Punch with Judy - Mini October 2005 newsletter
Punch with Judy home page: http://www.punchwithjudy.com.au
Email: judy@punchwithjudy.com.au
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In This Issue:-
1. Shows & Workshops
2. Retreats
3. What’s New?
4. Did you know?
Hi Everyone,
Not a Newsletter really, just need to tell you a few important things. Newsletters
are when there is a website update, whilst Mini Newsletters are when I just
need to tell you a few things. Please note too, that if you have asked for your
email address to be updated, just remember, it takes a little while for this
to register and there may be a slight delay in the changeover period.
If anyone has emailed me in the last week and not had a reply, then please forward
your email again. There's been considerable mail lost or bounced early this
week due to a Spam Blockage by our server. In fact, last weekend, I had no mail
for nearly two days. Unfortunately, when the situation was rectified, hardly
any mail seems to have been forwarded. So, if you've been thinking I'm slow
in replying, it is more than likely I never received your email.
Please note though, website orders have not been affected since they are not
processed by the same server. I am quite concerned that often we receive orders
via email and you would be expecting delivery but we may not have received same.
So I repeat...........if you've placed an email order or have emailed me and
not had a reply during the last week, then kindly resend as I more than likely
never received it.
New Zealand was a delight again. We travelled to Hamilton for the Craft &
Quilt Fair and you Kiwis made us feel so welcome. We all thank you. My oh my,
you are so hungry for knowledge and ideas though, you kept us on our toes. So
pleased we can share with you all the treasures we take for granted here in
Australia as being so within reach whenever we need them. I also thank you for
making Reece, our eldest grandson, feel so much part of the team. He enjoyed
every minute of his trip and worked like a Trojan during the show hours making
me feel so very proud of him. The event organizer even gave him a "Craft
Fair Legend" cap to wear. I'm just so pleased that his beloved Sydney Swans
Footy team won the Australian Rules Grand Final on the Saturday, otherwise,
he would've been down in the doldrums completely for the rest of the time. News
of this came whilst we were all partying at our 50's Rock n Roll night out -
all dressed up to the hilt and having a great night together. We've decided
that all photos taken during the night are not for general publication nor may
they be used for blackmail.
I must say that another thing that really touched me was how many people came
up and said "I love getting your Newsletters and I feel I really know you
and all about your farm life, keep them coming". Thank you.
So many in NZ also commented that they would normally be wary of ordering over
the internet from overseas companies who advertise, but since we've been visiting
so often doing the Craft & Quilt Fairs, that they feel more confident and
have no qualms placing an "overseas order" because they've seen us
and got to know us thereby feeling relaxed about ordering. Other Exhibitors
had this comment too. You know it doesn't cost much more either because you
don't pay our GST component and that nearly often takes care of the postage
cost and the exchange rate; plus, you gain Punch Points Vouchers for your dollar
spending.
The night before I left NZ to travel home, I had the most enjoyable night out
with three ladies who visited my home last July for one of our Machine Embroidery
Retreats. It was great catching up and chatting for hours because we're always
so busy on the show stand that those niceties don't happen and this was just
a wonderful social night out. Thanks girls!
Hey, WOW, that view from the top of Sky City in Auckland! The tallest building
in the Southern Hemisphere. I couldn't handle walking over the glass floor though,
looking down on the little ants below that were cars and people!! Ooooh, the
tummy turned. Reece loved it!
Came home to find bloomin' Fifi sitting on the chook's eggs! She has now returned
to her own brood but if little turkeys eventuate will be a miracle in itself!
The framework for the Warehouse was erected today with a huge crane. I'm taking
photos of each stage. This is just so exciting because I've waited so long for
a bulk storage area.
Our countryside is still a magnificent picture. Drought here has completely
broken. Next they'll be grizzling because the grass is too high. We can't find
the lambs in the paddocks now. Hay cutting time looks like it will come earlier
this year. That "new" baler HE purchased at a Clearance Sale last
year is getting tuned up and had a trial run this week.
One final note, travelled to Sydney on Monday last week to see our son Rowan
who flew home for a friend's wedding. It was great catching up, even though
for only two days. Flew down and took our second grandson Nicholas (because
he'd missed out on the NZ trip), Rowan met us at the airport, then we travelled
down the South Coast to Nowra to visit our daughter Melinda and family. What
a great time we had! Was so busy at home in between NZ and preparing for Brisbane
next week, but just "smelt the roses", let my heart rule my head and
took some R and R, much to John's horror. HE stayed home. Nicholas enjoyed his
little holiday, loving the plane trip and when we decided to travel home via
the XPT (Express Train) that was another bonus. We played cards most of the
five hour journey home and agreed to call it a draw! Visits to the train's canteen
were next high on the priority!
