Punch with Judy - Happy New Year 2013
PUNCH WITH JUDY - HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013 NEWSLETTER
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HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! I hope that the arrival of the New Year gives us all the opportunity of becoming better citizens in a better world. That is the challenge! We can all do better and try harder. Make just one little commitment now. I trust that 2012 will be remembered kindly by most of you and if not, may 2013 be ever so much better for you.
During the last few weeks we have enjoyed the company of friends visiting, some still here, some still to arrive, a wonderful Christmas with most of the family and this last week with those who could not share Christmas Day with us. So, all has balanced out. The grandchildren are both adults and teenagers now plus little Hunter who starts school the end of January. Congratulations and Happy Birthday to Nick as TODAY he is 18. So, as we relax with close friends, we feel very fortunate for having them plus a wonderful family and beautiful home/farm to share allowing us so many wonderful memories.
May John and I wish each and everyone of you a very Happy New Year and may it bring all that you dream of plus more. Thank you so very much for your support during 2012, both at the shows and online. We have many new adventures to share in 2013 so hope you will continue to be part of all we do. HAPPY NEW YEAR and continue to enjoy a safe holiday period.
Cheers! Judy |
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1. YEAR IN REVIEW How we got through the show circuit for 2012 I don't know, but we did. Such a busy year behind the scenes! We exhibited at 14 shows during 2012 conducting seminars and/or our Nifty Notions stand demonstrating all day. We returned to New Zealand after a 6 year absence, exhibiting at the Craft & Quilt Fair in Hamilton in September. For the first time we also exhibited at the AMQF in Adelaide. The Show Schedule for 2013 is on my website. Our website business has continued to grow and I'm pleased to say with a high percentage of new customers, many whom may be reading this as their first Newsletter. Welcome! For the first time we conducted a Black Friday Sale and a Cyberspace Monday Sale, both in early December to help you with your Christmas shopping and I must report what amazing successes both were. Thank you. Online Classes continued to do well and are repeated in 2013. See further down. I apologize that the proposed Webinars didn't get launched due to such a very, very busy year. Just not enough time. We survived The Rock flooding for a second time, though we now have commenced long overdue repairs for water damage. Our back verandah has now had the roof extended to be twice the size giving us a large undercover entertainment/leisure centre. Lots more to be done, but the roof has been fixed! Mailroom to be repaired during January. 2. BEST SELLERS IN 2012 Many are continuing from 2011 as best sellers again in 2012. Such as the Curve Master Presser Foot, our Pleat Makers, Fasturn Turning Tools, Westalee Design Products and, of course, our Punchneedles, but there have also been several other new products that have proved very popular. Heading the list would have to be the Simplicity Deluxe Bias and Piping Machine. View the video to see how easy making bias and piping can be. Forever favourites include the Bendable Bright Light, Sew Slip 11, Ott-Lites, Texture Magic and Mylar Embroidery Sheets and CDs. It amazes me just how many Stencil Burners we continue to sell, year after year. Plus, the Mini Steam Iron just grows from strength to strength; you know, in all the years we've been selling them, we've never had one we have had to replace. What a record! Actually, I'm just about repeating what I said last year because these popular products are out-selling most others yet again. Clover has once again been streets ahead of any other brand in quantity of sales and several new products from Clover have been readily accepted as essential tools and accessories. Their whole range of flower templates have been very strong sellers all year. Bag patterns continued to be very strong sellers and we've supported many brands of miscellaneous patterns too. The most popular ones during 2012 once again came from StudioKat Designs , closely followed from By Annie, then Lazy Girl Designs, Sewphisti-Cats and Purse-O-Nality all selling extremely well. BUT by FAR the best individual pattern seller was the Travel Iron Tote Pattern which is a tote carrier for the Mini Steam Iron which opens out to a pressing surface. Well done Sisters' Common Thread, your pattern and its two 'big sisters' for travel irons and normal domestic irons also sold very well. In other pattern ranges, still Joan's Own Creations outshines them all. Beautiful applique patterns which seem to keep selling year after year. Closely followed by adorable designs from Hooley Dooley Patterns (yeah for an Aussie!), even though they are not new, they were new to the Punch with Judy range in 2012. I'll have two new designers to introduce in 2013 whose patterns are of very similar themes which I know you'll love. In the Machine Embroidery CD's, 1-2-3- Embroidery, Julie Hall Designs and Jenny Haskins Designs still sell very well so it's good to see these Aussies continuing to offer us new designs and ideas. Of all the new products introduced during 2012, the True Cut range of products would certainly be the one that has excelled above others. Two products in particular have been runaway winners. Their 45mm TrueCut My Comfort Cutter and the TrueCut Linear Rotary Blade Sharpener. Only released in December, the Swatch Buddies will prove to be another big seller, sales of which already are suggesting this. 3. MOST REWARDING & BEST MEMORIES FOR 2012 Most Rewarding Accomplishment for 2012: Finally!!!! Got John into the hospital to have his other hip replacement operation. Now has two new hips with a knee scheduled later this year. They say you can 'trade them in' but I've opted for 'rebuilding' the old one. Best Achievement for 2012:
Proving we could manage the shows without John when he was out of action
either with so much pain before the op or recuperating after the op.
