What a wonderful way to start the year with such an enjoyable Summer School program – thank you SO MUCH to each and every person who came along and helped make it the fabulous time that it was. There was heaps of learning every day, constant chatter and laughter over morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, and we had such a wonderful group of talented teachers who all shared their knowledge so generously with our students who were all so keen to learn!
Apart from many of our regular students, it was also wonderful to have many new students come along for the first time. We hope you join us again sometime soon! This year we had people come from far and wide to Summer School. How lucky are we! Queensland, Northern NSW, Deniliquin, Hamilton, Shepparton, several from the Gippsland area, Kilmore, Mornington Peninsula – and they’re just the places I can remember!
We are busily uploading some photos of Summer School onto the Gallery section of our website – click here and have a look when you have some time!
Shop News
Save these dates!
As many of you need to plan your holidays well in advance, here are the dates for our major events this year:
Winter Workshop program: Monday 8th – Saturday 13th July 2019. We are very lucky to have Lisa Mattock of Forage Slow Stitching fame joining us on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th July. Her work is amazing! If you are not familiar with Lisa and her slow stitching technique, check her work out on Instagram and Facebook (foragebylisamattock)
Summer School program 2020: Monday 13th – Saturday 25th January 2020. This will include Rachelle Denneny joining us again for the second week of Summer School.
Christmas Party - Saturday 14th December 2019
Sit and Sew all day (venue will be the One Community Church) * Saturday 18th May * Saturday 13th July (final day of Winter Workshops) * Saturday 5th October (something special in the planning for this one!!). * Saturday 25th January 2020 (final day of Summer School)
BOM & Club Update
Marshal The Quiiltmania Mystery BOM for 2019 is now available. Join us to create a fun quilt, designed by Jen Kingwell. Click here for details.
Fresh Cut Designed by Sue Spargo, we have just a few spots remaining! Classes are available too on 1st Friday of each month with Glenda (see the Classes section of this newsletter). Click here for full details.
Dream Flight Designed by Jacqueline de Jonge (of BeColourful fame). The fabrics have just arrived so we’re ready to go! A stunning quilt and you can click here for full details. Haven’t done Foundation Paper Piecing before? We’d love to teach you – just ask us!
New Products
Threads
We are now stocking “Razzle” and “Dazzle” threads!
Razzle is a sturdy 6-ply 100% rayon thread comparable in weight to a #8 perle cotton. Razzle's natural bright lustre and silky feel make it a wonderful choice for crafts, crocheting, knitting, and accessories. Razzle threads can be used in highlighting the details in dimensional stitches. The light play on Razzle intensifies stitchery depth and textural effects on wool, making this a stand out thread!
Dazzle is also a sturdy 6-ply thread, and also comparable in weight to a #8 perle cotton. This 100% rayon and metallic mix carries a naturally bright lustre with a silky finish, making it an excellent choice for crafts, crochet, knitting, and highlighting the details on dimensional stitches. Because of Dazzle's light reflective properties and "pop" of metallic, the detail on wool appliqué and layering can be enhanced with edging stitches for that extra sparkle.
Soft and Stable
Soft and Stable, a byAnnie product, is a new product developed to use in place of batting or other stabilizers in purses, bags, totes, home dec items and more.
Great lasting body and stability
Lightweight
Maintains shape
Gives a professional finish to your project
Easy to sew
Fabric can be quilted to Soft and Stable or just sewn around the edges of the pieces — no need to quilt every 2 to 4" as with batting
Soft and comfortable
Washer and dryer safe
Available on the bolt or in packs.
Other ByAnnie products
Also from byAnnie are mesh, zips, purse parts, and fold over elastic. Fold over elastic, you ask? Well, fold-over elastic provides a decorative finish to apparels, crafts, hairbands and more!
The elastic is shiny on one side and matte on the other to allow for flexibility in aesthetic and is creased along the centre for easier folding and sewing.
It’s especially good for finishing the edges of mesh fabric for pockets in purses and bags.
Not working with mesh? Fold-over elastic is perfect for finishing a neckline or wristbands on a special outfit. It also beautifully finishes the edges of nappies or nappy covers to securely fit your baby.
These byAnnie products will feature in new classes being held with Jenna (see the Classes section of this newsletter).
A rounded clip with a thousand uses! Hold your binding while your stitching it down, hold zips in place as you sew them, clip together block pieces, just to name a few……………we’re sure you’ll find lots more uses!
Eliminates glitches in the bobbin case. Easy-to-use Teflon washers simply drop into your bobbin case, and you're ready to go! Eliminates the backlash and bird's nests on the underside of free-motion quilting when changing directions at high speed. Package of 12. Tough and long-lasting. Choose from two different kinds for your machine; top drop in or snap in bobbins
Stick It Suction cup ruler and template handle. Helps to hold your ruler/template in place while you cut/trace
Clip and Glide Bodkin
Clip provides firm hold on elastic end for pulling through casing with ease. - Suitable elastic width: 5/8 in. (15 mm) or wider - Width of casing opening: 3/4 in. (20 mm) or wider Exceptional flexibility ensures smooth passage along curvy areas
If you’re anything like some of our staff, you will have one of these from your High School dressmaking days in Home Economics classes. Still a great tool for turning out corners and running along seams of collars, cuffs, pillows, pockets etc and the other end is a button gauge that slips under the button as you sew to form a thread shank.