One of Melinda's daughters, Kirsten, is featured in the Craft Fair Friend for
Brisbane next week and again in Adelaide's, so do look for her photo of me teaching
her to sew. It was taken a couple of years ago and she is now nearly a teenager,
but she is thrilled to become "famous" in print as she puts it. A
real treasure to keep. "Cool, Farm Grandma" said Fairy, her nickname
from me. Magazine promoters asked for a photo of me in real life down on the
farm, away from the Show circuit - this was exactly what they wanted, so as
you can see some of the Seminar Presenters as we really are - normal people
like me, you and them!
There will be a normal website update in the next few weeks, so until then,
Happy Sewing,
Your friend,
Judy
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1. 2005
SHOWS CALENDAR
For a complete listing of all the major Shows for 2005, visit our Show
Schedule section.
CRAFT & QUILT FAIR BRISBANE
The Craft & Quilt Fair is on in Brisbane next week, so if you'd like anything in particular brought to the show for collection then you must let me know by Saturday 15th October. This is the surest way to receive your "wish list" without being told, "sorry, we didn't bring any of that product" or "sorry, we've sold out of those". I can't bring absolutely everything and no matter how hard I try to bring sufficient stock of everything for a show, we seem to run out of something eventually. Punch with Judy is on Stand A23, first aisle on the left hand side as you enter via the main door.
Remember, it is a five day
Show and commences daily at 9.00am.
19-23 October at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank.
My pre-show seminar on
"Photos to Fabric" is on Tuesday evening from 6.00pm to 8.00pm on
the Mezzanine level of the Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre. It
is pretty well booked but I can always squeeze in someone else simply because
you're part of this "group". If you wish to go and haven't booked
as yet, I suggest you do so today. Contact Rebecca Reed at Expertise Events
who are the organizers. Email her at rebeccar@expertiseevents.com.au
and she will confirm all the details to you. Cost is $30.00 and you will be
well rewarded with heaps of knowledge about transferring your photos to fabric
and having loads of fun experimenting with all the new ideas I have to teach
you. Great Lucky Door Prizes too.
If you've received your Craft Fair Friend Magazine, did you notice we have a
Show Special Coupon within it? You need to present the coupon to receive FREE
a pack of three assorted Photo Fabric Sheets, valued at $25 I might add, with
each purchase over $50.00 of Photo Transfer related products. Unfortunately,
this can't be redeemed if purchasing any of our other specials offered for the
show. You can't have two bites of the cherry.
Daily workshop on Patchwork and Machine Embroidery updates is in Workshop 4
at 12.30pm. Always good to find out what's new and how to take shortcuts with
new tools and equipment. Very popular, so do join me.
CRAFT & QUILT FAIR ADELAIDE
Adelaide people, the above Pre-Show Seminar on "Photos to Fabric",
will be repeated for you on Wednesday 2nd November from 2.00pm till 4.00pm at
the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds. Remember the Craft & Quilt Fair commences
on Thursday 3rd until Sunday 6th November, 10.00am to 5.00pm daily. These are
NEW dates from the very first announcement when they changed from September.
I do have another special treat for you too. During the Show, I am conducting
a special afternoon lecture daily at 3.30pm in Workshop 3 on "Machine Embroidery
Education". If you are slightly confused as to which stabilizer to use
when or which thread to choose, let me explain to you why it is so necessary
to understand the balance between the design, thread, needle, stabilizer and
correct hooping for perfect machine embroidery.
I will still be conducting my usual product update daily seminar at midday each
day in Workshop 1. It was meant to be "What's New in Patchwork" but
since the printed advertising includes Machine Embroidery, I will include some
items for both topics.
STITCHES & CRAFT SHOW, SYDNEY AUGUST 2006
Since we're talking about Shows, don't forget the new revised dates for the
Sydney August Stitches & Craft Show at Rosehill Racecourse next year. It
is now from Wednesday 23rd August until Sunday 27th August, 2006.
2. RETREAT & WORKSHOPS
So as no-one misses out, I am currently organizing additional time slots for
both the Patchwork Retreat and the Machine Embroidery Retreat as we have been
inundated with requests from students wishing to attend these.
Keep tuned for confirmation of additional dates. At this stage, the Patchwork
Retreat advertised for 4-6 May, 2006, has to be changed to 5-7 May, 2006 because
of venue bookings. I hope this doesn't affect anyone too much.
