Hugs from Helen

I’m the October pinup girl!

Apple or Yellow Greens are the colour for this months Aurifil block designer – and I’m it!  I love my Aurifil threads and was chuffed when they asked me to be the October girl…

This year this free BOM quilt is based on the colours of the Rainbow – and we are up to October already – but never fear you can go back and find all the previous months quite easily here

Growing up on a farm there were plenty of memories for inspiration for this colour – and it just so happened that my greens in the Basically Hugs range for P&B Textiles were also perfect to use.

I, of course, had to include some English paper piecing (using EPP Iron-ons – iron on leave in epp papers) and a touch of whimsical embroidery using the 12wt threads.In the pattern I included a printable sheet for the templates you can print onto my Applique paper so you too can use the iron-on/leave-in method.

If you need help with the how-to’s of English Paper piecing I have several YouTube videos on my channel – go subscribe as there are more coming soon!Or I have a great Craftsy class which will take you through everything step by step…. if you click on the photo below it will take you to a 33% off link!

If you need help with embroidery stitches you can sign up to my free embroidery lessons right here.

 

So I hope you enjoy my block and would love to see them if you do happen to make it – Please share on Instagram (if you’re not following me its helen_stubbings)

and use the hashtag #stitchwithhelen so I can find you….

 

don’t forget to also share your blocks with Aurifil and you can win a full set of yummy threads… go here to see the details and follow Pat Sloan as she makes the blocks along the way.

 

happy stitching!

hugs from Helen

PS- forgot to tell you where to get it!

head to here to download the pattern.

Tilda Tea Party

Don’t you just love Tilda?  and a Tilda Tea Party or trunk show – how cute would that be?

I received some lovely pieces of the new Tilda fabrics several months ago and was asked to create some projects that could go on one long trip around the country….

Jo actually made them up for me as I was making these little projects in my Basically low fabrics – we both made our own versions.

This little block book is perfect for keeping your 6-8” applique or stitchery blocks in as you work on your project. Its very quick and simple to make and is finished nicely with a touch of ric-rac

This is Jo’s tilda version

And my original version in Basically Lows

We have patterns and kits available for both versions If you cannot get to a Tilda tea Party in your area.

Our second little project is this very useful project bag… These are so handy, you need more than one if you are a true quilter/stitcher like me with many projects on the go.

This was my original version in Basically Lows and Basically Hugs (new oranges)

See the clear pocket so you can easily see which project you are grabbing – and those easy peasy and very pretty lace zippers – no zip insertion here!

And this is Jo’s beautiful Tilda version…

The pattern includes our fantastic iron on/leave in EPP clamshell iron ons and applique paper.And includes a bit of EPP, a bit of gluestick applique and a touch of embroidery – all my faves!

Again, we have kits and patterns for both versions of these (the tilda kits are not yet on the website, please ask for them in the comments section) – but you may be able to see them yourself if you are near a Trunk show location

 

Next time I need to get Quarter Inch on this trip I think.

A huge thanks to my sidekick Jo for making up the samples – however I know she love’s anything Tilda and will quite happily take these home to use once they’ve finished their little journey.

so, who likes Tilda?

hugs for today

Helen

Who’s coming to Salt Lake City?

With only four sleeps until I leave and a very long list of to dos still I shouldn’t be here, but yet again its been so long and just in case any of you are coming I wanted to let you know of some of my movements so we can say hi if its possible.

So, Spring Quilt market – the International Quilt trade show (trade customers only this time sorry) is on next week at the Salt Lake City Convention centre downtown SLC. Sue and I fly out Monday to start the long journey and then the long setup ready to open next Friday.

 

of course I have three schoolhouse sessions first on Thursday as follows:

Have Much More FUN with
COSMO! – Im doing this one for Lecien

                                  Room 253a 1.20-1.50pm

Want Cash to Walk In Your Door
Monthly? We’ll Tell You How!  Room 250e 3:30 - 4:00

 

Calling All Hexie Addicts! EPP the
EasyWay                              Room 250e 4.05-4.35

 

 

Then I have two Take & Teach Classes again for you to join in and learn to take back to your students and stores:

Friday 8.00-9.30am

310. SIMPLY REDWORK EMBROIDERY—THE HUGS ‘N KISSES WAY $10

Simple embroidery stitches are ever popular! Introduce them to your students and expand your range of embroidery skills and inventory with simple stitcheries, red work, and more. Make the first block in the Razz-a-Dazzle BOM quilt. (*; 6in embroidery hoop)

411. FROM HEXIES TO CLAMSHELLS— EPP THE HUGS ‘N KISSES IRON-ON WAY $10

Using the new EPP Iron-ons™ extend your knowledge of English Paper Piecing beyond hexagons. Clamshells are the next big thing! Make this super cute purse/cushion and take it back to wow your customers. (*; Sewline fabric glue pen or similar)

I will also be doing demos on demand in my booth daily showing the Easy English paper piecing method using iron on, leave in papers that is going crazy.And 4pm on Saturday I’ll be demoing and book signing on the Landauer Booth #1243  on my Gluestick applique method..

Phew, Im tired just thinking about this…

But wait! there’s more… This year a group of your favourite Aussie designers are grouping together to form the Aussie Aisle!

We’ll all be there in aisle #1800 – right inside the entrance doors next to the quilt exhibit!  You’ll see our aussie bunting for sure… we have some exciting things in store for you….

Each designer will be doing their demos of what they do best!

We have a gorgeous Koala coming with us all the way from Australia – she is very excited, and also very friendly and would love to have her photo taken with you all.  Then you can try and guess her name and go in a draw to win a fabulous basket of goodies from us all.AND

we are having free vegemite tastings too!

Come join all the action in aisle #1800  but before that join our new group – Aussie Designers on Facebook, you’ll see what each of us are doing now and into the future and have us on hand to answer questions etc ongoing.

 

of course, after market brings more excitement as I rush to the airport to travel to Minnesota to teach for the Hayward Quilt guild.. maybe I’ll see you there – there might be just 1 or 2 spots left if you are close by….

 

okay, back to my list now…

hugs for today

Helen

They stitched with Helen & Nat

we head yet another wonderful day of stitching and sharing on Sunday here in Hobart.

As always my wonderful friend Jo added all of the special touches, this time aided by Judy – another one of my wonderful team who keep me on track..

the room looked amazing, in fact many said they felt like they were walking into a wedding!

One day I think Jo will be an event organiser or decorator…http://www.thebirdhouse.com.au/http://www.thebirdhouse.com.au/

Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse had travelled down from Brisbane to share her project on the day (and sorry I don’t have a pic of the gorgeous little needlebook she designed for the day – but Im sure someone will share it)

 

My project was this useful little project bag. It is perfect for storing your project for stitching on the go – in fact I think I need to make about ten of these…. I went a complete blank on a name for this so it is called ‘Vicky Victoria’ – meaning nothing at all, it just came to me..It has a little clear vinyl window so you can see which project you are grabbing to take to stitching group today. I included some gluestick applique (and I even pre printed all the shapes onto the Applique paper for the girls so they could get right into learning and appliqueing) And I used one of my favourite lace zippers so no insertion required

of course there was plenty of stimulation, inspiration and retail therapy available…

a little instruction and charity work to be done..and as always, we put a lot of love into yummy treats to keep the energy levels going.. Thanks once again to my three very clever girls for catering..We finished the day with lots of show n tell – Dee and Diane are always gold star finishers – they had many more to show…

a huge thanks to all who travelled from near and far to share the day, to Jo, judy, Linda, Molly, Tess and Tilly for working hard to make it happen and of course to Nat – it was lovely to chat and catchup for a few days

our next day was announced and details and bookings can be found on our website here.

hugs for today
Helen

PS: we have a few spare kits for Vicky Victoria available on the website also.

Easy English Paper piecing on Craftsy

My first Craftsy class is now live!

