Scan n Cut Demonstration

Come and see the Brother Scan n Cut machine being demonstrated on Wednesday 8th April between 10am - 3pm. Have a cuppa and a muffin while you watch Rachel demonstrate this fabulous machine.
I have had lots of fun over the last 3 weeks playing with my machine and seeing what I can create with it.
I tried with paper first and made lots of fiddly shapes that would have been a pain to cut with scissors and found how easy it was to create them with the push of a button.

Here are some of my cuts. I played with the words and snowflake shapes already in the machine's programme and learnt how to cut them. I can make them any size I want up to 12" across by 24" long which is wonderful. I have made a little notebook to remind myself how I did these things so now I can refer to it for lots of new ideas.

Here is the heart stencil I made. My first attempt wasn't so good as I didn't make them interlock and all the hearts fell apart but my second attempt turned out pretty good, don't you think?
Then I had some fun playing with fused fabric and created some shapes

Wow, is it easy to cut circles, way better than trying to do this with scissors.
Anyway, call in and see me sometime if you want to see these machines in action and if you can, call in when Rachel, the demonstrator from Brother is here and see what we can share with you.
Do check out the fabulous Rhinestone Kits which are available as well.
Dianne

Craft Classes for May/June

Term 1 is finishing shortly so I have decided what my new classes for this term are going to be. A couple of these are new classes and some are quilts I made a few years ago but thought maybe needed to be brought back again.

This Thursday night 26th March 6:30- 9:30pm NZ$22.50
Applique Garden Quilt
I created a design that uses a variety of flower shapes which you can set out in any way you like. I have made this a tall garden across a piece that is approximately 70cm x 115cm. You can make a wall hanging or a bed quilt - your choice, also how many flowers you have etc are all your choice. This is your garden to design.

 Vinyl Mesh Handbag Tuesday 31 March 7-9pm NZ$25 + NZ$15 pattern
I have taught this class a couple of times and the ladies have loved making these easy handbags using the vinyl mesh. It comes in so many different colours and is very easy to sew.

Small Quilts Tuesday 21 April 7-9pm NZ$15 per night
Then every 3rd Tuesday of the month through to November.
Learn how to make small sized quilts that show you lots of different techniques. Each quilt will be made in the night and you may even quilt it. See how easy it is to machine quilt something this size, great practice for your machine quilting. If you like the design then you can sew a bigger version. Also great for using up your scraps
The quilt we are making in April is -

 And the one in May is this strippy version

Luke's Bookcase Thursday 7 & 21 May 7-9pm NZ$25 + $10 pattern
This is a quilt I designed a few years ago. It has no books but you can add some, but I liked the jars full of things for boys and it has an aquarium and a terrarium complete with escaped critters. Learn to make a few blocks on the first night and then make more in your own time and bring the top back to learn how to quilt or if you haven't had time, continue with your blocks.

Strata Quilt Wednesday 13th & 27th May 7-9pm NZ$25
Learn how to cut and sew gentle curves in this strata quilt, then how to applique circles over the top. A variety of methods for the applique will be shown. Learn how to cut and piece the background at the first lesson and continue making these at home. Then in the second lesson learn how to sew on the appliques (and the borders if you haven't already done those)

I Spy Quilt Thursday 11 June 7-9pm NZ$15
This is an easy Snowball block which Dianne will show you how to make, then you can complete all the blocks you require at home. Good big size blocks for the children to play I Spy with.

Text On Quilts Thursday 25th June 7-9pm NZ$15
I love adding text to my quilts and fabrics. Bring a finished quilt along and/or some fabric and I'll show you how to add your text to either. Bring along the words and see what we can create for you.
Here are 2 examples of what I have made -

Give me a call or come in and see me if you would like to join in any of these classes.
Dianne

Sale Fabrics

I have been lucky enough to purchase several patchwork fabrics at a cheaper price because they are discontinued or ends of line and I am passing that price on to you. Some of these have a few metres some about 1m. Be in quick.
Special  #1 NZ$12.50 p/m

Special #2 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #3 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #4 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #5 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #7 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #8 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #9 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #10 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #11 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #12 NZ$12.50p/m

Special #13 NZ$12.50p/m
These next fabrics are NZ$15 per metre
Special #16

Special #17 (Japanese, is more slate blue)
Special #19 (writing)

Special #20 (orange spot)
Special #21 (purple with lines)

Special #22 purple with marks

Give me a call or email to order or call in to the shop and purchase these great specials, all good quality cottons.
Dianne

Craft Classes 2015

These are the classes I have for the first term of 2015.
Painting on Fabric
Either 3 Tuesdays 10/17/24 March 7pm - 9pm NZ$45
OR Sunday 22 March 9:30am - 4pm NZ$45
Dianne will show you how to paint and draw on fabric and create and embellish your fabrics using a variety of different paints, stencils, stamps, screens etc. You will learn how to make your own stencils, stamps and screens from everyday items you have around the house. Come along and have fun creating your own new fabrics and changing your existing dated fabrics into something more modern and usable.

