Hugs from Helen

Stitching with Lynette and myself..

what a lovely day many women had in Hobart yesterday.

After a fantastic gathering two years ago Lynette returned to town for a wonderful day of stitching in Hobart.

Jo as always worked her magic with the little touches and made the room look welcoming…..

and then managed to sit and enjoy the day with friends…

Lynette had lots to demonstrate and share with the girls..

a full room of lovely women all inspired to stitch…and chat, and eat and learn

The food of course was very important

and ably served by Molly, Tess and Lara in the kitchen – thanks girls

Linda was a lifesaver in the ‘shop’ and Belinda helping out Lynette – lots of retail therapy was had by all.

thanks to one and all for making it such as special day…

We did take deposits for our Christmas gathering  - I will add the details to the website so you can register now and not miss out.

hugs for today

Helen

Stitch with me in Penola

Next week I head of on my first teaching adventure of the year..

Actually it combines a trip to home – (my home town and parents) as I didn't make it over the holiday season, but whilst there I offered to run some classes… who will I see from my childhood? It may feel a little strange to me, I'm sure this is not where they expected me to end up in life… me neither…

Anyway, I know a lot of you are wanting to see more of what we will be making so here goes….

 

Date:  Wed 18th - Sat 21st February 2015

Venue:the Habit Patch Church St Penola

Time: 10am - 4pm

Wednesday: Colourque & EPP Hexies

Workshop includes Morning tea, pattern notes.

Project: Belconnen Beauty - a small wallhanging or larger quilt centre panel. You will learn step by step the art of Colourque (coloured pencils on fabric to give an applique effect) plus our great iron on English paper pieced hexies.

Thursday: Applique the Hugs ‘n Kisses way (hand or machine)  Morning tea  and pattern notes included.

Birds of a Feather - small wallhanging or quilt panel using my simple gluestick applique technique. This project is more suited to the hand method with smaller pieces for this class. I will demonstrate the machine method during the day so you can choose your preferred method at home and for future projects.

Friday: English Paper Piecing and embroidery workshop Morning tea  and class notes included

Edelweiss Quilt - this quilt uses both the iron on English Paper pieced hexies and embroidery stitches. We will be making one circle of hexies on the day and one embroidery panel learning and perfecting several stitches.  You may purchase the full pattern pack for $40 (enough hexies and transfers to make the complete quilt)

or

just the class pack - enough hexies for one circle and one transfer will be included in your class.

 

Saturday: ’A gathering of stitchers’: two patterns and one kit included, hand work. Share, learn, inspire and stitch. $90. Morning tea, lunch & afternoon tea inc

Now a lot of you have expressed interest in coming but I need you to book! I will be packing Tuesday so I need to know how many kits/patterns to pack!  Contact Karen on 08 8737 3101 or Lori on 03 62787507 to book or email.

We will be sending out requirement lists by email this week or kits can be ordered from Karen.

 

hope to see you there

hugs for today

Helen

Happy new year!

can you believe it is nearly the end of January!!! please no….

Did you all have a wonderful Christmas and New Year?

I spent a wonderful 9 day break Cruising to the South Pacific with my family – some well needed rest, two books and some stitching achieved.

Then it was maintenance week around home, some long awaited and required cleanups, fixups and freshen ups here…

Back to work, came with a nasty cold – 11 days now and counting, down and out, in bed, or not, coughing and dribbling…..  my payback for having a fully healthy year in 2014 I’m told…

But I can still stitch and am well into my list for the year.

So, thought I’d remind you of a few upcoming dates – yes I may be coming nearby to you and would love to stitch with you.

My First trip is to Bright VIC

I’ve JUST finished the project for this one, its being tested now, would you like a little peek?

From Bright I drive to my hometown of Penola South Australia where I will be doing three days of workshops – one on one technique instruction with small classes – one to not miss!

Then we’ll finish with a Gathering on the Saturday-  started this project today!!! so no peeks yet.. but our class projects are:

Colourque and hexies

Hexies and embroidery

and my gluestick applique technique

then back here to Hobart for a day with Lynette Anderson – this one is almost sold out so be quick to book.

 

For my US friends, I’d really like to see some friendly faces to enjoy this with me…..

This is filling fast but its not too late to join in… it will be a first for me – I am so excited both to be teaching on a cruise and secondly to Alaska!!!! wow…

now that’s enough for me to think about for now so I am sure it is for you also…

I know I am a slack blogger nowadays and don’t find the time to write lovely long blog posts for you all – so please follow me on Instagram (where you see every post) or like me on Facebook (where they decide what you see – so comment or like often and you won’t miss out)  for daily peeks and tidbits of my stitching world.

hugs and happy new year to all

Helen

Last minute Gift list ideas

Have you spent the last month thinking about everyone else’s Christmas gifts but your own? Do you get asked what you’d like and can never think of anything… why not ask for a special treat just for you and your stitching friends…

If you are in the Bright area, or anywhere in Victoria you could spend a lovely day with Rosalie and myself at the lovely Ringer Reef Winery. Email Ang to book.

OR

if that doesn't suit how about a girly trip to the wonderful Southeast region of South Australia for a few days of indulging ‘me time’ in Penola. Email Lori or Karen to book.