You can view the trailer here

……and for my special blog friends I can offer you a launch special of 50% off for one week!  Click on this link to access the special price…. (sorry discount now expired)

If you’ve never tried English Paper piecing before – or even if you have but perhaps not the way I do it and you’d like to try it out, please go take a look… I hope I have made everything easy to understand and in simple terms – but never fear, if not, I'm right there on the Craftsy forums to help answer your questions.

And the winner of the free class is:

cdel9419jaffa!!!  I will be emailing your link to claim your free class very soon – Congratulations…

hugs for today, from Hobart at the bottom of Australia

Helen

Mugs Rugs for Chrissy Presents

I don’t think I’ve taken the time to show you these little mug rug patterns? – I’ve done them a little time ago but with my busyness I have been neglecting my blog and showing you new things and ideas..

So at market in May I got give some samples of these very useful little premade mug rug inserts. They are made by Bosal and are double sided fusible precut shapes to put inside projects. The ones I have used are the 4” x 6” rectangles.

I’ve made three designs thus far!

The patterns include applique paper, pre-cuts (hexies, pentagons or honeycombs) and iron on transfers plus instructions for both finishing methods – binding or turning.

So they are great to make from your scrap stash, whip up in a night or two for that perfect gift for a stitching friend.

I'm not sure I’d actually sit my coffee mug on them tho? So perhaps you’d use them in a different way..

hugs for today

Helen

Scrappity Doo-dah online QAL

Are you on the EPPQAL Facebook page?  There is so much activity there as they await their next installment for the online quilt a long mystery… lots of different fabrics being used..

Did you miss out- or think you couldn’t fit it in?  well now we are ready with our Scrappity Doo Dah version – you can join at anytime. Just purchase your pack and then you will be signed up. Now of course eventually you might start seeing finished quilts (which may spoil your mystery) but you still have the fun of wondering what comes next! so what’s it all about?

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Learn the joy of English Paper piecing the Hugs ‘n Kisses way!

Join with us on this 26 part Quilt along – learn many shapes, techniques, a little gluestick applique and more.

$112.00  includes paper pack and the full set of patterns over approximately 5 months

This is now an Online quilt-a-long BOM type program. You can sign up here for a paper pack to join, and an optional fabric pack- or you can sign up with your favourite store and choose their fabric kit choices.

There are 26 parts to the program which will be delivered by electronic mail and download. The finished quilt measures approx 48" x 48"

What fabrics did you use?

I have used my Fancywork Box and Basically Hugs fabrics for my quilt version –which is what you will see on each email. The design is based on a scrappy layout and we have a fabric pack available to help you start – 8 fat quarters and 16 fat eights – this will be plenty to make your quilt top.

Hugs fabric pack – (optional)

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$90 + postage. (please select other for postage- if more is required we will contact you before processing)

Other things you would have in your sewing box – but if not they are available from here.

Sewline Glue pen & refills

Hugs ‘n Kisses applique needles

Roxanne’s Glue baste it

Karen Kay Buckley perfect scissors

Bottomline sewing thread in neutral colours

Inkjet printer or Sewline ceramic pencil.

To sign up to the program you must purchase the Paper pack above.

Once you have  purchased your starter kit from us you will be subscribed to the program and you will get an email each time a new part is released. (approx every 5 days)

It will contain a link to download the pattern.  Please download and save this PDF pattern

to your computer or device. The emails are automatically generated and cannot be re-sent

if you lose them so please take care to save and file carefully. You will require a free Acrobat

reader to print the pattern files - available from https://get.adobe.com/reader/

I am sharing this journey so that you may get to experience the pleasure of using our unique method of English Paper piecing and needleturn applique. It uses our EPP iron-ons which are cut from our wonderful Applique paper. You can read more about this here 

http://www.hugsnkisses.net/index.php/shop/other-thingys/applique-paper-precuts

with many tutorials on my blog at http://hugsnkisses.typepad.com/hugsfromhelen/

or videos on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/user/helenshugsnkisses

I just know once you try these you are going to love them and never look back to removing sticky  papers again.

hope you can join us – and the several hundred others making this around the world!

hugs for today

Helen

Free Free EPP quilt along with me….

