Richard from S Nutt Sewing Machines in Birmingham runs charity marathon!

Make a Wish is a charity that helps to create magical wishes to children and young people with life threatening illnesses.
Richard from S Nutt Sewing Machines, also runs and teaches at Sutton Schools of Tae Kwon-do. They are running a marathon on Saturday 24th September 2pm - 6pm at Bishop Walsh School, in support of Make a Wish Charity.
So why not pop over to the website and offer them support.

Good luck from Janome to all the runners!

****************UPDATE*******************

Richard and all the team raised a fantastic £7067.47!!!! Below you can see Jane handing over the cheque!

This is now paying to send a little three year old boy to Florida.

Congratulations to everyone who supported such a good cause!
For more information, check out http://www.suttontkd.co.uk/ and http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/

Dionne Swift @ Festival of Quilts 2011

During the Festival of Quilts back in August Dionne Swift was running Mark Marking Workshops using the Janome embellisher FM725. Dionne has sent me a few photographs to share with you and a few words...
"The lovely ladies of the Making you Mark workshop created experimental surfaces using Janome 725 embellishers at the Festival of Quilts Workshop Academy. They admitted to being slightly out of their comfort zones at first, but soon got into their stride and the machines were buzzing away around the room!For many this was their first try using an embellisher & others had had a machine at home put didn’t realise its full potential.It was a great afternoon, rounded off my a flurry of applause...blush blush!

...I was in your embellisher class and truly loved it - many thanks Carol"


Dionne Swift runs regular workshops from her studio just outside of Huddersfield, and can be seen exhibiting and running short workshops at many of the sewing shows around the UK. For more information, check out her website, www.dionneswift.co.uk or why not follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Janome launch Horizon Memory Craft 12000 in Orlando!

On Saturday 3rd September, the new Janome Horizon Memory Craft 12000 was launched at the Janome Institute at The World Marriot Resort in Orlando, Florida. Hundreds of Janome dealers from around the globe had been invited to see the unveiling of this fantastic new machine, and none of them were disappointed with what they saw! From the UK we took a selection of our best stockists, including Couling Sewing Machines, Cresswell Sewing Machines, Exeter Sewing Centre, Hobkirks, Sew Creative, Sew Devine, Sewing Machines Direct / SM Sewing Machines and Woking Sewing Centre. The Janome Institute 2011 took over the conference centre at the World Marriot Resort, and hosted numerous workshops for dealers to learn more about Janome products, from technical training, machine training, embroidery design software, accessories and overlockers, to lectures on Sales and Marketing and working with social media.....

.... and of course, the new Horizon Memory Craft 12000! Our new top of line machine is stunning...huge 11" sewing arm, 9mm wide stitches and big embroidery hoops! The machine is launched to the public on the 1st October, and to see the Horizon Memory Craft first in the UK, come and visited our stand at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace 6th -9th October.... and prepare to be impressed!!! To see more about the new features, check out it's very own website www.HorizonMemoryCraft12000.com

Anne White, our Janome UK Educator, taught some creative classes during the Institute, including Circular Sewing Kit, using the Circular Attachment and the Bias Binding Foot, and also Janome Banner using some Janome Applique techniques.

Sham from SM Sewing Machines / Sewing Machines Direct, and Ian from Sew Devine, really enjoyed their time in Florida, and can be seen here enjoying one of many Janome lectures.
Jim, from Woking Sewing Centre and Graham from Cresswell Sewing Machines, had a wonderful few days in Orlando, and can be seen here having a look around the Janome Exhibition.... .....before heading off to another Service Course, this time overlockers!It's not all work during the Janome Institute for our stockists, Janome UK hosted a fabulous evening just for the UK dealers to get together and discuss the new machine... as well as enjoy a few glasses of wine! Above, we can see (from left to right) Ruth Cox, Janome Regional Sales Manager, Pam and Lisa from Sew Creative, Anne White, Janome UK Educator, David and Janet from Exeter Sewing Centre, and Carol and Stephanie from Couling Sewing Machines.

And lastly, a photograph of Anne and I during the lauch evening of the new Horizon Memory Craft 12000. We are all smailes at the thought of our new machines waiting for us when we get back to the UK! And with that note, I need to sign off and get back to my 12000.... lots of gorgous samples to make for the UK launch at Alexandra Palce in a few weeks time!

For more information, check out the following links,
on the new Horizon Memory Craft 12000
Janome Sewing Machines and to find a local stockist.
Couling Sewing Machines in Lincoln
Cresswell Sewing Machines, Mansfield Rd, Nottingham. NG5 6BH
Exeter Sewing Centre in Exeter
Hobkirks in Blackburn and Bury
Sew Creative in Cambridge
Sew Devine in Reading
Sewing Machines Direct / SM Sewing Machines in Wrexham and London
Woking Sewing Centre in Surry

Heirloom Quilt made on Janome Horizon and MC11000SE

I'm sure many of you know it was The Festival of Quilts at the NEC last week... The biggest Quilt Show in Europe!
The Janome stand always has a wonderful range of samples on display, using various techniques and sewing machines from our range. Many are made by experts who specialise in their chosen field, from patchwork and quilting, felting, embroidery, (free machine and computer generated). Many are also made by our own Janome staff, who are dedicated sewers themselves. The samples are to inspire your own sewing projects and to suggest different ways to make the most from your Janome machines.
Last year, Pauline Ineson, created a huge amount of interest with her Heirloom Quilt, and I couldn't help myself, but I had to buy her book "How to Create an Heirloom Quilt".
So for Festival 2011, I decided to make an Heirloom Quilt inspired by Pauline's gorgeous work. The quilt in her book would have been way to large to have on display on the Janome stand, and to be honest, would have taken me too long to make! So, I used her book as inspiration to create a smaller lap quilt, using some of her ideas and my wonderful Janome Horizon... and a bit of help from my MC11000SE!
I took lots of photographs during the making of my quilt, so you can be inspired to try something similar yourself at home.
As I wanted an heirloom and vintage feel to my quilt, I made it using 100% silk in ivory and a very pale creamy beige, and embellished them with neutral threads of white, cream, and pale beige.

