Wholly quilts

Wholly Quilts’ April Newsletter

 

G’day

 

I think 2008 is the year for new faces and new places – new faces through the studio either just looking or joining in the sessions and new places to teach. And then there is my big OE ticket burning a hole in my (I was going to say pocket but  ...) cheque book.

 

A big welcome to the new Sew n Soupers that joined us last month – I hope to see lots of chenille Christmas trees being decorated over the coming months.

Don’t forget this session is held on the last Friday of each month. Usually there is a new project (pattern or technique) to try out and a souper supper. We start at 5-ish and sew till whenever – the cost is $15.

 

I was the merchant at the Auckland Guild last Saturday and am off to Hamilton next weekend. It is really gratifying having familiar faces to talk to at these events and putting faces to names. It makes writing these newsletters that much more personal.

I’ve had lots of enquiries about retreats and teaching sessions and have a reasonable selection of dates still available so if you want to come try what is on offer here then be in. Remember I am less than an hour and a half from Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua or Tauranga.

 

That OE I mention will probably begin to dominate proceedings later in the year but in the meantime I have to tell you that I am booked to go to the UK for all of December and then have six weeks in the US. There are not many details between flights at this stage but that is going to be the exciting part – slowly building up an itinerary. All ideas and suggestions are welcome but I’m sorry I already have two people in my bag and another four to carry it J

 

Blue dog is finally finished, photographed and entered into the World Quilt competition – it would be very exciting to have it chosen to go to the USA cos I have family over there that can stand in front of it and do the grinning for me!!

Last time I told you about the quilter’s block and I have to say the swarms of pesky white butterflies inspired me to come inside and finish off ‘blue dog’ with some butterfly quilting (not white ones).

 

I have had no registrations of interest for the school holiday class but now that the break is one month closer you may like to think about it – let me know. The young ones will make a simple quilt over two days. I will supply all fabric and materials but may need sewing machines. So, the class will be held on Thursdays April 24 and May 1 from 10am to 3pm. The cost for the two days is $75.

What to bring: lunch and grandma (she’s not compulsory but would be very welcome)

I know this is early notice but it might help you plan the holiday break.

 

Friday night’s sew n soup will continue on the last Friday of each month.  On April 25, it will be your opportunity for a big catch-up. You can bring along a project from a previous session or you might choose to start one of the patterns you missed out on. Contact me with a few days to spare so I can tell you what the requirements are.

 

Please let the catering department (me) know of your plans.

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogger.com - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...

 

Wholly Quilts

Wholly Quilts’ March Newsletter

 

 

G’day

 

Yeah – quilting weather is coming, quilting weather is coming!

 

The ladies in the two classes running this term are producing some beautiful work. I am continually surprised at how much I learn from my students – different stitches, short cuts and colour combinations – goes to show there is always something new to load into the grey cells.

 

I have just realised that writer’s block and quilter’s block are one and the same. I have been working on a ‘blue dog’ that seemed to be doing its own thing until it all stalled. This quilt is a reminder of all the blue dogs in my life that are no more and has been fun till now. I thought by taking a break and getting a newsletter out to all of you would get me over those bumps but now both are taking ages to complete. Maybe I should head out to the garden for some inspiration!

 

I am looking at a school holiday kids’ class if there is enough interest. The young ones will make a simple quilt over two days. I will supply all fabric and materials but may need sewing machines. So, the class will be held on Thursdays April 24 and May 1 from 10am to 3pm. The cost for the two days is $75.

What to bring: lunch and grandma (she’s not compulsory but would be very welcome)

I know this is early notice but it might help you plan the holiday break.

 

Friday night’s sew n soup will continue on the last Friday of each month.  On March 28, we will tackle a chenille project – either a bag or, I know some of you want to make the Christmas tree that is still hanging in the studio. Phone me to confirm your place and I will give you a list of requirements.

 

As always – if you want to come along and do your own thing, catch up on an unfinished project or just visit then you are welcome. Please let the catering department know of your plans.

