Cracker Snaps

Christmas is not very far away now - still time to make your own Christmas Crackers and I have packets of cracker snaps to enable you to do this. Packs of 10 for only NZ$4, discount if you buy 5 or more packs.
Crackers are so easy to make, if you are not sure I can show you when you call in to purchase some.
You can personalise the items you put in your crackers if you make them and you can put much better items in than the pre-made ones you buy.
Why not get the kids together and make some especially for your family this year??
Dianne

Summer School Craft Classes

Here is the schedule for the craft classes I am running in January for Summer School. Each class is 2 hours on Tuesday or Wednesday, dates as listed. Bookings are essential as numbers limited in each class. Each class will show you at least one technique, which may or may not be new to you. Dianne has all the samples on display in the shop now. Classes are NZ$15, patterns are supplied free in class and materials are your cost. I can offer kits for most classes, just ask.

Tuesday January 12th 10am - 12 noon

Tissue Box Cover (& extras)

Dianne has designed this quick and easy fold over tissue box cover which uses 2 fat quarters. From the cut out portions of the fat quarters you can also make 3 other items - a pocket tissue pack, a notebook and a snap bag. 

Tuesday 12 January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Fabric Covered Notebooks

I will share a variety of techniques with you to make a selection of fabric covered notebooks using cardboard from packages from your pantry and assorted fabrics, including scraps. You can make plain (unadorned) or appliqued styles.

Wednesday 13th January 10am - 12 noon

Painted Textured Canvas

Take a basic canvas and add texture using paper and then paint and add highlights using Markal Paintstiks

Wednesday 13th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Disperse Dyed Scarf (Transfer Dyes)

Dianne will show you how to paint using transfer dyes onto paper and then iron them onto your fabric (which must contain some polyester), create your pattern and then make up the fabric into a scarf

Tuesday 19th January 10am - 12 noon 

Fibre Scarf

Learn how easy it is to use a washaway material and a small selection of yarns & fibres to create a fantastic scarf with a little sewing. You can also make portions to attach to jerseys, cardigans etc.

Tuesday 19th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Sewing Machine Mat

Dianne has designed this simple fabric mat to go under your sewing machine which has a roll at the front for pins and pockets below for scissors etc.

Wednesday 20th January 10am - 12 noon

Carve A Stamp & Use It

You will learn how to create a design and carve a rubber stamp and then use it to stamp on paper and fabric. It is really easy to do using these super soft carving blocks.

Wednesday 20th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Painted Quilts

See how you can quilt a design onto fabric and use fabric paint to colour it in. You choose the design, quilt it and colour it in with fabric felt pens and fabric paint. Depending on your quilting skills as to how intricate you quilt - the green and black photo is very intricate whereas the white photo is more simple doodle style quilting.

Tuesday 26th January 10am - 12 noon

Fabric Covered Footstool

Dianne will show you how to make a fabric covered footstool using either a pieced patchwork design or using just one piece of fabric.

Tuesday 26th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Shoe Bag

Dianne has designed this quick and easy "sketch applique" style bag for storing your shoes in whilst travelling. Quick fusible applique with black "sketch"stitching to adhere the applique. One side has shoes picture, the other words, your choice whether you do one or both.

Wednesday 27th January 10am - 12 noon

Fabric Roll for Pencils or Knitting Needles

Dianne has designed a simple fabric roll with pockets for storing your pencils or knitting needles. Easy to create.

Wednesday 27th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Scraplique (Scrap applique)

Learn how to use up your scraps of fabric and make a pieced background on which you can applique shapes to add design emphasis. Can be used as placemats, as a wall hanging, as a block in a quilt, your choice on what you create with it, I show you the technique, you run with it.

If you are interested in attending any of the above classes please contact Dianne for further information or call in and see the samples.

I do hope you will join me in January for some light holiday style learning and creating.

Dianne

New fabrics in store

We have had some wonderful new fabrics arrive in this week - running out of room to display them (oh dear).

These lovely blue/green batiks are so nice.

