Computer woes and 14th birthday sale

Computer woes at present so newsletter will be a little late.

Hope to announce details of my 14th birthday sale which will start next week- ipad not ideal for that. 

There will be great specials with spot sales including fabric as cheap as $14.00.

Email newsletter

Apologies for the delay with my email newsletter, in fact January missed out altogether. 

I had hoped 2014 would be a better year, but it didn't start that way with our 3 yr old grandson experiencing a few more hurdles with his chemotherapy, and my husband becoming ill with pneumonia. 

I apologise to those people who came to the shop to find it closed at times,  when it was necessary for me to run  my husband to various dr appointments for this and that test. These appointments were made with no time to put a back up plan in action. 

I hope to get the next newsletter out by 3rd week in Feb. 

thank you for your understanding. 

Lynn 

Some changes to note

My newsletter should go out this coming weekend. It will again be a combined one for the months June and  July, due to some  more “grandparenting”, therefore there will be limited time to blog and do a newsletter. I will also be having a break in August, so please keep in touch via my blog in case there may be some changes in shop hours over the two weeks involved. More about the time and changes later this month, when my final decisions are made.

April/May newsletter

Li’l Bloke’s 163 View St Bendigo 3550

April- May newsletter....went out yesterday. If you did not receive it you are one of the 43 who bounced back ! You therefore need to email me so I can get the correct email address.

April was  definitely going to be late, but then I realised I needed to be in Melbourne late May/early June doing a couple of stints of Grandmotherly duties,so perhaps it was best to make this a double decker and combine the months of April and May. 

The reason I was going to be a little late being:

1.     I had to add many,many people to my customer list, although I am sure I misplaced a full page of names, so if you know someone who is not getting their newsletter please let me know.

2.     I also tried to get as many new things on the blog over the past month or so......in fact I managed to get 80 more designs on, 43 being from Cat and the Fiddle. I made an all out effort there,  as it is Cat and the Fiddle ( Gini Simpson) who I am featuring as my designer for this month.   Refer to my blog for all the information on Gini, and specials for newsletter recipients only. 
Next newsletter will be the end of June.

email: lynettehyland@gmail.com      Blog:lilblokes.blogspot.com

Contact: Ph/fax 03 5443 9195    
Overseas customers: 61 3 5443 9195

January 2011 newsletter

Li’l Bloke’s 
163 View St Bendigo 3550

Hours: Monday- by appointment, Tues- Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2, Sunday- closed

Contact: Ph/fax 03 5443 9195    
For overseas customers 61 3 5443 9195

email: lynettehyland@gmail.com        
Blog:lilblokes.blogspot.com - check it out:-

The most important part of this newsletter is at the end, so if you are not reading it all now, please jump to the end and read that part...hopefully it will appear in red.

 where did 2010 go ??????

Apologies: Due to another water event at the shop ( must be about the 8^th or 9^th in 10 years), all my Christmas holiday time was spent ( along with hubby Trev) shifting the loads of furniture and storage tubs in the back store rooms here, then there, then somewhere else ( as limited space meant  no room to turn around). Then great friend & helper Jean has spent countless hours with me sorting etc as we try to get everything back in its best position. Fortunately the only things damaged were countless drawings for future designs, and the carpet where the water had been stealthily & silently leaking in over time. Needless to say I start the year behind the 8 ball as they say...without having my 2^nd block of “Picnic Time” finished, and several patterns still on the drawing board. The good news is that my bronchitis (which has lasted for about 6 months) seems to have cleared away with the removal of the mouldy carpet. Thank you to all those who have made phone contact and commented on the huge improvement in my ability to talk normally.

New.. New.. New.. New.. New..

Vignette Issue 1 by Leanne Beasley :- contains the first block of her mystery quilt “Vignette in Stitches” ( over 8 issues) $17.95 per issue

“Where the Wind Blows by Rosalie Quinlan: fat ¼ packs of 15 pieces@ $70.40 – to be used in Vignette 2 (not quite in stock as yet)...so put in your order. - these fabrics are quite a departure from my usual stock. Very fresh and will suit the young at heart.

Some of you have been asking for, and I again have in stock, closure strips for small purses.

I also have some sew on magnetic closures for bags. Great if you decide after the bag is made that you really did need a closure on your bag.

Best Seller: A delightful red work book “Work and Play” has beautiful designs featuring both boys and girls at various activities. This retails @ $18.70

Wools wools wools: more beautiful wools and wool felts, and patterns to inspire.

Cosmo stranded threads- delicious multi colored threads- more in stock now and very popular

Delightful new doll patterns by Annie Smith. I hope to have these kitted up soon.

