New Hours

As from 2 February I am opening longer. My new hours will be 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am - 1pm on Saturdays. If you find that you cannot come during regular opening hours please contact me and I am generally able to open at a time which suits you.
Happy shopping
Dianne

Class list 2016

I have created a few new items for classes for this first term of 2016 which I hope you will like and join with me to learn.
Beach Bag
Thursday 11 February 7-9pm
I have had this beach fabric in store for a while and thought it would be fun to make something with it, Finally decided to make a bag using By Annie's Soft and Stable batting which keeps it lightweight yet stable and upright. With leftover fabrics I made a covered notebook, a drawstring bag and a zippered pouch.

Placemats
Thursday 18 February 7-9pm
If you are a beginner quilter or would like an easy project to do - these placemats are quick and fun and you can practice your machine quilting on them.

Strip Pieced Quilt
Sunday 21 February 10am - 4pm
OR 2 Tuesdays 16 & 23 February 7-9pm
I made this quilt using 2 1/2" strips - you can cut these yourself or use a Jelly Roll plus border fabric. It teaches you how to use a 60 degree ruler and how to cut and piece these triangles using a simple construction method

Water Reflections
Tuesday 15 March 7-9pm
Water and the reflections you get fascinate me. If you would like to see how you can create some of these styles join me and I'll share some examples and get you started on a small piece to learn how to achieve this effect yourself.

Elephant Quilt
2 Thursdays 17 & 31 March 7-9pm
Elephants can be quite regal creatures, this design gives them a fancy headdress and rug. Learn how to use fancy stitches on your sewing machine for the applique and some hand stitches for the head dress and rug. Create a fancy border as well.

Machine Quilting
Tuesday 5 April 7-9pm
Do you want to learn how to machine quilt or would you like to improve your skills? Come along and improve using a variety of practice designs.

Fabric Covered Footstool
Thursday 7 April 7-9pm
Dianne created this fabric covered footstool and would like to share the how to with you. You can piece a patchwork design for the top or just use a fabulous piece of fabric, piped edge is optional as well.

Jill Maas Douglas Dog class
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May 9:30 - 4pm
Wonderful doll maker Jill Maas is now going to be teaching for me and her first class will be Douglas Dog. Numbers limited so be in quick

If any of these classes appeal to you please contact me to put your name down.
Dianne

The Latest Fabrics for 2016

I hope everyone had a wonderful start to their New Year. The weather here was fabulous New Year's Day and the day after and then turned a little since then, although still reasonably warm.
Here's to a very creative year in 2016.
I am listing below some of the fabrics that arrived in just before Christmas -
McKenna Ryan is designing for a new firm and has produced her first range there called Enduring Pines. These fabrics are lovely and shaded across the width of the fabric.

They are lovely shaded skies which are fabulous for landscapes and then a couple which feature the pines, I chose one which is the everyday green and the other is more of a wintery colouring.
The shaded fabrics make for very interesting sashing and borders as they change colour and shading.

This next range is called Dot Dot Dash - very fresh and springlike. Spots and stripes are always useful.

And still more landscape styles - this is a lovely blue sky and the green grass will be very useful for landscapes

All of these are available in store. If you want anything let me know.
Dianne

Cracker Snaps

Christmas is not very far away now - still time to make your own Christmas Crackers and I have packets of cracker snaps to enable you to do this. Packs of 10 for only NZ$4, discount if you buy 5 or more packs.
Crackers are so easy to make, if you are not sure I can show you when you call in to purchase some.
You can personalise the items you put in your crackers if you make them and you can put much better items in than the pre-made ones you buy.
Why not get the kids together and make some especially for your family this year??
Dianne

Summer School Craft Classes

Here is the schedule for the craft classes I am running in January for Summer School. Each class is 2 hours on Tuesday or Wednesday, dates as listed. Bookings are essential as numbers limited in each class. Each class will show you at least one technique, which may or may not be new to you. Dianne has all the samples on display in the shop now. Classes are NZ$15, patterns are supplied free in class and materials are your cost. I can offer kits for most classes, just ask.

Tuesday January 12th 10am - 12 noon

Tissue Box Cover (& extras)

Dianne has designed this quick and easy fold over tissue box cover which uses 2 fat quarters. From the cut out portions of the fat quarters you can also make 3 other items - a pocket tissue pack, a notebook and a snap bag. 

Tuesday 12 January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Fabric Covered Notebooks

I will share a variety of techniques with you to make a selection of fabric covered notebooks using cardboard from packages from your pantry and assorted fabrics, including scraps. You can make plain (unadorned) or appliqued styles.

Wednesday 13th January 10am - 12 noon

Painted Textured Canvas

Take a basic canvas and add texture using paper and then paint and add highlights using Markal Paintstiks

Wednesday 13th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Disperse Dyed Scarf (Transfer Dyes)

Dianne will show you how to paint using transfer dyes onto paper and then iron them onto your fabric (which must contain some polyester), create your pattern and then make up the fabric into a scarf

Tuesday 19th January 10am - 12 noon 

Fibre Scarf

Learn how easy it is to use a washaway material and a small selection of yarns & fibres to create a fantastic scarf with a little sewing. You can also make portions to attach to jerseys, cardigans etc.

Tuesday 19th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Sewing Machine Mat

Dianne has designed this simple fabric mat to go under your sewing machine which has a roll at the front for pins and pockets below for scissors etc.

Wednesday 20th January 10am - 12 noon

Carve A Stamp & Use It

You will learn how to create a design and carve a rubber stamp and then use it to stamp on paper and fabric. It is really easy to do using these super soft carving blocks.

Wednesday 20th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Painted Quilts

See how you can quilt a design onto fabric and use fabric paint to colour it in. You choose the design, quilt it and colour it in with fabric felt pens and fabric paint. Depending on your quilting skills as to how intricate you quilt - the green and black photo is very intricate whereas the white photo is more simple doodle style quilting.

Tuesday 26th January 10am - 12 noon

Fabric Covered Footstool

Dianne will show you how to make a fabric covered footstool using either a pieced patchwork design or using just one piece of fabric.

Tuesday 26th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Shoe Bag

Dianne has designed this quick and easy "sketch applique" style bag for storing your shoes in whilst travelling. Quick fusible applique with black "sketch"stitching to adhere the applique. One side has shoes picture, the other words, your choice whether you do one or both.

Wednesday 27th January 10am - 12 noon

Fabric Roll for Pencils or Knitting Needles

Dianne has designed a simple fabric roll with pockets for storing your pencils or knitting needles. Easy to create.

Wednesday 27th January 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Scraplique (Scrap applique)

Learn how to use up your scraps of fabric and make a pieced background on which you can applique shapes to add design emphasis. Can be used as placemats, as a wall hanging, as a block in a quilt, your choice on what you create with it, I show you the technique, you run with it.

If you are interested in attending any of the above classes please contact Dianne for further information or call in and see the samples.

I do hope you will join me in January for some light holiday style learning and creating.

Dianne

New fabrics in store

We have had some wonderful new fabrics arrive in this week - running out of room to display them (oh dear).

These lovely blue/green batiks are so nice.

 I love using fabric that has writing on it - this looks like words from newspapers, very effective

These 3 different fabrics are Ombres - the colour shades across the fabric width. The light grey to dark charcoal fabrics are great but really, really love the yellow/orange/red/purple. Mmmm, must think of someway to use this one!

The next fabrics are part of a range called Green With Envy - lovely grey, white, green shades.

A very nice range of fabrics - modern with lots of design features.
That's it for now, will hopefully add some more new fabrics tomorrow.
Dianne