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| I HAVE A NOTION |
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| Introducing you to the notions Nancy and Janice use.
Personal Lights:
We use two styles of lightweight lights that you hang around your neck to shine light on your handwork.
- Weights just 7.5 ounces.
- 8-inch natural daylight, fluorescent tube.
- No heat generated by the bulb.
- Non-glare, diffused light.
- 8-foot power cord.
- Adjustable neck strap, with quick-release.
- Moveable shade directs light where you need it.
- A bit pricey at $85, but provides an amazing amount of illumination.
The other light we use is the battery operated Beam-N-Read LED 6:
- Weighs just 6.1 ounces.
- 6 LED bulbs (never burn out).
- Operates on 4 AA batteries.
- Runs for an estimated 48 hours on a set of batteries.
- Adjustable neck strap.
- Light adjusts to 3 positions.
- More affordable at just $27, but provides less illumination.
If you need a lot of light and are near a plug then the Pendant Lamp is our recommendation. If you need just some added light, and want portability (like for use in a car), then the LED 6 may be for you.
Uses for either personal light:
- Quilting, of course!
- Knitting & crocheting
- Needlework
- Reading
- Drawing
- Crafting
- Camping
- Commuting
- Nursing
- Fishing
Also wonderful in classrooms and hotel rooms where the light is notoriously bad. Janice and Rudy use their LED6 lights when the power goes out. They each have a safe light that moves around with them, leaving their hands free.
These lights make great gifts for women or men! Don't forget to put one on your list for Santa to bring to you!
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| JOIN US IN HAWAII |
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Take advantage of a very rare opportunity to design your personal Hawaiian quilt with Nancy and Janice in Hawaii, May 2010.
Did we mention that no drawing or quilting experience is required? Just a desire to have your own personal Hawaiian quilt design.
Take a needleturn applique class from Nancy in Hawaii, too.
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| CURRENT INTERNET SPECIAL |
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Christmas Hawaiian Quilt pattern set
 Nine 15" blocks Sale Price: $10.00 (Regular Price: $12.00)
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| READER QUESTION |
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I love your products! Can my family purchase Gift Certificates for me???
Well, yes, they can. Thank you for asking! Here is the link:
Gift Certificates
You can use your Gift Certificate when checking out of our shopping cart on-line; or when ordering by mail; there are no fees; and they never expire! |
| QUILTING IN HAWAII |
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| To help you indulge your passion for Hawaiian quilting the next time you are in the islands, here are a few places to explore:
Make sure you visit as many museums as you can. Here are our favorites:
Oahu - Mission Houses Museum
Oahu - Bishop Museum
Maui - Bailey House Museum
Kauai - Kauai Museum
Kauai - Grove Farm
Hawaii - Lyman Museum and Mission House |
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| Aloha!
Halloween and all its festivities are past, the clocks have been re-set to standard time, days are very short and nights are very long. Nothing to do in the garden, too wet and cold to be outside. Yes! The perfect time to be quilting!
We introduce you this month to two patterns that you can start now and have finished in time for the Christmas and Hanukkah holidays. Really. Or start now, while you are in the mood, and have them finished for next year.
We know you have read about the Hawaiian quilt designing classes we are having in Hawaii in May 2010. What we also want you to know is that Nancy will be teaching a needleturn applique class on Maui, May 20, and on Kaua'i, May 30. These two classes are open to anyone wanting to learn needleturn applique, or anyone who wants to improve their applique skills. We hope you will make your plans now to join us for the design class, or an applique class, or better yet - both!
E komo mai!
Welcome home |
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JANICE'S HAND-DYED FABRIC |
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| How it came to be
Prior to 2001, Janice was more than happy to share plenty of her hard-earned money buying hand-dyed fabric from others. When Nancy suggested that Janice try hand-dying some of her own fabric, Janice's adamant response was, "My hands are full already. I have plenty of things to keep me occupied. I do not need one more thing to do!" But (you know this if you have an older sister), older sisters have a way of coercing younger sisters. It comes with many years of practice. So, Nancy prevailed, and we both spent a day, just one day Nancy promised, hand-dying fabric.
What we really hoped to do that day was dye a few pieces of fabric large enough to make a Hawaiian quilt. One yard was the largest hand-dyed piece we had been able to purchase, and we needed more than that.
 You can guess the outcome. Janice was hooked. Not because we were successful, but because our pieces that day were dismal failures. It was out of the failure that the challenge arose. There had to be a way to do this and Janice became determined to figure it out. She did, and just a short time later her husband, Rudy, was raising the roof on their house to turn an un-used, semi-attic space into a well-equipped dyeing room for Janice. (Now, when you call and Rudy says, "Janice is in her dyeing room, let me go get her." You will know that she is dye-ing not die-ing! It has been comical watching our friends figure this out.)
"I wanted to dye fabric that others could use to make Hawaiian quilts. A wall hanging requires at least 1-1/2 yards of two fabrics, and a king-size bed quilt requires nine yard pieces*. Those quantities of hand-dyed fabric are not readily available. Later when we introduced our 2 Fabric Applique Quilt patterns, I wanted to provide interesting fabrics for those quilts, too," Janice explains. Today you can order one-of-a-kind pieces directly from our website, or special order whatever your heart desires, in any amount. Janice is happy to work with you to provide the fabric pallet you need for a successful quilt.
