Hugs from Helen

A Christmas Gathering

what a lovely final day of work for me on Sunday…

50 lovely ladies joined us to stitch, chat, eat and laugh the day away – some time out from busy Christmas parties and preparations to enjoy the things we love.

A huge thanks to my huge girls, Tess who baked and cooked all week, Molly & Lara for helping on the day like true professionals.

My can’t do it without friend Jo again added her magic to the day helping me with all the ‘special bits’ which make the day perfect…

Her niece Maegan was also wonderful, helping stick bags for the week and then showcasing her retail brilliance working the shop for the day… I cannot thank them enough…

and what did they stitch?  lots…..

A little Christmas gift and kit from me -

Two fruits – a new companion pattern to the Temora Traveller bag featuring clamshells and redworkand Give Thanks – a sweet candle mat or Christmas table centre featuring redwork, iron on dresdens and a hexie border.

For those who attended, they got in first with our next announcement – but we have spaces left for our next Gathering in March.. check out the link here for details.

a lovely finish to a busy year for me… hope to see you all around the world sometime next year…

hugs for today

Helen

who is now busily working on your 12 Days of Christmas sale- if you are missing the emails, check your newsletter subscription now – we are up to Day 2.

Looking forward to 2015

I am almost tired thinking about next year already, but as always must get prepared and keep you all in the loop..

 

One trip I am really looking forward to is going home! Yes, I am going back to my little home town where I grew up (well actually I grew up on a farm but my parents moved into town after I left and are still there). So it will be interesting to see old faces, and actually possibly be teaching and sharing with those I looked up to as a child, or played alongside at school.

So, here are the details – now you don’t have to be a local, I know many who are thinking of making this a girls trip to spend a few days in a lovely part of the country, stitching, chatting, sightseeing and making new friends.

Wednesday - Colourque and EPP hexies $60 + kit

Thursday Applique the Hugs 'n Kisses way $60 + kit

Friday English Paper Piecing and embroidery $60 + kit

Saturday Gathering $90

 

The kits will be put together and supplied by Karen from the Habit Patch in Penola 

46 Church Street
Penola, South Australia 5277

Phone 08 8737 3101
Email [email protected]

more details can be found here.

– bookings can be made with Karen or direct with us here. Places for the classes will be strictly limited so you all get some good one on one attention to perfect and learn the techniques and go home well on your way with a different project each day.

I am still finalising some of the projects but our first one will be the Belconnen Beauty.

Penola has many wonderful touristy things to do and great places to stay and eat. For tourist information, accommodation etc check out these links

https://www.wattlerange.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=328

https://www.facebook.com/PenolaCoonawarra

 

also included will be a tour of a wonderful garden with over 600 roses (sssshh, haven't told my mum this yet!) for those visiting from afar…after class one day weather permitting…

so, check your calendars and put those dates in girl so you don’t miss out…

hope I see you there

hugs for today

Helen

Stitch with me for Christmas

I have had so many requests for this and just had to cross a few things off my list before I could find the date!

But here we are…..

A wonderful gathering in Hobart for Christmas….

We have a new venue, the wonderful brand new Newtown Bay Rowing centre function room. It is upstairs, light, fresh, great views and plenty of room. There is a large car park at the back and not to worry –there is a lift! I think you’ll love this new venue and it meant we can have a Sunday gathering which many requested.

So, numbers are limited (at your request) so get the word out, round up your group or friends – or if its just you – never fear – you always meet lovely new stitching friends, come along anyway.

You can see the map directions here.

Email now or phone Lori tomorrow to add your name to the list and confirm your booking..

Looking forward to another wonderful day…

quick poll in the comments sections – what technique would you most like in the project/s?

Gluestick applique (needleturn without the turning)

Iron on EPP (hexies, clamshells etc)

Stitchery

Colourque

 

hugs for today

Helen

a Stitching Affair 2014

Well what a fantastic event our retreat was again. 20 ladies travelled from around the country, from WA to Roxby Downs to North QLD they came for a weekend of total stitching indulgence.
gail organised this years retreat with m any little surprises and never ending treats

They worked on six projects plus a couple of extras thrown in. And there were even some finishes achieved.


So now we think to next year and back to Tassie it is. Thanks girls for your wonderful friendship and stitching joy. Hugs for today Helen

fly fly away

Tomorrow I hit the air once again, and then a little drive to Bright for the lovely Autumn Festival. I’ve been to the Spring festival before so am looking forward to seeing the beautiful gardens in autumn colours instead.

I will be teaching with Rosie and Ang at Stitching in the Maze…

girls, are we going to have fun? a little peek….

just a quick trip, returning on Sunday night…

then its only 10 days until Jo and I depart for New York City.

Then Pittsburgh for Quilt market and then onto Maumee Ohio

to The Quilt Foundry.

I will be presenting a trunk show for Lisa on the Thursday night, then teaching two full day classes Friday and Saturday..

Contact Lisa if you’d like to come (Joan and Susan- a road trip?)

For Aussie girls, my next teaching opportunity is our Stitching Affair – June 6-8th in Victoria… This is our favourite retreat – true 5 star indulgence and I can’t wait for this one… there may be a couple of spots left if you contact Gail.

okay, now I best get back to sewing projects for you all to make at these days…

hugs for today

Helen

They Stitched with me….

Last Saturday a lovely bunch of like minded ladies stitched with me for a day of fun, sharing, laughter and therapy.

