Email: judy@punchwithjudy.com.au

In This Issue:-
1. Shows
2. Retreats
3. What's New?
4. Clubs/Guilds Discounts
5. Specials
6. Stitches Subscribers Offers
7. Students' Gallery
8. Damaged Products
9. Did You Know?

Hi Everyone,

Things are meant to slow down this time of the year but this doesn't seem to be happening. Hence this Newsletter is a little later than I would've hoped. There will be another Newsletter next week when the website is updated with several new products. As this is the first week of December with Christmas approaching sooner than we all realize, I felt the need to quickly get part of our update away to you now because there are some great December Specials being offered.

Since last chatting, we've attended a Show in Brisbane, one in Adelaide and held a Retreat at home. Adelaide being highlighted by wonderful Joy's homemade biscuits and shortbreads delivered to us for munching on during the Show. Joy is a regular customer and was John's favourite girl that week!

One of our fellow exhibitor's staff told John in Brisbane that she was taking him to the movies when in Adelaide to see the Aussie Comedy called "Kenny". Well, news got out and we eventually had a great Exhibitors' night out of over 30 people dining together then off to the movies at historical Capri Theatre. Please read about this theatre in the "Did You Know?" column further down. Now, you MUST see "Kenny". We all split our sides laughing. To think that anyone would even think about making a movie out of hiring porta loos! Just so typically Oz! One Exhibitor bought John some Jaffas to roll down the aisles, as was customary a generation ago. He must be getting old because he ate them. A fun night had by all.

During the year we've been working behind the scenes on our website improving and fine tuning. The latest change we're trialling now is the Search Engine. It will now find any one word or all of anything typed in, rather than needing the exact name of any product as previously required. Naturally, this takes a little longer to download but I hope you agree is a better functioning tool. Try it when you're next searching for a product and let me know.

On the homefront, the emu chicks have arrived, nearly 150 of them. We now have our emu eggs hatched out in Victoria and then collect the chicks when they are 2 to 3 months old. So, the turkeys got relocated to a "fattening up pen" and if Big Bird doesn't watch his step then he'll be on the Christmas table too! Friendly Fifi now has 4 fluffy chicks again. John took the balance of the eggs from her so as we didn't have another tribe of turkeys taking over. Remember it was HIM who said never again!

Hopefully we'll have paving around our warehouse in the next fortnight. There's no mud around because we haven't had rain for yonks, but pavers will certainly help the carpet inside; we've chosen cream and brick red ones.

We're been to Melbourne this weekend for a family 50th, then on Monday I'm flying to Brisbane just for the day for a launch of new products. Report to you later re these developments.

By the way, my mobile phone was finally returned (after 2 months!) so it is functional again.

Read on and enjoy!

Happy Sewing,
Your friend,
Judy

Next week the Calendar will be updated for 2007 but there are a couple of announcements I'd like you to know. Due to my desire to live to a ripe old age, I've decided to forego more Shows in 2007 as the pressure of business at home with the Website and Mail Order continues to increase. Plus, I will be overseas early March. Punch with Judy will not be attending the Autumn Sydney Stitches & Craft Show in February. Two years ago we stopped attending the Spring Melbourne Stitches & Craft Show, so this is simply the next step in my overall plan. Plus, I think that two Shows per year in any Capital City is sufficient for Punch with Judy.

Girls up north, you're fortunate that Townsville will now have their own Craft & Quilt Fair organized by Expertise Events from 19th to 22nd April. This will allow Exhibitors to follow on from the Gold Coast Craft & Quilt Fair from 12th to 15th April. Punch with Judy will not be attending either of these Shows but we will be at the Brisbane Stitches & Craft Show from 2nd to 6th May as usual. If we did all of these, we'd be away for 5 weeks. I just can't manage that.

First Show for 2007 for us will be the AQC in Melbourne from 22nd to 25th February.

