About Me

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Married to Tony mother to 2 children Lucas 23, Gemma 26 & her boyfriend Sean. Carer for 2 crazy Jack Russells. I'm dyslexic so excuse any mistakes. The Stitching Room is where I spend my time playing with Clarice (my camera) and Bernie (my sewing machine). Come on in and see what I'm up to.

Sunday 8 May 2011

Mothers Day and a MOAN

First for the MOAN.
If you read my blog you will know that I work at Hettie's Patch a really lovely quilt shop in Adelaide. I love working there and Lorraine the owner is a really lovely person which is why I can not get over the fact that people steal from the shop. Recently we have been noticing it more and more, for about 3 weeks in a row some horrid person was making a bag and helping them selves to Pelon a bag wadding. You might be wondering how we know this - we always take the small rolls to the counter and measure and cut them with a cutter the person who was stealing was just hacking off bits with a pair of scissors.......... nice hey.
Then yesterday someone who liked one of the Flower Sugar range removed ? metres off the cardboard bolt popped it in their bag and then stuffed the cardboard bolt behind a shelf.
It makes me sad to think women who share the same passion as I do for creating can do this........... it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. There are quilt shops all over the country shutting down as it is not easy to make money owning a shop - Lorraine constantly battle the internet where you can buy fabric cheaper than she can buy it.
I find that there is no substitute for a shop where you can go have a chat and a play and feel those wonderful fabrics - keeping the shop running is expensive Lorraine pays staff, rent, super, insurance the list goes on and I think she has one of the best ranges of fabric I have seen but if people continue to steal then one day no quilt shops will exist for women to get together and solve the problems of the word while doing something they really love.
Nikki of You Sew Girl has recently experienced a similar thing.
There I have had my moan and gotten it off my chest Lorraine would never rant like this she is much too nice a person.
To the people who are helping themselves I would love to be the one who catches you.

To a nicer subject
It is Mothers Day here today and this day 25 years ago I was in labor and I got the most wonderful present Gemma. How can that be 25 years ago it only seems like I blinked - I am so proud to be her mum she has grown into a beautiful young women.
Happy Birthday Gem
I have also been to the Bower Bird Market and here is what I came home with.

Bower Bird market purchases

a print from Bespoke.

Bower Bird market purchases

A cushion kit from Ink and Spindle

Bower Bird market purchases

a red leather purse to put my glasses in - in my bag.
and while I am showing you purchased 2 new pairs of shoes.

New shoes

35 comments:

Pip said...

Women who do that deserve a good slapping, and they wonder why a quilt shop closes down or has to put their prices up. I buy fabric over the internet but I also buy from local shops (Hetties being my main source even though it is a bit of a drive for me) as I appreciate the chatting and the touching the fabric, and also the advice that you can get. Next time I go shopping at any quilt shop I will be looking very carefully at the other customers and if I see someone "doing the dirty" then I shall be saying something VERY LOUDLY to them.

I went to the Bower Bird market last year and enjoyed it very much,
nice atmosphere.

jodie said...

happy Mothers day to you and Happy Birthday to Gemma. It is our wedding anniversary today too. Your rant is justified, people never cease to disappoint.

Chookyblue...... said...

moan justified........some people are scum that is all I can say........
happy mothers day and happy birthday to miss gemma

May Britt said...

What's the joy sewing with stolen fabrics??? I hope they get caught one day.

Annie said...

I agree about the moan, and I love the shoes and the spoils

Andi said...

Leaves a yukky taste in the mouth!!
Must go and have some more of those Mother's Day goodies my kids made for me.
Happy Mothers Day to you Leanne!
Andi xx

Sue SA said...

Great shoes. Good to hear the moan, because I had NO idea people were so horrible. I dont go to Hetties a lot but when I have, the service has been excellent and I love the range of fabrics. I think a nicely worded sign about Karma is probably called for, a subtle hint never hurts! What annoys me most is that shops are in a loss/loss situation, as having to ask people to open bags isnt much fun and I am sure the cost of video cameras is hefty. Hmmm, perhaps you need a fabric guard dog? Happy quilting, Sue SA.

Nicky said...

