Christmas Hours

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.
We will only be closing our normal dyas off and Statutory days so
Monday 23 Dec closed
Tuesday 24 Dec open 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 25 Dec closed
Thursday 26 Dec closed
Friday 27 Dec open 10am - 5pm
Saturday 28 Dec open 10am - 1pm
Sunday 29 Dec closed
Monday 30 Dec closed
Tuesday 31 Dec open 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 1 Jan closed
Thursday 2 Jan closed
Friday 3 Jan open 10am - 5pm
Saturday 4 Jan open 10am - 1pm
Normal hours resumed.
If we can be of any assistance to you over the holiday period please ask or call in and see us when we are open.
Wishing everyone the best
Dianne

Brother Sewing Machine Specials

Brother NZ  are offering a variety of specials leading up to Christmas. If you order and pay prior to 20 December, while stocks last, you can get the following specials on sewing machines and Scan N Cut machines. If you would like to place an order please contact me.Dianne

Fabric Strip Club

Just letting you know there is NO Fabric Strip Club this Saturday 12th October as I am a merchant at Quilt Fest in Levin, Horowhenua Show Grounds, 9am - 4pm.
I will have lots of specials and new stock down there so do call in and see the quilts on display and the merchants who will all have wonderful goodies to tempt you. I will post photos shortly.
Dianne

Mini Quilt Symposium

Rose City Quilters have announced that they are going to host a Mini Quilt Symposium 1-4 October 2020 in Palmerston North. Registrations are now open on www.quiltcentral.co.nz. Do register and you may be in with a good chance to attend lots of classes. We have put on 2 major symposia in Palmerston North before and here is your chance to be part of a mini symposium.
What's the difference - mainly the number attending. A mini symposium is smaller but still has lots of classes, lectures and exhibitions. See you there. Dianne

Shop Hop 2019

It is once again time to register for Shop Hop 2019. We have all made our quilts/items and are ready for the registration process. The Quilters Friend Shop Hop has 9 different shops in the lower North Island to visit - Village Books & Crafts and Amiees Homestead Quilts in Palmerston North, Angels in Gumboots in Ashhurst, Crafty Pear in Pahiatua, Quilters Lane in Masterton, Busy Bee and Stitchbird in Wellington, Cherry Pie Bernina in Levin and Fox's Cottage in Foxton. The theme this year is "Stars on Parade".
We have each selected a range of fabric, made a quilt or item using this range and you choose which one (or 2 or 3...) appeal to you, you pay $60 per selection and you will received 2 fat eighths and part of the pattern at each store when you visit them in August. Yes, we give you a whole month to get around all of these stores. You are required to visit each store to collect your fabrics and pattern pieces. Each shop will offer you a 10% discount the day you call in as well as specials for that month. Registrations are required to be in by 18 July so we have time to cut and make up the packs and send them to each store so you get your choice at each one. Remember you don't have to make the pattern as it is you can just collect the fabric and use it in anyway you like.                                                    Here are the photos of each selection -
Village Books & Crafts "Stars on Parade" - using an Eclectic Mix of fabric

Amiees Homestead Quilts  - Blue and white

Angels in Gumboots - using Moda Grunge

Crafty Pear - William Morris fabrics made into a drawstring sewing bag with accessories 

Available in 2 colourways - blue or red.

Quilters Lane - Zen Chic

Busy Bee - using Bright Batiks

Stitchbird

Cherry Pie Bernina - quilt and a sewing machine cover option

Fox's Cottage - have 2 options but I only have photos of 1

You can choose and register at any store and we will let the relevant store know who has registered for what. Love to see you on the Shop Hop, a fun day or 2 away, or do day journeys. Get a couple of friends and have a Quilters Getaway and have fun along the way. Dianne

Tote & Gloat

Tote and Gloat is our one day event in Palmerston North that is total immersion in quilting. Starting at 8:30am there are a few exhibitions to view and the merchants are ready to assist you. 10am is the "Show & Tell" part where anyone attending can show their quilts. Lunchtime you get time to view the quilts, see the challenges and block display, and check out more of the merchants, and maybe, find time for lunch. Then after lunch is the guest speaker - Rachel Daisy from Australia who does lovely quilts which are traditional base with a very modern twist. The event finishes at 5pm. A really lovely day out if you are into quilting. Tickets available from us, only $15.

Healing Hearts for Christchurch

Since the terrible shooting in Christchurch a few weeks ago a movement has started here in NZ called Healing Hearts for Christchurch. The aim is for people to make 6.5" white background squares with green hearts on them. These can be appliqued or pieced, can be single or multiple hearts, your choice. Green and white are muslim colours. We would like to have 1 quilt for each victims family, one for each injured person and some for the first responders. At least 100 quilts. Blocks have been pouring in and local ladies are getting together to make these blocks into quilts. Some are being made just with hearts, others have hearts with alternate blocks. I offered to be part of this as a collection point and for making these quilts. You can check out Healing Hearts for Christchurch on Facebook where the full info is listed about the requirements. If you are unsure you can always contact myself or Helen from Angels in Gumboots, who is the main coordinator. Main points are no red, yellow or saffron in colours, and no animals or people in the fabrics.
You can help by making blocks, joining these together to make quilts that are 6 blocks across by 7 blocks down (42 in total), no borders. We also need some alternate blocks (6.5" sq) - can be white or green, can be pieced or unpieced. Here are some samples of the blocks received and some of the quilts made.