Workshops I currently hold local workshops on Wednesday evening which are suited mostly to locals. It’s “an anything goes” type workshop with the 6 participants most likely doing 6 different things. I am prepared to take workshops elsewhere. Please contact me if your group would like me to take one.

New Mystery: “Picnic Time For Bears”  Kit price reminder:- Australian price:-There will be 5 stages each priced at $68.95 (No charge for p&h) = $344.75 overall. Overseas price:- $62.70 per stage + p&h ($313.50 overall +p&h) Stage 2 should be next week.

Tip for this newsletter: Rotary Cut Fabric Strips  
For those who haven’t tried, or those who are worried about not doing things correctly.

Before you begin rotary cutting, you'll need to square up one end of the fabric, making its edge a 90-degree angle to the fold.

1. Fold the fabric along its length, selvages together. The fold should be straight, with no puckers although the selvages might not be perfectly aligned. If you are working on a small rotary mat, you may need to fold the fabric again, making it four layers deep. However, I recommend that “Beginning quilters” should stick to one fold, because each new fold makes inaccurate cuts more likely...that’s when dog legs come into the equation !!!
2. Place the fabric on your rotary mat with the fold near the bottom edge of the mat and the side to be squared on the left.
3. Place your ruler on the fabric, checking to make sure horizontal lines on your ruler are parallel to the fold.( and checking that your desired measurement e.g. 4&1/2” is aligned to the edge of the fabric.
4. Place your hand on your ruler to hold it firmly in place and roll a rotary cutter from bottom to top along the ruler's right edge i.e. away from you. Spread your fingers out to hold the ruler securely, but take care to keep them out of the path of the cutter. The fabric's cut edge should now be at a 90-degree angle to the folded edge.
5. Before you make further cuts, check to be sure that the left and bottom edges of the fabric align with vertical and horizontal markings on the ruler. If they do not, square up the end again before cutting more strips.

If you are left -handed, work from the opposite side of the fabric, placing your ruler in mirror-image positions.

My preferred cutter is the Olfa ergonomic cutter which has an automatic retractable blade. That is the blade is not exposed unless you have pressure on the handle. It also has a lock button on it which makes for safe carrying in your basket/bag as the blade won’t come out whilst in the lock position. This cutter can be used by left or right handers simply by switching the blade to the other side. When changing your blade lay out the pieces as you take them off, then you will be sure that it is assembled correctly.

Did you realise that with much cutting your blade becomes a little loose? Don’t forget to tighten the screw/nut occasionally.

If totally stressed out by beginning cutting, try making some projects with jelly rolls, layer cakes or 5” squares so that you can ease into cutting by cutting smaller pieces.

Tip 2.

Sometimes the new fusible web is more difficult to separate then the old vliesofix. Generally I can separate it easily by placing a little “dog ear” in one corner and it springs apart. It  gives more trouble if you re iron after noticing you haven’t fused it properly in the first place. If it is stubborn try this trick. Turn your cut out piece over and score it heavily with a quilting pin. It will then separate quite easily.

$10.00 gift voucher for newsletter recipients only. 

To see the details, email me requesting to be on my email list.

Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or discount.

Not redeemable for cash, sale items, BOMs,or lay-by payments.

Voucher must be presented in the shop, or emailed/faxed with your order.

Future emails: 1. Should you have a friend who you think might like to be on my mailing list, please feel free to forward this on, then if they  email me I will have their email address.

         2. If you do not wish to receive further emails please contact me also.

The important bit of this newsletter !!!!!

Tonight I got a call from the owners of my building. It was a desperate voice at the other end, after having a 20 minute storm in the town. You guessed it...the shop has had mud all through and fabric close to the floor has been ruined. The Malayan restaurant  ( within my building) has also been severely damaged. I am not sure what will be happening with Li’l Bloke‘s but will keep you posted..... Have just contacted my insurance company so will hopefully know soon what the outcome is.

The good news is, that the 2^nd stage of Picnic Time For Bears which is due to go out this coming week is all safe and sound. Just have to find somewhere to work !!

Cheers for now, Lynn

August newsletter

Li’l Bloke’s 163 View St Bendigo 3550

Hours: Monday- by appointment, Tues- Fri 10-5, Sat 10-2, Sunday- closed

Contact: Ph/fax 03 5443 9195 For overseas customers 61 3 5443 9195

email: lynettehyland@gmail.com Blog:lilblokes.blogspot.com

August 2010 Newsletter By the time you receive this email I will be on the Spirit Of Tasmania for a brief interlude... returning Friday. Shop will close at 3 from Tues-Thurs next week.