2. RETREATS

Our Hatched in Africa Retreat in November was held in our warehouse at The Rock. We rearranged everything to accomodate the huge enrolment we had. Our regulars didn't believe the transformation. Santi from Hatched in Africa and her friend Ilse from Sydney, had simply a ball with all our students and everyone enjoyed themselves. I have many photos and will add some to our Gallery as time permits. This was the first "trial run" for Santi ever, as she had never held a hands-on class for her new design "Fantasy Phoenix" anywhere in the world before. Everyone did so well and as each completed the design, an enormous thunder of applause, laughter and congratulations lifted the roof. Such fabulous companionship and atmosphere in a class like I've never witnessed before. I can tell you, Santi was elated and relieved. Do you know Santi was nervous about teaching for us because she had heard such wonderful reports about Punch with Judy and our high standards striving for excellence, that she didn't know if she could meet our expectations? Do you believe that? Well, Santi, all we can say is you won with flying colours. The students have reported back to me as such too.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

New Retreat
Anne van der Kley is Internationally recognized as a guru for Texturing with an Overlocker and has kindly agreed to visit us for an Overlocking Retreat from 14th to 16th July 2007. If you'd like details, I can email you a preliminary outline now. This will be GREAT! I'll be her assistant as I've taught many an Overlocking Class. We also now have in stock all of Anne's CDs too. They'll be added to the website later this week.

Machine Embroidery Retreat 2nd - 4th June, 2007
Have you a computerized sewing machine but don't know the full capacity of what it is able to do? This is a specially designed workshop with you in mind!
Learn from our special guest tutor and myself, how to get the best from your investment.
We will cover correct hooping, choice of correct stabilizers, threads & needles, exact placement and how to use various accessories. Projects done show how to use The Sewing Revolution correctly, other positioning and dissecting designs, photos to fabric and so forth.
Suitable to all brands of machines and for the novice to the expert.

Machine Embroidery Techniques Retreat 6th - 8th June, 2007
Includes Free Motion Embroidery for other than computerized designs. This will include Hemstitching, Couching, Feather Stitching, Pintucking, Stippling, Appliqué Stitch, Candlewicking, Double Eye Needle Embroidery; PLUS Shrink Embroidery Thread, Fusible Thread, Machine Trapunto using Wash-A-Way Thread and using Perfect Sew.

Pleating Techniques Retreat 14th - 16th April, 2007
Manipulate and embellish fabric using The Pleat Makers & Fasturn Tools plus other surprises.
Various techniques for the beginner and intermediate student.
Tucks, Tubes & Trims! New tricks & techniques for wearable art embellishments.
Expressions of Interest now welcome.
Don't forget I'll also be visiting Cobar in central NSW for a Weekend Retreat in the first quarter of next year if you live in that area, email me and I shall certainly pass your details on to those who are organizing this.

3. WHAT'S NEW

Olfa have now released a Pink Rotary Cutter Mat to match their Pink Ergonomic Rotary Cutter in their efforts to support Breast Cancer. They will make a donation for your purchase of any "Pink" item to the National Breast Cancer Foundation who fund research for the prevention and cure of Breast Cancer. This is an Australian institution so all monies remain in this country and Australia is renowned for the expertise and efforts in this field. I know everyone is touched by Cancer someway or other with friends or relatives. The Cutter is on our website and the mat will be next week. Stock is ready for delivery now though.

Just in time for Christmas. Ricky Tims, prolific quilter extraordinaire, has a musical CD entitled "Christmastime" and is now available from us for $29.95. It will be added to our website next week, but orders may be taken now. This is simply the best! Beautifully produced by this fine musical talent who was actually a professional musician before he became famous as a quilter. John and I both play this CD continuously and prefer this one over his other two CDs. A reminder too, shopowners, we now distribute Ricky's Quilting DVDs.

Inklingo surely may rate as one of the best innovative new quilting products to be marketed recently. Released at the Houston Quilt Market in November, it is a way of printing templates for patchwork directly onto your fabric using a coloured inkjet printer. Return to our website later this week for full particulars. Futuristic and it just shows how electronic our sewing has become. Both Inklingo Shape Collections # 1 and #2 are available for $54.95 each Book on CD.

Also released at Houston, was Quilters' Preview Paper which is a roll of see through "stuff" enabling you to see your quilting design before quilting your quilt. More later, but in stock now for $19.95. Adding to our website this week.