Firstly congrats on the great finds at the market - I cant believe that quilters shop lift. I heard this once before on a blog for a country shop that someone emptied a bolt into her bag and found it mindboggling let alone the audacity of cutting pellon off the roll. I thought shop lifting was something only kids and rock stars did.

dutchcomfort said...

Sorry to hear about this Leanne. I helped out a lot at my LQS and it happens there too, as well as at quilt market stalls! I had a conversation about it with the shop owners and they told me to let go, unless I witness it and can speak to the person about it. It happens at all stores, prices are calculated with the steeling and waste part in it. It’s a sad thing, but we should be aware that shop lifting is a desease, people often do it to get a kick out of it.

Happy Mother’s Day and Happy birthday toGgemma!

seabreezequilts said...

People like that make me sick to the stomach. How can they do stuff like that. I got birdies from Ink and Spindle and some paper string from Bespoke to, had to have it because I loved the spindle that it was on. WIll show you my bits and pieces soon.

periwinkle said...

I just don't get the stealing thing at all !! Love those red shoes and Happy Mothers Day

Shay said...

I dont understand taking something that doesnt belong to you or that you havent paid for either Leanne. Some people just have no conscience. I return pens to work for crying out loud.

Naturally I love your new shoes. I hear the Bowerbird Market is excellent. One of these days when I have some spare cash Im going to wander there and buy things to my hearts content.

Jodie said...

Just yesterday while I was in ballarat patchwork Emma realised one of her samples had been stolen ! I have also had samples stolen at shows - it is so dissapointing isn't it?
I'll have to organise a visit to hettie's patch , people do seem to love it !

May Kristin said...

Happy mother's day and happy birthday to Gemma!
I don't know what people who are stealing like this are thinking, and I wonder if they feel any joy in using what they stole...
My friend who also has her own quiltshop, has experienced theft as well, people stealing her models made from her own patterns.

Lyn said...

I hope you had a lovely Mothers Day combined with your daughters birthday. It's unbelievable what some people will do- they have no morals- but it seems to be happening more often. Our paper here in NZ had a story today about a man who left his i-pad in one of the rental cars he hired out and it was taken- it had a tracking programme loaded into it and he got an email 2 weeks later to say it had been connected to the internet in Melbourne- so he was able to ring the police there with exact details of the address and they were able to go and get it back for him!!!

Levin said...

the selfishness is just so sad - never a thought for someone else, only thinking about themselves. and what makes it worse is that hettie's has such a lovely little community :(

happy birthday gemma! and happy mother's day leanne.

l
x

Shirley said...

Maybe you need to put up a large sign saying that they will be named and shamed if caught stealing. Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday to Gemma. Enjoy your spoils. I love new shoes.

Locket Pocket said...

I can't understand how people can get away with stealing - it's so unfair. Hope you catch them before they take too much more. Lucy x

Simone de Klerk said...

It's so sad to hear this more and more often )o: I always wonder what kind of women these are. Then I think, might I know one, but I can hardly imagine that.
Happy Mother's Day to you. We are celebrating it in the Netherlands too with real summer weather.

Lucky-1 said...

OMG Leanne how awful and I so hope you catch this awful person and have them charged.

I am a big fan of Hetties and am often saying I have been to your shop. I bring my hubby and he loves to talk to Bob. That way I can feel and drool over your beautiful fabric you have for us to buy, while he's cat sitting....lol

Shiralee Stitches said...

Love the shoes...about the moan, every dog has their day and I hope these people have a very publicly humiliating one....how brazen......Happy mums day and happy birthday to Gemma...

ranette said...

First off....LOVE the purple and red shoes and the red bag and the print and the cushion fabric!!! Sounds like a great shopping trip to me.

Second...Happy birthday to Gemma and a Happy Mother's day to you!

Third...I manage a retail shop (not a quilt shop, darn) and we are always finding wrappings or tags of stolen goods. Makes me mad, but more than that it makes me sad.

rosie said...

I am a firm believe in what goes around comes around... Still leaves you feeling so disappointed though..
Happy mothers day...

Kris said...

Love, love, love the shoes.