3. WHAT'S
NEW?
Over the next few months
our server and website will be undergoing a changeover which will make updates
to the website less frequent. There will be an update in the next week or so,
but possibly none after that until the changeover is complete. So, rather than
have you waiting, I will endeavour to keep updating you via our Newsletter and
the website will "catch up" with us eventually.
Next update shortly will offer you many new products but, in the meantime, there
are just a few I think I need mention here as a preview. The update will include
the new Book/CD combinations from Sew Artfully Yours that have been featured
recently in Machine Embroidery Magazine plus others in that range. I mention
this because many have been searching the website not being able to find them,
of course.
There will be several new CD's for Machine Embroidery from the Glenn Harris
Collection and a Patchwork Collection of Blocks from Janny Primrose. Not on
the website and never to be, but letting you know we now have several new ones
from Angie Spong in New Zealand. These will be in our printed product list,
so I can email you those if these are of interest to you.
Madeira's "Furry Friends" Threads/CD kit advertised Nationally at
present is in stock too. $149.95 retail.
Our "Mercury Templates" have arrived in stock which is one ruler/template
claiming to be "up to 50 times faster than other methods" for cutting
Hexagons, 60 Degree Triangles, Diamonds & Trapezoids. Just calculating our
retail price on this one but they retail in USA for US $39.95 if this will give
you an idea, however, we will be able to do much better than the normal double
US retail. I believe this to be an excellent template now it has been refined
and updated since I first starting considering it.
Best news though, my shipment of Angelina Fibres will be arriving over the weekend,
hopefully, I may have them for Brisbane Show. This amazing "fairy floss"
sort of stuff (and there's no other way to describe it) can be spun, woven,
layered, trapped, bonded, for applications in Textile Art & Embroidery as
well as Card Making and loads of other crafts. There are two types - Standard
& Hot Fix (Heat Bondable). Those of you who know about it will want to order
immediately and I believe our prices will be extremely favourable since we've
ordered directly from the manufacturer. The colours are scrumptious, makes the
creative juices flourish.
Lots more new, but wait for the update.
Please note that we have available the new book from Suzanne Gray entitled "Hooley
Dooley Village Patch" which was also in some magazines. This retails for
only $28.95 and is a great book for those enthusiasts of Suzanne's very popular
appliqué patterns.
4. DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that historical documents record the art of embroidery in China
as early as 2255 B.C. The earliest surviving piece of knitted fabric was discovered
in Egypt and has been dated around 1200 to 1500 A.D. Needlecrafts and sewing
have been an integral part of the development of human civilisation as an expression
of human creativity and artistry.
I found this a fascinating bit of trivia.
Did you know that your vacuum cleaner may be like your computer in the future?
Well, not really, but I found this an interesting comment at the end. Please
read on......
James, Dyson, the British inventor of his eponymous vacuum, recently visited
Providence, USA to accept the 2005 Success by Design Excellence Award from the
Rhode Island School of Design. Dyson parlayed his passion for "a better
mousetrap" into a company that says it has become a market leader in Western
Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and in a little more than two years has garnered
more than 20 percent of the US vacuum segment. Dressed in this signature T-shirt
and jeans, Dyson spoke with Globe correspondent John P. Mellow Jr.
Q. Your latest product is a Dyson that travels on a big ball instead of wheels.
Where did the idea for that vacuum come from?
A. We always noticed how un-manoeuvrable upright vacuum cleaners are. Our competitors use four wheels. It makes you do a lot of "sawing" to clean the carpet. With the ball, I can twist my wrist and go anywhere. It’s the same kind of freedom you have with a mouse on a computer.
There you go everyone! Next time you are playing around on the computer, tell HIM that you are practicing vacuuming!
I smiled at this little bit of thread education relayed via Bob the Thread Professor at Superior Threads. "The world's easiest and most accurate guide to thread measurements: Have you ever wondered why three different brands of identically labelled thread are all different in size? Some are labelled using Tex, Number or Denier measurements. Some are weighed, some measure the distance etc. etc. etc. None are really accurate it seems. So, Bob's answer? Ignore the weight, tex, denier and any other method. Use your fingers and your eyes to select the thread you want to use. If you want the thread to show, choose a medium to heavier thread. If you want the thread to blend, choose a thinner thread. Your fingers and your eyes will always be accurate and you will never be disappointed."
Wow, Did You Know that? I smiled and thought how down to earth?
Til 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