Helen Godden- Quilting Goddess

It has always been the hugest pleasure here at Hobbysew Belconnen to host classes with Helen Godden. Helen and I exhibited our first quilts together at Canberra Quilters' 2003 Quilter's Exhibition. Since then both our quilting lives have taken off... mine into the retail side of things and Helen's into international fame and recognition!
Second term classes are booking and sadly for me I am already writing the class list for third term! Where do the days go???
Helen has just got back from a teaching stint up north and has sent me some photos of the tremendously successful class 4 In the Raw.

This is a great class to explore your creativity while still keeping a defined project in mind.
Positive and negative images are used.

Beautiful quilting and raw edge applique is then added to enhance the design. Use one of Helen's designs, or one of your own!

You must have completed her beginner quilting class or have an equivalent skill level to undertake this class.
Photos show one of Helen's own samples followed by the works created in her recent workshop by her students.

Mother's Day Specials

Wow!
4 Super deals for Mother's Day
Madeira Treasure Chest valued at over $1000 for only $399
30% off sewing baskets
Ott-lite 13 Watt Task Lamp only $79
Ott-lite 18 Watt Hampton Floor Lamp $149

Plus sewing machines with great specials form Sunger and Husqvarna Viking

Newsletter due on your doorstep

Hi there once more!
Our newsletter is about to arrive in your letter boxes any tick of the clock. It is running a moment or two late this month due to a head office reshuffle, but the bookings have been swift by word of mouth alone for the new classes we have lined up for Term 2!
Brand New and for this term only we have classes by Mary Kingsford. Mary is an accredited Canberra Quilters' teacher who is only available this term for teaching. Her classes for Machine trapunto and folded curved piecing bring something quite new and interesting to the class list.
Helen Godden has added two new classes to her list of regular machine quilting classes. Many ladies by now will have done the fabric painting class that Helen has offered at a location more able to withstand the water than our shop! As a follow up to this, she has offered "Complete the Picture". In this class people will be able to develop their coloured fabrics into a piece of art.
Helen's other new class is called "007 Licensed to Design" which is all about designing your own original raw edged applique original. Explore... and create!
Sylvia Frazer returns to Hobbysew with a full term's worth of fabulous needlework projects. Come into the store and see the display of these gorgeous things.

Our big ambition for this term is to get as many people on our mailing list onto our emailing list to save the planet a few trees etc. Please drop us an email or visit the store to add your email address to your customer details. Our email address is
hobbysew_act@hotmail.com

Welcome To April

April is here with a great special but you need to act quickly!
Until 6th April we have 30% off backing and Sew Easy cotton wadding and Fairfield packaged wadding products.
30%!!
We know that a lot of people have been pulling their belts in and using their stash, so we thought we would help you work on your stash by providing the finishing items you need!
Today I put out the new class list. It will be posted to all our VIPs in the near future but if you want to guarantee your place in a particular class, duck in early and secure your place.

Happy sewing!
PS... one month until Mother's day.. tell them to visit us and you won't end up with a vacuum cleaner or toaster!

Hobbysew Monthly Offers

Last year Najelle and I floated the idea of a Managers Special. This idea has been completely embraced by our head office and is now a major happening thing!
This month when you make a purchase, you can receive a voucher. This voucher can be presented after 31 March and you will receive either 25% off your scrapbooking purchases over $50 OR when you buy three metres of fabric we will add a 4th one for free!
Watch this space to hear what the offer will be in following months. Let us know if there is something you would like to see on our list!

March! Already Half Over!

So Much is happening, I have not found time to drop in and update the blog! Tsk Tsk!

Classes are well underway but there are a few spot left is a couple of the classes so please give us a call if there is a class you have a hankering to do.

The next class list is currently on the drawing board. Term two is great time to get into a class. Not too cold, not too hot, just right!

After our massive clearance in January, we received stock in from the US direct and we are so excited to be able to get fabrics in the greatest and latest ranges for less than we have been able to for quite some line. We have been able to put the vast majority of he new stock out at $17.95pm. It has been 4 years since we have been able to be assured of that kind of pricing and a real pleasure to be able to pass on some of the advantages of the improvement in the Australian dollar to you.

Two huge hits in the new fabrics have been Winnie the Pooh and the Cars gang.

Just had a look at some signage today and found that our Bazzill cards stock signs said $1.35. If you have bought any for quite some months now you would have realised that we dropped our bazzill price to just $0.99 ages ago. And don't forget that you get you VIP discount on that too making it really affordable.

Jo's papercraft classed were fantastic. Can't wait to see what projects she has lined up for term 2.

The idea behind the class is to learn a new skill with Jo in the first hour and then stay on to do your own scrap booking in good company!

One sad thing to note has been the passing of Canberra Needlework. Robyn and Jo closed their doors after providing great service and support to northside hand sewers.

The first side effect of this is that their regular Wednesday social group are now meeting at Hobbysew every Wednesday morning for sit and sew.

The second one is that Sylvia Frazer has brought back to Hobbysew all her fabulous classes for stitching and little projects. This is great for the crafts person who doesn't want huge projects. Keep an eye out for Sylvia's classes in the next newsletter.

Mother's Day is fast approaching so I have one recommendation to make: Start nagging now. My experience is that families are not that sensitive to mothers needs... so you need to get out and make a noise now so that it sinks in.

Tell them that the Husqvarna Sapphire is what you want and that they can layby it today. Men don't understand "maybe" and "perhaps" and "I wouldn't mind". Tell him today to go and get it!

And tell him to say that it is for Mothers Day and I will throw in a pressie for you too!

Term1 Begins!

The first term is upon us! To start us off, we are going straight into the heavily booked classes. Sue's Quilt As You Go Sampler begins Friday night and then we have a weekend of Luixin's magnificent techniques. The response to Luixin's classes has been enormous and we have people coming from as far away as Melbourne!
We hope that we may be able to get more dates from Luixin for later in the year for all those who missed out.

Our Australia Day sale left us with plenty of room for the new ranges of fabric from the US. We have a complete range of 1930 repros, a Japanese range, a pretty retro range that would be perfect for teenage girls, and a huge range of Batiks have arrived. All these fabrics have been marked at $17.95 pm and of course you will receive our VIP discount on top of that if you have already joined up.

Thanks to the ladies who came along to our meet the teacher day. It was lovely to be able to share our new projects with you. I hope you took advantage of the 20% discount offered to those that attended ;).
It was particularly thrilling to have Buffy share her journal quilts with us. A collection of quilt journals that Buffy curated was featured in this months Down Under Quilts. It will be a fabulous course.

If you have been contemplating a new sewing machine for yourself or as a gift, we have great options. Our Husqvarna range has some great prices and offers and we still have a limited number of free DVD players that will accompany any 7000 series Singer Sewing machine.

Last week we received a gorgeous bundle of Jelly Rolls. Have you seen these yet? They are rolls of 2 1/2 inch strips from a range. We have a couple of classes offered this year that are perfect for using these tempting collections of fabric.

You must go into the shop and see Sylvia's new quilt. I asked her to make a block from Nancy Halverson's new book just before Christmas. She loved making the block so much that she could't help herself. The quilt was so quickly apliqued, pieced and quilted, it takes my breath away!

Big News For our First Mall Birthday

Welcome back from the holiday season!
It is our first birthday in the mall and can you believe, nearly 4 years since we first opened at the old address.
To celebrate this, and Australia day we are having the hugest sale you are going to see this year!
30% off all fabric not already on special. The logic behind this madness is a huge shipment of fabric from the US that we are receiving that will re-set the clock on fabric prices! Instead of 2008 you will think it is 1998!
This is crazy! You are going to get such massive savings and right on time for the new year's classes.

Hopefully by now you will have received a copy of the new class list. There are so many new classes as well as the older favorites, I found it very confusing to schedule them all!

The most exciting of all is our special guest teacher, Liuxin Newman, The Thimble Lady.
You deserve to learn Liuxin's "no pain" quilting technique. I did the course some years ago and have never felt quilting stiffness in my hands since!

The following day we will be offering you a chance to learn the finer pints of needle turn applique from her. She is an international award winner and this is a chance not to be missed!

Bigger than Ben Hur

It is Christmas for you at Hobbysew!

20% off All full priced fabrics

20% off Habby

20% Off Art and Craft Supplies

If your hubby is like mine, you need to buy yourself something for Christmas if you are going to get something you want!

Hobbysew has made it easy!

Only until Sunday 4pm 16th December

Show and Tell

End of year Show and Tell! Yesterday we had the morning version and tonight we have one for the workers!
Yesterdays was great. We saw a lot of finished quilt as you go items. I think that pretty much proves how that technique above all others sees finished quilts.
And one of those ladies won the Ott Light that was the prize offered to all those who joined in with the Show and Tell.
There were other lucky door prizes drawn from all who came.
We had a range of Fat Quarters for only $3 each and half price Fat 8ths too. Double VIP discounts also added to the fun!
Rosemary proved that she has a great eye for colour when she managed to collect over 20 FQs from the reduced range that all coordinated. Amazing! It looked like a jumble sale to me!
Can't wait for tonight to do it all again!

Singer Catalogue Specials

Your Christmas Gift
Free from Singer
40,000 homes in Canberra are getting a catalogue from Singer with their very special Christmas promotion.
Buy any.... yes.....ANY
Sewing machine, overlocker or ironing press before 15th of January and you will receive a free DVD player

When you buy something for her, you will receive something for him free.
To celebrate this wonderful offer we have added two great new machines to our already extensive range of Singer machines.

Welcome to:

• Singer 7470.

Usually $999, it is on special for $799 (plus of course the free DVD player)
LED screen, 173 built in stitches. Alphabet and numbers. 7 styles of 1-step buttonhole. Automatic needle threader.
5 year warranty and bonus extension table. Extension tables are worth more than their weight in gold when you are working with large items like curtains or quilts.

• Singer Futura CE150

Launched with rave reviews in the US, this latest release embroidery machine is perfect for the an entry into machine embroidery. This versatile embroidery machine also doubles as a regular sewing machine. It can be set so that all software updates occur automatically when your log in. Anyone who already owns an embroidery machine can tell you what a wonderful advance that is.
It is being launched with a huge savings of $700, priced at just $999!!!!(plus the free you know what..)
Plus you can chose to add software to your machine.

Storage space at the shop is tight so we can not guarantee that the machines will be still there when you walk in on Christmas eve, so please think ahead and buy or layby your machines now!

Managers' Special

Short of time, sparing with words... this week it is Civil War prints!

Show and Tell Extravaganza
Don't forget to mark your calendars with our Show and Tell dates
Thursday Morning, 29th November
Friday Night, 30th November
What we want to see are all the projects begun in a Hobbysew Belconnen class.
Bring it finished.. or not... for show and tell and be entered in the draw for an table top portable Ott light.
There will be specials, nibbles and a good time.
Let us know if you are coming to help with catering. Thanks.

New Favorite

I just love these sewing caddies.

They are available in two stained timbers. Pine and teak. They have a place for all my little sewing things. Scissors, threads, pins, thimbles, mini hoop and my current applique project.

The large is quite spacious and has a big central storage place that is as deep as the sewing box plus the pull out compartments. It's $125. The small one still has storage for larger bits in the bottom tray but is more compact and the handle slides down to make it even more so. It is $68.95. Think Christmas!

My cunning plan is to put all my bits into one of these, leave it on the coffee table and call it decoration instead of mess!!!

Managers' Special

This week's Managers' Special is our range of 1930's Reproduction fabric.
At $15 per metre they are a fantastic price!
This will run for a week and end 2nd of November when the next special is announced

Tales of Wadding

On the third Monday of the month we hold a free layer and baste class. I always start the class with a walk through our wadding corner in the classroom.
There are so many different waddings/battings available that beginner quilters can feel overwhelmed so I try to describe what you will need from a wadding and which wadding will meet the needs. As I have just run through it all this morning, it is fresh in my mind so I thought I'd try to write it down in an orderly manner!

Are you doing "show off" quilting? Wadding comes with loft. The difference in the height of the wadding as it stands normally and then when squeezed between your fingers is the loft. High loft will give your quilting more definition and low loft will give it a flatter profile. High loft tends to be less dense and low loft more dense.

Washing. Some waddings shrink. Some are easy care, throw-them-in-the-machine and others need hand washing. Some need pre-washing before quilting.
I prefer to do the "worst case scenario" to my materials before I assemble the quilt. That way if they fail the test, I have not wasted my time and effort along with my money!
To pre-wash, fill the trough next to your washing machine with warm-hotter water and hand agitate. Lift gently from trough and into the washing machine to spin out the excess water. Hang on the clothes line by draping over several lines. Do not let the whole weight of the wadding and water hanging from one line on the clothesline. Poly waddings do not, in general, need pre-washing except for health reasons.

Bed or wall. Soft finish for beds to snuggle in the cold and firmer for art to hold it square on the wall.

Who is it for? At both age extremes washing and use can dictate the wadding. Easy washing in nursing homes is important and midnight washing machine cycles on Johnny's "nye nye" means you may need it to survive the dryer. Open fires in the home might steer you to a different decision.

Fire: Wool is resistant, cotton burns cleanly and poly is a disaster. If open flames are a consideration then that will guide your choice.

Ease of use? Some of the Pellon products come with the capacity to be ironed on without needing basting.
Some waddings used to beard. That is when the fine fibres of the wadding get pulled through from the middle to the quilt top making an unsightly fuzz. I haven't heard of this happening much lately as brands become more accountable. Even so there are some types that have taken extra measures to combat bearding such as Bond Tight which is available by special order.
Some waddings need more quilting.
You also need to be aware that if you are going to hand quilt, the choice of wadding will be crucial to a happy experience.

Cost. You have to weigh up whether the use it is going to get warrants the expense.

So what have we got?
We have a needlepunched poly. (needlepunching process is to reduce the chance of bearding and to keep the wadding stable after quilting and not break apart and form clumps. It comes in two widths, 115cm and 250cm, and is budget priced. It is a bit stretchy around the edges but settles down with a pat. Unbeatable value. I use it regularly in quilts that are just for fun and not heirloom-status.

Quilter's Low Loft is well priced. It has a low profile but will still offer good definition to your quilting. It is fully machine washable and does not shrink nor need pre-washing. It is firmer wadding and would suit wall quilts.

Cosy Cotton is lovely and soft. It feeds through the sewing machine really well as it squishes in and through the c-section of your machine. It is dense and heavy so if you are prone to sore shoulders you may prefer to use the wool.
Once quilted it is immediately gorgeous to wrap around you as it drapes really nicely. The cotton will shrink by 4% and must be pre-washed. Buy 105cm for every metre you need. It is a much safer fire option that then 100% polys. This is my personal favorite.

Nu Wool is a blend of wool and poly. It is dense and firm when it is new. It makes an ideal wadding for wall hangings as the firmness helps hold it flat and tidy against the wall. With use though, it quickly softens until you can not tell whether there is wool or cotton in the quilt by its draping. The firmness means that quilting is less easy as far as fitting it through the C-section, but on the other hand, it is lighter and less tiring to maneuver.

In addition to these we have three Pellon products. Pellon is dense and stable and a high quality product. Many ladies use it behind their stitcheries and stitch through all layers to give the stitching better definition and quilting it as they go. It comes in one thickness as a sew-in products and in two with the iron-on capacity.

Well! I can imagine I will be back to edit this as there is so much to say about waddings, but this will do as a start!

Managers' Special

OK.... I know this is cruel
You have seen our Oriental fabrics....You have tried hard to resist....
You thought you had triumphed....
.
But Najelle knows your weak spot!

All our beautiful oriental fabrics have the Managers Special banner waving over them for this week only! The special price is $17.97 per metre!
The Imperial Collection by Robert Kaufman is shown but all our lovely, mouth watering orientals are included. Look out for the Indigo prints in particular. Unbeatable at this price.
Watch out for the next special that will commence on Friday 19th October.

Meet the Editors Update

http://www.youtube.com./watch?v=A-bu-YMTuxc
This is where you need to go today! Have a look at the special day we shared with the Editors. It was a massive day and so much fun. If you were there, odds are you will see yourself in the footage. Christine Butt, who won the Huskystar is a star herself and I can see Anne Arnold chatting. Plenty of Helen and Pat Godden. The merest fleeting glimpse of me (Cathy). No sign of Najelle though... obviously too busy helping to be swanning around in the limelight!

Managers' Special Week 3 - 5 October

This week our special will be a price cap on our range of marble and batik fabrics. Pay no more than $17.95 per metre but only until next Friday!

Tip for threading your sewing machine

Mega Quilter

Did you know that when your presser foot is down, the tension discs grip your thread? I was a very middle aged person by the time that piece of information sifted through to my consciousness.
But once you know, two things become obvious. You should unthread and rethread your machine with the foot up!
This way you are not dragging thread through the discs to get the thread off your machine.

Most importantly it makes sure your thread is in the discs when you thread your machine and then trapped there once you start to sew- as it ought to be. This avoids many annoying tension hiccups!

Sapphire

If you are lucky enough to have one of the Sapphire machines, you can wind a bobbin while the machine is still threaded. Obviously you need to have the foot raised to let the thread feed freely from the foot and up across the thread path to the bobbin winder. Remember to have your metal A foot on so that the thread does not wear your plastic foot.