Wonderful New Quilting Books in Store

We have had some wonderful new quilting books arrive in store direct from the US. Check these out -

The Art Quilt Collection NZ$50
This features a variety of quilt artists and several of their quilts. Ideal to sit and look at to get inspiration. Some techniques are explained so you can try them yourself. Beautiful colour photos all through to inspire you.

Masters Art Quilts Vol 2 NZ$50
I loved Volume 1 and Volume 2 is just as good. A coffee table book - pictures but no techniques, it is great to inspire you to try something or to get colour/pattern ideas from. The pictures of the quilts are beautiful and sometimes you have to just keep looking, or look at a quarter of the book thenout it down so you can absorb what you have seen without overlaoding ideas. A good variety of styles of quilts from several different quilters.

Quilt National 2011 NZ$50
Quilt National is run every 2 years and features very Contemporary Quilts. This book is very tempting and thought provoking. You see a large variety of different styles of quilts that break out from the traditional and stretch boundaries, some you like and some you don't. You need to see them all to discover your style. Another coffee table style book in that it doesn't offer techniques but when you get to making contemporary quilts ideas are what you need and you can absorb so many different styles before coming up with your own.

Quilts With Attitude  Special Price Only NZ$30
This book was such good value, I had to order it in. If you like making foundation pieced designs, especially spiky ones like New York Beauty style, then this book is for you. The books gives you several different patterns and styles to create and sets them all out in an easy to follow fashion.  Check this one out.

Quilt Mavens - Perfect Paper Piecing NZ$30 Special Price Also by the same author as Quilts With Attitude this is another book about foundation piecing and how you can create those fabulous looking spiky designs and curves so easily. Another great buy that I couldn't turn down. Take advantage of these great prices.

I personally prefer to do my foundation piecing using a lightweight sew-in vilene which is only around $3 per metre. You draw your designs on it, sew them adn leave it in. I cannot be bothered pulling out paper so this is ideal, the lightweight of the vilene is such that you do not need to remove it and can quilt through it no problem.

Orange Peel - NZ$45
I really like the books from the US contest New Quilts from an Old Favorite. A particular block is suggested each time and contestants come up with some fabulous versions. This book is no exception. Amazing what you can do with a basic block such as Orange Peel, how this was manipulated to achieve such different looks.

Quilting Line & Colour NZ$50

This book features some very different work by Yoshiko who gets you to think about using line (design wise) and colour (from oyur fabrics) in quite a different way. Her designs are very striking.

$5 discount off this book to the first person in to say you saw it on this blog.

More books on their way from the US so keep an eye on the blog.

Dianne

Wine Country Quilt Show

Does your time just disappear, mine does. I don't know where it goes but certainly I could do with more. But they do say a busy person finds time for lots of things. I just need to remember to write in the blog more regularly.
I was a merchant at the Wine Country Quilt Show end of March. It was held at Pukeora Estate just before Waipukurau. This is the old TB hospital on top of the hill just before you get into Waipukurau which has lovely views. On the Saturday morning we woke to a heavy fog/mist which stayed around until about 10am. Here is a shot of it from my merchant stall with the tops of the trees just poling above it. It turned into a beautiful day after this.

I love the misty look, don't you. Hidden below were vineyards, the river and farmlands. Here is a shot of my merchant stall. I had paid for a lovely big space (check out the view from the windows) and there was lots of people coming through. Thank you to the organisers for a lovely weekend.
Specials - I still have some of the Olfa 45mm blades at only $10 each, I brought in more as they are popular. AND I have the inkjet printable cotton at only NZ$3.50 per sheet now or NZ$33 packet of 10.
Next blog will have all the lovely book specials I have - some lovely craftbooks at great prices.
Dianne

Olfa Rotary Blades special

I sell a lot of replacement blades for the 45mm Olfa rotary cutter. They are great blades but you do wear them out or accidentally go over a pin and nick them, so they do need replacing. Usually they are NZ$12.80 but I now have them at a special price of only NZ$10 each.
Be in quick
Dianne

Inkjet Printables

I love using my inkjet printer to print onto fabric - I sell Inkjet Cotton, Silk and Organza to print on. The cotton and silk are the most popular as they can be used in quilts. Print your own photos directly onto the cotton, silk or organza and then you can stitch, embellish and embroider on them. The only thing you have to think about is how to place them in your printer, some have to go in upside down and others face the way you see them. Check before printing so you don't print on the back - but if you do all you need to do is turn the sheet over and reprint it on the correct side.
Now I have a new sheet to print on from Fredrix - Inkjet printable Canvas. Approximately A4 size sheets that you can load into your printer and print on. The canvas has been treated but you can also spray with a UV finish if wanted once printed. Why not come in and check these out?
Dianne

New William Morris Fabrics

The latest William Morris Fabrics designed by Michelle Hill for In the Beginning have arrived in store. They are gorgeous, bright and lovely designs. NZ$27.60 per metre
Here is the beautiful border fabric

Then we have 2 allover patterns

and then there are the blenders - these three are medium light - cream, pink & light green

Gloria Loughman Class

Yay, I have Gloria Loughman coming to teach a class in July 2012. A fabulous teacher who has wonderful quilts, why not come along and learn how you could make something similar.