If you need the perfect "Stocking Filler", then you can't go past a delightfully hilarious glimpse of the quilting world through the eyes of a non-quilter who happens to be married to a "died in the wool" quilter. "Help, I Married A Quilter" is a book written by Mark Hyland, lamenting husband of Suzanne Michelle Hyland from whom I purchase Machingers Quilting Gloves. This is a riot. Scary that it is so true. $17.95 and worth every cent. To be added next week but available now.

Lots of new Machine Embroidery CDs will be added next week - watch out for them. Numerous Hatched in Africa CDs are now available from us and will be added as time permits.

4. CLUBS/GUILDS REGISTRATION MEMBERSHIPS

Announcement!

If you are a member of a sewing group, patchwork group, Guild or Club, then I now have a specially assigned Membership to our Website arranged for you. One Member (and ONE Member only), usually the President, but that's up to you, may register as a Club/Guild Membership. A form will be issued to you for completion and if your criteria meets my requirements for eligibility, then you have reduced prices for which you may purchase as a group. Bulk orders may then be placed by the Club or Guild on behalf of their members in order to receive generous discounts. One order, one payment, one shipment. Now, the Club or Guild may decide to either allow their members those reduced prices or they may choose to save this money as a fund raiser for a special appeal or guest tutors or whatever. The choice is theirs.

5. SPECIALS

Fantastic Specials from YAZZII for Christmas Super Specials too good to miss out on, even if you're buying them for yourself. I've selected something for everyone - ladies, men, craftspeople and non craftspeople (do they exist?). Please don't miss these, they are great value. Wine Bags, Dilly Bags, Organizers, etc.

Madeira Threads and Punch with Judy have some extra wonderful savings for you too. eg. Furry Friends package is less than Half Price plus, you receive as a Bonus, a roll of Cotton Soft which is a soft tearaway stabilizer, absolutely FREE.

$150.00 off their Incredible Threadable Box package also. Two for you to choose from - or why not choose both?

For any Madeira Thread Treasure Chest ordered during December, I will pay the postage for you.

Ott-Lite have released a new Floor Lamp which hasn't made the stores as yet. The Ott-Lite Easy View Craft Lamp 18w will be $189.00 - but, for Christmas, just $149.00. PLUS, Free Delivery. In fact, we're offering Free Postage on ANY Ott-Lite product for December. Take advantage of this generous offer. Plus, our prices are already very competitive and you also receive Punch Points Vouchers for all normally priced items.

Slimline Light Boxes are recognized as the best in their field. For either the 17" x 17" or the 24" x 24" Slimline Light Box ordered in December, there will be Free delivery. Now that is a big saving. Don't let this opportunity pass if you've ever wanted one of these. Punch Points Vouchers are still offered for each sale as well.

Micnali Designs has 3 new CDs for machine embroidery being offered and for December you will receive two for the price of one. That's correct. Buy One, Get One Free. (to the same value) This IS extra special.

6. STITCHES SUBSCRIBER OFFERS

Punch with Judy is proud to be part of the Australian Stitches Subscribers Club offering Monthly Specials to Subscribers. Not only do we offer you a 12 month subscription for half price but you could pay for that alone with the savings I offer in our monthly specials which are only available to Stitches Subscribers and you must quote your Membership Number when ordering.

Stitches Issue 14/4 released in August, 2006, had a CurveMaster Presser Foot at $10 off the normal RRP plus a FREE pair of Bent Tip Tweezers.

Stitches Issue 14/5 released in September, 2006, offered a Free pair of Punch with Judy Embroidery Scissors with each purchase of the Satinedge Foot from Creative Feet. Plus, if you purchased all three Creative Feet you had the great combo offer of $139.95 plus the Accessory Guides Free!

Stitches Issue 14/6 released in October, 2006, was our Fasturn Set special. When you purchase a set of 6 Fasturn Turning Tools, you may purchase the Fastube Foot and the Perfect Tubes Guide for half price.
Stitches Issue 14/7 released in November, had 3 gadgets for $22.00 - The Buttonhole Buster, The Hump Jumper and The Puts It.

