Welcome to Wednesday

Welcome to your Midweek Moments which is full of news, updates and informative articles. Included is the launch of a new club, an update on the Spring Fair and more.

Mad Quilters' Gathering

This Friday 5 to Sunday 7 August

This weekend is the Mad Quilters Gathering at Penrith.  Blueberries will be on Stand 62, make sure you stop by and say "hello" and check out all the goodies. 

Jackie will be conducting a daily lecture on Needleturn Applique - Finding the method that works for you!  This is a must for anyone who has considered Needleturn Applique.

Where:  Penrith Panthers Exhibition Marquee, 123 Mulgoa Road Penrith.

When:  Friday, 5 to Sunday, 7 August 2011

Time:  10.00am to 4.30pm daily

Entry:  Admission is only $5, car parking is FREE.

For more information on this event, visit www.dekodamarketing.com.au/madquiltersgathering

P.S We will also have great specials over the 3 days as well as the launch of the Blueberries Fabric Club keep reading to find out more!

Blueberries Fabric Club

Join the new Blueberries Fabric Club

This Friday 5 August 2011 Blueberries will launch the Blueberries Fabric Club at the Mad Quilters Gathering held at Penrith.

Sign up for the Blueberries Fabric Club to receive a fabric pack every month. There will be four types of fabric packs

1. Kaffe Fassett - $27 per pack
2. Yuwa - $35 per pack
3. Reproductions - $25 per pack
4. Modern - $25 per pack

On the 15th of each month we will send you a fabric pack in the mail. Although if you join at Penrith this weekend you recieve your first fabric pack in person as well as a gift.

Each fabric pack contains 10 pieces of fabric measuring 20cm x 55cm.

Postage is included in the above prices except for International postage.

Blueberries Spring Fair

Friday 2 and Saturday 3 September

By now you will all have these dates lock into your diary to attend this year's Spring Fair. (Click here to read our earlier blog.)

Where: Blueberries 4C Amy Close Wyong

Time: 9:30am to 4:30pm each day

Entry: FREE with Lucky Door Prizes up for grabs.

What: See Hear and Do

• A Book Fair with a wide range of of unique books available.
• Bernina Sewing Machine demonstrations
• AccuQuilt demonstrations, see how to cut fabric quickly, accurately and safely while viewing all the different die cuts in action.
• Simplicity Bias Tape Maker demonstrations, see for yourself how easily to make bias tape in a number of different widths as well as making binding for your quilt.
• Mini workshops by Monica Poole and Susan Carr
• Quilt displays of Elm Creek and Giant Dahlia
• Specials, delicious food, plus more.

In conjunction with Spring Fair win prizes on Facebook!

Between now and the Spring Fair you have the chance to win two prizes, which will be drawn at the Spring Fair, through the Blueberries Facebook page.

1. Post a photo to the Blueberries Facebook page of your recent patchwork and quilting creation (including your name and a description) to obtain an entry into the draw to win a prize valued at over $200; and

2. Like the Blueberries Facebook page to obtain an entry into the draw to win a prize valued at over $100.

Click here to visit the Blueberries Facebook page!

Pattern Princess

Greetings my loyal subjects!

This week we welcome the charming Reuben to the shop! Designed by Jodie Carleton from Ric Rac, this delightful little donkey who is handsome in his red felt coat, has already wrangled his way into our affections.

He is pictured here soaking up the winter sun with his great mates Parsley and Beet (featured in Midweek Moments #118).

To make your very own unique Reuben, purchase the pattern here.

Big 'n' Bizarre

A road trip of Australia’s fibreglass monuments

The Big Murray Cod

Believe it or not, this fish out of water once had a spectacular career in movies. Well, one movie, at any rate. These days it spends its time perched high and dry outside the Swan Hill railway station in north-western Victoria, no doubt pondering the strange twist of fate that led to its situation.

This is actually the second Big Murray Cod we’ve encountered in our travels so far. The first one was located about 200kms downriver in the NSW border town of Tocumwal, where it’s forced to share the limelight with the neighbouring Big Strawberry. At least the Big Murray Cod in Swan Hill has the whole town to itself.

But what about that stellar film career, so abruptly cut short? Eight Ball is a charming little Aussie flick that tells the story of two very different men who forge an unlikely friendship while building a large fibreglass fish as a tourist attraction for a small town. You don’t have to be a genius to see which role the Big Murray Cod played in this gentle tale of craftsmanship and male bonding. Its performance is the film’s strongest point – bringing an expertly nuanced emotional range to the role. There were even murmurings of an Oscar nomination for Best Fish in a Supporting Role (Musical or Comedy).

Most of the film was shot on location just a few kilometres outside of Swan Hill. Locals were so impressed with the Big Murray Cod’s performance, not to mention its dimensions (11m long and 6m wide) they decided to give it a permanent home. In a classic case of life imitating art, the Big Murray Cod became a tourist attraction for real, gaping at all visitors from its new home outside the railway station. It took the townsfolk a lot of raffles, bingo nights and lamington drives to fund the purchase and installation of their very own Big Thing, but everyone agreed it was well worth the effort.

As for the film itself, it disappeared without trace not long after its theatrical release, which is why you’ve probably never heard of it. The Big Murray Cod, however, has been enjoying hero status in Swan Hill for almost 20 years, pulling in bigger crowds than the film itself could have ever dreamt of.

Apology

Blueberries would like to apologise to the owners of the Giant Koala complex in Dadswells Bridge, Victoria. The Giant Koala was the subject of last week’s Big ‘n’ Bizarre column.

The Giant Koala was bought by new owners nearly 3 years ago and they have recently had it named as being in the top 10 “Big Things” in Australia. Extensive work has been completed to include a native animal zoo and the koala has been restored to look more realistic (see photo here to the right).

It was never the intention of the article to offend and Blueberries apologises for any offence caused by its satirical tone. We encourage anyone who’s ever travelling in that neck of the woods to swing by Dadswells Bridge and check out the Giant Koala for themselves.

And the last word...

“One yard of fabric, like one cookie, is never enough!”