You can create skies and landscape backgrounds as well. Above are some examples.

Bunting Quilt
Thursday 12 March 6:30pm - 9:30pm NZ$22.50
There are several fabrics arriving in store that are preprinted panels of bunting. I don't want to make bunting (there is only so much you can have of that around) so I had a play and see what you can create using those fabrics, which are designed in triangular shapes. Here is one example - I made them into rectangles by adding side triangles in background fabric.

If you don't have a bunting panel then I have a triangle template for you to use ordinary fabric to make something like this. There are lots of different settings. Come along and have a play with triangle piecing.

Applique Garden Quilt
Thursday 26th March 6:30pm - 9:30pm NZ$22.50
Dianne designed this applique garden quilt so that you can have fun designing your own garden, including a couple of snails and ladybirds. Make a wall hanging or full bed size quilt, your choice.

You will make as many appliques or as few as you require for the size project you want to work on, use dark or medium background, whatever you desire.

Vinyl Mesh Bag
Tuesday 31 March 6:30pm - 9:30pm NZ$25 + $15 pattern fee
The ladies who have made bags before have loved this class, it is really easy to make something different and useful. With lots of different colours available in the vinyl you can match or contrast to any fabric you want. Come and check out Diannes samples.

Jennies Half Nighter Patchwork Class
Jennie will be setting a date soon for June and/or July so if you are interested in attending the Half Nighter class then please call me to let me know you are interested and I can advise once a date is set.

Symposium is over and now we are back to normal

Well Symposium has been and gone and it went well. I hope many of you had a chance to get there and at least see some of the wonderful exhibitions around Palmerston North. As well as the major quilt exhibition at the Convention Centre there were 7 other quilt exhibitions around town. I know that they were well visited.
Back to normal - well as close as we can get. I have had lots of lovely fabrics arrive in store so do come in and check them out. I will put pictures of them up on the web shortly so if you cannot visit you can order on line.
Dianne

Symposium needs

It is not long now until the National Quilt Symposium being held in Palmerston North 16-21 January 2015. I have been going through the needs lists of the tutors and can offer you many items, either for purchase prior to symposium or take a chance and see if we still have stock at symposium.
The Cut A Round Tool is only NZ$60.
Some items in stock are
- Markal Paintstiks (same as Shiva), a good selection of colours available NZ$15, both standard and iridescent colours. They will last you a long time or cut them in half and share with a friend.
- Clover Fabric Folding Pens, I thought I would get some of these in to try.
- Ultimate Marking Pencil

- Transfer foils, a good selection of colours available
- Lumiere paints
- Dye-na-flow paints (these are due in about 10 days)
- Freezer paper
- Steam-a-Seam Lite is back in stock
- Frixion pens in blue and black (I love these for marking on fabric, erase with heat and bring back with extreme cold, wash once you have sewn to remove completely)
- Vliesofix- lots of metres of this available
- Jo Sonja Textile medium
- Roxanne's Glue Baste It
- Caran D'Ache Neocolour II was pastels
- Washaway, tearaway, clear sewable vinyl
- black and white Kunin felt
- Procion MX Dyes
- brushes - I have a selection or round and angled brushes
and much more.
Why not call in or give me a call (or email) and I will try to help you with your needs lists.
Have a wonderful; Christmas
Dianne

Cracker Snaps Available

More cracker snaps have just arrived in store. Not sure what they are?? That's what gives you the bang in your Christmas Cracker. We sell them for $4 a packet of 10 and there is  10% off if you buy 5 or more packets. Have a go at making your own Christmas Crackers- then you will get far better things inside than the ready made ones. They are very easy to make.
My tips - use a paper that is not too hard to pull apart, so maybe a lightweight paper which will easily pull apart and then you can always decorate with the fancy paper around the middle.
 - place your paper face down on the table and then lay a cracker snap down followed by the cardboard tube. I do this so that when it bangs you do not get a black mark on the items in your tube. - place a second tube about 1" away from the first. Roll the paper around the centre tube and tie one end very tightly between the 2 tubes. The second tube ensures that your paper doesn't squash and keeps it very nice and neat. You can push the 2 ends portions together to get that professional look. Once tied you remove this second tube and you should have a very neat and tidy looking end.
- fill whatever you want in the tube and place your spare tube in the end before you tie your last end. Once tied remove the spare tube and you should have a very professional looking cracker. Decorate the centre portion with fancy papers, decorations, glitz, whatever you want.
- enjoy pulling them. If you want to ensure the snap does go SNAP, then hold the ends making sure you have the end of the cracker snap  under your fingers so they do pull apart and bang.
Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

We will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, open again on Saturday morning, then closed Monday (as we usually are), open Tuesday and Wednesday then closed Thursday and Friday. Do call and visit, we have lots of lovely fabrics arrived in store for you.

Best wishes and seasons greetings to all
Dianne and Colin