Val: Friday – 2nd December:

Today’s the day that I start thinking about Christmas (meeting a friend tomorrow to collect my tree) so I need to start thinking about the decorations; we have Yo-Yo santa which went up on the site today which is quick and fun to make (and could be made small for the tree)

Fast Christmas Decorations

and then next Friday I show you how to make a Folded tree decoration (which does look better with some bling) but again is quick and fast to make. Either of these would also make great little, and very special, gift tags.

This past week I have loaded up several patterns designed by Sally Ablett (who trades under the name of Pippas Patch) for small wallhanging projects and personal stockings, which are all instant downloads – so you can get sewing right away. Watch out for more going onto the site this week too.

Several of Sarah Soward’s patterns are also quick and easy, and include a great gingerbread garland, and again instant downloads .

https://justhands-on.tv/product-category/shop/patterns/

Dunford House Quilt Retreat

Talking about Sarah, she will be joining us at our quilt retreat 6-8 July 2012 at Dunford House, Midhurst, W.Sussex and teaching her award-winning Seeing Stars Jelly Roll quilt (as well as other options); jelly roll quilts are brilliant for beginners (and others wanting to use up stash ) and Sarah aims to have you finish the quilt over the weekend!

She is joined that weekend by Jennie who will be teaching from her latest book, Foldy Rolly Patchwork Pzzazz and Val, who is working with scraps and no-nonsense triangles using the Thangles method (so no messy 7/8th or 3/8th to worry about); we quilters take over the whole house and the weekend includes all food and entertainment from Friday 4pm – Sunday 4pm; the rate of £345 is based on a single room occupancy (if you come with a friend or are prepared to share then there is a 20% discount) and if you want to bring your husband (or non-sewing companion) there is a lower rate for them – fuller details and the booking form can be found at https://justhands-on.tv/product/scrap-happy-quilts-pieceful-projects/

So check out your 2012 diary (I hope it’s a Quilters Diary with LOTS of inspiration in it!) – £50 is all we need to secure your place in any of the sewing rooms (and if you just want to escape and sew your own thing we would love to have you join us too)

Talking about escaping, Colouricious have just a couple of spaces left on their textile retreat with Marilyn Pipe on 16th February to Egypt but you need to book by 6th Dec.

Back to what’s happening on the website; Part three of our Rosebud Fayre Block of the Month will be loaded up later in the month; this covers the log cabin blocks and things to think about when deciding on your fabrics (and I managed to finish an alternative settings version when I was away with the girls in Bristol !) – if you are new to the site, a picture of the quilt is under the Welcome Video title and you can watch the taster video
https://justhands-on.tv/product-category/videos//rosebud-fayre—block-of-the-month-taster/

to see what all the fuss is about!

Fresh from the Clothesline

Our chosen Book of the Month is Fresh from the Clothesline by Darlene Zimmerman;

https://justhands-on.tv/product-category/shop/books/

this is a delightful book with 22 projects featuring small and large quilt designs as well as smaller items such as place mats and tree skirts with vintage appeal. Darlene is also the author of Quilts from Lavender Farm (which I also fell in love with)

and designs templates such as the Tri-Recs ruler and the Dresden Plate (which we used for our Rosebud Fayre quilt) for the E-Z company.

Prague Patchwork Meeting Exhibition

This is such a busy month for most of us that we thought you might like to have a reason to just sit and be inspired so on Christmas eve we wander round the Prague Patchwork Meeting exhibition that was at the Festival of Quilts August 2011 as well as enjoying a simple technique from Paula Doyle, which she called Mini Mosaics.

So that will take us through to the New Year – wow where did 2011 go ? Plans for next year? Well we have dates in the diary already for filming the Guildford Quilt Show at Clandon House and the Hope Quilters Show in Kent both in April 2012 as well as visiting a lovely new shop called Bee Crafty which has opened in Huntingdon and is completely wheelchair accessible. We also have GREAT plans for our website – and have elves working hard already in the background to make both your viewing and your shopping experience more enjoyable. (Talking of new websites, do have a look as see what Isa has done at www.creativequilting.co.uk )

As you know to get the most from the Justhands-on.tv website you need to be a subscribed member so we have put together a great gift package that is linked with the membership and has proved to be extremely popular: a 1year membership together with a gift package in total is worth £112 and can be yours for just £85;

but if you would like to try the site for just 3 months we can now offer you the same gift package, which consists of Jennie’s latest book – Foldy Rolly Patchwork Pzazz, a copy of Fabrications Magazine, a Thangles Pattern (no more 7/8th s to worry about), Mettler threads AND a year’s membership to the Fabric Sample Club run by Creative Quilting (so you will receive 10 x 5” squares each month through the post)(all of which is worth over £40) PLUS the cost of the 3months for just £43;

We have also managed to get ourselves some great press coverage recently both in the local press (local to both Jennie and I) as well as in the Sew Hip Magazine and we understand that we will be featured in the gift section of the Saturday Telegraph newspaper on 10th December which will feature our special gift pack offer.

You might want to get in ahead of the rush!

Happy Sewing
Valerie & Jennie