First to see the new Bernina series 3!

March 18th, 2010
New Bernina 380

New Bernina 380

A month ago I had an invite to the new Bernina launch in London. Strange, I thought I don’t remember seeing these machines in Houston last October. So I searched on the internet to try and find some info, only to draw a blank. Meanwhile my staff were doing the same as we had been told there were no more Activa sewing machines left to sell. How intriguing we all thought.

Yesterday, was the launch day and there was great excitement from the dealers. Why was everything so secret? Usually a new sewing machine is launched in America first, and then maybe Australasia, months before we see it in the UK. This time they had decided we could have it first!

Bernina 350

Bernina 350

What strikes you first about the new series 3 machines is that they look very stylish. They update the Activa range, with larger buttons and a new sew table that resembles the one you see on the 830 top range machine. Instead of an accessory wardrobe the top model 380 comes with a padded bag to hold the different machine feet supplied with the machine.

We all got the chance to sew on the machines and I was impressed! I have ordered some demo models which should arrive just after Easter. Annie, my Bernina expert, will want to play on them first and then I thought we could have an open day on Friday 9 April and Tueasday 13 April for you to come in and have a go. Keep looking at our events page for confirmation.

Karin News

Nice to see results…

March 18th, 2010

Sashiko 001Here at QHHQ we often moan that we never see the end results when we spend time helping customers with their fabric choices for a quilt. Fortunately Christine from Norfolk overheard this moan one day and remembered it….

Today she brought in a finished quilt for us to see….. Joy!!

Christine started the project in September and finished it around Christmas time..  The pictures don’t really do this lovely quilt justice, it was so big I was almost out of the room to get it in the camera viewer. So I took a close up shot as well…Sashiko 002 click on the photos to enlarge them.

 

Christine hopes that the quilt will be on show at Norfolk Quilters Exhibition (sorry we don’t know the dates) But do pop along if you get the chance to look at the beautiful designs on each block.

Thank you Christine for bringing this in for us to see…..

Teresa News

HOT NEW BERNINA!!!!

March 17th, 2010

As I type this Karin is in London at Bernina HQ (gosh sounds like spy stuff !) learning all about the new 3 series Bernina sewing machines. They have been launched in the UK first!! They replace the 2 series machines. Apparently they look really stylish and the sewing table looks like the 830 machine and not the opaque table that the 2 series had. Karin will be putting all the info on our website when she gets back from London. ( Not tonight though as we’re off for a staff night out! so you’ll have to wait till the morning). I can’t wait to see all the info – might even be tempted.

Debs

Debs News

A Mystery Quilt Experience

March 14th, 2010

We love getting letters and emails from you and when this one arrived a few days ago from Lynda I asked her if we could share it with you.  I have left out certain details and all the photos as this is a quilt programme we will be running again and we don’t want to spoil it for the future. However if you ask when you are next visitng QH we will let you see the original letter and photos.  In the meantime we have a  different Quilt Mystery series, based on USA States on which you can enrol this year. Each month you can make a lap size (or larger) quilt.

Dear all at Quilter’s Haven,

I thought I would let you know how I got on doing the “Around the World” Mystery Quilt experience during 2009 & 2010. I had 2 reasons for deciding to follow the project. Firstly I usually attend the Quilter’s Guild Exhibition at the NEC for a few day’s, but was unable to attend last year ( something even more important I had to do). So I decided to spend the money I would have spent on the Hotel, lectures classes and of course shopping. Secondly as a discipline to get more proficient at piecing and thirdly (oops another one) just for the fun of it. I just love a mystery quilt project.

I waited with baited breath for February’s first parcel to come. I had picked Belgian Chocolate – brown’s. When it came I did not like the fabric choice and thought Oh!!! What have I done. I set to and made the piece. Showed it to my husband, he liked it. He has used it every day this winter.

When March’s parcel came the Scottish – Thistle -lavender’s. Oh! Joy more my choice of fabric. Went together like a dream.  This quilt went on holiday with us last year, you never know when a quilt may be needed. Our week away was one of the hottest last year, so we only used it to cover the luggage from prying eyes in the back of the car. But I got a lot of nice comments from passers by.