 If you can help us with anything we would love to hear from you, or you can come and sew here in the shop to help any time we are open.
Many thanks to everyone who has donated blocks, fabrics, time and effort. It is all apprciated so we can help these victims with some "aroha", love and show that our thoughta are with them.
Dianne

Late Nights

Until the end of March 2019 I am now open until 8pm on a Thursday night. A couple of ladies who work during the day and cannot get to sew asked if it was possible to sew after work. "Sew" here we are, open until 8pm. You can come and sew (only $5) or just call in and shop. I'd love to see you. Thursdays are now from 10am until 8pm.

Class List January 2019

Happy New Year to one and all. Here is the new class list for the first term in 2019. Please contact me if you want to participate in any class. Payment is due when booking to ensure your place in class. Cancellations received within 2 weeks of class commencement receive no refund unless a replacement can be found. If we cancel the class for any reason you will receive a full refund. Have a look and see if there is anything new you might like to join in and learn.
Art Journaling with Lynette Collis - 5 Wednesday starting 13 February, then one week break and 4 more 27 Feb, 6, 13 & 20 March 7-9pm $75
I've been art journaling since 2009 to capture memories, document my days, remember holidays, experiment and fit creative play into my life. I will show you lots of techniques to use in your own personal journal.Samples in store

Easter Egg Hunt Quilt - Sunday 17 February 9:30am - 4pm $45

Dianne has designed this lovely Easter Quilt for you. Features raw edges applique and quilting but if you prefer turned edge applique Dianne can share some techniques.

Fabric Covered Storage Boxes - Thursday 21 February $15

Dianne created these lovely fabric covered storage boxes made from ordinary cardboard boxes. Come along and see how easy you can colour co-ordinate and theme your storage to suit. You can piece your fabrics or use just 2 (outer and lining).

Star Book - Lynette Collis  Saturday 23 February 10am - 4pm  $45

Lynette is teaching her Star book for me - you will learn lots of techniques - it can be all paper/image based or you can incorporate textiles a well. Folds up to a standard book style but opens up into a lovely star pattern. You choose the theme of your book.

Fabric Clock Tuesday 5th March 7-9pm $15 plus materials fee

Dianne has created a quilted fabric design and added clock parts to make a very personalised clock. You can use a pieced block or preprinted fabric design. You don't have to quilt it, but I think it gives more depth to a textile piece.

Modern Broderie Perse Class - Tuesday 12 March 7-9pm $15

Dianne will show how you can take parts of printed fabric and use them in a modern version of Broderie Perse, a form of applique popular in the late 1800's. Because printed chintz fabric was very expensive they cut out designs and appliqued them onto a plainer background to make larger items like bed quilts. I will show you a modern version, doesn't have to be floral designs. I made 3 similar designs to show you different backgrounds and stitches. 

Cork Bag Wednesday 27 March 7-9pm  $20 includes pattern

Dianne has designed this lovely bag made using cotton fabric and cork fabric. This is real cork that has been sliced thinly and applied to a fabric base. It is very soft and very popular for all sorts of sewing projects especially bags. Sustainable, stain resistant and water resistant so ideal for this. I chose to use a star cutout section, you can have another design or an applique in its place.

Miniature Quilts - regular monthly class on 3rd Friday every month (except Easter when it will be 2nd Friday) 1-3pm $15

Dianne shows you a new technique each time to make some wonderful miniature quilts. Here is a sample from previously.

Please contact me if you have any queries regarding any of these classes. 

Dianne

Fabric Strip Club January

This Saturday 12th January is the first Fabric Strip Club for this year. I have designed a new quilt for this and look forward to sharing the techniques with attendees who come along between 9am - 10am. In the FREE demo I will share these techniques on how I created this quilt and you get to purchase the pattern for only $6, plus you get 10% discount on any purchase you make (excluding sewing machines and vouchers)
Here is a photo of the last quilt made in December - this one was made to look like ornaments hanging, but could easily look good in many other fabric styles - batiks, oriental etc.

A new item in store is Cork Fabric. A wonderful soft and supple, sustainable product which is stain resistant, water resistant, can be stamped, stencilled, coloured, stitched and machine embroidered. I 

have one cork design by the metre (60cm wide $40 per metre) and then a selection of precuts 15" x 18" $22. Here are the cork designs we currently have....

I have had fun creating samples using the cork fabric and found it really easy to stitch with. I did not need a special foot, just used my nnormal 1/4" foot and a #80 needle and had no problems.
Here are the samples I have made so far. At the top are a zippered pouch, a passport cover and a luggage label.

The photo above is a handbag I have designed and almost finished making using a mixture of cork and cotton fabric. Really pleased with the way this has turned out. If there is sufficient interest I willorder more designs by the metre as this is much better value. Do call in and see the samples and maybe buy some to try yourself.
Dianne