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogger.com - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...

 

Paved with good intentions

 

 

 

It was, after all, the first day of the rest of the year and seemed like a good time to rediscover the sewing room. The holidays had been and gone along with the guests and finally I had time, inclination and energy all aligned.

Can you remember what it was like in those days before Christmas when you had to give the cake just one more drink of brandy, make the beds up for the expected over-nighters, order the turkey, chase the dust bunnies around and convert your ‘space’ to guest accommodation.

With just a little bit of imagination, and a lot less effort, the guests could sleep in ‘his’ space but no, not this year.

So you headed into the fray with good intentions and very little time. Projects were bundled up and in many case mixed up and stuff into, under and behind all manner of containers. The bedding smoothed down on your ‘work bench’, the ‘design wall’ pulled back to let daylight and fresh air in and the machine, iron, cooling fan and other assorted appliances put away for the holidays. It did look good.

Problem is that right now it looks like hell. Maybe that is where that quote about good intentions comes from.

I had started bright and early on hands and knees pulling out boxes, bags and bundles from under the bed – you wouldn’t think that it was just a few weeks since I put it all under there. I found unfinished projects that now were not nearly as problematical so wandered off to the stash to locate the right fabric to finish. I picked up magazines and started looking at the stickers to see what had inspired me last year – obviously my tastes changed over the holidays – but I did find other pictures and patterns that might be intriguing to play with. The lid had come off the button tin and so spent a lot of time scrabbling about in the bottom of the plastic bin picking them up but I did find the snips that have been missing in action for months now.

A glance at the clock told me I had missed lunch by over an hour but I was on a mission.

The bag of scraps needed sorting, that big piece of fabric I had bought needed a good iron before I could put it on the shelf with the stash (thank goodness the shelves looked in reasonably good condition), the grand-daughter’s pretty summer dress still needed fixing, after all summer was past the cusp and heading downhill so the sewing machine was unearthed and set up (which meant another armful of ‘stuff’, very important stuff, headed for the floor from the table top).

Speaking of downhill – it was now dinner time and the only clear place in my sewing room was under the bed. The boxes at the bottom of the wardrobe were still out of sight but most

 

Wholly Quilts

Summer Newsletter

G'day (and a belated Happy New Year)

I have a confession – it is not that I haven't been working for a month or
two (though that's true) it's that I have been doing research. As those
numbers rise (you know, the one's that indicate how many moons you have seen
– probably easier to count by the number of Leap Years about now) the years
start slipping away faster n faster than ever. Well, I decided to mount a
watch to see who or indeed if anyone was stealing January. I sat on it and
can report that this year at least we have had a full month so there will be
no excuses later in the year.

Now I am about to embark on a campaign to educate the weather presenters on
the tv. Have they ever tried to sit under/work on a quilt when the
temperature is in the 30s? It is so dry around here even the weeds are dying
and yet those weather people continue to tell us how lucky we are to be
getting yet another sunny day.

Onto quiltie stuff and what an exciting year it's going to be. I have
retreats, classes and exhibitions coming up but more about that later.

Get back into quilting mode with the Summer Bash on Saturday February 9.
I'll show you another way to use up scraps so it is a repeat Pot Luck quilt
and Pot Luck lunch starting 10-ish and finishing whenever. Last year's rulez
didn't work very well – you know the one where you share and give as much as
you take. Well my scrap basket looked like it took n took. We were all meant
to end up with less not more and a quilt as well. Cost for the day is $15.

I have a couple of really exciting classes lined up for the first term:
The first is for those who want handwork – I will be teaching Candlewicking
– all those lovely effects and stitches that look superb on a cream on cream
quilt.
The second is a new take including lots of shortcuts on the traditional. I
have attached a picture of my quilt and you can see the old blocks
(Pinwheel, Flying Geese, Checkerboard. Churn Dash and Friendship Star). The
course covers stack cutting, appliqué, no fuss half-square triangles and new
ways with checkerboard borders.
These two classes will run for seven weeks starting on Thursday February 7
(handwork before lunch at 10am and 'traditions' from 1-3pm so you can bring
your lunch and spend the day if you like). The cost is $10 per session or
$60 for the term.
Contact me beforehand to get your list of requirements.

