Sunday, August 30, 2015

Craft Classes

The craft classes for this term are as follows. If you would like to book in for any class please contact Dianne and class fee is required as soon as possible to ensure your place in the class.

Poppy Basket Thursday 17 September 7-9pm $15

I designed this easy to make basket which can be used for all sorts of storage, I only called it the Poppy basket because that is the fabric I used for mine. You can make it in any style of fabric and you can make it in a variety of sizes, depending on what you require. They could even stack inside each other if wanted. It uses Decovil as the structure which makes this stand up but is still very soft and flexible, so you will learn how to use a new product. Great to store your sewing items (scissors, cutter , rulers etc), for colouring pencils - anything.

Mosaic Patchwork - Sunday 27 September 9:30 - 3pm $40
I have created some fun mosaic style designs for use in patchwork. If you have a particular picture you want to use I can show you how to create it in mosaic fabric.

 These are the two designs I created so far.

Pillow Lounger - Sunday 11 October 10am - 3pm $40
I have seen lots of these loungers on the internet but they all seem to use only one fabric. When the Horton Hears A Who fabric blocks came in I knew they would be great for using. I pieced my design and made it 5 pillows long, you can use 3-4-or-5 depending on how big you want this. Dianne will guide you through how to make this using your choice of fabric and blocks. Ideal for children and adults to lie or lean against.

Strip Hexies - Tuesday 13 October 7-9pm $15
Come along and see how easy it is to use strips to create your hexagons. You can use a jelly roll or cut your own strips.By adding a plain fabric it creates star points around the hexies. Quick and easy to piece.

Easy Peasy Flower Garden - Thursday 22 October 7-9pm $15
Create this easy design and make wall hangings, bed quilts or table runners. Each circle is completely made and then joined together. So if you want to keep adding you can to make something bigger.
I used fancy stitching on mine but you can use blind hem, satin stitch or buttonhole stitch.

Lutradur Playtime - Tuesday 10 November 7-9pm $15
Learn how to use Lutradur and what you can create with it. You can use it in patchwork as well as mixed media style items. You will play with design, paint, heat guns and soldering irons and Xpandapaint to see what they all do. Adult "Playtime" - come along and have fun.
This is one design you can create.

Going Round in Circles - Thursday 12 November 7-9pm $15
Learn how to sew patchwork circles - they can be sewn by hand, by machine (blind hem, buttonhole and set in piecing) I will show you all the techniques and you choose how you would like to stitch yours. Can be laid out in many designs.

Autumn Quilt - Sunday 15 November 9:30am - 4pm $45
Piece a whole lot of squares and rectangles together to make the pieced portion (can be done by foundation piecing so that might be a new technique for you to learn) and set them how you like, then you can add applique as well if wanted. You can make using a Jelly roll or cutting your own strips, or use up left over squares from other projects.
If you are interested in attending any of these classes please contact me for further information and to book in.
Dianne

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Disney panels

I have received in some lovely Disney Panels -
 Minnie Mouse panel and a gorgeous allover fabric to match
 Every Dad's little girl is his princess - here is a Princess panel
 Spiderman with a matching allover fabric
 And of course, Winnie The Pooh
I love all these panels. Don't you?
Dianne

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Interactive Fabrics

I have received in some wonderful "interactive fabrics" - Color Me by Hayley Crause from House Mouse Designs and Michael Miller Fabrics. These are black on white designs that you can colour in if you want to.
Princess Paisley features mainly paisley designs with some crowns etc thrown in the mix
A Royal Life features the castle, Princess and horse and many other lovely designs
And the Space Adventures is all out of this world designs, including aliens. The panels are 60cm repeats.
Be creative and have fun creating your own unique interpretation and colours. Possibly get the children and grand-children to colour in the fabric and then you can make the quilt for them. Makes it that bit more special.
How to colour it in -
1. Use fabric felt pens, these have been specially formulated for fabrics and won't run or wash out, easy to use
2. Use Fantastix - these are small pens that you dip into liquid textile paint or textile ink, the liquid soaks up into the pen and you have made your own unique fabric felt pens. They will stay useable for at least a week when you put the top on them and you can always dip them into the paint/ink again to refresh them
3. Dye the whole piece of fabric in a plain or rainbow colours
4. Use textile paint and a brush. Air dry overnight and then iron it to heat set. Permanent and washable.
5. You can also use a fusible (Vliesofix/Steam-a-Seam etc) and applique fabric shapes over the designs. A lot more fiddly but doable.
Why don't you call in and check out the options, we can assist you with all of the above
Dianne

Saturday, August 8, 2015

New fabrics

Here are a selection of the new fabrics that have arrived in store recently -
These are gorgeous - don't you think?
The sun umbrellas, the jandals ( or flip flops depending on what country you are in) and then the lovely border print with all the designs on it. Bright and cheerful.
 And the latest Dr Seuss - Horton Hears  A Who, panel above and below is a set of 10 blocks featuring scenes from Horton Hears A Who.
 The allover fabrics that go with the panel and blocks
And what I did with the blocks - I chose to cut them up and surround them with the black and white check, then with red fabric and made them into a Pillow Lounger. Hubby has already checked this out and laid down on it (big kids can use it too!). I am in the process of making a pattern for this and will also teach it in October, if you are interested.
 Above is the set of 5 pillows laid out in a straight line and below, I have folded up 3 pillows to make rest to lean on.
And then some Basics fabrics - ideal for blenders and allovers -
If there is anything here you are interested in please contact me or call in and see us in the shop
Dianne