The fabric at left shows a 2-yard piece that radiates from the center, creating a dramatic background for a Hawaiian applique. The piece below shows a sunrise that would make a striking background for many of our 2FAQ appliques. Of course, you are free to use Janice's fabrics for whatever your quilting heart desires! 
Click here to view the fabrics currently available. The selections change regularly, so bookmark the page, and check back often. If you do not see what you want, email or call Janice to discuss what you would like.
*See the Fabric Requirements page on our website for specific fabric requirements for each of our patterns. |
| CANDLELIGHT |
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| Those pesky inside curves!
 Our most popular holiday 2FAQ pattern is the "Candlelight" pattern. Measuring 36" across by 24" high, it fits beautifully over a fireplace.
We think there are some of you who would love to make this quilt, but may be daunted by so many inside curves. Here is how we recommend handling inside curves.
TIP: When appliqueing an inside curve, it is important to locate the straight fibers (on grain and cross-grain) and make 3 small clips to release the  fabric in that area so that it will turn under smoothly. In the diagram at left, there are four places where the grain and cross grain occur along the inside curve. The marks show where we make three short clips in each of those positions. While we do very little clipping with our needleturn applique, this is one area where we always clip. There is no need to clip along bias edges, as the fabric has enough natural stretch there to make the curve.
Remember that our patterns are designed with a 3/16th inch turn-under seam allowance. Make sure your clips stop just short of the 3/16th inch turn-under and you will have a smooth curve.
Now that you are no longer intimidated by the inside curves, consider this pattern for a Christmas quilt, a Hanukkah quilt, or a birthday celebration quilt. One customer told us she made this quilt and embroidered the names of a family member on each candle. Now her quilt hangs at every birthday celebration, too!
Pattern: Candlelight, 36" x 24", $12.00.
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| CHRISTMAS BLOCKS |
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Hawaiian-style
This versatile pattern can be used to make a quilt like this one, or individual blocks can be used to make small wall hangings, placemats, pillows, gift bags, or garment embellishments. Put three or four together for a table-runner, or narrow wall-hanging.
Embellish the appliques with beads, sequins and ribbons for an even more festive appearance.
The top row of blocks from left to right are:
Wreath - Ornaments - Stars
The middle row of blocks from left to right are:
Candles - Stockings - Angels
The bottom row of blocks from left to right are:
Trees - Bells - Holly
When looking at each block, make sure you are looking at the green and red applique to see the designs. The white background in the center of each applique cleverly makes a secondary design that looks like snowflakes - just an added bonus!
Christmas, nine 15" blocks, regularly $12.00, on sale this month for just $10.00
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COMING EVENTS |
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Nancy's Whereabouts:
Here are opportunities to take a class from Nancy or catch a presentation at shows, shops and guilds. Most guilds welcome visitors, so don't be shy.
Just a few more class opportunities with Nancy in 2009. Why not use one of these classes as an excuse to visit the Oregon coast in the fall? Sign-up now!
- Nov 15, 10am-5pm, Hawaiian Applique, Quilter's Corner, Port Orford, OR (new date)
- Nov 18, 10am-5pm, Stressfree Needleturn Applique, Forget-Me-Knots Quilt Shop, Bandon, OR
Looking ahead into 2010, make your plans now for:
- Jan 9, 10am-5pm, Hawaiian Applique, Quilter's Corner, Port Orford, OR
- Jan 14-16, Clark County Quilters, Vancouver, WA
- Jan 18, Ladies of the Lake, Longview, WA
- Jan 30, Gold Beach Quilt Guild, Gold Beach, OR
- Feb 4-6, Hi Desert Quilt Guild, Ridgecrest, CA
- Mar 19-21, Quilters Anonymous Show, Monroe, WA
- April 13-14, Folsom Quilt and Fiber Guild, Folsom, CA
- April 28-30, The North Central Washington Quilters Guild, Wenatchee, WA
And don't forget to sign-up to join us in Hawaii in May to design your personal Hawaiian quilt, or take a needleturn applique class from Nancy:
- Maui applique class, May 20, 2010
- Maui design class, May 20-24, 2010
- Kauai design class, May 26-30, 2010
- Kauai applique class, May 31, 2010
Register early for classes, they can fill quickly, or be cancelled if not enough people register in advance.
"No tests. No grades. No pressure. New classes open every weekend from January until the end of October. Students receive a password to an online classroom with a teacher-led Discussion Forum and Student Gallery. A typical class consists of three or four lessons. Lessons open on Friday evening."
Registration for 2010 classes begins November 27, 2009.
Nancy's next Quilt University.com classes begin:
- Jan 22, Hawaiian Quilting 101
- Feb 26, Baltimore Basics
- Mar 26, Make Your Own Hawaiian Quilt
- April 9, Celtic Tablerunner
- April 23, Hand Quilting
Janice's Quilt University class:
- Photographing Your Quilts, begins March 19
Invite Nancy to your town:
If you would like to take a class from Nancy in your town, let your local shop or quilt guild know about Nancy. Share our website with your shop owner or program chairperson. Print this pdf of Nancy's brochure and hand it to them. Nancy will travel to teach anywhere she is invited and she would love to meet you in your town! |
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Thank you for spending a little of your precious time with us, we really appreciate it. As always, we welcome your suggestions, comments or questions.
A hui hou,
Until next time,
Nancy & Janice | |
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