Of course, I realize this was only with the assistance of some great friends
on the show circuit such as Harry M, John S, Hans M and Gary's team
at Expertise Events. PLUS a big thank you to Reece, our eldest Grandson,
who, so confidently, stepped into John's shoes to do some Shows in the
middle of the year. I know other Exhibitors warmed to him and he
enjoyed their company. Couldn't get him to consider it full-time
though and I'm pleased to report to all who got to know him, that he has
been accepted into the Army and commences on 26th February. He is over
the moon and feels it is his personal best achievement. Reece is
now 20. Good Luck to him, we hope he makes it through as a Diesel Mechanic.
Best Show Stand Acknowledgement for 2012: Winning the BEST LARGE STAND AWARD at Perth's Craft & Quilt Fair in May. I reported on my blog the following: "Reece claims all the honours for the award as being because of HIS presence since he is filling in for "Grandpa John" who wasn't able to attend this year's show. The Show Organizers took this photo showing finger with No. 1 sign to send home to John." Read the full story here. Best Personal Achievement for 2012: Mine is simply surviving 2012 as I know the body's strength is weakening - whether it be the Osteoporosis or Old Age, I can't tell, but it's a b...... nuisance to fight. For John it is most definitely arriving at 70 in one piece (sort of). His 70th Birthday Party, which he never wished to have bestowed upon him, was a fabulous weekend with numerous surprises and reuniting with friends and family members, some of whom had never been to our farm before. I did report it on my blog, so you may read about it in the archives on my blog pages. Best Technical Achievement for 2012: Continuing to Blog, Facebook & Twitter, as well as the Newsletters. Seems I'm always 'writing' about something! See the very end of this Newsletter to be able to join me in any one or all of those. The e-Newsletter "Into
Craft" continued with leaps and bounds in 2012 and I'm proud to
report that I'll be continuing with my Nifty Notions columns in http://www.intocraft.com.au/ during
2013. You may read them Best Farm Accomplishment for 2012: Hatching more emu chicks this season than we did last year. If only now we could keep the foxes, dogs and eagles at bay! I would also have to add again, just allowing the farm to survive throughout much of John's 'it will have to wait' situations. Best Memory for 2012: Two overseas business trips to USA attending shows with my dear friend Sandy of Curve Master fame. We always have fun together, pleasure mixed with business! Worst Memory for 2012: The agony of the waiting at the hospital after my brother-in-law had an horrific tractor accident on the family farm. With his head slashed open and enough dirt inside to grow a crop, according to the doctors, forehead, ears, chest, arms and body mutilated, how he has survived we don't know. Not only has he rallied around, but he drove the Header again this harvest. Has also been out fishing catching near 30lb Murray Cod. So, I suppose this should be also the Best Miracle Story for 2012!!! Another sad memory, having to say goodbye to our own 'Red Dog', Rusty. Now at rest beside the water tank. Other pet-lovers will understand. He hadn't been a working dog for a few years and must have been 15 or so. Long time to have a dog. Most Thanks for 2012: Each year it seems to be the same so I don't mean to bore you but a huge thanks for the help of my good friend Liz. To Penny who is part of the show establishment for us. To Sandy for continuing to travel from USA to be our International Guest on our show stands. To John, for battling on! To several friends on the show circuit mentioned above. To Reece for filling in at shows and to Rowan, our son, who constantly drove to our place to help load the van and trailer and just do odd jobs around helping John when required. To Gary and Judy from Expertise Events who stage the shows we exhibit at for again staging excellent shows during the year, as well as for their friendship and Gary's willingness to help when needed. To Marg P, a good friend, plus the family, for helping out with John when I was overseas. It allowed me to continue with business as usual. To Leonie and Bill West from Westalee Design for helping establish our two Online Courses using their products and for continuing to do so with new projects in 2013. To my friends who chit-chat to me daily via phone, emails, skype and who send me 'funnies' which give me a laugh each day and keep me sane. I have a few very close friends who listen to the trials and tribulations of everyday business and share their experiences too. Adrienne, my webmaster: You are an absolute Rock of Gibraltar for me, always there, always ready to advise, always jumping over the hurdles that keep coming. Plus, the month ahead of upgrading the entire website to new heights, mostly behind the scenes, but some which you will all notice. Cannot recommend Adrienne's services enough to anyone who requires such expertise. My staff at home keep the home fires burning in my absence and continue to work together most efficiently and with a very friendly, helpful attitude which I hope you feel comes through those phone calls. They all try so hard to please you and look after your needs. This month we welcomed another new member of staff. Ann replaces Gloria who retired during the year. So, there were quite a few months when we were definitely short-staffed but we survived; I am sure with your patience too! Thank you. Last, but not least, where would I be without my family? Regular readers will know that we have a wonderfully close family and our three children are my best friends too. What joy the grandchildren give us too, though they are growing into adults far too quickly. I am quite sure there have been other milestones that escape my memory as I write and maybe some people I have overlooked thanking, so please accept my apologies. 4. WEBSITE'S 12TH BIRTHDAY 2013 Every January we conduct our website's birthday sale which runs for the entire month. This is JUST FOR YOU! Make sure you visit the website daily as each day we give a new offer and you wouldn't want to miss out, would you? BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS JANUARY is our Website's 12th BIRTHDAY but you get the presents! PLUS,
everyone who places an ONLINE ORDER during January, goes into our Lucky
Draw for the Grand Prize of an Open-Order to the value of $150.00 for
a spending spree. Runner-Up $100.00 and Third Prize $50.00.
