Friday, December 15, 2006

gday

Merry Christmas - may this Festive Season and New Year bring you everything you could wish for yourselves and your families!


G’day
It is the end of an amazing year for me.
I spent a very cold winter in my wee church and watched the often agonisingly slow progress on my house. The arrival of warmer times marked the big move and I have to say it was all worth the chilly wait.
The church is now the studio and home to Wholly Quilts and the house has hosted its first group of retreaters. What a great weekend that was!
Several classes have been held with a fabulous response to the Sew n Soup evenings. So much so that next year could well see these nights running over two sessions instead of the planned last Friday of the month.


While all our clubs and groups are going into holiday mode, I have been planning a short ‘summer school’ programme for those who would rather sew than sun.

In lieu of December’s sew n soup; you are all welcome to a pot luck quilt and lunch. On Wednesday January 10 bring a plate for a shared lunch and bring your scraps for a shared quilt. It is a very traditional strippy quilt.
You will also need sewing machine, a good handful of pages out of your phone book and thread etc.
Start time is about 10.30am to whenever. Cost $15

Bag Ladies will get their first outing on Tuesday January 16.
The bag for this session uses one metre (or two contrasting halves) of fabric, half a metre of fusebat or similar (I have some available for purchase at $8m).
This bag class is the first of several scheduled for 2007.
Class time is 10am to noon. Cost $10

January Sew n Soup, Friday January 26.
I am hoping for some of my American sister’s input to this session but you (and I) will have to wait and see.
Requirements are eight fat quarters and sewing machine etc. This time you can get a head start by cutting the fabric into 2½ inch strips. If you prefer and have them, big bundle of 2½ inch strips will suffice. You will need some light/dark contrasts in you fabric selection.
Start time 5-ish. Cost $15

As always please let me know if you are planning on coming along to any of these sessions. The January sew n soup is particularly important cos I will be teaching at Symposium in the preceding week and don’t want any of you to miss out on the planned treat.
If any of these are your first session then there is no charge as promised.

On the planning board for 2007 are:
Classes for beginners - so if you know anyone that has compulsive craft habits like us get them to contact me. It will probably be a daytime class run on a term basis but that could depend on demand.
I am working on a sampler class tentatively titled ‘Herbaceous Borders’ – piecing, appliqué, embroidery and embellishing are all featured. Again to be held day or evening depending on demand. It could well be available as a block of the month pattern.

Organising you own special day out can also be accommodated. Classes taught for these include:
Swatches – learn fabric tricks and short cuts to scrappy quilts using 5-inch swatches.
String-piecing – a pot-luck quilt made from your scraps and those of your friends.
Flowers & Faces – venture into an art quilt (or not if you prefer) that’s fun & finished in two days
Bordering on the Comical – a great children’s quilt. An animal border on a scrappy centre.
Fat-quarter Frenzy – bring eight fat-quarters and go home with a small quilt top.
Banners and Runners – a seasonal thing. Make a table runner to suit the celebration/season.
Resolve It – a class that will sort your problems with design, technique, colour or finishing.
Your Choice – I can teach most techniques and patterns so a specific class can be organised.

And don’t forget the retreats. Remember come for a class, a day or a stay.



Natalie
Wholly Quilts
http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz