Well, I know we didn’t have much of a summer, but it really is a beautiful day here at Sawmillers, the Official Greeters, Bailey and Poppy are sunning themselves on the verandah, although Bailey gets a tad concerned when the cyclists go past, he really dislikes bikes!!

As I have said in the email I sent out we have been asked for Smocking Classes, so I have added a class to our class list, at this stage I am asking for Expressions of Interest, so go through to the Class page and you will see all the details there.

We had the first class of the Baltimore Quilt course last night, what a great evening we all had, it was good because we had new pupils as well as more experienced so we all got lots of inspiration, I have begun a Wait List for this class so if you are interested let me know as I can arrange for another class to be held.

The wedding plans seem to be going well, and I have been sent lots of ideas for what a Mother of the Bride should wear!! It will be so lovely to spend time with my daughters and their partners and I am hoping my son and his partner will be with us too, fingers crossed.

I have finally had a hold of my latest Great Grandson, Braydon George, he is the most handsome baby and doing really well considering he was premature.

Don’t forget if you want any details of classes other than what is on the Class page just contact Sawmillers and we shall do all we can to help you.

Until next time

Happy Quilting

Well, the forecasters said it was on it’s way and it has arrived, Kevin has been out picking up the debris from around Sawmillers and Stonestead, what a mess, the Official Greeters Bailey and Poppy are very unimpressed and are cuddled up to each other.

I have had exciting news this week as my daughter Georgina and her fiance Ferry have set a date for their wedding, it will be April next year and is to be in the Napa Valley, California, they were thinking of how difficult it was going to be for me to share the day had it been in England, so with the help of Samantha  my daughter in Delaware we are all getting excited and relatively organised!

The class registrations are going very well so go through to the Class page and see what is available, some classes are almost at their limit but check with me in case I have had cancellations, don’t forget you get a 10% discount off the fabric for your class too, which I am sure will help.

The heat pump is on in Sawmillers so we are very cosy and warm, so if you want to venture out and get a fabric fix come in and see me and the Official Greeters, we have just received a lovely range of fabric as well as a childrens panel I shall be sending an email with more details too.

Until next time

Happy Quilting

Just to say a huge thank you to all of those who visited the Stonestead Outdoor Quilt Festival on 5th February, guess what? You raised $1032.70 for the Te Omanga Hospice, what a great effort and our best so far.

So again thank you, and can you pass this onto anyone you may know who doesn’t receive this update, we shall be posting more quilt pictures on the Stonestead blog very soon.

Until next time, Happy Quilting

Firstly, the results of the Outdoor Quilt Festival held on Sunday 5th February are listed on the Stonestead site http://stonestead.wordpress.com along with the first lot of pictures, there will be more as the weeks go by.

Sawmillers also has an event being held on Saturday 11th February at 7.00pm this is the Class Preview Evening, this gives you all an opportunity to come along and see the class samples and meet the tutors who will be teaching at Sawmillers throughout 2012, we have an extensive range of classes available so come along and see what is available, don’t forget to go through to the Classes page and see the samples as well, and if you can’t get to the evening come in and see Yvonne and she will help you.

Until next time, Happy Quilting

As I write this I can here the humming of sewing machines as the quilting is being completed and the bindings are going on the quilts that are going to be registered for the Outdoor Quilt Festival being held on Sunday 5th February, let us have the registration forms by 29th January and then you can bring the entries up for the 2nd February so there is still plenty of time.The forms can all be printed off at the Stonestead site http://stonestead.wordpress.com

The gold coin donations that are made for this festival all go to Te Omanga Hospice, nothing is taken out for working costs, so what goes in the Te Omanga boxes goes to Te Omanga and what a worthwhile cause that is, I have to say I  had little to do with Te Omanga in the past but that changed in 2011 when I had contact with them through friends whose families were there, what a wonderful job they do.

I have almost completed updating the class list for this year, so go through and see the new classes that are available, and come along to the Class Preview Evening on 11th February at 7.00pm, any way until next time.

Happy Quilting

I forgot to say that Bailey and Poppy the Official Greeters will be here as always!

Can you believe that Christmas is just 9 sleeps away and I expect you are all running around madly like me preparing for the holiday.

The Quilt Festival Registration Form and Challenge details are now available on the Stonestead blog

http://stonestead.wordpress.com

so print them off let us have your entries after the 12th January 2012.

We have had some new fabric in though and it is lovely, by Moda and is called Etchings and Pannier, so is part of the French General grouping. I have already cut a little for me to do hexagons over the holiday, you have to be prepared in case you have time on your hands!!

