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..
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
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 Houston Festival
‘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!
Karin Classes, News, Tutorials
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
Karin Events, News Quilts
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
I 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 New Zealand Quilt Symposium
We are nearing the end of our first bag of the month club. Members signed up for a mystery bag pattern for 6 months.. and we have had a variety of patterns for both handbags and totes…
‘Anne’ …. came into the shop this week and had made this super Whistlepig creek bag, it is well named – Gadget Girl……it is a great design for a sewing caddy as there are plenty of pockets inside. 
Look out for future ‘clubs’ … we all like getting fun things in the mail – it makes a nice change from a bill!!
Teresa News Bags, Clubs, patterns
Have you thought of coming along to one of our clubs? Those who do work on many varying projects from hand stitching to machine sewing and sometimes knitting and crocheting. It is a great supportative time to get projects finished and we have been watching this quilt grow.
Ann started the quilt on a ‘build a quilt’ design course at Quilters Haven, and then continued to work on it during Tuesday club sessions. We love the finished result! Each block and applique has been beautifully done and the flowing hand quilting with the variegated King Tut thread looks wonderful. We are hoping that Ann will exhibit the quilt in our September exhibition, ‘Quilt Walk around Wickham Market‘. This quilt has been much admired and needs to be seen by many others.
Karin Classes, Events
For all you that didn’t know we have a lovely range of sock wool and for those of you who know me – I am a big knit!! When we first got sock wool in although I have knitted everything you can imagine I hadn’t knitted socks so I had a go – boy did I get hooked. Everyone I know has a pair of my socks , I am Teresa’s official sock knitter, I have knitted socks at motorbike rallies surrounded by big hairy bikers and whilst drinking beer! I have knitted them in cars, on buses , trains and concerts and I shall be knitting at the Oval later this year whilst watching the cricket. The wool we have is very hard wearing and I have one pair of socks that are still going after 4 years. Have a go its very infectious. Also a lot of the wool is self patterning, some even looking like a fairisle pattern ( that makes you look really clever).
The wool isn’t on our website but if you ring up we can sort you out with the colours you want.
Debs News
You think you can get away from work and then………..
Last week I managed a few days skiing in Tignes in the French Alps. One day we came across this amazing rock formation. Looks familiar? It is called ‘The Eye of the Needle’. I am standing on a path leading to a black run which I was not going to ski down! Sun was shinning, over a hundred inches of snow, it was a gorgeous day and minus 30 degrees centigrade!
This morning, there is an inch of snow, and my road is blocked with cars that have collided. Luckily, Debs has managed to get into work. Take care out there…..
Karin News