Or for those in Tassie then this is your first chance for the year to share a wonderful day with us. Email Lori to book.

Hope to see you somewhere in the world in 2015…

hugs for today

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.

cruising Alaska…..

are you thinking of cruising with me to Alaska next year?

Deb, the organiser has just informed us that places are selling fast on the ship…. so if it is something you are considering now is the time to contact her… in fact to help you make that decision she is offering special deals - Through November, World of Quilts Travel is having a special where you only have to pay a $100 deposit per person rather than the regular deposit of $600 and they are offering a $50 discount per quilter.

Deb says that many categories on the ship are already wait listed and I would not want you to be disappointed because the category you want is gone.   Please do not wait risk the opportunity to join our wonderful cruise in America's last frontier.  Please see the website at http://alaskaquiltcruise.com

you can see the projects I am teaching – along with Frieda Anderson and DANA WOODARD VERRENGIA  here.

http://worldofquiltstravel.com/2015Alaskaprojects.htm

-three very different designers, so there is so much opportunity to learn so many new techniques or relax and stitch something you are already familiar with.

I am so excited about this tour – and hope to meet many of you as we sip cocktails and stitch the day away….with perhaps the most spectacular views in the world..

 

hugs for today

Helen

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

home again home again jiggety jig

yes, its been awhile as I have been travelling around the country teaching and sharing with many wonderful women.

I sat in on one class – the Judi Madsen of Green Fairy quilts trunkshow and be inspired and awed by her free motion quilting skills… it was lovely to catch up and spend time with Judi and Clint again as they travelled to Australia for the first time..

I taught three classes – this was the hands on colouring class, most of these ladies, being full time longarm quilters had spent up to 12 hours a day in classes and were in information overload, so to sit and colour in for a few hours was great timeout for them, and alot of fun for us all.

I also taught two machine classes – with hexies and applique – but it seems we were so busy not photos were to be had…

it was home for a week and then off to Sydney for the Hobbysew Tour. This was sponsored by my Fabric Distributor Two Green Zebras and I got to travel to three more Hobbysew stores, meet their wonderful managers and staff and spend time with their lovely customers.

We visited Hobbysew Erina, Kings Park and Figtree. It was lovely to meet longtime blog and facebook friends as well as new friends and stitchers.

This was the entrance to Hobbysew Figtree – how many hours were spent placing all of those little teeny bits of fabric so perfectly – I am told the designer won an award for the design – even though he didn't cut or stick a single piece into place…

I am home for two weeks now preparing for the Australian Quilt Market in Melbourne….. be back soon with more to show and tell..

hugs for today and hi to all the new girls I’ve met my travels…

Helen

Belconnen Beauty

A quick post between teaching trips this week… Last weekend I spent a lovely two days in Sunny Canberra teaching enthusiastic ladies at Hobbysew Belconnen. And I just have to say that Najelle and Terrie are just the most perfect hosts…

On Saturday we coloured in – yes we went back to kindy and coloured with pencils – but on fabric – yes we played with Colourque ®

to make this little beauty..

On Sunday we squeezed a two day project into one-  with just a little snippet of many different techniques – including:

Iron on hexies and clamshells

needleturn applique

and many embroidery stitches

Now I eagerly await some progress or finished project shots girls! just like this -

Next week I head to Adelaide for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival – registrations close for this Friday night – but will be taken also at the show on the day if any classes have vacancies… This is going to be so exciting mixing it with amazing teachers from around the world and students from across Australia hungry to learn.

I am teaching three classes – hexies by machine, Colourque Mini Lace quilt and Needleturn by machine..

maybe I’ll see you there?

hugs for today

Helen

Want to stitch with me in South Australia?

….next instalment in my upcoming travels..

are you going to the Australian Machine Quilting Festival? well if you’re not, then you should be!  We don’t get too many opportunities to learn, share and be inspired here in Australia like this.

They write ‘We are celebrating and educating quilters, patchworkers and stitchers of all disciplines!  There is something at Festival for everyone that uses a machine!’

They have some amazing teachers coming – including

Jenny Doan, Judy Madsen (oh wow I love her quilting), Jamie Wallen and our very own Pam Holland as the guest speaker and featured artist.

I feel honoured to be listed among the list of teachers – little old me from the bottom of the world…

anyhow, even if you don’t book my classes, come see the quilts and learn, learn, learn….

okay so my classes are:

 

Kindergarten colouring = grownup masterpiece with Helen Stubbings

Saturday 4th October 1-5pm

Colourque – coloured pencil appliqué – we will be making a mini version of the award winning Lace quilt.

 

Perfect Gluestick applique by machine with Helen Stubbings : Sunday 5th October 12.30 – 2.30

and we will be making this simple but delightful table runner from the Simply Appliqué book.

Iron, Glue, Stitch & Wash – Hexies done easy... with Helen Stubbings

Monday 6th October 8-10am

We will be making hexies by machine! – yes that’s right. With the new iron on leave in hexies we can do EPP hexies by machine. Make this simple table topper and learn the method – then go forth and make masterpieces!

hope to see some of you there, if not at my classes – then with me in some of the classes I am going to take! or at the dinner or the exhibition…. lets rub shoulders with the best of the best!

hugs for today

Helen