Newsletter February 2022

Newsletters

February 22, 2022

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Hello Lovely Ladies!
I always aim to get the newsletter out at the beginning of each month – well this month has only one week left in it, so I’m a bit behind this round – even if there are only 28 days in February.
All our term classes have now started, and we have good numbers in all of them – there are still a couple of spots in the Wednesday and Thursday afternoon classes; if you would like to sign up on a weekly basis rather than for the whole term, while we have gaps it’s ok with me to do it that way, especially if you need help with a certain project.

The Foundation Paper piecing class being taught by Maryann Paterson at the Acacia Bay Hall, was launched 2 Fridays ago and from what I gather, everyone behaved themselves and can’t wait for the March class!

We also launched ‘Stonefield’ last Friday, which is a BOM project designed by Susan Smith from ‘notjuzahuswife’ – it’s a big hand-stitching project which will take ALL year, but lots of fun and some challenging 6-1/2” blocks to churn out each month.

Now that we have the two biggies underway for the year, we have time to focus on some smaller projects which we can slot in to the calendar on the odd Friday or spare Saturday.

BERNINA/ BERNETTE OVERLOCKER CLASS

Our Bernette/Bernina Overlocker class is scheduled for this Friday 25th February, and a second class on Saturday 26th February,
For any of you who have purchased a Bernina or bernette Overlocker from us at The Eye Of A Needle over the past 4 years, I will be taking a class to teach you all about the functions you didn’t know your overlocker can be used for.
In this class you will make samples using a variety of different fabrics, which you can label and add to your manual. You will learn how to change needles and knobs to create new stitches, and how to thread your machine the easy way. I’m sorry but the class is only available for owners of Bernina or bernette overlockers, and your machine needs to be in good working order to attend.
We will cover the cost of fabric and labels; you come to the class with your coloured threads and manual and I will teach you some new tricks.
There are still a couple of spots available on Saturday so if you want to join in, let me know as soon as you can if you would like to come along.
The class fee will be $40 for the day, from 10am – 2.30pm. Bring your lunch. Morning tea will be provided.

A DAY AT THE ZOO PLAYMAT

We will start putting the kits together for the playmat this week, so if you have signed up for this BOM, you will most likely receive an email separately from me about this in the next few days.

The construction of this interactive playmat will be a great way to master your applique and quilting skills!
We will be running this as a Block of the Month, starting in March and running for 10 months. We will put together the kit for you each month and you can either pick up in store, or we can post to you. If you have little ones in your life that need something super cute to lie or play on, this is a practical way to do both – and it is such fun to make!
The BOM will cost $40 month which includes the pattern and kit. Postage outside of Taupo will be extra.
I originally set the cut off date for mid February, but we’ve been a bit busy launching the other projects this month, so you still have time to sign up if you have been contemplating doing this project. The FINAL cut off date will be TOMORROW – Wednesday 23rd February as I have now ordered the patterns from Australia and once they are gone they’re gone!

WANDERER’S WIFE SEW ALONG

For those of you doing the Wanderer’s Wife Sew Along … our next Sew Along will be next Friday 4th March, when we will be focusing on Section 9.
I have completed my quilt and it is hanging up in the shop, so its much easier to identify the sections now.

BY ANNIE CATCH ALL CADDY

Carol made the ‘Catch All Caddy’ during lock down last year – and I have been coveting it ever since as I would like to have my own caddy on the workbench to keep everything nice and tidy. You can check out our sample in the shop, in gorgeous Kaffe Fassett bright pink and red florals with black & white trim.
It has been much admired in store, so we have decided to run a class on making your own Catch All Caddy, and it’s a good excuse for me to make one too.

You will love this sturdy over-sized caddy with lots of easy-to-access slip pockets and dividers to hold and organize all your supplies.

Six slip pockets on the exterior provide easy access to tools and supplies and a zippered pocket on one end keeps personal items safe and secure.

Expanding dividers on the inside open to organize a multitude of supplies or collapse to fall flat against the interior of the caddy affording a wide-open interior for plenty of storage possibilities.

Comfy padded fabric handles make carrying easy. They attach with rectangle rings which allow them to fall flat against the front or back of the caddy.

The finished caddy measures 7″H x 13½”W x 6½”D.
We will run a 2-day workshop on Friday/Saturday 29th/30th April
from 9:30am – 4pm. The class fee will be $50.
We recommend choosing your fabrics and quilting your quilt sandwich before starting the class as it saves so much time in the class if this is already done.

www.theeyeofaneedle.co.nz
WEBSITE UPDATE

For those of you who have visited the shop recently, you will notice that my Office has now become the batting/storeroom. My ‘new’ office has moved out the back of the shop into the old batting/ storeroom, and David has given it a bit of a spruce up with fresh paint and better lighting. I won’t be putting a ‘DO NOT DISTURB’ sign on the door, but have to confess I get very distracted when I hear all the chatter out in the shop and I want to join in…this is NOT a good distraction when I have a website to create!

I have started to make Mondays my Admin day, so that I can focus on loading fabric on to our website. It’s a big job! If you go on to our website at the moment, the online shop tab will say it is ‘under maintenance’. I want the online shop to be easy to navigate, so there is plenty of tweaking and perfecting going on behind the scenes, and hopefully by the end of March, we will have everything loaded with photos and descriptions and a billion ways to pay online.
Once the 50 bolts of MODA Grunge fabric are loaded and we know the system is working and flowing well, I will add more fabric online as it comes in to the store. Other items will also be available to purchase once I have uploaded all the descriptions and prices. It WILL be worth waiting for!

I am still on the lookout for a Monday lady to relieve things during busy times – an opportunity to increase hours as we get busier with the website is probable. Please let me know if you might be interested in this position.

It’s been an exciting last 6 months on the family front with little Lucy now over 4 months old and growing like a wee mushroom. I am taking a couple of days off early April as my son Willie and his fiancé Amelia, are finally able to return home from Sydney to get married in Havelock North.
Getting all the family together these days is a bit of a mission, so I am very much looking forward to the wedding on April 8th and having some time with all my kiddos.

It’s another busy month ahead as the mornings get darker and the evenings get longer – it feels like there is more sewing time somehow. Carol and I are putting a few samples together at the moment so next month we will have a couple of nice surprises for you and some exciting new projects to tempt you with.

Happy Stitching
Kay

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