Wholly Quilts newsletter

 

 

March Newsletter

 

G’day

 

I am writing this while my studio/church is full of retreaters frenetically trying to finish projects at the end of their weekend with me.

After being away from this atmosphere for three months it is fabulous being ‘back’. I didn’t really appreciate how much fun it is being surrounded by quilty friends and quilty stuff though the time spent with family was glorious.

 

My first six weeks away was with my son, Ethan. Every day we scampered around different parts of London or had several days in Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and Paris. Ethan talked about ‘five a day’ but it didn’t have anything to do with the food pyramid – it was five miles a day walking around the sights.

 

Some of the highlights for me were:

            Being with Ethan – he left New Zealand 13 years ago and I have had to be happy with ‘visits’ ever since

            The great line up of chimney pots along the tops of the old terrace houses

            Watching the pomp and ceremony as the Queen made her way to open parliament.          Gazing open-mouthed at the reading room in Trinity Library in Dublin (almost the same reaction to the old Bodleain Library at Oxford University)

            Being overwhelmed (and that happened often) by the crowds in Portabella Markets

            Being with Ethan

            Kissing the Blarney Stone and the muddiness of Ireland

            Visiting Kew Gardens, Victoria and Albert, Westminster Abbey, London Eye, Tower of London, Borough Markets, live theatre, eating out

Riding the Underground everywhere

            Driving around Cornwall on roads that barely qualify as one-way – if the hedgerows weren’t coming at you through the car windows then the pedestrians in places like St Ives or Fowey had to leap into doorways to get out of harm’s way.

            I adored the Lost Gardens of Heligan and felt slightly let down by the Eden Project    

            Christmas Day spent picnicking in Ethan’s house with my sister and family over from Dallas – and no I didn’t have a white or even ‘slushy’ Christmas

            Standing on both sides of the Greenwich dateline (as you do) and then walking under the Thames

            Hogmanay in Edinburgh

            The amazing age of buildings on the Royal Mile and, of course, Edinburgh Castle

            Grey Friars Bobby – knowing that my daughter would love his story and then finding that he died on her birthday

            The crowds and languages and different ethnicities

            The variety and freshness of food available in shops and restaurants

And then there was Paris

Up at 4am-ish to catch the train and in the 30-odd hours spent there and my French spelling is as bad as my French speaking) we Did the fabric streets of Montmatre, Sacre Couer, Moulin Rouge, the Arc de Triumphe, Eiffel Tower, a cruise on the Seine, breakfast in the Latin Quarter, the Nationale Muse du Clune, Notre Dame, the beautiful Saint Chappelle, the Louvre and back to London for my last night there before flying to Dallas and my sister, Jilli. I stayed with her for a four week holiday

I did though spend three days at a Fabric Camp where we were shown how to date fabrics and we got to play with old, old quilts – one was over 240 years old.

 

And now it is back to quilting – retreats, teaching, The Project and playing in my studio.              

 

Friday night’s sew n soup will start again on March 27 with a machine quilting session that is guaranteed to overcome all fears. Call me to register and find out the requirements. The cost has gone up to $20 - sorry.

 

Tuesday afternoon session will start next Tuesday. You can come along and do your own thing, start one of my techniques or quilts or just enjoy a sit and sew. Cost is $10 for two hours.

 

Retreat bookings are coming in now. I want to hold the prices as long as I can so $160 per person per weekend includes all food, accommodation and top tutoring. I would love to see you here.

 

Part 7 of The Project is going out with this newsletter so I do hope you are all ready and waiting. I have seen a number of these now and it is interesting how some are doing appliqué or drawing instead of the stitching – everyone looks totally different.

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD6 Thames 3576

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’ December Newsletter

 

G’day

 

I know it is stating the obvious but I have only two more sleeps before I am off on my big OE. If last night is anything to go by they will be fairly restless as I mull over what is to be on my travels, what has been packed (or not), things to do around the house before leaving etc etc.

 

Yesterday I packed everything into one suitcase and then had to wonder how it all fitted – something (important) must be missing. The sooner I get on that plane the sooner my brain can be turned off. I think my sons think that switch has already been tampered with J

 

It was fun last weekend at Calico Christmas – you all gave yourselves away as recipients of this newsletter by asking me how many more sleeps. It was nice to put faces to names.

