Hugs from Helen

new office, new beginnings

as requested I am giving you an update on our new building… Things are progressing slowly but surely with a few hiccups along the way.

BUT, Jo is now firmly ensconced at 224 Campbell St and Richard our ‘can do anything’ man is busily following my every command

hmmmm Jo’s desk in progress, looks a little better  now

new paper and packaging storage cupboard

We have NBN – but look at all those wires you have to deal with… ughhh…. btw new phone number is 03 62001304

Lots of shelving – everything will have its place and we might even know where it is…My desk for when I pop in… even  a nice new comfy chair..Its been all hands (and power tools) on deck for a couple of weeks…

And this is Mr Bentleys favourite room!  does it look like a toilet to you!!!!

At this stage its just the backend (Pattern Press/Hugs ‘n Kisses office/warehouse) we are working on…. The front shop part will be some time away – in fact it hasn’t even gone into council as yet – too many things to deal with first… one step at a time..

so, if you happen to be visiting - please give us a call and we’ll direct you in the back door to say hi!!!

hugs for now

Helen

into the future…… exciting or terrifying…

After many months of searching I have bought a building! – we really need our home back… and there is not much left that hasn't been taken over by Hugs ‘n Kisses

So, if I can manage to wade myself successfully through Council plans, permits and regulations, then building codes, regulations and changes then ‘Quarter Inch’ – home of Hugs ‘n Kisses will be operating in Hobart by Christmas….

wish me luck…. and at least if you come to visit you won’t have to step over guinea pig poo, stacked boxes and catch me in my trackies anymore..

I shall keep you posted on progress as requested as we go…

hugs for today

Helen

AQC and back again

wow, what a whirlwind few weeks…

First my fabric arrived – well half of it….. but I was still in AQC Prep mode so not much could be done with it….

then it was off and away up the road, onto the boat and into the big smoke!

After unloading in the rain on my own this is how I started!

finally, exhausted about 7 hours later we were sort of done and ready for the opening crowds

Couldn't have done it without my two wonderful helpers Tess and Jess…

We had full houses for all of our Make & take classes and my daily presentation

I caught up with so many stitching friends and customers – it was certainly a full on few days – not to mention my very quick look at the amazing quilts… from the State’s best, to Modern Quilt Guild, to the AQC Challenge ‘True Blue’, individual quilt artist exhibits and Lucy Carol’s The Gallipoli Quilt project.. to name a few.

And who could forget the wonderful Best of Australia quilt won by my friend Linda…. over 23,000 1/4” hexies made up this original design and it was a well deserved win!

so, you may be able to see many many new things in these photos that I just haven't had time to show you or get onto the website…. in 3 days I leave yet again, this time for Seattle for my cruise to Alaska

and then market…

 

So the new patterns and goodies I’m afraid are  going to have to wait until my return at the end of May… please follow along on my travels on Instagram or Facebook… I have a few more posts scheduled to come, will be back in a few weeks…

hugs for today..

Helen

chatting with Pat Sloan

yes its only 6.30am! But I've just been up to have a lovely chat with Pat Sloan on her radio show..

if you missed it you can still listen in here…

The wonders of modern technology..so lovely to just chat about things like we were right next door.

also on the show was  Julie Wurzer

and Penny Layman

Now that I’m awake, I’m off to listen to them…

have a lovely day…

hugs from Helen

Me & the Quilt show

its been so long I hardly remember, but way back in May of 2013 whilst I was in Portland for quilt market I taped an episode for THE QUILT SHOW! how excited was I!!! but I haven't been able to say anything for all of this time…. now I can tell the world – and even let all of you, my online friends, watch it for free….

you can watch a little trailer here

Now if you know me you are probably wondering if I have been able to watch it yet….. well I was a brave little girl, pulled up my panties and quietly hid away and watched it all by myself before I told even my family about it… and I don’t think I have totally embarrassed myself so here goes….

 

I was joined by my sister Tracey Browning of Constantine quilts and you get the chance to see all about my iron on EPP hexies, how to do them, and my gluestick applique method…

and you can watch the whole show here….

 

so go forth and learn (or have a laugh) – this link is free for you to watch for just one week….

it was fun! and an experience I am very grateful for in this industry. Thanks Shelley, Alex and Ricky for the opportunity.

til next time, hugs for today

Helen

Keep those Rainbows coming girls….

