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

2013 Shop Hop

The 2013 Quilters Friend Shop Hop is now gearing up and registrations are open. Each of the quilts from the 5 shops involved - Village Books & Crafts, Palmerston North; Crafty Pear, Pahiatua; Quilters Lane, Masterton; Sawmillers Quiltery, Te Marua, Upper Hutt; Cherry Pie Bernina, Levin - are now travelling around each of the shops so you can see them 'in the flesh' so to speak. Rather than just relying on photos we are sending each quilt to each shop for a week. I received the quilt from Cherry Pie and have had this on display over the last week and from Monday 2nd we send them on again so next weekend 5-7th I will have Sawmillers' quilt on show. Do call in view this if you can.
Just in case you are not sure what a shop hop is - you pay a registration fee of NZ$45 (at any of the above shops) and choose which quilt and colourway you prefer. As you visit each of the 5 stores listed above from October 26th through to November 17th you collect your fabric pack (generally to make 2 blocks) from each shop. You will then have 10 blocks to make up a quilt of your own or you can purchase a finishing kit of the quilt of your choice to complete the quilt as the original one was made. Why not make up a party and share a car to travel around each of the shops, have a little fun along the way. You get 10% off your purchases if you spend more than NZ$11 and produce your Shop Hop passport, and each shop has some specials for you. Also get your Shop Hop passport stamped at each store and go in the draw to win one of 5 gift baskets - yay!
If you want to view all 5 quilts check out the website - www.quiltersfriend.wordpress.com or call in see - we have photos of each quilt and samples of fabrics used at each store.
Here is my quilt for this year - it may seem a lot of work but you can always ask me for options - the quilt can be made smaller and leave out the outside round, or you can use just black for the inner triangles to set the quilt on point (not so much piecing then) or just black around the outside border and maybe more applique. Just ask and I'll see what we can do   "Autumn Leaves"

I did a lot of quilting on mine because I see them as a way to practice machine quilting. You do not have to do this or be so intricate with your machine quilting. I will be offering the choice of purchasing a Quilting Instruction pack with all my designs as an extra if you would like to have a go. If not, simple straight line quilting will be fine.

Contact me if you would like to register for the Shop Hop or if you cannot do the Shop Hop but would like to make the quilt please call me for a price on the complete kit.

Dianne

Shop Hop Quilt finished

Yay, I have finished quilting and binding my Shop Hop quilt for 2012.
Here is a photo of the finished quilt

I have used a lovely rich fabric (blue with red and metallic gold) for my feature fabric and teamed it with blue, green & metallic gold and red & metallic gold on a cream splatter painted background fabric. There are the 12 blocks that you will collect at each store and I have added a fused applique in the blue on the cream background as extra squares between and used this same applique in the border. Whilst I realise that this may not be to everyone's taste I have also got some photos of the blocks with plain fabrics between to give you an idea of what it could look like.

These are the blocks with the cream behind them.

This one features the blue between the blocks

The red makes a bigger difference between

And this last one uses the green

They look quite different don't they. These are the 12 blocks that you will get as you visit each store on the shop hop route.There are 6 patterns repeated twice, but I have tried to shift the fabrics around quite a bit so the blocks look quite different.

I decided to free motion quilt a feather design in the alternate applique blocks and then thought I may as well continue with the feather theme so have used that in all the blocks. Anyone wanting these designs can purchase a set from me. You do not have to try quilting like this, I like to use these sampler quilts as places to practice different styles of quilting. You can use very simple straight or wavy lines, quilting 1/4" in from each shape, an allover design etc.

Here are some photos close up, this is the back 

As you can see I took a risk and used a navy thread to do most of the free motion quilting with so it stands out, both on the back and front. I did most of the background quilting in metallic gold or an old gold rayon so you will be able to look closely to see what each thread does to the design.

This is a version of the basket block that doesn't look like a basket

A view along the border

One of the star blocks, shows up the beautiful feature fabric

Remember you have to be registered before 31 August 2012 to participate. Cost is only NZ$45 to receive 12 blocks in your choice of colourway. Each shop will have their quilts featured on the Shop Hop website as well as photos of all in each store so you can choose what you would like to collect.

Do come in and register with me and then advise me of which colourway you prefer.

See you

Dianne

Quilters Friend Shop Hop

The Quilters Friend Shop Hop is happening once again from 15 September to 7 October. I am one of the the shops participating in this fun event which started last year. Register before 31 August 2012 and then join with some friends, visit the 6 shops and receive your blocks at each shop.
Participating shops - Village Books & Crafts, Palmerston North
                             - Quiltworks, Waipukurau
                             - Crafty Pear, Pahiatua
                             - Quilters Lane, Masterton
                             - Sawmillers Quiltery, Te Marua, Upper Hutt
                             - Cherry Pie Bernina, Levin
Pay $45 to register, choose your colourway when we put all the photos up on the website, and collect 2 blocks at each shop. Layout kits will be offered by each shop.
I have had fun making mine. A little different this time, almost finished quilting. A photo willbe up by the weekend.
Come in and register so you can participate and have fun. Make it a girls weekend out.
Dianne