Friday night's sew n soup will continue on the last Friday of each month.
Unfortunately January fell off the calendar but book now for Leap Day,
Friday the 29th. Bring your machines for a scrap-happy session (I promise
the soup won't be quite so scrappy).

As always – if you want to come along and do your own thing, catch up on an
unfinished project or just visit then you are welcome. Please let the
catering department know of your plans.

Regards
Natalie Murdoch
www.nataliemurdoch.co.nz

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Wholly Quilts

December Newsletter

 

G’day and Season’s Greetings

 

It is certainly time to celebrate and reflect on another year.

I have my three adult ‘kids’ in the same country for the first time in three years; it is two years since I made the big move out of Auckland to Mangatarata and one year since Wholly Quilts was officially launched as a quilters’ studio and retreat and of course you all know now that Christmas marks the big 60 for me – what fun!

Ethan, the youngest home from England, and I drove to Taupo last week just so we could see my Papatuanuku - Earth Mother. It was the last day of the Elemental challenge exhibition in the city’s museum.

You know how you stand in front of your quilts with a silly grin on your face? Well my grin was extra wide cos it has been sold and is off to America. That is always very exciting when someone likes your work as much as you do.

I still have to convince my daughter that letting go is all part of the process. She would be my biggest fan and would hang on to all my creations given half a chance. Whenever I ask her input into naming a new quilt she always says ‘mine’!

 

And so to next year …

Obviously some things must be repeated. Friday night’s sew n soup will continue on the last Friday of each month. I will be teaching some techniques as opposed to projects this year but more about that early next year. You can also use this session or any others to catch up or do your own thing.

I will also be looking at two daytime sessions each week – one focussing on handwork such as candle-wicking or red-work and the other on problem-solving or helping  with techniques such as machine quilting, chenille work, appliqué etc.

These sessions will be run during term time and in the holidays I will be looking to get some juniors started on sewing and more particularly quilting.

 

Once I am done celebrating this month I will get down to specifics and let you all know more details.

 

Watch out for information on the Summer Bash – just when you were beginning to get over eating, drinking and endless visitors – another pot luck lunch and quilt will start the quiltie year off with a flourish!

 

Retreat bookings are beginning to happen. The prices will be going up in July but on offer till the end of January only is a 2008 retreat at today’s prices (that’s $145 per person per weekend including all food, accommodation and top tutoring). So book now.

 

My wish for you all is a very happy and safe festive time and a fabulous 2008

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogger.com - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...

 

wholly quilts

G’day - What a lot I have to celebrate this month. It is the first opportunity to tell all those new (and old) contacts that I made at Calico Christmas about my lovely little quilters’ haven AND it is the first birthday of Wholly Quilts as a retreat and studio.

 

Because I have just added so many names to my address book I thought I would tell you about the quilter’s secret here on the Hauraki Plains.

 

I have converted a little old church to a studio and classroom. Every quilt hanging in it is designed and made by me. Some, well most, reflect my love of a good scrap (quilt that is). Others are class samples developed for students of all capabilities and clearly showing all types of appliqué, piecing, layering and experiments with colour, fabrics and techniques.

Some quilts have won awards; some are total failures in the grander scheme of things. Some are art quilts and some use traditional blocks and shapes.

The ambience is to inspire me and all those using the facility, to move you out of your comfort zone and to encourage you to do your own thing.  

 

The accommodation is a year old, shared rooms and enough bathrooms to go around.

 

The food is seasonal and fresh. Some retreaters have asked to come back for cooking lessons instead of quilting so that indicates their satisfaction. There is only one house rule – it is BYO alcohol and you have to bring enough for meJ.

 

Travel no more than an hour and a half from Auckland (or Orewa), Hamilton, Rotorua or Tauranga and a relaxing quilty weekend can be yours.