Light Up Your Landscape
Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th July 9:30am - 4pm NZ$150 (2 day class)
Fusing small squares, rectangles or diamonds onto fabric, students will build up a landscape background that is dramatic and visually appealing. Design principles including perpsective and focal point will be outlined and a variety of colour schemes will be displayed and discussed. Participants will then design their own wall hanging working from a photo, picture or sketch. Fusing, invisible machine applique, free motion stitching and quilting techniques will be included. This workshop is suitable for new and experience quilters alike.

Bookings are filling fast. Be in quick.
Dianne

Craft Classes Feb - Apl 2012

The craft classes I am offering for the first term of 2012 are as follows -

Quilt As You Go Technique Blocks
3 Wednesdays 15 Feb, 14 Mar  & 11 Apl 7-9pm NZ$40
These blocks are made using a wide variety of techniques - hand and machine, pieced and appliqued, embellished and embroidered. They can be made in a variety of sizes - I chose to make them 4" finished but you can choose 6", 8" 10" etc. Depends how many you want to make and how big you want to make your quilt. They are addictive as you are doing so many variations it is fun. Once you have stitched the piece you quilt it ready to sew them all together. It does look best in monochromatic (similar colour scheme) eg creams, reds etc or try cream and brown or maybe black and white with an occassional touch of colour. You will make from 2-4 blocks per night depending on the complexity of design. Here are a few blocks I have made in cream/tan/brown tones. With this method the seams are joined on the front and left to go raggedy.

Bygone Days - Fripperies from the past
3rd Thursday of the month for 10 months NZ$120 paid in advance or NZ$15 per night 7-9pm
16/2, 15/3, 19/4, 17/5, 21/6, 19/7, 16/8, 20/9, 18/10, 15/11
I have been looking at fabric items from Victorian and Regency times - and have these 'fripperies" for you to make. A reticule which could be used as a small purse or a jewellery or makeup bag when travelling; a covered lace coathanger to display and hold your clothes; a shoe bag for travelling; perfumed sachets for drawers and wardrobes; a beautiful hanging bag for lingerie etc. I have used sheers and organza along with silk,satin & rayon fabrics to create a light and lacy look for these but they also could be made in traditional patchwork style cottons. I can supply a kit for each night if required for a small fee, please discuss that with me to see what type of fabrics you would like.
I will also run this like a Block of the Month and send out instructions and kits if required once a month. Please contact me for more information on this.

This first photo shows the Hanging Lingerie bag with an appliqued rose silhouette, the lace covered, embellished coathanger and the reticule which has little pockets inside for carrying/storing items.

This photo shows the shoe bag (or it can be used for lingerie when travelling) and the small sachets or gift bags which can be made in a variety of sizes. These have all been made in cream and brown tonings.

Patchwork Savvy Technique Class #2
3rd Tuesday monthly for 10 months 7-9pm
21/2, 20/3, 17/4, 18/5, 19/6, 17/7, 21/8, 18/9, 16/10, 20/11
I ran this class in 2011 and many of the students asked for me to continue. In this class you will learn a variety of patchwork techniques which are shortcuts, crafty ways to sew something which you may not know about. There are traditional ways to sew some things for which Dianne then finds a new easier method. Dianne will teach all new techniques this year. Shown here are some of the samples from 2011.

This quilt was made using a really easy strip piecing method

And this one used a nifty technique to cut the 5 small half square triangles and the one large from 2 squares of fabric.

Doddle Quilting
Thursday 23 February 7-9pm NZ$15 7-9pm
Do you like machine quilting but haven't had time to try it, or want to see if you can create different patterns. Why not try this short class to get you into doodle quilting. Inspired by Zen Quilting and doodling you can quilt almost anything you can draw, using your needle as your pen. Here is a small sample to try -

Introduction to Thread Painting
Tuesday 6th March 7-9pm NZ$15
Dianne will take you through the basics of how to use your sewing machine to thread paint. You can start by stitching over a preprinted fabric design as I have done with this sample and add detail with your stitching. Thread painting can add depth and texture to your work.

Advanced Fabric Dyeing
Sunday 11 March 9:30am - 4pm NZ$45 plus Dianne can supply a dye kit for NZ$30 if you do not have dyes
Dianne has created a class to teach you  more advanced dyeing techniques - you'll learn resists - stitched and clamped as well as flour paste- batik (wax resist), drip and drizzle dyeing, ice dyeing, using a thickener to enable you to paint with dyes. It is best if you know the basics of fabric dyeing but this can be done by a novice. Here are some samples

These are batik dyed above. The next picture below is using flour paste as a resist.

Fabric Gift Envelopes
Thursday 29th March 7-9pm NZ$15
I have made some lovely little fabric gift envelopes. You can pop vouchers or tickets into them, keep them in your purse for cards etc, any flat item will stay in here beautifully although I sold one the other day to a gentleman to hold his glasses and they fitted fine. They can be made from one piece of fabric or pieced fabrics therefore being ideal for scraps. Quick and easy to make, you can choose a variety of sizes.

If you wish to book in for any of these classes or make any enquiries please phone or email Dianne or call in and see her. Dianne