Firstly, to embroider the centre pieces for my crazy patchwork blocks. I used a selection of designs from the Janome White Work Embroidery Card, and embroidered ivory thread on ivory silk using my Janome MC11000SE.

I wanted the quilt to be blocked in a crazy patchwork style, but I wanted each piece to be highly embellished with decorative stitches, techniques, threads, ribbon and lace. This took quite a while!
Using the Border Guide Foot which is included with the Horizon, I did row upon row of decorative stitches from all of the Modes (different menu's of sticthes) on the Horizon, from Decorative, Heirloom, quilt, to Long and Play stitches. The Border Guide Foot helps to keep your rows of stitching straight, so it was perfect for this project!

Using ribbon and stitch no.59 and no.60 , gives a gorgeous ribbon slot effect.Look at all the rows of scrumptious stitches!! There is Twin Needle work, Wing Needle in there somewhere! If you have never used a Wing Needle, it looks like a normal needle with wings, and created holes in your fabric to create a Victorian Drawn Thread Work effect. Try with the stitches in your Heirloom Mode and see what you like!Using the Blind Hem Foot and moving the needle position over to the left, you can create neat and parallel pin tucks.
And, using the Border Guide Foot again to keep my lines straight and paraellel, I sewed the pin tucks in to different direction to create more interest.
Once all the pieces where embellished, they were then crazy patch worked around an embroidery design. I liked the idea of incorporating my initial into one of the patches... either H for Heidi or Horizon!
When using the crazy Patchwork techniques, each seam is embellished with more decorative stitches.Then sashing is added between the blocks and the patchwork part is done complete. The Crazy Patchwork panel is now tacked to a piece of cotton batting.

Using the Convertable Free Motion Foot on my Horizon, I free machine quilted on the sashing panels only. The height of this style foot can be altered to float on the surface of my quilt, ideal for projects where you have different thicknesses of fabric. (You can also buy this style foot for other Janome machines, have a look HERE for more details).
Using the Acufeed Ditch Foot, I stitched in the ditch with more decorative stitching.
The Janome Horizon has an 11" sewing area, making quilting projects so easy!
I then bound the edge of my quilt with silk bias binding using the Quilt Binder Set, which has been designed to allow for the thickness of wadding to pass through it.
And I'm finished just in time to pack my suitcase and head off to set up the stand for the show! I would love to hear your comments and stories if you have made your own heirloom quilt! Feel free to comment below.
To find out more about Janome Quilting Machines, have a look at website www.janome.co.uk
To see our machines at a sewing exhibition near you soon, check out this page.

Janome Horizon and Freestyle Quiling Frame

Freestyle Quilt frames love to use the Janome Horizon.
At the Festival of Quilts I had a little try of the frame, and it feels so light and easy to use! I thought I would take a short video so you can see it in action. For more little films on Janome machines, check out Heidi Loves Sewing Channel on You Tube.

For more information on the Janome Horizon have a look at our main website, and check out Freestyle Quilt Frames HERE.

Festival of Quilts 2011

Festival of Quilts @ NEC 11th - 14th August 2011

It's that time of year again, when everyone, who is anyone displays and exhibits at the biggest quilt show in Europe! And of course, Janome is here to help inspire your quilting projects, and find the best sewing machine for your quilting needs. The Janome Horizon continues to be the most popular long arm machine for quilters, and the little portable JP760 is ideal for patchwork and quilters to take to workshops.

Janome works with many patchwork and quilters, and we are proud to display experts work and wish to thank them for all their support, plus many samples made by the wonderful staff at Janome UK.
Exhibitions are the perfect place to see (almost) the full range of Janome machines, from entry level machines, computerised, specialist quilting machines, to automatic embroidery machines and design software, and not forgetting overlocks and coverstitch machines.


Janome sponsor the Contemporary Quilt Competition, and this gorgeous applique quilt won. This one was one of the quilts that caught my eye... all made from hand knitting and then patched together! Isn't it fabulous!
For more information on the Festival of Quilts and dates for next year, check out Twisted Threads website, and you can follow them on Facebook too.

Summer Specials @ Hobkirks!

Hobkirks, in Blackburn and Bury have taken delivery of new summer fabrics! "We have 90+ bolts of brand new now in!!! The complete tonal collection offers a full spectrum of colour to both beginners aswell as the seasoned quilter! 100% cotton guaranteed. Prints inspired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Call in for details and special offers!"

HUGE range of dressmaking patterns: (especially summer dresses because of the lovley
weather we're having!!)

They are also offering 10% OFF all needles including domestic and industrial until the end of July!!

Start ordering NOW to make use of this great discount!

Hobkirks have recently refurbished their 1st floor and now have a dedicated classroom which can host up to 12 students, with of course, Janome machines. Check out this LINK for details of their workshops.

For more information... check out their website www.hobkirks.co.uk