Set of 10 blades from Precision Quilting Tools. These blades are long lasting and sharp. Made from high-quality Carbon Steel for blades that stay sharper and last longer! Pre-lubricated to prevent rusting and corroding and come in a snap case for storage. Compatible with almost all 45mm rotary cutters including Olfa, Truecut, Dafa, iCooker, Martelli.
Product of the Month
Perfect Adjustable Rulers by Karen Kay Buckley
This ingenious 6” wide ruler is four rulers in one package. The five piece ruler easily snaps together to form a 6″, 12″ 18″ or 24″ length. It has clear and accurate markings along with 30, 45 and 60 degree angle markings. You’ll love it at home or on the go. It will be your perfect travel companion. All the pieces pack nicely in the felt bag enclosed in the package. For storage we recommend you snap the small end cap onto a larger piece so it does not get lost.
:: “Simply Modern” Issue 16 – due early to mid-March :: “Simply Vintage” Issue 30 – due early to mid-March :: “Homespun” – February 2019 now available
Don’t miss out on any magazine copies. Join our “regulars” list and have your copy reserved or mailed to you each edition. Simply contact us to arrange for this to happen.
Did you know we can get in any Quiltmania magazine or book that is currently in print? If you’ve seen a book you’d like or are missing an issue of a magazine, let us know the title details and we’ll order it in especially. We can also set aside any of the above magazines on a regular basis for you – just call the shop with your details.
Fabrics
:: “Liberty” We’ve had 20 new bolts delivered plus some Liberty Linens (lots of these were sold at Summer School for Jo’s dressmaking classes with fabulous results!). The photo shows just a selection of bolts – come into the store to see them all!
:: “Dandi Annie” by Robin Pickens. Robin says “This collection has been forming in my head for a while. I knew it wanted to grow in my garden of fabrics. I love the elegance and structure of the round puff balls. And I find the yellow blooms to be happy and full of warm colour. I wanted coordinates that felt like a simpler garden with the lattice print and stem plaid. I’m happy to welcome little birds who enjoy the colour and blooms of the dandelions too. In my mind, I think they might be gathering flowers to make their own dandelion tea. In this garden, anything is possible. Colour sets such a powerful mood. Working on this group, happy colours of yellow and pink and green needed to still have some balance with calm greys.” Full range available
:: “Grunge” by Basic Grey. If you’ve not come across “Grunge” fabric before they have that smudged, painterly, drop-cloth kind of look, great for backgrounds or fillers. We have 3 bolts available.
:: “Sonata” by Amy Sinibaldi. Inspired by the classical music of Ludwig van Beethoven, playful window boxes, symphony instruments and inspired arrangements of edelweiss blooms, Amy created her very own “Ode to Joy.” A romantic palette of imperial blue, magenta, vermillion and dusty pinks reflects her interpretation of the sonatas, concertos and symphonies. Full range available.
:: “Stories and Songbirds” by Margo Elena. Two beautiful prints from this range for you.
:: “Assorted” Some of these fabrics have been lurking on the shelves and we just thought we’d show them to you…….all sorts of lovely!
Books
There are two very special books coming out early March and we suggest you pre-order NOW!!
:: “Labours of Love” by The Secret Sewing Sisters – including our own Di Ford-Hall!
and
:: “Quilts, Somewhat in the Middle” by Susan Smith. Susan Smith is an original and talented quilter from Australia who excels in the art of appliqué. Her quilts exude the coziness and freshness of country cottages in the British countryside during Spring. Every one of her 16 quilts is composed of subtle colour palettes and delicate appliqué designs producing quilts that are both simple and refined.
Classes
Our regular classes have been updated on our website for easy reference, but we have some new Friday afternoon classes this year.
New for 2019
We are bringing you a new selection of classes on Friday afternoons this year. Cost is $30.00 and the classes will run from 1.00pm to 3.30pm.
1st Friday of each month – Glenda Cust Join Glenda to explore the world of embroidery/embellishment stitching. Perfect for those starting the “Fresh Cut” BOM, or for those who want to stitch the afternoon away with their embroidery. Suitable for Beginners to Advanced.
2nd Friday of each month – Veronique Diligent Join Veronique for an afternoon of embroidery. Learn how to look beyond your piece of fabric and embellish to create interest with beautiful stitches. Perfect for those wanting to start or continue Veronique’s patterns “Pele Mele”.
byAnnie bags and accessories – with Jenna We will be running a series of classes this year to learn all the tricks to make “professionally finished” byAnnie products. Our first class kicks off with making the “Stash and Dash”. Further dates and patterns to be confirmed.
That’s it for now. Thanks for reading our newsletter to the very end! More updates to follow soon. Until next time Carol “Patchwork Made Possible” Website: www.sewnandquilted.com.au Phone: (03) 9877 1664 Email: carol@sewnandquilted.com.au