I now girls are stitching rainbows of hope around the world… This is Marilyns which is on its way to Dainere now. We have class groups of children drawing rainbow pictures, patterns being distributed at quilt groups and finished rainbows being sold and raffled to raise funds. I knew collectively we could make a difference girls… keep spreading the word, share it as much as you like – its perfectly free from me to share this design.. link it back to our last blog post with the details and information and enjoy the process along the way

 

big hugs to each and every one of you

Helen

Share your Gift for me please....

When I did the recent Project interview, from the hours of filming they ended with a quote I had used – ‘we all have a gift – use it to make a difference.’

So now I am asking you, all of my blog and Facebook stitching friends around the world – to share your gift for me… and make a difference to this wonderful and inspiring girl I have ‘met’ online since the Project aired.

From Dainere’s Blog she writes:

I was diagnosed with High Risk Medulloblastoma in 2009, since then my dream has been to raise awareness and funds about brain tumours and inspire others, I hope that one day a less devastating treatment will be found and hopefully a cure. In 2012 I was diagnosed with an incurable relapse of my disease in my spine. This has made me more determined to raise funds and awareness to have a cure found for this horrendous disease.

From her mum:

Raising that awareness to help others is the most important thing to her.  Primary brain tumours are the second highest cause of death for children aged 1 -18 years from all causes after drowning and now sits as the highest cause of cancer death in children.

Of course we are making her a Snugglybug quilt but I needed to do more. Sometimes something just touches your heart and it aches to help in some small way.

Dainere loves rainbows – they give her hope…..

What I am asking you to do is:

Download this pattern – or make up your own version of a rainbow

Download Rainbows for dainiere

It will only take a few scraps and an hour of your time to stitch.

If you can manage it pop it into an envelope with a $5 note and post to

Rainbows for Dainere

17 Delma View Gungahlin ACT 2912, Australia

Lets give Dainere hope from all around the world, and when there is no further hope at least there are hugs and rainbows surrounding her. Help Dainere to make a difference for kids in the future – it  could be our kids or the neighbours or the friends in school class. It could be any of us…

Please, do this little thing for me and use your gift to make a difference..

there is no time frame for this, any special package will brighten her day, just when you can…. do this one small token, it will give back to you also, a feeling of love and appreciation for our life as it is.

hugs to all of my rainbow makers today

Helen

If you are able to, please email a pic of your rainbow to me or my Facebook page, spread the word, share this post and tell everyone, imagine what we as quilters could do for Dainere if each and everyone of us just made this one small token...

One person can only do so much but many people can do SO MUCH!!

Share your gift

 

http://theprojecttv.com.au/top-stories.htm

Many of you may have seen the story on The Project last night regarding my Snugglybug Rug Program-  quilts made for Children with life threatening illnesses at the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Although this story came about because my daughter nominated me for the Barnardo’s Mother of the Year Competition ( which was a very thoughtful Christmas present but I am just a very average mother doing the best that I can) I love that it is providing an avenue to spread the word about the therapy of quilting to the Mainstream public – through shows like Channel Ten’s The Project.

If anyone out there would like to start a similar program through their local or state hospital I am more than happy to advise and let you know how we do it here. My hospital contact may also be able to assist with the best contacts in your local hospital.

I know there are many groups out there who make quilts for hospitals but this style of program seems to have hit the mark with the individual kids and it is so nice that my lovely band of Snugglybug volunteers can share their gift and quilting skills to really make a difference to them when everything seems to be falling apart in their life and they are facing months or years of uncertainty and pain.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to have your world turned upside down with a diagnosis and my one hope is that through a typical quilter’s generosity and caring nature we are making a difference. Snugglybugglers – you are all amazing..

