1. SHOWS
Sydney's Craft
& Quilt Fair
People come from ALL
States to the largest craft event in the southern hemisphere! Did
you know that? Yes, the Craft & Quilt Fair at the Sydney Exhibition
Centre at Darling Harbour from 22nd - 26th June IS the place to be. 5
days 9.00am to 5.00pm. The Craft & Quilt
Fair has it all - free workshops, hands-on classes, shopping
and quilt displays - all under one roof. Please
do come and visit Punch with Judy on Stand A27.
Now there is a completely new floor plan for this show and the entrance
has changed, so please collect a floor plan as you enter the show.
We are in the same position, far left hand side backing onto the Workshops,
but many Exhibitors chose to change their stand position due to the new
layout.
There are approx. 200 Exhibitors and more Guest
Artists than ever before in three big halls. Sandra Chandler from Just Curves USA is our International
Guest once again demonstrating her revolutionary invention of the Curve
Master Presser Foot for all curved seams. Also, Leonie West from Westalee Designs, will be my Guest
on Wednesday and Thursday only demonstrating
her award-winning inventions of the Westalee Quilting Ruler and Template
Product Range.
Hope you will find time to attend some or all
of the following which we are proud to present for you.
At 11.30am, I will be a Guest Presenter on a new venture run
by the organizers to encourage dressmaking and sewing in general. Sewing Studio is encouraging people to sew
for themselves again giving demonstrations of "how to do it" plus some
quick tips for more professional results. I have chosen to demonstrate
the following:
"Why a Fusible Thread?
Once in a while, a new idea or technique or product comes along that revolutionizes
the way we do something. Such is the case with Charlotte's
Fusible Web, a new fusible thread. Ideas, techniques and results are
amazing - hems, facings, putting in zippers, applique, binding etc."
At 12 noon at the new
"What's Hot Live",
Liz will be presenting "Quick tips for making bags using accessories
and hardware". This is full of useful ideas for your bagmaking, certainly
the hottest craze for sewers.
 Craft Circles are always
popular as the hands-on aspect appeals to many. We have a great class
to offer you at 12.30pm in Craft Circle 4
where upon you'll learn "Stick Weaving".
Liz will show you
how to make a quick scarf using the age-old traditional technique of weaving
with wooden sticks. Absolutely easy, fun to do and suitable for any age.
Weaving Sticks are provided on loan in the class but students may purchase
them for a special class price. Kit includes 2 balls of yarn and instructions.
Cost if $15.00 and
you'll need to book on Stand A27. I will also accept emailed bookings.
My daily workshop at the Show is at 1.30pm in Workshop 1
"Stars,
Diamonds & Kaleidoscopes" - Don't be afraid of these shapes
any more. I will explain new techniques with new tools to make them all
a piece of cake! Suitable for both beginners and advanced. Everyone
is learning so much in this workshop.
3.00pm brings us to "What's Hot Live" again and this time we show you how easy
it is to make folded fabric flowers using Clover's new range of templates.
"Flowers, Frills & Kanzashi Folded Flowers".
Learn how to make ever-so-easy flip 'n fold frilled flowers and folded-fabric
Kanzashi flowers with traditional Japanese techniques.
SEE YOU ALL AT THE SHOW and remember, if
you would like any order brought to the show, please let me know before
Friday 17th June. Saves you postage on mail orders and saves you
time at the Show.
 Don't
forget your Show
Coupons too. Print them and collect your discounted products
or receive your FREEBIES. No coupon, No Offer.
ANNOUNCEMENT: The CraftExpo
Shows have a NEW name and new logo.
From now on they will be called Craft
and Sewing Shows. Next ones for us will be at Newcastle
in August (previously held in March) and Melbourne in October (now at
Caulfield Racecourse).
2. RETREATS
Machine Embroidery Retreat will be held
from 11th - 13th September and also 16th - 18th September 2011.
Please note the NEW date of the first one, commencing one day later
than previously announced. Everyone learns so much whilst having a great
time with other fellow enthusiasts. We will be supplying you with
designs to upload so as everyone will come to the Retreat fully prepared
so as ALL the time will be spent sewing and learning. Plus,
new this year, we will also supply the stabilizers and fabrics being used. View
full particulars on our Retreats section.