April’s Austrian – Mountain Sunset – red’s, orange’s, named the Alp’s or Delectable Mountain block was a design I had wanted to do for some time. I hand quilted with a variegated thread and embellished, with sequins and beads as it will always hang on the wall.

May’s choice Japan – Cherry blossom – Pink’s. I just loved the fabric’s on sight also the idea of one large block was new to me.

In June, Cuba – Caribbean Holiday- Bright’s. Cuban Cigar block. Wonderful colours a joy to make. Using fabric’s I already had I made a piano keys border.

July – Turkey -Aegean Sea – blue’s. I made this into another wall hanging. Nice design, nice “fresh” fabrics a bit of a waste cutting into the seahorse fabric some of the sea horses look a bit odd.

In August, America, I had chosen Southwest – turquoise and gold’s. Another group of fabrics I could not like the colour tone of. But I bit the bullet and made the quilt top. I am not sure if I put it together as per the original design. I made it bigger with a wide border. Still not sure I like it, but my Dad does so it will find a good home.

September -Spain -Doubloons -gold’s & yellows. Castles in Spain block. The fabric with the coins on immediately attracted my younger son as his passion and job involves antique coin’s. I sent for more of this fabric and was lucky this time. Using fabrics from my stash I made it larger. He is really pleased with the quilt as it also matches the décor in his new home.      October Holland – Flower Auction – Florals. Dutch tulip block Another range of fabrics I felt were a bit subdued for my taste. I found this one quite tricky and as each block did not come out square. I decided to use sashing to make them square.

Now to November South Africa – Diamond Mines- Bright’s. Another large block design. Loved the parrot fabric. I found the instructions absolutely incomprehensible, but tried to follow them. So I cut the fabric wrongly. Put it away and tried to avoid doing it, and got on with finishing some of the unfinished previous months quilts. All the tops had been done but not all the “sandwiches” had been put together. I had been asked to give a talk about these quilts to my ladies club in March 2010 so I had to get cracking.

In December the choice for the Iceland quilt was Glacier – blue’s. Aurora borealis design. A good choice of fabrics. Had to wait until after Christmas to sew this one. My Husband was rushed into hospital in early December, he is all better now. So much of the Christmas preparation fell to me and I had also decided to make quite a few Christmas presents for various family members here and overseas. So no work on the mystery quilts. Christmas over and the snow came. I do not go out if it snows as I break easily and have broken too many bones in the past. A great opportunity to finish the quilts. Still have not tackled the South African one.

January 2010. The last parcel arrived Switzerland -Swiss cheese-gold’s & cream’s. I washed the fabric and left it to dry hanging over the bath. While I got on with the Icelandic design. I spent one afternoon putting it together. Lovely design, very pleased. The fabric hanging in the bathroom took longer to dry than expected so had to look at the South African design again.  Felt that I could tackle it if I ignored the cutting out instructions and did what I thought the design needed. So I rescued what was left uncut. I added a jazzy piece of fabric for a narrow border and binding. I think it worked out OK! Every one who has seen it says Macaws are not South African but come from South America. Hey Ho! Life is full of mystery. Machine quilted.

Now to the last one Swiss cheese – Churn Dash Block. Lovely fabrics but what a lot of sewing even with chain piecing.

As you can see it has been a varied and educational experience that I may never do again as I have too many ideas buzzing around in my brain, of quilt designs waiting to be born yet.

Thanks Lynda for making the effort to write to us. Pam and I choose the fabrics each month in the three different colourways and it has been wonderful to see the finished quilts.

Karin News

G’day Quilters

March 11th, 2010

Just when I thought it was safe to come out of the cupboard with my purse…. Australian magazines landed back on our counter. We have had these in before and they caused me a great deal of trouble in the purse department… I ‘almost’ breathed a sigh of relief when our supplier ran into trouble – how they could do that with such a luscious product is beyond me but maybe it was the other magazines on Military Modelling or Goldfish Monthly that got them into trouble!! (apologies to the Goldfish fans out there….)

Australian temptation..

Australian temptation..

 

We have found a new supplier and will be having 4 titles in…..Patchwork & Quilting – Patchwork & Stitching – Homespun and Down Under Quilts (cracking title…)  As these go very quickly from our counter (Staff hold back is not an option!!) we won’t be putting them on the web but you can always give us a call in the shop and we will be happy to read   send them to you.

