Symposium needs

It is not long now until the National Quilt Symposium being held in Palmerston North 16-21 January 2015. I have been going through the needs lists of the tutors and can offer you many items, either for purchase prior to symposium or take a chance and see if we still have stock at symposium.
The Cut A Round Tool is only NZ$60.
Some items in stock are
- Markal Paintstiks (same as Shiva), a good selection of colours available NZ$15, both standard and iridescent colours. They will last you a long time or cut them in half and share with a friend.
- Clover Fabric Folding Pens, I thought I would get some of these in to try.
- Ultimate Marking Pencil

- Transfer foils, a good selection of colours available
- Lumiere paints
- Dye-na-flow paints (these are due in about 10 days)
- Freezer paper
- Steam-a-Seam Lite is back in stock
- Frixion pens in blue and black (I love these for marking on fabric, erase with heat and bring back with extreme cold, wash once you have sewn to remove completely)
- Vliesofix- lots of metres of this available
- Jo Sonja Textile medium
- Roxanne's Glue Baste It
- Caran D'Ache Neocolour II was pastels
- Washaway, tearaway, clear sewable vinyl
- black and white Kunin felt
- Procion MX Dyes
- brushes - I have a selection or round and angled brushes
and much more.
Why not call in or give me a call (or email) and I will try to help you with your needs lists.
Have a wonderful; Christmas
Dianne

Cracker Snaps Available

More cracker snaps have just arrived in store. Not sure what they are?? That's what gives you the bang in your Christmas Cracker. We sell them for $4 a packet of 10 and there is  10% off if you buy 5 or more packets. Have a go at making your own Christmas Crackers- then you will get far better things inside than the ready made ones. They are very easy to make.
My tips - use a paper that is not too hard to pull apart, so maybe a lightweight paper which will easily pull apart and then you can always decorate with the fancy paper around the middle.
 - place your paper face down on the table and then lay a cracker snap down followed by the cardboard tube. I do this so that when it bangs you do not get a black mark on the items in your tube. - place a second tube about 1" away from the first. Roll the paper around the centre tube and tie one end very tightly between the 2 tubes. The second tube ensures that your paper doesn't squash and keeps it very nice and neat. You can push the 2 ends portions together to get that professional look. Once tied you remove this second tube and you should have a very neat and tidy looking end.
- fill whatever you want in the tube and place your spare tube in the end before you tie your last end. Once tied remove the spare tube and you should have a very professional looking cracker. Decorate the centre portion with fancy papers, decorations, glitz, whatever you want.
- enjoy pulling them. If you want to ensure the snap does go SNAP, then hold the ends making sure you have the end of the cracker snap  under your fingers so they do pull apart and bang.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

We will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, open again on Saturday morning, then closed Monday (as we usually are), open Tuesday and Wednesday then closed Thursday and Friday. Do call and visit, we have lots of lovely fabrics arrived in store for you.

Best wishes and seasons greetings to all
Dianne and Colin

Steam-A-Seam available again

Yay, our Steam-A-Seam Lite has finally arrived back in store. It is now 24" wide and one of the backing papers has a grid marked on it. Only NZ$13.80 per metre. Order now.
Dianne

Selection of New Fabrics

I feel bad - I have just seen that my last post was in September. Sorry. I had 4 weekends in a row at quilt shows , which was wonderful but I didn't get a lot done, leaving on Friday afternoons to set up and getting back late afternoon on Sundays.
Anyway - I thought you might like to see what has arrived in store just recently - some yummy fabrics, check these out

This lovely black with grey print from Copenhagen Print Factory is lovely. NZ$27.70pm

It has been a while since we had any Flower Fairy fabrics - but they have arrived

 This first one is the panel From Dawn to Dusk Fairies, 60cm panel $16.30 each

 This allover print is Day Fairies NZ$27 per metre

And this border print Dusk Fairies NZ$28.10 per metre. This is the same on both sides (ie. it repeats from the middle medium blue out to the dark blue on both sides of the fabric)

This unusual fabric from Michael Miller repeats again on the other side of the fabric fold, so if you open out the fabric this design is repeated twice, like a very large border print. I showed it to someone in store the other day and she said it would make a gorgeous dress or skirt. NZ$26.40pm

 Now - one for the boys (grown up ones too). Ford Fabrics, the panel above is NZ$26.60 (90cm wide)

 These 2 different Ford car fabrics are NZ$26.60 per metre

Then we have this lovely Japanese influenced range called Sakura, NZ$26.50 per metre Very unusual in gray and pink tones.