I am still making aprons, these would be great to make for gifts not just for Christmas but birthdays too.

Last night saw some  of the Wednesday and Thursday night ladies get together for a Christmas celebration, Helen organised this and we all had a great time with lots of laughing and hilarity, I have put the pictures below and I know there are a couple of girls I have missed out, so sorry but you were in mid mouthful!!! Maryke and Sue

Helen and Michelle

Moira, Annette, Feona, and Nina

Saskia at the head of the table

We have also had an end of year shared dinner for the Baltimore class, this was a great way to finish the course and we all enjoyed seeing the almost finished blocks, so if you want to join in next year register for the class  at the Class Preview Evening on Saturday 11th February.

The Official Greeters were trimmed for the long hot summer we are supposed to be having and at the moment look like Jack Russells, I keep saying to myself that there is only a week between a good and and a bad haircut!!

Finally before I finish this final blog for 2011 I have decided to tell you all about my own personal news, firstly my son James is now Dr James Matthews PhD in Bio Medicine having graduated on Tuesday, I was a very proud mother, James has worked tirelessly to attain this qualification and his godparents and myself were very thrilled to see him being presented with his PhD by the Chancellor of Victoria University.

My other news is that on the same day my daughter Georgina and her partner Ferry became engaged in London,  this was great news for all the family too, although I wasn’t able to give big hugs personally I sent them lots remotely! but  I have seen pictures of the ring ( isn’t technology great!) and now we all wait to hear details.

So this week has been great for me both from  Sawmillers and Matthews, and I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the friends of Sawmillers for your kind thoughts, flowers, cards, baking and telephone calls I received in September, I really appreciated everything and count myself very lucky to know such wonderful people.

Kevin, myself and the Official Greeters wish you all a wonderful holiday and New Year and we look forward to seeing you when Sawmillers re-opens  on Thursday 12th January at 10.00am, when we may received the scrumptious new fabric that we have ordered!

Until 2012, Happy Quilting

My apologies once more for not posting as regularly as I should, but I shall endeavour to be more consistent from now on.

This post is just to tell you that Sawmillers will be closed from Monday December 19th to Wednesday January 11th inclusive, so I shall be back here with the Official Greeters Bailey and Poppy on Thursday 12th January at 10.00am we shall be looking forward to hearing how you spent your Christmas and New Year.

For those who are looking forward to our big event for the year we are holding the 4th Annual Stonestead Outdoor Quilt Festival on Sunday 5th February 2012 10.00am – 4.00pm, all the details for the challenge and entries can be found on the dedicated blog

http://stonestead.wordpress.com

so go through and have a look we have an additional category this year too.

So until next time have a good week, only 29 sleeps to Christmas!

Happy Quilting

I really have been very remiss not posting for almost 2 months, the very successful Shop Hop  seemed to keep all the participating shops on their toes and it seems everyone really enjoyed the experience.

I think the majority of the visitors to Sawmillers will have realised that something was going on when there were relieving staff in here, unfortunately my husband passed away just 2 weeks ago after being married 41 years, so all the plans went awry, anyway thank you to all of you who sent cards, flowers and baking it was greatly appreciated, I was very lucky to have 7 out of 8 children come home from UK, USA and Australia, everyone has returned now and so the work begins.

On a lighter side we have new fabric arriving from USA, it has currently left Honolulu so shouldn’t be too long, trouble is I can’t remember what it is, so it will be very exciting.

So until next time, Happy Quilting.

A quick posting today to ensure you know that all the quilts in the Shop Hop are now available to see at http://quiltersfriend.wordpress.com

Go through and have a look and make your choice and then contact us at Sawmillers.

Until next time, Happy Quilting

It is a bit sharp here at Te Marua, but the sun is shining and I think the day could be lovely, mind you the official greeters and I are toasty warm here in Sawmillers, the heat pump is making us feel very comfortable and I know Kevin has all the heating going in the Tea House as well and the oven is on ready to make his famous scones.

Just a short posting today,  I have uploaded another quilt that is part of the shop hop, this one is from Quilt Works, go through to the Quilters Friend blog to see it.

Don’t you just love spots? Here is a range of spots and solids from Maywood, great quality and ideal choice to give your project a zing!

This is ‘Fresh Off The Farm’ by Red Rooster, can be used in your country quilt or wall hanging and for children’s quilts too.

Last but not least this is another pattern from one of my favourite designers Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs, these scottie dogs are a delight and very easy to make.

So until next time, Happy Quilting