There are limited vacancies left so please confirm your place with a $100.00
deposit asap.
3. ONLINE CLASSES
The
two Online Classes being held presently are really flying high.
The girls are really "into it" and we're all learning so much between
the actual Lessons and the discussions on the Yahoo Groups. I couldn't
be happier with their progression and the friendliness of all concerned.
The Westalee Mystery Sampler Quilt and the Curve
Master Course are indeed in full swing.
4. WHAT'S NEW
Where do I start here? There are numerous
new products having been added in the last month that you certainly will
have your eyes opened if you haven't visited What's
New? for some time.
The ever-popular applique patterns from Joan's
Own Creations have some new patterns added to the range.
"The
Quilt House" is show here but there are quite a few more.
"Oh Christmas Tree" has already proven to be very popular,
but I'd recommend making it into an advent calendar.
New patterns from By
Annie, including a Cell
Phone/Camera Case/Wallet, and a new Netbook
Computer Carrier.
Sew-Phisticats
and Purse-O-Nalities
have some great new bag patterns too, always fabulous. I love their Kathleen's
Karry-It-All and so have the people visting our show stand.
The Creative Thimble has another new bag pattern
too. Ursula
Emily Purse Pattern is a delightful addition to their range.
 One for the quilters - an 18"
Quilting Hoop with Lap Stand from Hinterberg.
Inn-Spire
is selling very well too - an absolutely amazing "stabilizer" which may
be moulded to shape with heat. Worth a look at! I'll have
a little tutorial on it shortly - either on my blog or as a project. See
the flower on the top of the box? That's what I mean by sculpting
to shape.
Two new DVDs
from Palmer/Pletsch - Jeans
for Real People shows you how to make Jeans to fit YOUR body.
Maybe you could be interested in "Will This
Fabric Work For You" DVD? 
The Simplicitiy
Bias Tape Maker is selling surprisingly well considering
the price is over $100.00 but quilters and sewers are welcoming it with
open arms. So many additional attachments too. View
the video to see how easy making bias can be.
One of my favourites is the Simpli-EZ
Bias Binding Ruler though. Just love it.  Makes cutting strips on the bias or straight absolutely a
cinch with no errors.
By far the most successful new product though
is the range of Kanzashi
Flower Maker Templates from Clover, following on from their
successful Flower Frill Template range. Truly, can't keep up with
the sales of same. For all ages and all levels of skill too - says
a lot for the product.
Is there such a thing as "Perfect
Scissors"? Karen Kay Buckley claims her new scissors are
such so named them exactly that. View
them here. Available as 4" and
7 1/2".
Sewline
have a new Needle Threader especially made for FINE Needles We've
been using it and think it's fabulous. The Sewline quickthru Needle Threader
is designed for fine needles (Sizes 9 - 12) and it's ever so easy to use.
They have some other new markers too in the new products section.
I have some
more fabulously exciting new products on their way too.
5.
MADE
IN AUSTRALIA
Julie Hall
has released several new CDs and has excelled herself again.
They are selling extremely well. Julie keeps coming up with some
great new designs, such as Give a Hoot, A Ladies' Amoire, Cat's Meow, Kimmni Dolls (pictured
left), Asian Aspects, Drawn Thread Hearts, Edwards Garage, Hearts
& Flowers Candlewicking, The Birdcage (pictured right), The Shadowed
Garden, Shoe Shine, Carousel Horses and Whitework Flowers. See what
I mean? A host of new ones to choose from. Shan't place a link
to each one, just view
them ALL here.
 Allow me to introduce a very exciting new Aussie Designer, Kay
Hanley from
1-2-3 Embroidery.  Her designs are refreshingly appealing and ever so cute
for the little ones in your life. Grandma/Nanas - you won't be able
to resist these.
Her new Spacer
Racer Game Quilt is outstanding for the kids to play
with. I have the samples for display and it's really great.
Bean
Bag Pals and Fuzzy
Feelings (both pictured here) are great little noveliesy
to adorn the bedroom or just for anywhere - including for adults!