 I love using fabric that has writing on it - this looks like words from newspapers, very effective

These 3 different fabrics are Ombres - the colour shades across the fabric width. The light grey to dark charcoal fabrics are great but really, really love the yellow/orange/red/purple. Mmmm, must think of someway to use this one!

The next fabrics are part of a range called Green With Envy - lovely grey, white, green shades.

A very nice range of fabrics - modern with lots of design features.
That's it for now, will hopefully add some more new fabrics tomorrow.
Dianne

Christmas is coming

Yes, I know that you all know Christmas is coming, but before time runs out .....
Have you thought about making your own Christmas Crackers - you will do a much better job of them than buying them as you can personalise the items inside to suit your guests. They are very easy to make as well. I sell the cracker snaps that give you the 'bang' in your cracker. They are only 10 for NZ$4. Do call in buy some before they run out (or you run out of time to make them)

We also carry LED lights to add to your Christmas crafts. Have you thought about adding these gorgeous lights to your patchwork wall hangings? There are 20 tiny lights connected together that can either stay on or flash, battery operated, just add a little pocket behind your work to hang the battery pack.

There are still a couple of Advent Calendar wall hanging panels - I know it is already December, but if you hurry and make it this weekend you will still have fun opening the rest of the days.

We will be closed Christmas Day 25th to Monday 28th, open Tuesday to Thursday and then closed again Friday New Years Day to Monday 4th, open again from the 5th January 2016. Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, please stay safe if travelling and looking forward to seeing you all over Christmas into the New Year.

In January I am going to have Summer School craft classes - check out the blog next week as I will have a list of what classes I will be offering for January on the web on 8th December.
Dianne

Sheep fabric

Also just in is this lovely Sheep panel.

Isn't that a cutie? This will be lovely made up as a child's quilt.
Dianne

Christmas Fabrics

This new fabric range arrived in store - Owl Be Home For Christmas - aren't they gorgeous

The border print at the top, the panel in the middle and the allover fabric at the bottom.
Can definitely make something lovely with these cuties.
Dianne

Last Classes for this year

These are the last craft classes for this year -
Going Round In Circles
2 different dates now offered for this class
Thursday 12 November 7-9pm  OR  Wednesday 25 November 7-9pm
Learn how to sew patchwork circles - Dianne will show you both hand and machine applique methods as well as a set in sewn version which is so easy when you know how.
As this is only a 2 hour class you will learn the techniques and be able to make any circles you want. Here is one version of a circle quilt

Autumn Quilt
Sunday 15 November 9:30am - 4pm
Dianne used squares and rectangles to make the feature strips in this quilt. You can make this piece as wide and long as you want. I chose to make 2 portions for the centre and one each for top and bottom. Then I added appliques between, but once you know how to make the units you can design your own variation.

Fabric On Canvas
Wednesday 2 December 7-9pm
I have added this quick and easy class in case you want to make some easy gifts for Christmas, or you can make them as decorative elements for yourself. So easy to do, and they use up fabric scraps.
No sewing involved.

Quite different variations - you can create almost whatever you want. Once you learn the basic technique you can design anything. I will also show you how you can paint the background in a couple of ways.
Contact me for any information you require and to book in to these classes.
Dianne

New Disney fabrics arrive in store

Over the past week we have had a lot of Disney fabrics arrive in store -

                                                                 Cinderella panel

Winnie The Pooh panel

Sleeping Beauty panel 

Snow White panel 

A sleeping Beauty allover design fabric

And these lovely Mickey and Minnie Mouse allover print fabrics

And last, but not least Dr Who. There is also one more Dr Who still to come which is the Tardis/Phone Box. Hopefully be here soon. 

Dianne

Colouring Books

Colouring Books are the latest fashion, to de-stress adults and to provide you with something to do in your leisure time. These books are all NZ$14.90 each. They are printed on heavy paper and one side only so if you wish to remove the page and frame it you can. 5 different choices of theme. Some of these designs I see as appliques, ideal for ideas for your quilts, embroideries etc.

Dianne