Do you want to quilt along with me?  from right in your lounge chair each night… from anywhere in the world?

If so, you only have a small window of opportunity to join in..

From now until Midnight 30th September Australian time you can join up by visiting here and purchase the precut pack you will need to complete the mystery quilt. Okay, so that’s not free then you say – but you need these pre-cuts to be able to make the project – and instead of having to purchase a full pack of every different shape poor Tessie has spent hours cutting just the amount you will need for a very good price..

But – the pattern – all 26 parts delivered by email – will be free – for those who have signed up by the 30th September – after that it will need to be purchased from a store running it as a BOM project…

So this free offer is a little thankyou to all of you who have followed me over the past 14 years, who have supported me, bought my patterns, encouraged me and thanked me for bringing a little joy into your life.

And it is for you, stitching friends around the world to learn the joy of English Paper piecing the Hugs ‘n Kisses way!

Join with us on this 26 part Quilt along – learn many shapes, techniques, a little gluestick applique and more.

I will take you step by step through the mystery quilt learning a new block, shape or technique with each installment.. The final quilt top will measure approximately 48” x 48”. Most blocks involve handwork, with a small amount of simple machine piecing – and I have assembled the blocks by machine. But all the individual blocks are appliqued or paper pieced by hand – just your little bit of daily therapy… not too much, you’ll easily be able to keep up with just those five minutes of stitching per day or so..

We will be using the Hugs ‘n Kisses EPP iron –ons – if you haven't tried these then my mission on the QAL is to get you totally addicted – you will never do it any other way again….

Our Iron-on English paper piecing shapes are cut from Hugs ‘n Kisses applique paper – which is 50% soluble with a glue on one side. Which means, you iron the precut shape to your fabric, glue over the edges, stitch it up AND LEAVE THE PAPERS IN! so easy….. there are many other positives of this product that make the process so easy and forgiving for all skill levels.

and remember - IT WILL BE FREE! yes totally free – but for that limited time only…

remember join up now by purchasing the EPPQAL Paper pack  AUD$60 + postage (GST included.)

  More information here..

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Once you have signed up (by purchasing the pack) you will be added to a mailing list and as each installment is released  will get a link to download the pattern (which will be work for only 2 weeks).

Once the program is finished we will release it as a BOM pattern worldwide as a paid pattern through stores. Some stores are already offering fabric packs to join in now..

There are 26 parts and we will release them randomly – maybe two a week, depending on how involved the block is and when I'm home/or away to do it

Whilst you are working along use the hasthag #EPPQAL to share the fun.

I have used my Fancywork Box and Basically Hugs fabrics for my quilt version –which is what you will see each month. We have prepared fabric packs using the same/or very similar fabrics as I have used.

Hugs fabric pack – (optional) PLEASE NOTE: we have been overwhelmed by orders and have run out of some fabrics, we have ordered more but they may not get here in time so any orders from now will include substitutes - same colours and very similar values but not the originals. If the order arrives I will remove this message and return to original fabrics.

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$90 + postage.(please select other for postage- if more is required we will contact you before processing)

Fee is making a version for me using The new Tilda  Autumn tree range which  she’ll be sharing on Social media as we progress. Many stores have this in stock now. Esmes has kits ready to offer in Tilda and Sew Bright Alpine Quilting will be ready with kits also by our October start.

Or choose your own fabric/colourway – a modern version would be great too!

Other things you would have in your sewing box – but if not they are available from here.

Sewline Glue pen & refills

Hugs ‘n Kisses applique needles

Roxanne’s Glue baste it

Karen Kay Buckley perfect scissors

Bottomline sewing thread in neutral colours

Inkjet printer or Sewline ceramic pencil.

- See more at: http://hugsnkisses.typepad.com/hugsfromhelen/epp-quilt-along.html#sthash.lto0C7z3.dpuf

The program will begin in October –

You can see lots of peeks of what you will be making on my instagram feed or Facebook page. And you may like to join in and share our Facebook group just for EPPQAL gals..

