Wholly Quilts newsletter

May Newsletter

 

G’day

I was right – I could get to like holidays. It is days like today when I realise that the fifth month of the year has started and I am still thinking about implementing one or some (or maybe none) of my New Year resolutions. Maybe this far on they can all wait until next year!!

 

I had a wonderful time at the Wellington symposium. I put some more names to faces, had fun in my classes, met a few of the lovely Australian tutors and generally had a ball.

I have to say the down side to it all was my reaction to the best of show blanket – I got a bad case of the ‘why bothers’. Why do I bother playing with all the beautiful fabrics that are available from the retailers and wholesalers; why do I bother making quilts that make my heart sing and inspire me with all the wonderful colours available; why do I bother teaching this wonderful craft when a blanket will do?

But I got over that and came home to finish off an entry for the NANZQ challenge ‘Illumination’ and another for the World Quilts and have almost stopped muttering about that other one.

 

Next month I am going to tell you about my new challenge. Given that my studio and classroom used to be a church I am going to issue a ‘Prayer Flag’ challenge. I will work on the dimensions and let you all know next time around. The winner will receive a free weekend retreat here at Wholly Quilts.

 

Open Retreat – I have had some enquiries regarding the minimum number needed for a retreat and I get the impression that there are a few quilters out there who don’t have quilting buddies but would like to come for a weekend. Now is your opportunity. On the first weekend in August ie July 31 and August 1 and 2 I am going to have an open retreat here at Wholly Quilts.

This is your chance to meet other quilters, get help with a project or start on a new one and be looked after for a weekend – just imagine it! No phone, no meals to prepare, no housework just sewing for as long as you want. It must be time you treated yourself.

To reserve your spot you will need to pay a $50 deposit.

 

Sew n Soup on Friday night May 29 will be Finishing School. We all have projects that have stalled for one reason or another – now is the time to get going on them with a bit of help and inspiration from others.

 

Part 9 of The Project is heading out to all participants today and to answer the question everyone seems to have – there are still 4 or 5 parts to go.

 

 

 

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

 

Wholly Quilts newsletter

April Newsletter

 

G’day

 

I have had so many enquiries since I got back from my OE about Wholly Quilts and what goes on here that I thought I would bring you all up to date. It is so exciting – I love sharing my place and my space with you.

 

Retreats

These are generally held over a weekend starting with a soup supper on Friday night through to Sunday afternoons. Cooking (especially for other people) is right up there with quilting and gardening as occupations I am passionate about. Many of the comments in my visitors’ book are about food and not quilting so … enjoy the best of local and seasonal food with me.

You can choose to work on your own quilty things over the weekend; do a structured class with me (most of my classes are on my cv pages on my website www.nataliemurdoch.co.nz ; bring along any problem projects to get sorted or come with an open mind and be inspired to do something different. Maybe even start on an art quilt.

The classes are held in my studio which is a little old brick church or on the verandah, weather permitting. It is a most inspirational place to work.

I have been teaching quilting for 15 years including the last six national symposia, for guilds and clubs around the North Island and at night classes.

My gardening and cooking skills have not received any where near as many accolades as my quilts but I am working on that.

So for a cost of $165 per person you get two nights accommodation, you get fed regularly and well and you get as much guidance as your quilting needs.

 

Classes

I teach at my place or yours.

Generally the classes here are as required. I charge $50 per person for a day-long class that includes a country-style lunch.

Tuesday afternoons are available for a quilting bee. Again you can bring your own project, start a new one or just be inspired. Cost is $10 for a two-hour session.

The last Friday night of each month is set aside for Sew n Soup. I set a project for the night and you get a soup supper for $20 each. However there are always exceptions to this plan and I can see a couple coming up in the coming months.

 

I am off to Wellington Symposium next week and that is really exciting too. I have three quilts in the exhibitions and am teaching for four days. I do hope I get to put more faces to names while I am there.

My old home town of Nelson beckons after so I will be spending a few days with my sister before heading home – I could get to like holiday mode!

 

I reminder here for any of you that haven’t yet enrolled for Hamilton’s mini-symposium In Stitches. I am teaching for three days there over Queen’s Birthday weekend.

 

Part 8 of The Project is going out with this newsletter just to keep you all out of mischief.

 

 

 

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 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...