The ladies had two projects to choose from -

this ‘monster’ pincushion  with some iron on hexiesand the second was this very useful calico bag which we adorned with some paper piecing using applique paper, some preeeettty pink ric rac with a stitchery inside.My lovely Tess and Molly fed us all for the day without a single grump and did a lovely job… very proud mumma… and very appreciative.. payment coming girls…Pam gets the gold star – she has already sent in a pic of her finished project – and she even lined her bag to finish it off nicely.Dee and Diane travelled the furthest and brought show and tell – projects they bought last year – they are even using them as mug rugs..

Everyone stopped talking long enough to finish something on the day…

The amazingly wonderful Jo once again did all the decorating and manned the shop which was so busy all day… really girls, you need more??? there she is hiding there below…

Jo, my sounding wall, my friend, my confidante and my saviour… cant’ wait for our US road trip together…..  btw you can see some more pics of our day over on Jo’s blog.

Now, if you like the look of our projects and are coming to AQC you can buy a kit and come to my make and take session each day for the Monster pincushion.. limited spaces so come book and get your kits early each day on the booth #8.

We will also have full kits for the Stitch with me bags available for purchase at AQC; not many, so be quick. 

My next trip is for AQC - - yes come and see us – our first ever show and maybe our only show!  I am doing the Make and Take classes each day – limited to only 15 places, Daily workshops and demos on the stand.

Then its off to Bright for the wonderful Autumn festival with Rosalie Quinlan…

and that’s about as far ahead as I can think for now..

see you somewhere

hugs for today

Helen

Stitching at the Maze

Come stitch with me – and Rosalie, near Bright  for

Stitching at the Maze
Saturday 26th April 2014
10am-4.30pm
Spend the day stitching at the Wandiligong Maze with myself, Rosalie Quinlan Designs and Angela Bradbury from Sew Bright Alpine Quilting

Working on a great project for you now – last year the weather was magnificent, the gardens were simply stunning and the friends and stitchers who were gathered were just lovely to share the day with.

you need to book now – call Angela on 03 5755 5118
or download the registration form and booking information
www.sewbright.com.au/stitchingatthemaze.html
or email [email protected]

This event is be held at the Wandiligong Maze, located 6kms from Bright.

Hope to see you there

hugs

Helen

Stitch with me!

Come stitch with me in only four weeks time. Short notice I know but we were having problems finding a weekend to squeeze in our promised Gathering and when another teaching trip interstate was postponed, we grabbed the date! So hope you can delay, cancel or reschedule whatever you may have been doing and come along for a great day! Numbers will be small so we will all have a great day with as much attention as you desire to perfect those stitches!  

You can book here or by phone or email...

Cant' wait to stitch with you all.....think hexies, embroidery, linen, lovely pastels...or maybe redwork?

 

hugs for today…

Helen

A Stitching Affair 2014 – bookings open now!

Announcing our Stitching Affair total indulgence retreat in 2014. 

Whilst memories of our inaugural retreat at Tarraleah are fading, we are in full swing organising another perfect experience for all who choose to have an affair with us…

Our Second retreat is being held in Victoria, home state of Gail, and we will be doing our best to make it bigger and better than Tarraleah – if that’s possible..

   It will be held at the lovely ‘Grange’, Lancefield in the Macedon Ranges just 35 minutes from Melbourne Airport.

With serene surroundings, lovely ambience, perfect friends and stitchers to share with you will be spoiled from top to toe..

There will be many stitching sessions, new techniques, new patterns and kits to enjoy

Luxurious rooms and treasures to spoil

Delicious and somewhat naughty treats and surprises all weekend long 

For all of the details and to book click here..

But be quick, as numbers are strictly limited and places will fill fast. We want this to be small and personal so each and every one of you get the personal attention you deserve..

oh and start shopping for those jammies…….

hugs for today….. go click that link above so you don’t miss out… We can’t wait to stitch with you all in perfect indulgence..

Helen

Tarraleah Stitched….

as promised I am back today! with something else to show you…

Last weekend I had the lovely pleasure (actually it was two weekends ago, how time flies) of travelling to country Victoria to the town of Warracknabeal to stitch with 110 lovely ladies, hosted by Del and Shirley of Quilters Harvest…

I had so much to show them I hardly had time to draw breath but gee we had fun… I was picked up by Gail at the airport and we also didn't draw breath on the 4 hour drive – we had LOTS to catch up on and lots to plan..

Ladies had come from far and wide – as far away as Perth to enjoy three tutors, myself, Gail and Jennifer Knol, share, learn, stitch, chat and of course eat the most yummy country food…it was great to catch up with old friends and meet many new ones..

My projects for the weekend were also the ones I designed specially for our A Stitching Affair retreat in June at the amazing Tarraleah resort – hence the name..

  

Two of the projects are now available as a pattern named

Tarraleah Stitched… on the website now and in your local stores very soon.

There is this delightful needle book with the simple stitchery on the front

and on the inside a little pocket, and some wool felt for inserting your needles and pins… and see the little magnet – she holds it all together..

the back is pieced 1/2” hexagons.. Then there is this gorgeous pincushion featuring six stitched designs on the petals around the edge and another 42 or so 1/2” hexies to make the top.

The nifty thing about this pattern is that it uses 6 old or unwanted cd/dvd’s – just don’t think about taking Jennifer's Bruce Springsteen CD though!!!of course there was lots of show and tell, lots of shopping and quite a bit of laughter to be had… all in all a great weekend…     

so for those who missed it – here’s your chance to share the projects… available now here…

and that brings me to the end of my teaching days and workshops for 2013… watch this space for some very important news in the next few days about next year however… places will be limited and you will need to be quick!!!

cheers girls..

Helen