Stitches Issue 14/8 will be released this week and we are excited to offer subscribers the Professional Touch Applicator Wand, 2 Iron-On Ribbon & Thread Tips, PLUS a packet of Swarovski Crystals for the incredible price of $49.95. That's a saving of $21.95!

Offers remain available for 3 months from date of issue. So, everyone, tell me what you think about them so as I may give you Special Offers that you appreciate. Postage is extra.

7. STUDENTS GALLERY
I want to get this up and running early 2007, so, any past students of our Retreats, please send me photos of your finished Retreat Projects. You will be world famous, being added to our "Hall of Fame".

8. DAMAGED PRODUCTS

Sometimes Australia Post isn't as careful as we would like, so items get damaged in the mail. At present, we have the following damaged items for offer at half price.
Springfield Ruler 24" x 6.5"
Block Marking Board from The Sewing Revolution
Mercury Template
Brandy's 1" Shapes
Sew Clean
If any of these can find a home with you, please email me and I will quote you the price with postage.

9. DID YOU KNOW?

Did You Know that Ricky Tims will be the Co-Host of a new quilt show being presented by Bernina of America? It will be a web-based TV Show which means no network restrictions, longer episodes and immediate international access. Ricky wrote me "this new endeavour fits with my continued vision - reach more people- stay home more". Sounds familiar? We do congratulate him on his appointment. His Co-Host is a mystery until January 1st. See a preview on http://www.thequiltshow.com/ I'm proud to be distributing his Quilting CD's too and he has advised me that his 3rd CD which was to be released by now, has had to take second fiddle whilst these other projects were being finalized, but it will be finalized early in the New Year.

Did You Know that the Gingher family started having blades made in Mexico in the early 1990's to INCREASE the quality? I made a comment in a recent Newsletter re Gingher Scissors company having been acquired by Fiskars and were now being made in Mexico as well and I thought it was a shame another icon had been sold. I am still amazed how our Newsletter travels, because Gingher contacted me and gave me a very friendly "facts information sheet" stating that the company has not changed processes, personnel or sourcing at all and that Fiskars acquired Gingher early 2005 but the quality remains unaltered.
I apologize Gingher for any misinterpretation my thoughts may have prevailed. In fact, I just ordered more Gingher products this week.

Did You Know that the wonderful bag pattern I introduced to you recently called "Zipped Up Tote" has also gathered some notation? Some very kind readers of this Newsletter were concerned that I may have copyright problems since this type of bag was taught with instructions in 1986 via various sources in Australia and in some Janome outlets. Since I was not claiming the bag pattern to be mine it really wasn't my problem, but being very conscious of copyright laws etc. I contacted Anne, the producer of the pattern and this was the reply. "Anne received permission from the authors of a book written in 1977 to adapt the bag and make it into a pattern. Anne has documentation as proof." So, it seems that 1977 comes before 1986. I thank my readers for being so alert.

Did You Know that Rule Steady sizes will be changing early 2007? The 250mm and 400mm will be replaced with a new sized Rule Steady of 300mm. So, if you prefer the 250 or 400, place your order quickly because when my current stock is sold, that's it! No more. Only the 300mm.

Did You Know that the Capri Theatre in Goodwood, Adelaide is largely staffed by volunteers and is available for hire by groups and organizations? Classed as the "Unique Entertainment Showplace in the World" it is part of Adelaide's heritage. Featuring the famous 4/29 Wurlitzer pipe organ, you are entertained by organists from all over the world prior to the movie and you can actually see every part of the organ playing in huge massive structures either side of the stage. It is absolutely amazing to see each musical instrument's "connections" moving when played by the organist. There are only two such organs presented in this way in the entire world. Don't miss it when next visiting Adelaide. It's fantastic.

Till next time,
Judy Hall
Punch with Judy
P.O. Box 62
THE ROCK (near Wagga) N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA. 2655
Website: http://www.punchwithjudy.com.au
Email: judy@punchwithjudy.com.au
Phone: 02 6920 2238
Fax: 02 6920 2021
International Phone: 61 26920 2238
International Fax: 61 26920 2021