Lovely aren't they?
Now for something very modern and fresh looking -

You can add so many different colours to them and they will stand out beautifully. NZ$21.80 pm

And I finally have more of the vinyl bag mesh colours back in store,. They sold out very quickly and took a while for more colours to come through. Wonderful for bags and totes.
Looking forward to hearing from, or seeing you in store.
Dianne

Patchwork Classes

These are the latest classes I have scheduled. If you are interested in participating then please contact me to book in.
Owl Hand Warmer Tuesday 16 September 7-9pm NZ$15
I designed this cute little owl which can be used as a handwarmer, pop it in the microwave and then in your pocket to keep your hands warm for a while

Machine Quilting Tuesday 30 September or Wednesday 15 October 7-9pm NZ$15
Would you like to learn more about free motion machine quilting or want to practice and improve your skills. Come along and Dianne will assist you. Come to one class or both.

Double Disappearing Nine Patch Quilt Sunday 12 October 10-4pm NZ$40
Many of you have made a disappearing nine patch block, it is fun and easy to do. This is a double disappearing nine patch, just as easy to do. I made 16 blocks in an hour and a half. Yes I sew quick but you to can make them in a short time.

Here are 3 different layouts that I think look great.

Machine Pieced Hexagons Tuesday 21 October 7-9pm NZ$15
It is possible to machine piece your hexagons. Come along and see how easy this can be and how quickly you can piece them rather than sewing by hand.

Christmas Wreath Thursday 30 October 7-9 (to piece and fuse top) NZ$15 and Thursday 13 Nobvember 7-9 (to quilt it) NZ$15
Come and see how to put together a quilt top using pre-fused snippets of fabric and piece borders. Then the following lesson learn how to quilt it.

Quilt Shows

Rose City Quilters in Palmerston North are having their bi-ennial Quilt Show Celebration of Quilts on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September at College Street Normal School, 402 College Street, Palmerston North 10am - 4pm both days. Entry is $5 per person and children are free when accompanied by an adult.
In the new school hall there will be a large exhibition of quilts, a Memorial Wall where quilts made by members who have died will be displayed, a "Have a Go' area and members will be working on quilts so you can watch and learn. There is also a Merchant Mall, which I will be part of. Do come along and see us and the quilts. A lovely day out.
Masterquilters Guild are having their Exhibition of Work "Pieces of Time" from 20th September to 28th September at Carterton Events Centre, Holloway Street, Carterton. There will be merchants selling their wares (don't you love that old fashioned word) both weekends, but not during the week. I am lucky to be attending both weekends 20/21 and 27/28 September as a merchant so will have lots of things to show and sell to you. Looking forward to seeing you there.
The shop will still be open whilst I am at these shows on Saturdays 10am - 1pm.
Dianne

Wonderful New Patchwork Fabrics in July/August

I have received some lovely fabrics in store over the last few weeks -

Music Fabric NZ$28.80 per metre
Music fabrics are always very popular so I try to get new ones whenever possible.

Dalmatian Rescue NZ$26.50 per metre
New in for children this Dalmatian Rescue is so cute. An all over design and a border print.

Striped Batik NZ$28.80 per metre
Very useful stripes in batik.

And a multi coloured batik NZ$22 per metre

These two gorgeous fabrics are from the Oriental Collection NZ$28.80 per metre
Love the black/cream/and gold combination which goes well with 2 special priced fabrics I got in recently -

The grey and gold stripe at the top is only $15 per metre and the cream/tan and gold stripe is $20 per metre.
I think they work well with the Oriental collection fabrics.

Two new Artisan Spirit fabrics NZ$28.60 per metre. These fabrics have rich colours with either metallic gold or silver over them. Beautiful.

3 more new batik fabrics - the top one is NZ$23.90 per metre and the other 2 are NZ$22 per metre.
Really nice greens to use in your work.

This lovely range is Charlemagne NZ$27.90 per metre

Large floral, 2 allover prints and a stripe, add a couple of plain or tone on tones and you'll have a lovely delicate design.

Jolly Farm Tractors is a lovely fabric for children's quilts or even to cover a canvas and hang on the wall as a picture. NZ$27.50 per metre

And the last one for children is Dr Seuss ABC. NZ$28.80 per metre. 

Do call in and see these fabrics or contact me for mail order. Love to hear from you 

Dianne

Fabulous Fabrics Only NZ$15 per metre

I have been buying up 100% cotton patchwork fabric on special so I can offer you a wider range of cheaper priced fabrics.
This selection are only NZ$15 per metre. Be in quick, it is going fast.

I think there are some ideal fabrics in this range and at only NZ$15 per metre, a great price.
Dianne