Lovely colour pictures and patterns printed in a pull out sheet….. even the adverts are enticing. Its always interesting to see what styles quilters in other countries are following..

Teresa New Products

Houston Quilt Festival

March 9th, 2010

This new newsletter appeared in my email box today and I thought some of you may be interested in taking a look. It is from Karey Bresenham the founder of the International Quilt Festival in Houston. You might like to try the downloadable project as well as read some of the interesting articles.

I will be teaching at the Houston festival in early November this year. This is always considered to be a huge honour and I love taking part. It is fun to be part of a teaching faculty of over 100 teachers from all over the world. The show is enormous and is on for four days plus one extra evening and you do need all that time to not only see the quilts, but to shop , attend lectures and workshops. My classes will cover Spinning Stars, Geese in a Storm, Pineapple, Geese behind the Scenes and Quilt Assembley using Sew and Flip.

The friends at festival newsletter will give you a little of the flavour of the show if you have never been and best of all the subscription is free.

Karin Classes, News

Online TV – Attic Windows

March 5th, 2010

‘Mum you are not famous until you are on TV’. This was the standard line my kids said each time I published a new book. So when I was approached by Justhands-on.tv to record an Attic Windows demo I leapt at the chance. It is lovely to be able to support a new British venture that is bringing patchwork, quilting and textile art to the public. I do hope you will take a look at this fast growing site and consider becoming a member. With your help it can only get better and better! Why not email the link to all your quilting friends worldwide to let them know that here is a site that is showing what is going on in the textile world in the UK.

The photo was taken by a lady from Ipswich who just happened to be passing, snapped a couple of photos and emailed them to me. Many thanks Sandy!

Of course my kid’s have now moved the goal posts and told me that online TV does not count so I have replied that they are not keeping up with the times!tvnec

Karin Classes, News, Tutorials

Steam Train excursion

March 2nd, 2010

Quilting tends to be a female dominated hobby. Have you ever wondered about the male dominted hobbies? Yesterday I was invited on a steam train trip from London to Cardiff and there they were, men that were enthusiatically looking at ‘The Tornado’,  in the same way we look at quilts! Not only that, but I found I could also spot these train enthusiasts just from the anorak /fleece jacket, camera and rucksacks they all seemed to wear.

I spent four years in Cardiff studying for my degree, but as that was many years ago I was expecting to see changes. Tiger Bay used to be a no-go area for us students. Now it is called Cardiff Bay and looks so different with lots of new chic restaurants and shops. Some of the old buildings have been preserved including the Norwegian Church. This has now become a culture centre and inside I found a quilt entitled Cardiff and the Sea. Traditional patchwork blocks such as Ocean Waves, Mariners’ Compass and Four Corners mixed with appliques of the Norwegian Church and a mosque appear in this quilt, which just shows the diverse cultures that lived in or visited this area. The quilt had been designed and mostly made by a local group called Ystrad Mynach Quilters and you can see from the photo that the info is on display with the quilt. Next time you are in Cardiff do go and take a look.

Cardiff and the Sea

Cardiff and the Sea

Karin Events, News

Thimbles

February 27th, 2010

Well for months now I’ve been looking at the new Clover Protect and Grip thimbles that are just across from the counter. I’ve looked and I’ve thought OOh I must get one of those but did I – er No. Anyway the other day Karin asked if I would stitch the binding on a quilt so I made the move and got one. I am most impressed. It stayed on my finger and was very comfortable indeed – wish I’d got one earlier but there you go we live and learn.

Debs News

New Zealand 2011

February 25th, 2010

NZlogoI am really looking forward to going back to New Zealand next year to teach. The quilt symposium will be taking place in Queenstown on the South Island during April 2011. I had this exciting email this week and wanted to share it with our NZ and Australian readers.

If you would like to see what the classes are about then take a look at my website.

The following are the classes chosen for you to tutor at Remarkable Symposium 2011 at Queenstown New Zealand.

1. It’s a Wrap = 1 day.

2. Seven Ways to Sew a Row = 1 day.

3. Sew A Row Tote Bag = 1 day.

4. Enchanted Valleys = 2 days

Karin Classes