Love them. Bean Bag pals sit up by themselves. 
The most popular has been Little
Sea Friends. We all know how important it is to know
your Times Tables but are they being learnt in schools like we used to have them forced upon us? Here's a way to encourage
youngsters to learn them parrot fashion. Make them a Times
Table Quilt!
 Book
Buddies consist of 5 different bookmarks plus some kids'
projects. These are so very cute, think I'll use one myself. These little
animal-faced bookmarks peep over the top of the book and are connected
with elastic to their feet, making them adaptable to any size book.
6. SPECIALS
Embellish
Magazine have a new Issue released - Volume 2
Issue 6 has the little Red Eyed Green Tree Frog in it
that was orinally photographed in Volume
1 Issue 2. by popular demand, they've now released
the pattern for same. So, if you wish, I will GIVE you Issue
2 FREE with the purchase of the new Issue which has the pattern in it.
20 only - so get in first. You MUST mention this offer in the additional
comments section of your online order.
7. FREE PROJECTS
In this section we have
wonderful FREE Projects for you. This week I shall add 3-D Flowers using
Texture Magic
or Krinkle
Magic.
 8. JUDY'S BLOG
Have a little preview
of other things you may do with either product mentioned above on
my blog. http://punchwithjudy.blogspot.com
While visiting my blog, why not subscribe to
it so as you may be informed when there's a new blog posted?
9.
DAMAGED & DISCONTINUED
Simply visit Damaged
& Discontinued, order whichever you please, then type
in the Additional Comments section of your order that you wish to purchase
the one from the D&D for such and such a price as the normal retail
price will be showing on your order. Don't worry about that, we'll
adjust manually. This week there are some rulers from Westalee and
Marti Michell that shouldn't last very long, so be quick.
10. TIPS &
TUTORIALS
I've recently added
several new tutorials here. Many to do with products mentioned in
the What's New? column. This is a great way for you to learn more
about products. Some from Simplicity and some from Westalee - browse
through them all though.
11. GALLERY
Shortly I'll be adding
a section from students' work for the current Online Classes - in the
meantime, view the results from those who completed the Pleat
Maker Online Course and the Punchneedle
Online Course as we'll be holding these again. It may
encourage you to join our next one.
12. DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that there is a section
on my website called "Pain
Relief Products" that lists products we sell that assist
with all types of pain relief allowing us to persue our hobbies?
Something for your bottom to sit upon if you suffer from tailbone pain,
back support for lumbar pain, gloves enabling you to deal with arthritic
pain and wrist pain, ergonomic rotary cutter, self-threading needles for
hand and also for machine, grippers, magnifiers, lights and quilting aids.
One does not have to suffer.
Did you know
that Naphthalene Flakes act as a deterrent for rodents? Has certainly
helped with the mice we have in the sheds that the country is experiencing
at present. Maybe a good thing for you to keep in mind if you ever
need same.
Did you know that if you sew
oversized, chunky buttons on the outside of the base of any bag you make,
will protect the bottom of your bag from soiling when you place it down
on a table/bench/floor or whatever, as one does. Of course, you
may purchase "Bag Feet" to do the same job, but keep your eye open for
these large buttons.
Did you know that the Australian
Women's Weekly, who was the original sponsor of the Craft & Quilt
Fairs, has now returned as THE major sponsor replacing Better Homes &
Gardens? We welcome their support for our industry.
13. GOLDEN
OLDIES
On one of the Online Classes discussions this
week, I mentioned the Telescopic
Magnet as being an excellent way to find dropped screws or
pick up pins etc from the floor, without having to get on your hands and
knees searching for same. I just wouldn't be without mine for a
whole lot of other uses too. It stretches out to more than my arm's
length enabling me to pick up things also from where my fingers nor arm
can fit. I genuinely find it one of the most useful "necessary tools"
in my toolbox. I know I've mentioned this before here, but it really is
so helpful.
Till
next time,
Judy
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Judy Hall
Punch with Judy
P.O. Box 62
THE ROCK (near Wagga)
N.S.W. AUSTRALIA. 2655
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