Tell your friends- or don’t if you want this to be your secret  

remember, click that button now to join in before its too late – Tess needs time to cut enough kits for you so numbers the earlier the better will be great… In the meantime I shall get the patterns ready to go!!!

Read more details here.. or sign up right now by clicking the button below.

THE FREE OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN BY SIGNING UP WITH A STORE WHO RUNS THE PROGRAM AS A BOM OR FROM OUR WEBSITE ONCE THE Initial Quilt along - has finished.

AUD$60 + postage GST included.

 

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hugs for today

Helen

Printable EPP Shapes

-as you know many are starting to looooove our EPP iron-ons which we are very excited about – as I wouldn’t do my English paper piecing any other way now…

Checkout our current pre-cut range here now – we know you are all loving them and are doing our best to keep up….

 

…But as we have to diecut them we are only able to slowly add more and more to our range. Obviously there are 1000’s of shapes and sizes we would love to do for you but for now here is the answer:

You use our wonderful Applique paper and print the shape/size you require straight onto it through an inkjet printer.

We have been spending many many hours preparing files for you setup just for this purpose…  We have started with about 50 and will add more over time – if you have a specific request, please ask and we’ll move it to the top of the list.

So…. to find our current offerings visit my new Craftsy download store right here… Click on the ‘follow’ button and you will see when I have a new shape ready for you.

 

Now a few tips:

The files have been setup to print as a light grey fine line onto the letter size Hugs ‘n Kisses applique paper. This is so that a dark black thick ink line (and all printer inks are different) won’t wash into your fabric when you wash your finished piece.

Purchase,download and save your file. Then print it directly onto the paper – the best printer to use is the cheapest gravity feed inkjet printers… DO NOT USE A LASER PRINTER – the paper has glue on one side – and laser printers use heat to set the ink – can you see that your printer will be ruined….

some of the more expensive inkjet printers that scan, double side, fold etc may experience paper jams when the soft paper has to roll and feed round and round – so if they have a manual feed tray use that to feed through one sheet at a time. And print onto the dull (non-glue) side.

Then you can cut out by hand with scissors OR for straight lines use a rotary cutter and ruler.

Now an even better idea – if you have to have a personal cutting machine such as a Silhouette Cameo or a Brother Scan n Cut – then send the file to it and have it cut the paper shapes for you also…

So, start shopping now and build your shape inventory… you will never need to make card templates again – or have to take those card templates out once you’ve finished your English Paper Piecing or applique projects….

if you need a reminder on how they work just check out all the tutes on the pages – links on the right of the blog…

 

hugs and happy printing

Helen

New English Paper Piecing iron-ons are here!

Today we can finally introduce to you our new EPP Iron-on pre-cut shapes!  This has been such a long process getting it right for you.

We know you have been loving our fusible hexies and have been working towards new shapes for you.

The Pre-cuts are cut from our ever popular Applique paper – 50% soluble, 50% non soluble natural fibre with a light fusible on one side – so yes, you iron on, sew together, and LEAVE IN the papers! im not sure how much easier and user friendly can it get?

 

 

 

I also have some step by step photo tutorials on my blog for some shapes with the rest to come and I’d really like to do some more Youtube videos on the new shapes one day.

We have about 14 new shapes but remember – any shape and size can be printed, cut, die cut (Brother Scan and Cut, Accucut, Baby, Sizzix, Silhouette) from our Applique paper.

If you’ve been following me on Facebook you would've seen me working on little mini quilts with some of the new shapes – Mini quilts are fun and easy to finish – without that large quilt to tackle the quilting on.. The First Five patterns in the series are finally on the website… some include applique as well (and I've put the applique paper in for you also).

Im working on a quiltalong – like a sampler project to try all of the new shapes, so watch this space – it will be quite a bit of work for me to do so I’ll need a minimum number to join in the fun – it will be all online – comment if you think you’d be interested…. I’ll be sharing on IG and FB also and best of all it will be FREE! (of course you may need to buy the papers to make it tho!)

 

hugs to all for today

Helen