 

The cost is $145* per person and includes all meals from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, accommodation and teaching. Gather you friends and check it all out for yourselves. Groups of two to eight can be accommodated.

*prices will be reviewed on 1 June 2008  

 

The Natalie Murdoch/Barbara Bilyard ‘significant birthday bash’ on December 1 still has a couple of vacancies if you want to join us. We will both be teaching a class and sharing the fun with a pot luck lunch and bubbles. The day will be limited to 20 and cost $40 each.

 

I have been asked for black n white jelly rolls and now have them available. All these packs are at the show price of $55 each or two for $100. Remember I have five patterns now for using them and most need at least two packs to make a good size single bed quilt.

Also now in stock is limited supplies of that Amazing Tape that keeps your threads under control - $3 per metre.

 

Sew n Soup

Is a week early in November - Friday 23^rd - we will be making a Christmas swag

Please book ahead so the catering department (that’s me J) can be alerted.

 

Organise your own special day out for yourself or a group of friends. A lovely country lunch and a tutored session will cost $50 per person.

 

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

 

Stay in touch by going to my blog http://patchnat.blogger.com

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogger.com - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...

 

October Newsletter

G’day

 

I am really excited about a coming Event – well actually a couple of them, but I want to invite you to join me for one of them. A significant birthday looms for a couple of us and we would like to celebrate with a birthday bash.

Barbara Bilyard and I have these SBs in December so we are going to mark the occasion in style as befits women of our ageJ.

The birthday bash will be held on December 1. Barbara and I will both teach on the day – launching new patterns using jelly rolls (what else?). We have hundreds and thousands of ideas but will limit it to two new designs. What could a girl ask for but birthday treats such as these and quiltie friends to help celebrate!

Lunch will be a pot luck and bubbles affair. The day will be limited to 20 and cost $40 each.

 

Quilting trends change almost as regularly as fashion but I am delighted to see the emergence of the jelly roll and the resultant scrappy quilts – I just lurve scrap quilts.

I have now developed patterns using these 2½ inch strips AND now have a limited selection of jelly rolls. These packs contain 2½ metres of fabric (40 strips) and I am selling them for $55 each. Most of them are colour coded such as reds, blues, greens etc and I am quite willing to make up a pack to order.

Remember I have five patterns now for using them and most need at least two packs to make a bed quilt.

 

With scraps quilts to the fore I am still stocking swatch packs that contain 60 different fabrics (that’s nearly a metre of fabric) and sell for $20. I also have 12 patterns available using these packs.

 

There are a couple of upcoming events that I will be attending and would love any of you to come up and introduce yourselves.

The first is on Sunday - Peninsular Day – a gathering of quilters from around the Coromandel. The Ngatea group, Plains Patchworkers, are organising this and will be a fun day with shared quiltie stuff like fabric and food and quilts and …

The last weekend in October (26-28) is Calico Christmas. This Auckland quiltfest is staged in the Harbour Function Centre, Albany.

 

Stay in touch by going to my blog  http://patchnat.blogger.com

 

Onto more important stuff:

 

Christmas Redwork class will be held on Tuesday afternoons for another couple of weeks. Get a unique wall-hanging made for the holiday season and learn some new embroidery tricks, button embellishments and appliqué. Time: Tuesdays each week 1-3pm.

Cost: $10.

Friday afternoon sessions are open to any and everyone. Come get some one-on-one help, catch up with friends or finish a project or two.

Time: Fridays each week 1-3pm.

Cost: $10.

Sew n Soup

Will not be done in October because of Calico Christmas.

 

Please book ahead so the catering department (that’s me J) can be alerted.

 

Organise your own special day out for yourself or a group of friends. A lovely country lunch and a tutored session will cost $50 per person.

 

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

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

http://nataliemurdoch.co.nz

http://WhollyQuilts.co.nz

http://patchnat.blogger.com - my blog, where you can read the latest news that may or may not make the newsletter...