Newsletter from The Eye Of A Needle – July 2023

Newsletters

July 4, 2023

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Hello Lovely Ladies
I hope you are keeping warm out there on this rather bleak winter’s day. I’m sitting in my office very close to the heater trying to warm up my hands for typing. I would far rather be sewing!
You are no doubt wondering what particular office this would be in, given our original plans to move on 1st July. We are currently still at 500A Miller Street. Unfortunately the cold, wet weather hasn’t made painting an easy task. Everything has been delayed by at least 2 weeks while we wait for paint to dry and other jobs outside of our control need to be completed at the shop down the road before we can move in. We would prefer to have everything finished before we move, as we don’t want our customers having to navigate their way around painters and tradies still completing their tasks.
The exterior painting and construction of the carpark is still a wee way off and it would make sense to do these things once we have some warmer dry weather.
The up-side of all this is that because we don’t yet have a new tenant to take over our current lease here in Miller Street, we can stay for the time being as we are still paying rent. If you know of anyone who might like to sub-lease this property, please point them in my direction! The cottage is zoned light industrial and would suit a small office business, some kind of health service or a consultancy practice. We would prefer to have a tenant lined up before we move out, so your help in spreading the word would be much appreciated!

I will keep you updated via the newsletter and Facebook posts and hopefully next time I write it will be all GO for our move down the road!

So for now it is business as usual. I have been holding off telling you about new workshops tabled in my calendar for the rest of the year, but I now need to keep busy inspiring you to try some new crafts. I have a few new projects coming up and will be taking expressions of interest for some that will be held a bit later on in the year, once we are well and truly settled in the new shop.

NIGHT CLASSES

Our weekly Tuesday night classes are set to start in Term 3 regardless of what venue we will be in. The class will run from 5:30pm-8pm.
If you are coming straight from work, you are welcome to bring your dinner to eat before you start sewing. Until we get our own dressmaking fabric and patterns in store you are welcome to bring your own fabric and patterns to sew. I can help you with construction and fitting if you need it.
Night classes will cost $100 per term and will start on Tuesday 18th July.

QUILTING WITH RULERS WORKSHOP

There has been quite a bit of interest in our ”Introduction of Learning to Quilt with Rulers” class, so I am going to start things off with some basics, based on one of Bernina’s Mastery workshops.
Before you attend you will need to have made a 9 patch table runner. I will provide the pattern for this when you register for the class. I have a selection of Bernina and Amanda Murphy rulers for you to try, or you are welcome to bring your own rulers if you have them. I know of many ladies who have purchased Westerlee rulers on a whim at Craft Shows and have no idea how to use them when they get home! Ruler kits will be available for purchase after the class. You will need to ensure you have the correct Ruler Foot for your sewing machine. The Bernina Ruler foot is #72 and is a high shank. If your sewing machine is another brand, you need to make sure you have the right foot to use before you attend the class, as it may well be a low shank.
This workshop will be held on Saturday 19th August from 10am – 3pm and will cost $40 + your fabric requirements

LODESTAR TREE TOPPER

We had a very successful run on hand stitching ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ felt decorations a couple of years ago in Taupo. This is another one of Larissa Holland’s patterns, and is a lovely big felt star stitched in the same fashion, using metallic felt as well as merino wool felt that we have for sale in store. I am just waiting for my supplies to arrive before I make a couple of samples to show you.
I plan to run a one day workshop where you can make your own Lodestar on Saturday 9th September. Class numbers will be limited to 8, so if you are keen to adorn your tree this year with a fabulous piece of stitchery, sign up today. You can choose your colours later.
Class will cost $45 which will include your pattern. Felt & threads are extra.

BABY BLOOMS CUSHION by Wendy Williams

I have dabbled with hand stitching and wool felt, and now that I have found the perfect storage unit, I will be putting in an order for lots more felt before the end of this week.
Pictured is a cushion cover by Wendy Williams from ‘Flying Fish’. Hand stitching felt on to fabric is a fun way to create lovely patterns and is a great way to learn how to make new stitches as well.
We are going to start a Thursday afternoon Felt & Stitch class in Term 3 and will begin with making this cushion cover.
You will need to buy this pattern and choose your own felt colours to start your project. The class will run for all of Term 3 and will cost $5 each time you attend. I will teach you how to create new stitches each week, so by the time you finish the term, you will have a lovely cushion to display AND you may be ready to embark on other felt stitching projects.
Please register your interest in store so I can make sure I have enough patterns for you to start your cushion. The first class will start on THURSDAY 28th JULY from 1:30 – 3:30pm

MAXWELL BAG MAKING CLASS

I have sold heaps of the Maxwell Bag pattern since we moved to Hawkes Bay, and my sample bags have been admired by some of you. This is a really cool bag to make, by either using scraps from your stash, or by choosing fabrics from a new range in store. It is a nice deep bag, with pockets inside the lining and at the sides; I like using Soft & Stable batting to give the bag a sturdy feel.
There will be 3 dates set aside to make the Maxwell Bag – it is highly recommended that you attend two of the workshops to complete your bag in class.
The dates will be Saturday 29th July, Saturday 12th August and Saturday 26th August from 10am -3pm each day. The class will cost $40 + your pattern and fabric requirements.

BERNINA ROAD SHOW – SAVE THE DATE! FRIDAY 21ST JULY
BERNINA ROAD SHOW – SAVE THE DATE! FRIDAY 21ST JULY
BERNINA ROAD SHOW – SAVE THE DATE! FRIDAY 21ST JULY

Rebecca and Julie from Bernina HQ will have the van loaded and they are coming our way very soon!
Even if we are still in our current location, we invite you to pop in and learn what’s new in Accessories and Embroidery Software from the experts!
Be in to win a bernette 77 sewing machine and vote for your ”Favourite Colour 12 x 12” Quilt Challenge entry.

Tea and coffee and light refreshments will be available

Please note – our regular Friday class will be cancelled this day

I am working on a new Mystery Quilt which will be a Block of the Month, hopefully starting in September, but I need to get a few samples made to whet your appetite before all can be revealed!
If you like blues and greens, and a little bit of embroidery and piecing, then this could be an exciting new challenge for you! There will be 16 simple blocks to make – 2 per month – and this BOM will run over 9 months by the time you add your borders. I was hoping to have the sample to show you, but hopefully by the time we have shifted, I will have it ready for you to see.
If you’re willing to sign up for a ‘Somewhat in the Middle’ mystery, then please register your interest in store in the meantime!

For those of you wishing to continue weekly classes at The Eye Of A Needle, please pop in to secure your spot over the next couple of weeks for Term 3. Most classes cost $50 for the term.
Merynn will continue with her Embroidery class on Tuesday mornings, and there are some spots available in this class, as well as on a Thursday morning.

We are so looking forward to being able to spread out a bit more, but we must be patient and just wait until everything lines up perfectly for our next move!
Thanks for your understanding.

Happy Stitching – Keep Warm and Dry!

Kay

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