sorry I don’t have time… but I will teach you to make your own. Many have taken me up on that offer and have gone on to become quilt addicts too… only one person as far as I can remember didn’t finish hers!

When I was given the opportunity to work with the wonderful new Nostalgia fabric I wanted to combine my love of quilting with my new love of reupholstering chairs. It seemed natural to make a quilt and use that as ‘fabric’ …. I love wonky blocks and crazy quilts… and with the stretch and positioning of fabric in upholstery, I wanted a ‘design’ that wouldn’t loose anything when it was stretched and pinned to the chair. I also wanted to showcase the entire fabric line range. I think I achieved what I set out to do!

It was an honour and a privilege to be allowed to work with Nostalgia before it was launched.. but I need MORE because I have so many things I am going to do with it when it arrives! Pretty things.. with ruffles and vintage lace… and quilts. I have a million ideas flying around in my head…. but I shall have to wait for Nostalgia to arrive in November to be able to satisfy my need to create …

chair4

chair3

Chair 2

Here is the amazing quilter and upholster Eddie and one of her adorable Devon Rex kitties. Thanks Eddie for an amazing chair and post!
Chair 1

Holiday Show

That chill in the air could only mean one thing…The Sis Boom Holiday Sale is around the corner!

SB-holiday-sale

Wahoo!! Get excited because this year’s annual event will take place on December  4th, 5th and 6th! The sale, located at the address above in Wilton, CT, will feature many handmade items crafted by Jennifer herself as well as items featuring exclusive Sis Boom designs!

Handmade items will be easy to spot with this adorable tag attached:

tags-10

FYI – If there are any business owners out there looking to make tags and save some money, here’s how we did the one above:

Click this link and follow the prompts to create your tag using the business card template. Scroll to the bottom and upload your artwork by clicking on “Use Your Complete Design.” Design the artwork for your tag using Photoshop or Illustrator. After the upload process is complete, expect to cut and punch holes in your card.

Here is how we cut ours:

tags

tags-11

tags-12

We are so excited about this year’s show and can’t wait to see you there!!

Lisa

Sis Boom, Baby!

Ooooh baby! Something very special is happening around our offices these days… Jennifer’s right hand gal, Madeline, is pregnant! Yaaaaayy to Madeline and her hubby, Jordan!!  Thanks to my fellow Sis Boom admirers (i’m talking about YOU!) and a one stop shop at Etsy, Madeline can spend her entire maternity surrounded by all things Sis Boom!

Need some bloomers? MaggieBogart has you covered:

bloomers

Rattles? LoneCedarStudio saves the day:

rattle

Mama needs a coffee break? Protect your fingers thanks to ckstitches:

coffee-break

Ensure sweet dreams for your little one thanks to bailybelle:

dream-catcher

Zurelli knows that no nursery is complete without some plush animal friends:

stuffed-animal

And finally, for when you’re overwhelmed with joy, love, and happiness towards the perfect little human you’ve created, reach for those tissues in style with help from SarasDaisyLove:

tissues

CONGRATULATIONS MADELINE AND JORDAN! WE LOVE YOU!

Lisa

P.S. Madeline will be posting a big nursery reveal in the coming weeks on her blog, Oh My Gemini!! Make sure to check it out!

Cover Girl!

Look who made the cover of this month’s Summer Markets Highlights Magazine:

Home-accents

I’ll give you a hint: It’s not Jennifer’s high school crush, Donny Osmond, that we’re excited about! It’s the pillow featured directly above him that has us jumping for joy!

pillow

That’s right, that Jonathan Adler-esque pillow is one that our very own Sis Boom gal, Jennifer Paganelli, designed for Peking Handicraft! So cool, right?! Jen even told me that her inspiration for the design came from the back of a vintage playing card from the 1940s!

 

To view the article, click here.

 

Lisa

 

 

Sis Boom Bed!

Hi Everyone!

As I previously mentioned, my professional background includes putting together bedding collections.  In fact, long before I joined Sis Boom, I was using Jennifer’s lines to make duvets, sheet sets, dust ruffles, upholstered headboards, toss pillows, curtains and more! While my mind automatically sees a large scale floral and thinks “duvet,” you guys turn the same exact print into the most beautiful clothing, quilts, aprons, shower curtains, etc. I have ever seen! I am CONSTANTLY blown away by your creativity. Since you have been so gracious in sharing your creations with us, I’d thought I’d share with you how my mind views a brand new Jennifer Paganelli collection. And speaking of brand new, I will be using fabrics that can be found in her upcoming “Good Company” line to be released in November 2014.