1. Hope Competition from my ad in Homepsun Magazine.

This competition involved people writing in for the chance to win a “Hope” doll designed by the talented Gini Simspon of Cat and the Fiddle Designs from the USA. The doll was beautifully made by Chris Laubsch who has made several of Gini’s doll designs for my shop. Thank you to all who entered. The winning entry is as follows: Congratulations Marg. Please email me your postal address so that I can send the doll to you.

I would like to win the “Hope Doll” to donate to our local hospital for fund raising. Our Cancer Centre in the Latrobe Valley is very pivotal to the area. The Latrobe Valley has a very high incident of Cancers in all forms, and it is very important for the Community to be able to raise this money for all the extras. Until we got the new hospital 4 years ago people had to travel to Melbourne and in many cases this was a hardship for many.

There is always Government funding for building works but so much more is needed for other things such as equipment etc. The main aim is the comfort of the patients. Some patients travel many miles to get to the hospital for their treatment, and times like this can be very hard, so it is imperative to make them as comfortable as possible. I myself am in this area of care as my Husband is suffering terminal liver cancer, and just living locally can sometimes be difficult. I am very passionate about what I can do to help and the Nurses on staff are all “angels” and wonderful carers.

Marg Dixon (Churchill)

2. Blog- check it out:- lilblokes.blogspot.com I hope to update this more regularly and to begin including the shop stock especially fabrics. It is currently just showing pattern designs (and many more need to be added). These include my own designs, Cat and the Fiddle, Annie Smith & Sweet Meadows Farm cloth doll designs. Please email me with particular requests as to what you want added first.

3. Shop stock....a little shop with everything patchwork !! patchwork tools, books, notions, braids & laces, and buttons, buttons, buttons. I stock many other designs including the best from Australia and overseas.

4. Workshops I currently hold local workshops on Wednesday evening which are suited mostly to locals. It’s “an anything goes” type workshop with the 6 participants most likely doing 6 different things. I am prepared to take workshops elsewhere. Please contact me if your group would like me to take one.

5. New Mystery: “Picnic Time For Bears”

Please find attached the first stage of my new Bear Mystery “Picnic Time For Bears”

The quilt will be at least a “queen size topper”. Stage 1 will be available from mid September.

Australian price:-There will be 5 stages each priced at $68.95 (No charge for p&h) = $344.75 overall.

Overseas price:- $62.70 per stage + p&h ($313.50 overall +p&h)

As always with my mysteries, the first notification is always the cheapest price. This is due to the fact that initial sketches/plans/patterns have been drawn up but the quilt could easily grow and evolve. As this is a mystery quilt a photo of the whole quilt cannot be provided at this stage.

People signing up now (by the end of September) will be locked into the above introductory price even though this will most likely rise. Price includes all materials for quilt top and binding including threads & buttons. Many parts of this quilt also contain a weaveline backing.

* Note: some of the buttons on the flowers will vary as I have used some antique buttons from Trev’s aunt’s button collection...and these cannot be replicated.

It is also advisable to get involved early to ensure fabrics in kits are identical to mine.

Stage 1 Size26 x 30 “...it’s a large block

6. Aussie designers: Amongst some of my stock are these favourite Aussie designers: Hatched and Patched, Lynette Anderson, Birdhouse, Don’t Look Now, Kerry Gillespie, Janelle Wind, Bronwyn Hayes, Natalie Ross, Wattlebee Designs, Country Keepsakes, Hugs ‘n’ Kisses, The Quilted Crow, Gail Pan, Rosalie Quinlan, Melly and Me, Leanne Beasley,Teddlywinks, Busy Fingers etc .

7. O’seas designers: Amongst my favourites are Sue Spargo, Renee Nannerman, Chitter Chatter designs, American Jane, Fig Tree Quilts, Blackbird Designs, Liberty Star,

8. Tip for this newsletter:

When using a light (in color or weight) background fabric, use weave line or whisper weft as a backing fabric. This assists with the stability, reduces fraying, and conceals the carry of threads when doing embroidery e.g. I have used it in the new mystery.

Weaveline is 100% cotton and currently retails $14.50 per metre.

Whisper weft is polyester and currently retails for $8.65 per metre.

9. Future emails:

a. Should you have a friend who you think might like to be on my mailing list, please feel free to forward this on, then if they email me I will have their email address.

b. If you do not wish to receive further emails please contact me also.

Although I have been doing mail order for almost 17 years, my little shop will celebrate 10 years in October. I will have prizes for my email customers !!!