Please remember that we hold all orders till February to send to save you postage, UNLESS you ask for individual postings. Also, DO NOT place daily specials into your Wish List until the end of the month since each day's special offer closes at midnight daily. Full details on the Birthday Page. The Online Classes are scheduled again for 2013 and I invite you to seriously consider enrolling. All students report on how much they have learnt by attending them. Courses start again in the New Year with the Westalee Mystery Sampler Quilt commencing on February 1st 2013, so maybe you'd like to join us? Click here for more information and note this quilt is designed to be made using your stash! Following
the success of the first Westalee Online Course, we "Personally, I feel there is not the pressure with online classes to "finish at all costs" so you can work comfortably at your own pace and the inter-action between those in the group is just great, particularly as we are so wide spread and at various levels of skills - I love it MaureenG"
Quilt top shown is by a 2012 student, Elaine Istria. There were several others, equally as well-done, particularly with the variations of the Double Wedding Ring and the Dresden Plate Spike n Peepers! The other was a course on quilting with curves using the Curve Master Presser Foot. "Curvers" enjoyed 6 monthly lessons and were led through a wide variety of brilliant ideas using curves and sewing them with the Curve Master. Another course commences on 1st April, 2013. Another
Pleat
Maker Online Course was completed and shall be repeated commencing
on 15th June, 2013. These have been so well received, you really
should consider doing same. The most common misconception is that
you need to be in front of the computer at a given time each week or month.
A new Punchneedle Online Course commences on 1st July, 2013 and anyone who enjoys punchneedle embroidery should learn so much more from this course.
6. WHAT'S NEW
A reminder that I
do constantly update the What's New? section even when I'm on the road,
so please do keep checking there as I don't always get the opportunity
to advise you via a Newsletter. 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. More to come too as a result of my trip
to Houston International Quilt Festival & Market.
7. JUDY'S BLOG I have posted regularly via my blog all year so I urge you to subscribe so as when I have something to share you are immediately informed via an email rather than randomly checking in from time to time. http://punchwithjudy.blogspot.com Today's new post is well worth a peep as it shows amazing artistry of patterns made by plodding around in the snow - footprints making beautiful 'quilt' patterns. 8.
WISE
WORDS FOR 2013
A friend sent me an email recently that I thought could be appropriate as a New Year's Resolution (hate those) or, you may look upon it to commence each day with a new outlook for 2013.
It was titled: BE A DOG! Starring 'Charlie', our spoilt canine. If a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:
There
comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people
who create it.
9. TREIN REIZEN (Train
Travel) - NEW YEAR THOUGHTS A friend sent me a Power Point Presentation of the above for Christmas, so I changed the last slide to wish you all a Happy New Year. It is quite appropriate for the beginning of a New Year and I am certain you will enjoy it, so PLEASE, take the time to view it. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and for anyone who loves trains, it is a must see. Please enjoy! View it HERE.
10. MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION IS TO TRAVEL MORE I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone. I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there. I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work. I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore. I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go and I try not to visit there too often. I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm. Sometimes, I'm in Capable and I go there more often as I'm getting older. One of my favourite places to be in in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get! I may have been in Continent, but I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing. PLEASE DO YOUR PART! Today is one of the many National Mental Health Days throughout the year. You can do your bit by remembering to send an email to at least one unstable friend, like yourself. My job is done! Life is too short for negative drama and petty things. So laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly! From one unstable person to another.......I hope everyone is happy in your head - we're all doing pretty good in mine! MAY 2013 BRING YOU ALL THAT YOU MAY WISH FOR, I HOPE YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS - BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WISH YOU HEALTH & HAPPINESS.
Till
next time,
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on 
Commences 1st
January through to 31st January, 2012 - we are offering some real summer
holiday bargains and the whole month is just a lot of fun. Hope
you're part of it. Just click on the 
introduced a second one in 2012 - the 
Not so. You view your lesson in your own time and work at your own
pace. 