If you are not a quilter – then find your own gift (we all have one) and use it somewhere, somehow to make a difference..

hugs for today

Helen

and thankyou to everyone of you who has contacted me or commented, as most of you know I prefer to be the behind the scenes type person so this was way out of my comfort zone :)

the sweetest gifts are those you least expect

and they came no sweeter than this!

such an unexpected delivery, it took me a little while to unwrap – because it looked so gorgeous, and I couldn't fathom what it could be.. Wrapped in old music and tied with my favourite ribbon, the parcel included this little pouch (a pattern from Moda bake shop) made out of our Quiltaid fabrics – yes she used the scraps from the fabric I had provided earlier..

which was all explained in this most lovely of handmade cards… (she has a little tut on these)

how special is that? thankyou Catherine Baynes –it was a pleasure working with you on Quiltaid also..

hugs to you

Helen

2011 ….. the year that was

I know I have been missing in action, taking some well needed time away from the computer to refresh my brain, catch up with my family, spend some special times and create some memories…. as much as I have missed you all, sometimes it has to be done…. and now I am ready for the year to come… and ready to write my family Christmas letter and say hello again to you all.

I hope you all had the most wonderful Christmas and a happy new year!

2011 seems to have passed in a blur….. I had many dreams on my list for the year and at times thought they were all a bit above a little old (well getting older) mum and designer way down here at the bottom of the world….. so it was nice to look back through the year of blog posts and see exactly what I did achieve – I’d thought I'd revisit with you all, but it is a long post so feel free to leave now :) as I get all sentimental….

January brought floods and fires… whilst I was away sunning myself in Fiji, Australia was suffering terrible weather events. I was busy stitching my new BOM Truly Aussie, so it seemed right to offer some of these patterns for you all to stitch in the ‘Aussie spirit’ project – I have to say that the four resulting quilts are still not quite finished but are happening and will be presented soon I hope. Many of you then joined in to make your own Truly Aussie quilt.

In March we all made Hearts for Christchurch after the devastating earthquake – our hearts go out to them again over the holiday break as they experience more and more shocks and aftershocks leaving them unsure about their futures..

Also in March a magazine tutorial on my Gluestick appliqué technique meant the release of this pattern – which  I still really love…..Tigglywinks

 

April was mad month preparing for the Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City, classes at HMQS and of course some new patterns to release including:

Spring Fling

and Sweet Candy Dreams

Also in honour of Lori’s best friend we released Ode to Keri, with donations going to Breast Cancer research.

in June I travelled to Adelaide for Inspired Stitches where I released this pattern – Inspired to Stitch, and had a wonderful time with so many likeminded and passionate women…many of you!

And then we began the wonderful Stitched Sunday program where so many of use shared new challenges and achievements

Whilst you were busy learning new stitches I also completely re branded my website, blog and released a Hugs ‘n Kisses app – which was very exciting for me….

 

And then as if I had nothing else to do a few months were spent from June to November working on Quiltaid- this time three of them at once – in Australia, the USA and Europe.

I have to admit this was not easy and produced many sleepless nights of worry and work – but it is for a good cause – I hope you are all enjoying supporting it and the wonderful blocks that 12 designers donated this year – they are the best! Not too late to join in girls – or spread the word to your stitching friends.

October and November were busy working up to the Australian Quilt Market and finally some new projects that I had been busily working on in the background.

the Needle Nookie was first a My sewing Room Project with Country Hart – many of you would have done this – I hope you liked it!I then of course had to make a matching bag to put it into!

the Brodiery bag

and  more bags at the last minute – needed some quick gifts so the Girly Stuff pattern was created – four different bag options and five designs – one to suit everyone..

By this time I hadn't made a quilt for some time and wanted something to use this lovely soft fat quarter pack in so the Matilda May quilt was born – simple and quick and some very therapeutic appliqué blocks in there to keep me happy with some handwork.      If you are a Facebook friend you would have followed along with me each night with the ‘in my hoop’ peeks as I restitched my 12 Little Love notes in to this new BOM quilt. Very therapeutic in times of stress this project was…     Late October I also travelled to Launceston for a Gathering where these projects were born.. 

A Heartfelt wish

 Grans Christmas Pud and the Festivity Stockings…  

which then by request led to the Grans Christmas table set.

I am sure there were a few free guest blogger projects in there also and a few other magazine projects or tutorials…at We Love French Knots, Sew we quilt, QuiltenZo and more…

but that brings 2011 to an end…phew….. now I can see why I needed a break!

There were a few other exciting things happening behind the scenes also which I will be telling you about when I can in the next few weeks and months… I promise to continue to share my love of life and stitching throughout 2012 – please continue to share with me…. it was a pleasure to know you all in 2011 and will be a pleasure to meet many more of you this year..

thanks for reminiscing with me….

first hugs for 2012

Helen