Saturday 25 August 2012

Spring's Coming!

What a busy couple of weeks I have had. I enjoyed teaching a lovely group of ladies from the Friday Howick Quilting Friends Drunkards Path techniques using the Phillips Fiber Arts Cut A Round tool. Because this one day class is a technique class I have no quilts to show you in this post but I am hopeful someone will send me some pictures which I will pass on. But here the girls are being busy.



I have been getting ready for the Craft and Quilt show, those that live in the North Island of NZ, here is your chance to revisit with friends and come to the show. Check out the website www.craftfair.co.nz, I know there are still a large number of Australian exhibitors coming despite the rumours from last year that because of way GST is treated for them it was going to be too expensive for them to come again. This problem has now been resolved so a number of your favourites will be back along with a few new exhibitors. My friend Cecile from Unique Stitching is coming with some wonderful mixed media materials and she will be running hands-on workshops during the day. Check out her website www.uniquestitching.com.au



At the show this year I will be doing two new workshops



11.30am Mariners Compass: Check out the no paper method for this popular block,



1.30pm The Fastest Easiest Double Wedding Ring Quilt Ever. I have featured this in my previous blog. “But Wait There’s More” You have heard that expression. I can’t give away too much information now but here are a couple of sneak peeks.




Check out my next blog and I will post all the pictures from the show so you ladies who cannot be there will get to see what the mystery is all about.



As a “seasoned” show attendee from both sides of the counter I thought a few tips would not go amiss.

1. Nobody looks below your knees, so comfort is the order of the day. Wear shoes that will carry you around from start to finish.

2. Carry a bottle of water with you. If possible bring one from home. The caterers at the venues charge like wounded bulls for bottled water. But do treat to yourself to a nice lunch. You deserve it after all that exercise you put in walking the halls.

3. Take those bags that fold up really small in your handbag, you always buy more than you thought you would. And it saves needing octopus arms to carry all those individual parcels.

4. Look before you buy. I have been told by customers so many times at shows that they bought …. a few aisles before. Then when they listen to another merchant during their visit, have found that the impulse buy at the start was sometimes unnecessary. Also sometimes prices vary.

5. Take time to enjoy the exhibits. I am guilty of not doing this. We are fortunate to have a wealth of talent and here it is all under one roof. So plan your day. If you can stay longer in the afternoon then do .For some reason the aisles are much clearer after 2.30pm.

6. Attend the workshops, they are usually free and you can always pick up a new tip or technique. I like to talk about and show the newest of my quilts and tools.

7. Use it or lose it. The show held in Auckland in February this year and last year, will not be on again. This sounds harsh but in this economic climate if we do not support these events they will not be there in the future. This also applies in the Quilting industry we will lose those wonderful suppliers in our area if we do not support them financially. In Australia I have been told in the last 12 month over a hundred quilt shops have closed down. Not easy to find a person working in a quilt shop when you are in need of help, to complete that project the one that you bought the fabric from the US, if the quilt shops are not here, is it?



I love being at the show it’s a great way for me to meet up with fellow quilters, customers and friends that I have not seen for a year. As a specialist web based business, it is the way my customers get to meet me and touch and feel fabric.



So much happens in our quilting world, there is always something new to learn and see. There is something special about spending time with like-minded people. Yes the show is a commercial venture but I think it’s more than that. We are very fortunate in the North Island to have the opportunity to attend two shows. Craft and Quilt Hamilton and Calico Christmas now called Auckland Festival of Quilts. This year I will be attending as a merchant once again and am really looking forward to it. More on that closer to the time.



Because this is my “home” show i.e. in NZ not Australia and I do not need to freight over the ditch, I do like to have a little special or two or three.



My special this year is Spend $75 or more on fabric and I will give you a specialist quilting tool free. The value is $34.00

1. Buy 1 Tucker Tool pattern get another free. Value $18.00

2. Buy a Wing Clipper Quilt tool and receive a free pattern .Value $18.00

To the girls who are not at the show I will extend this offer to you for 1 month until 6th October 2012.



Thought I would show you a little of what I have worked on this last week. We have a friend with a special birthday he enjoys being on ,boats so what else but a Mariners Compass wall hanging.



My helper Carlos wanted to be in the photo. Check out the boats behind.



Only two weeks to go until the Craft show, so better get my skates on, make a couple more quilts and cut more fabric.



PS Lesley from Australia sent me this picture from a Quilting retreat in Mansfield. Cute eh check out the Spicy Spiral Pattern they used.







Thursday 2 August 2012

My Adventure to the South Island

Hello wonderful people,



I thought it was time for another blog post to let you guys know what I've been up to lately and what's on this weekend.



A couple of weeks ago I had a trip to the South Island. Flew in to Christchurch visited a number of Quilt shops:



Quilters Quarters in Rangiora it's a lovely big shop, helpful staff lots of different fabrics;



Bernina Dress Sundries ,they have moved since the Quake and are now in 466d Papanui Road;



Stitch at the beginning of Colombo street. Their specialty is all those gorgeous modern fabrics;



Cottonfield at Avonhead ,Beautiful store, stock those lovely Japanese Taupes among other styles of fabric. Took some pictures to show you all how flat the Canterbury plains are. Southern Alps in the background. Had the most beautiful clear days.



Then off to Ashburton to visit with Cindy and her team at Bernina. They have moved and are now part of the Hands Ashford village. If you have time well worth stopping for lunch and a wander around the super specialty shops.



Oamaru is well worth spending time checking out the lovely old buildings.Pics 4 5 6



The main purpose of my trip was to teach for Jan’s Patch in Dunedin. First a one day class “Circ-Elation” this covers 3 techniques to create circle blocks. Here are the girls and what they spent the day enjoying.



I had a wonderful day off on the Friday and took the opportunity to check out the local tourist sites. Again had the most wonderful sunny days (cold for a Nth Islander but mild for those hardy Sth Islanders) and the company of hubby who decided perhaps he could have a game of Golf in Dunedin and notch that venue up on his belt.



Saturday and Sunday taught my Lickerty Splits Class. This is creating a quilt using strata made with a Jelly fabric Roll . They all nearly completed their quilt tops on the weekend and Sue has sent me a picture of hers finished. Its beautiful.



Over the last couple of days I have been preparing for our local Quilt Show. The Whangarei Patchworks and Quilters hold their show every two years . There is amazing talent here in Northland and I know it will be stunning. Here are the details, please come for the drive if you can.

Whangarei Patchworkers & Quilters Club 2012

25th Anniversary QUILT SHOW



Forum North, Exhibition Hall

Rust Ave, Whangarei



10am to 4pm

Fri 3rd, Sat 4th & Sun 5th August



$2.00 entry fee

(children with adult have free entry)



100's of Quilts on Display

Local & Out of Town Merchants

Great Raffles

Demonstrations



Check out the Quilt Whangarei Blog. There is a quilt made after my class a couple of months ago.

http://quiltwhangarei.blogspot.co.nz/



Thought I would show you a little of my slice of Heaven here on earth. OTP and introduce you to just 1 of my Furry Helpers (Spencer) you will meet the other soon.





Happy sewing!!