 

There are lots of new names on the list now and to them I say welcome. I am going to ‘play’ with my youngest son in and around London for six weeks (his weather forecast says the temperature will be zero with showers – lovely!!) and then with my younger sister in Dallas for four weeks (I am looking forward to lots of giggles with her). Back home on February 10.

 

In the meantime you can all think about joining me here for a retreat next year – I would love to look after you all for a couple of days out of your busy schedules. I will be able to share some of the foodie tastes I have sampled in my travels and, of course, some of the quiltie trends I have picked up.

 

The Project team will be kept busy while I am away cos they are getting two big ‘assignments’ to tackle – well, I was asked for something to keep your hands busy while you were on holiday! I will be able to help you via email if necessary so write to me if you are stuck on anything. And no I am not taking anything with me for my hands – they need a rest!

 

In the meantime – may all your wishes and dreams come true for the Christmas Season and the New Year.

 

Go well!

 

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD6 Thames 3576

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’ November Newsletter

 

G’day

 

Only 28 sleeps to go! But now I have to say it quietly cos the to-do list is still as long as it was a month ago. And last time Ethan read that and decided he didn’t have nearly enough time up the Amazon and maybe I should go to Brazil for Christmas instead. I think I would prefer a slushy (if not white) Christmas in London.

 

Some of The Project participants are putting pressure on me for ‘the next instalment’ so I know that some at least are keeping up. Others are taking their time and that’s good too. I do know that the butterfly now has been appliquéd and embroidered so changes are being made. Part four is going out today.

 

Do you all remember the tartan rug that, for the most part, stayed in the car and was used for picnics, snuggling on long trips or just to cast shadow or be a wind-break on sunny days? Well I do and I have been having fun recreating the tartan rug as a quilt. I started off with the Gordon tartan and am now in the grip of a Murdoch tartan as it seemed much more appropriate. Both are just as comforting and protective as the old family rugs. I will share more of them next year.

 

Hope to catch up with you at Calico Christmas. Don’t forget – be at the North Harbour Stadium November 21-23.

Yicks – then I will have only seven more sleeps.

 

Go well!

 

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD6 Thames 3576

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’ October Newsletter

 

G’day

 

Only 54 sleeps to go! Only 54 sleeps to go!

 

My youngest is tripping up the Amazon or nearby about now but he assures me he will be in London when I get there. He is due to fly back the day before me. Now the excitement levels are growing daily but so too is the to-do list.

 

I don’t think I have ever planned this far ahead for Christmas or indeed Easter next year. That’s when I am down to teach for five days at Wellington’s symposium and ‘I must be prepared’ is sounding a bit like my daily mantra. I do hope I catch up with a lot of you then.

 

The Project now has over forty participating and it is such fun to see the different versions at clubs or classes I attend. For those not playing the game then I will post a progress out when I return from my travels. I have a couple of really big ‘lessons’ coming up to keep everyone occupied while I am away.

 

Sew n Soup this month could well be the last hurrah for quite a while so please do come along for a ‘finishing school’ session – you can finish off a project or get some help on the finishing touches such as borders, bindings, presentation or just knowing when to stop.

Friday 24, 5-ish to whenever. As always please advise the cook of your intentions.

 

The ‘arty’ gals are continuing with their second masterpieces. They are so smart now they are heading off in their own directions. It has been fun watching them pushing the boundaries and succeeding in fine style. If you’d like to join this class then make a date for Tuesday afternoons with us. Looks like lunch at the café next door is part of this deal and we can solve all the problems over yummy muffins.

 

Hope you all made it to the Craft Fair in Hamilton and saw the Quilts Aotearoa exhibition. I still have that silly grin on my face after receiving the accolade for Best Use of Colour for my autumn leaves quilt. This afternoon I have a real treat cos I am off to spend my prize at Donna’s Quilt Studio (thanks Donna for your sponsorship). Those arty girls have opted for a field trip so they can help me out – yeah right!!

 

Go well!

 

 

 

 

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 newsletter

Wholly Quilts’ September Newsletter

 

G’day

 

Today is one of those days that is left over from yesterday – you know what I mean! I had to use my printer but it (and then I) threw a hissy which has meant all afternoon wasted yesterday, a trip to Auckland today with said printer and now I am so not in the mood to be spending the afternoon at my computer while the sun shines outside.

