The Quilting Bug Newsletter

Sept 2009 – Jan 2010

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen

The year is drawing to an end and this is the last newsletter of the year. I hope you have all recovered from the winter illnesses.

Like many people this has been a trying year for us emotionally. Having said that, Jess is doing well and we are keeping a close watch on her health. She has had another growth spurt and we had to buy new clothes for the last few weeks of winter. She was wearing pajama pants with the hem above her ankles and her belly button was showing! One warm afternoon she tried her sandals on, her toes protruded past the front of the sandal.

We are happy (well most of us – excluding Missy, the 8 year lab), with the new addition to our family, a 7 week old Labrador puppy! Jess has named her Alice. The 13 year old staffie is very sweet to her, but his friend is not charmed with the situation. Every possible moment she tries to get as high up or far away from the “piranha”!!!

Courses offered for October – December 2009

1. Xmas Decorations (kits available on request) R100-00  Sat 10th October

                                                                                  Thur 29th October

2. Bargello - using 8 fat quarters (kit R150) R100-00        Thur 15th October

                                                                                   Sat 5th December

3. Reversible Quilts (kits available on request – batting supplied) R100-00

                                                                                   Thur 8th October

                                                                                   Sat 5th December

4. Crazy Patchwork (2 lessons – some fabric included) R120-00

                                                                                   Thur 15th October

                                                                                   Sat 28th November

5. Overnight Bag / Quilted Rucksack R100 – 00                 Thur 19 November

6. Design Class (if you needing help with designing a quilt, measurements & calculations) R50 Booking necessary

Please note a R60 non refundable deposit is required on booking for a class. There needs to be 2 or more pupils for a class (Crazy Patchwork 4-6 pupils). If kits are required then we need a few days’ notice.

We are also continually trying to get new and exciting stock in to make patchwork and quilting more enjoyable but also finding new products or restocking on products that make the experience that much more enjoyable.

WHAT’S NEW

Re-Launching of our Website (www.thequiltingbug.co.za)

A big thank you to our dedicated staff for their assistance in getting our website up to scratch. Now all our stock is on the website, so for those ladies up country you can now see the full selection of stock. All we now do is update the website periodically.

We encourage you to please send us your quilting tips as well as digital photo’s of quilts made using some or all of our fabrics. This is not only nice to see but is also an inspiration to other ladies looking for ideas.

Courses

We currently still offer the following courses:

1. a. The Beginners Sampler Patchwork course taught mainly on a Tuesday and Saturday, where students are taught the many different techniques of patchwork.

b. The Beginners Quilting which teaches the fundamentals of using your walking foot and darning foot.

As from the February 2010 we will also offer a new Sampler course for intermediates to advanced quilters. If you wish to know more please contact Mandy.

Stock

We are once again stocking the Amafu fabrics. We stock a selected range on the bolt and the full range of Amafu rolls – these consist of 8 coordinated coloured 50cm x 50cm squares for only R150 (See bargello course - ideal for using one of these rolls).

In October we will have a selection of Olfa products - cutters, boards and rulers available:

The Standard yellow and Gerber daisy printed 45mm Rotary cutters

Various sized squares from 2 inches and up

NEW!!! 60mm Rotary cutters Chenille Cutters Olfa Value Packs (12.5inch square with cutter and mat) 16 inch square rulers 30cm x 30cm Rotating cutting mat Large, medium & small Double sided (inches/cm) Olfa Rotary cutting Mats

We are expecting new bolts of fabric to arrive from overseas in November. The new stock due to arrive consists of: Kiddies prints A wide selection of fabrics in variegated prints and colours A Quilter’s Essential whites & off whites and beiges Wide Backing Fabric Hoffman Bali Pops (40 bali fabric strips cut into accurate 2.5 inch strips) Pellon and HeatnBond. Machine quilting gloves Cotton battings on the roll EQ inkjet printable sheets Foundation paper for easy foundation paper piecing Quilting paper on a roll A wide selection of Quilting stencils New YLI variegated quilting threads ¼ inch rulers Patterns and Books

Courses for 2009 / 2010

Courses to be held during the year:

Beginner’s Patchwork Sampler Course R80 per lesson

Beginners to Advanced Machine Quilting Courses R160 (2 lessons)

Advanced Patchwork Sampler R 80 (per lesson)

Reversible Quilt as You Go Technique R100 (1 Lesson (batting incl))

Diamond Four Patch Quilt R 80 (1 Lesson)

Crazy Patchwork Evening Bag R120 (2 Lessons – part kit incl.)

Bargello Course R100 (1 lesson + R120 kit optional)

Stain Glass Technique R 80 (1 lesson – kit optional)

Trapunto Quilt as You Go R 80 (1 lesson)

Diva Bag R 120 (2 lessons)

Quilted Rucksack R80 (1 lesson)

Overnight Bag R120 (2 lessons)

To view the quilts or for more details please visit our website or shop.

Block of the Month

We ended the 2008/9 Block of the Month in July on a high note.

Photo’s of some of the quilts are on the website. Well done to Leanne, who won the Judges choice - a R500 voucher, and to Lew for winning a R100 voucher, for the viewer’s choice.

In August the new Block of the month for 2009/10 started. A photo of the quilt can be viewed on the web.

Mettler Mercerised Cotton Threads

Besides the Gutterman 200m quilting thread and the100m natural cotton we are now stocking the full range of Mettler Mercerised Cotton threads. This includes the 150m & 500m plain colours as well as a range of variegated threads in the 100m and 475m reels.

YLI Machine Quilting Cotton Threads

The full spectrum of the YLI variegated cotton thread is also available as from November. This thread is ideally used for machine quilting and appliqué. It is not only lovely to work with in the top and bottom thread but comes in a wonderful spectrum of colours.

Speciality Threads

Besides the cotton and quilting threads we have a selection of specialized threads used for appliqué, quilting and patchwork. These include the Sulky Metallic threads, YLI Wash away and Superior rayon threads as well as a glitter thread for embellishing.

Shop Hours Mondays & Public Holidays CLOSED Tuesday 9h30 – 14h30 Wednesday 9h30 – 14h30 Thursday 9h30 – 14h30 Friday 9h30 – 14h30 Saturday 9h00 – 12h00

Please note we will be closed from the 19th of December 2009 and re opening on the 12th of January 2010.

Thank you to all our customers for your kind thoughts and for your support through out the year. May the rest of the 2009 be on a high note and the festive season a happy one.

We wish you and your loved ones a blessed festive season and look forward to seeing you soon. Every Good wish for 2010.

Happy Quilting

Mandy, Rhoda, Rose and Adrian