 

Duvet:

gcduvet

 

 

Reverse of Duvet/Dust Ruffle Options:

gc-duster

 

gcduster

 

Sheet Set:

 

 

 

gcsheets

 

Another great suggestion is using a large bold pattern for an upholstered headboard like these:

gcheadbaord

 

gchb

 

 

 

and use a combination of solid colors found in the print as your duvet!

An upholstered headboard can be found in Happy Home by Jennifer Paganelli!

 

Keep your creations coming! We love seeing them!!

 

Lisa

Border Prints!!!

valpizzazz valerie valeriehat valerie12

So imagine my surprise when I saw lovely images of this beautiful woman in a dress she created using our Border print from Beauty Queen (Valerie) in her dress design.  I almost fell off my chair when I got to see her vision in real time.  Exquisite.  border prints can go a long way but you have to be inspired,  you have to know what they can be used for and we think Paisley Farm did an incredible job!! You will be so stuck on her blog!!  She does it all so well!!!!  Sofia lives in Las Vegas , Nevada and her blog is so inspirational.  She loves Floral fabric so I would say she really gets me.  I am so excited for you to meet her and see her beautiful dress that I know will make you swoon.  I took the same border print and used it on my antique bed as a covering and I just love the results so whatever the use just know you can’t go wrong with a border print..heavenly ideas await you!  So be sure to follow Sofia Moore on her blog and Facebook page, we are hoping she does it in other colorways. This is very much like our Angie so I expect to see some of those being created. Thanks Sofia!!!  Please show us how you use your border prints!!!

 

 

 

Fabulous Idea

Christy Bennett had an idea a year ago and after lots of consideration she has launched what I deem to be the next best thing from this world.  Are you ready???  Pre-made, lined, drapes!!!! I just think this is an idea that will be a huge hit!!  I am over the moon excited.  Once they find Darling Drapery  they’ll just have to deal with which ones to get!!!!  So many possibilities and she makes it affordable!!! Christy I think you are on the tipping point of something big and I know it is going to take off!!!  throw drapes up and have a party!!!! Match some pillows and you are good to go.  Congrats Christy!!So get over to Etsy and take a look at her collection.  I know you will love what you see….which room will you tackle first?

arabian bouquet pink

Sequined Trees Best Seller

Soon to come to our shop..sequined 7″ trees $38.00.  Not as easy as they look and they are amazing!!!  Crafts is my middle name and I love our Holiday show for our chance to show you what’s been budding over at Sis Boom.  I have way too much fun doing what I love.  These trees are no exception!!  So here is your personal invite!  Barbara Strawser with her Angels and Mermaids will have her own space so please come say Hello and there will be plenty of Lucky Girl on hand and lots of items made from your favorite Sis Boom fabrics. We love when you travel distances and come hangout with us it sweetens our lives!!! Well I better get back to work, the elves are a bit overwhelmed!!  See you soon!barbara bunnies belucky betree HolidayInvite

 

Barbara Strawser with her Angels and Mermaids will have her own space so please come say Hello and there will be plenty of Lucky Girl on hand and lots of items made from your favorite Sis Boom fabrics.
Starts: 11/07/2013 10:00 am
Ends: 11/09/2013
Duration: 8 hours:
40 East Meadow Rd
Wilton, CT
US

Banner in Girls World

So let’s change it up and use some of the projects from Girls World to make Holiday items.  You are going to love this one.  Who doesn’t love a little felt in their lives? Vintage pom poms?  Ok so I got your attention.  I’m sure you all remember the banner in Girls World.  It was a Happy Birthday banner but I changed it up a bit to now say Merry Christmas.  You will need wool felt I got mine on Etsy, stabilizer backing, diecuts from Maya Road the white flowery part, and felt letters called stickit’s mine are from ebay. Of course a Girls World Book  to keep you on track.  The sentiment is all yours..You make it up!!  So love that you come by it means the world to me!!!

banner s tutorial

 

 

Handmade with love

So it’s official, dates are set and I am hustling in the craft room getting ready for all of you!!!! We have some awesome ideas and they are now coming to life!!  Lucky Girl will be in stock by then and you can come get you some.  Because the show is early you can even make something up. Yes check the dates, in early November this year, so you will have the gifts you need to celebrate the season.  Here are a few of the things we have been preparing.  Pricing is all under $40.00 each for items listed below.

HolidayInvite bunnyhop sequins special houses

heart