 

However – I am so excited about your response to The Project that I have decided to tell those that didn’t get around to signing up about it again.

It is not necessarily a block of the month or a mystery quilt but has those elements. 

The finished large single size includes piecing, appliqué and embroidery.

The cost is $5 per month but maximum $60 for the 14-15 month Project.

The second month’s pattern is ready to go but you can still sign up and catch up by sending me an email, pay all or part of the $60 (you choose) and stand by to go

 

After cancelling August’s Sew n Soup so I could skive off to a quilt exhibition AND the scallop festival, I am in danger of not finding alternatives for September’s Friday night.

So given the diary commitments I have made an executive decision - Soup n Soup will be held on Thursday September 25.

And I will remind you of two very good quiltie reasons for this:

The first is Peninsular Day for all things quilting on Saturday September 27. Run this year by the Whangamata quilters. Sewing till whenever the night before doesn’t sit well.

The weekend prior to that is the Craft Fair in Hamilton.

The other consideration is that there is only September and October available for Sew n Soup before I take off on my big OE – I haven’t quite started counting the number of sleeps yet but less than three months worth.

 

So! Sew n Soup this month will be another Jelly Roll pattern. You will need the 2½ inch strips and, given that you will be making a quilt with twinkling stars, fabric in your favourite twinkling colour.

As always please advise the cook of your intentions.

 

The ‘arty’ gals have started on their second masterpieces. If you’d like to join this class then make a date for Tuesday afternoons with us. Looks like lunch at the café next door is part of this deal and we can solve all the problems over yummy muffins.

 

 

Go well!

 

 

 

 

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...

 

The Project

Good morning All

 

I have attached the first month’s ‘task’ for you all. I do hope you have all sorted out some fabrics to start and will enjoy the magical mystery trip with me. If you need help, translation of my instructions or just want to share at any time during The Project then please contact me.

 

I machine appliquéd my blocks but you can do them by hand if you choose.

 

I am sending it to everyone who indicated they would like to participate and will, in a couple of weeks, contact those who have yet to pay. You will not receive any further patterns until I receive money.

 

Have fun!

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly QuiltT

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata 3576

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’ August Newsletter

 

 

G’day

 

It must be Spring or is that just wishful thinking!! I have filled a big vase full with daffodils and jonquils from my garden and every time I walk past it I have to smile at that bright yellow – what else can you do?  A-and I have cleaned some windows this morning, so it must be spring.

 

After spending the best part of three weeks with a ‘lurgy’ it is now time to get positive. I do hope you have all weathered the big wet and are now looking forward to great (and dry) times.

 

Each time I travel away from the lovely Wholly Quilt environs I meet quilters who tell me they wished they lived closer so they could join in with the classes, projects and Sew n Soup so I have been working on a Project.

It is not necessarily a block of the month or a mystery quilt but has those elements. It includes piecing, appliqué and embroidery and will eventually give you a large single quilt.

I have it all drawn up on paper and will keep one step ahead of everyone as we work through the quilt together.

The Project will cost $5 per month with a maximum of $60 though I suspect that by the time you have the entire pattern we will have worked for about 15 months. Everyone that signs up will receive a monthly pattern in PDF format (or snail mail if that is a problem).

 

You will need to choose your own colours with some larger pieces of relatively plain fabric for the embroidered blocks. I have a basket full of reds (pink through to burgundy), greens (lime to olive) and yellows (mustards to creams) that look luscious. You know my quilting well enough to know that there will be a large component of scrappiness to this quilt!

 

The first month’s pattern is ready to go. All you have to do is sign up by sending me an email, pay up all or part of the $60 (you choose) and stand by to get creative.

I will send my bank account details to those that need it.

 

August’s Sew n Soup – sorry guys the cook is out! That last Friday of the month falls in the middle of my local group’s bi-annual exhibition (August 29-31 at S James Hall, Pollen St, Thames) and I am taking a group of friends to the Scallop Festival in Whitianga on the Saturday – talk about double booking but it will be such fun.

 

Go well!

 

 

 

 

Regards

Natalie Murdoch

--

Wholly Quilts

Ph 07 867 3085 or Cell 0210 2231 678

9 Church Road, Mangatarata

RD 6 Thames 3576

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...