Really, really, really unimpressed with thieves. It's just a manifestation of selfishness. To thieves I say, "Get over yourself!" I like the talk about karma, but I wish that what is coming to these thieves would come quicker and hit harder!

Hetties is such a lovely place. Quilt shops really are disappearing and it's no wonder when you realise that online fabric is cheaper than an Aussie shop pays for it. It seems that there is a bit of greed or selfishness involved in the middle man process too.

Jo in TAS said...

OOh I'd love to catch them, they wouldn't leave the shop without a black eye! I'm gobsmaked that someone would take a pair of scissors into the store and do what they did!! Maybe our stores need a no bag no entry policy! Wallets only!!
PS LOve those shoes, are they both Colorados?

Jill said...

That is very sad - yes, Lorraine is a lovely and generous lady who does so much for quilting in Adelaide. It's just horrible. My old quilt group actually disbanded because we had a bad egg who stole money from some members of the group on more than one occasion - the last being at our Christmas function - left a really sour taste I can tell you. We know who it was but what can you do? I can't see how people can look themselves in the mirror and think that it's okay. Hopefully karma will take care of them at some stage!

Karen said...

Well said Leeann.On a lighter note maybe Bob could be promoted to security manager or sniffer cat.
The issue with online quilt shopping is becoming a real dilemma. I haven't bought fabric on line but must admit I am becoming sorely tempted. The price of fabric for us ladies in Australia is ridiculous compared to what the girls pay in America. If we support our local quilt shop we are also reluctantly supporting a greedy middleman. I must confess to buying all my cross stitch supplies on line and also many quilting patterns.Just cant get the patterns or stitching stuff here in South Australia. Hugs to Lorraine and you.

Lorraine said...

Hope you had a wonderful Sunday/Mothers Day/birthday celebration......as for the thief/thieves......just don't get it...how could you enjoy using fabric that is stolen.....?...and the pelon ? taking your scissors in with you and cutting it off the bolt? again...I don't get it. I haven't bought anything lately (online or from a shop)..but with the $AU so high against the $US someone somewhere is making a killing...and if it's not the shops then there are some greedy middlemen out there...who won't have any shops to sell to soon if they keep the price of fabric where it is!

Sarah said...

Oh I LIKE those shoes...

I know I think because of the economy state it seems to be happening more and more. Someone went in to Quilted Crow and stole one of Helens from Hugs and Kisses quilts! SO damn game!

I hear you ... I on

Anonymous said...

How brazen are those gals....guess you need to have signs up stating SHOP LIFTING WILL BE PROSECUTED or have a sign stating YOU ARE ON VIDEO SMILE....gee some people have a nerve. Cannot believe people cutting off what they need too cheeky.

Julie (Paddymummy) said...

Hi Leane,
Love your purchases...wish I had bought the fabric now also as I have a Matt bag made out os some of the Ink and Spindle fabric. Even though I havent done much sewing lately(forgotton the last time that I threaded the needle) I still enjoy going to Hetties for a visit. It is really terible that people steal from shops in such a brazen way.

Love the words on your print
Take care Julie

Dawn said...

Oh Leanne that is so awful, Lorraine has the best shop and nicest range as well as being the nicest person....I don't get down there to often as I am about 45mins away but so love it when I do. To the person who has stolen this stuff, I hope they get caught out very soon and publically humiliated about it too. This is horrible. I like Pip will keep my eyes peeled when I shop at any quilt shops but esp Hetties.and like Loraine said...how could they enjoy making anything with a stolen product...I hope it bites them.
Hugs Dawn x

Teresa said...

I have found quilters to be some of the most generous people I have ever met. If I need a little of this or that, someone always offers to share. If these people can not afford to buy, I am confident someone would share from their stash. So sad that people feel the need to take what isn't theirs. Would serve them right that when they walk out the door to get in their car, they find it has been stolen!

Cicero Sings said...

Love those read shoes especially.

It is SO hard to keep a shop up and running these days ... so sad when things are lifted! In our little town it is especially hard for the shops to keep going. Our quilt shop closed down.

Grazia said...

me too....I can't believe that people sharing our passion can steal fabric....it's a shame!
Happy birthday to Gemma!
Grazia ;)