Exciting News and an Update on The Schoolhouse!
Time to catch up with my Schoolhouse AND some exciting news I have to share about a new addition to my Sewing Room!
First of all I need to fess-up about something and I’m just going to apologise right at the start as some of my dear readers are going to feel very disappointed with this update.
Back at the start of this year, when the world was a very different place, I announced big news about selling myBearpaw store and studio and launching a teaching studio at the new Stitch Gathering Schoolhouse that my hubby, Tiny House Scotland, had built for me at Shangri la Farm. You can refresh your memory here.
But then this crazy year properly began and all plans had to be changed. After a shaky start I did manage to sell myBearpaw in the summer and have learnt to adapt from real life teaching and physical retreats to doing everything virtually and online.
Meanwhile, as there was no possiblity of teaching in the Schoolhouse for the foreseeable future (as a Tiny House was never going to work with social distancing!) I have been moving my sewing room there and setting up a packing area for new website ventures such as the Folk Dance Quilt Kit.
I just love working in this gorgeous environment! I have a lovely hand sewing area on the blue sofa and I’ve even been known to nod off there as the Schoolhouse is so warm and cosy 😉
It is still a work in progress as I am waiting for shelves and peg rails from Jonathan and an office chair and trolley from Ikea (I will update again when it is completely finished), but basically I have decided to be very selfish and keep it JUST FOR ME!
Because there was no way to set it up for both real students and doing online classes/virtual workshops we abandoned the plans I’d had to make it a proper classroom, and the more I thought about it the more I realised that I had changed my mind about what I wanted to do. After 9 years of teaching pretty much full time I have been really enjoying a break and I am not sure I want to go back to it, at least not for a while.
I do think that the pandemic has made us all reavaluate our lives and maybe change direction. But I am sorry for all my students who were looking forward to coming here one day for a class.
But now onto my really exciting news!
This change of plan got me thinking about other changes I wanted to make. I have always been happy to quilt on my domestic Janome 9400 sewing machine and most of you will know that I’ve been able to achieve great FMQ results this way. Of course I have thought about a long arm quilting machine in the past but I didn’t have the spare room or the spare money to properly consider it.
But now I have an empty sewing room in my house and even more importantly Handi Quilter have just launched the Moxie!
This NEW machine is the latest longarm in the Handi Quilter family and is perfect for quilters wanting to move to the next step in their Quilting journey. With a 15″ freearm, choice of frame that fits you best, bobbinwinder and accessories, and all for under £5000! That may seem a lot to those of you not familiar with the cost of these machines, but it’s around half the price of existing models. And guess what – with one of these you will never have to baste a quilt again!!
I had been given a heads-up about this forthcoming machine by the wonderful people at Pinhole Quilting, who are the distributors for Handi Quilter in UK and Europe. It sounded exactly what I was looking for so I have pre-ordered one already! And what’s more I am going to be working with them as a Moxie Mentor.
As a Moxie Mentor I will be able to pass on all my quilting knowledge to anyone who buys this machine. I am planning inspirational projects and tutorials, plus I will be available to offer specific advice on the Moxie should you need it. I love the idea of guiding a whole team of Quilters to get the most from their Moxie!
This new machine launched today (it’s so exciting!) and I’m expecting delivery late November/December (what a fabulous Christmas present!). If you want to know more about it then head over to my very own special page on the Pinhole Quilting website, they have a great pre-order special offer of 50% off accessories if you order before 31st December.
While you are their why not sign up for their newsletter for more info on the Moxie as it becomes available. You will see a box on the sign-up form asking for a Moxie Mentor Referral Code. If you enter my code JA102 you will get a big pack of thread and accessories worth over £100 if you go ahead and order a Moxie!
Check out this YouTube video that launches the new machine
And I want you to all to know from the start that I have no plans to set myself up as a professional long-arm quilter, I won’t be quilting for anyone but myself! I really am being selfish these days!
My plan is to make a lot more quilts, I have a huge stack of orphan blocks and class samples and WIP and I want to make a stack of quilts for charity and to sell. And then I am going to start to really explore creatively with more art quilts. Such exciting times ahead!
And I do hope you will all forgive me for this change in plans. Please feel free to vent your feelings below, I can take it!
Well done you. I think you will still share your knowledge through your books, online stuff and articles, so I don’t think we will miss out on all your skill. But what about stitch gathering? Good luck Jo x
Thank you Mags! I am going to leave the stitch gathering for next yeat as I think it will still be too hard to plan in 2021 but will definitely look to do it again in 2022.
As you say lockdown has been a fantastic opportunity to look at what is important in life.
Self care is not being selfish it’s about taking care of yourself and realising you have limits. As the saying goes you can’t drink from an empty cup. Good luck for your future.
I say go you!! What fab news! Certainly looking at finding out more about the Moxie…I’d love to get my WIPs and finished tops out of the way….
What a wonderful opportunity! Look forward to reading about it all and seeing your amazing creations. Will absolutely miss not being at your workshops but so pleased for you! What a fabulous workspace you have created for yourself. Well done and happy quilting! X
Good for you! Life is ever changing and evolving and we should all try to do more of what we love. Exciting times. 😀
I’m not gonna lie, sooooo disappointed not to have the chance to participate in future workshops but……..you should do what brings you joy, and what a beautiful location and set up you have to work in. You’ve worked so hard to get to this point and I wish you all the best. Also, I echo Mags, what news of the stitch gathering x
I think what you are planning to do is wonderful Jo. You clearly haven’t taken this decision lightly but if we don’t change, we don’t grow! Good for you!! you are reaching so many more people now, sharing your knowledge and inspiring so many more folk than you could ever hope to do previously. You aren’t being selfish at all!
I wish you all the fun, joy and love in the world 💗💗💗💗
Sounds very exciting. Cant wait to see what comes out of your custom built space! Have fun.
Congratulations Jo, on having so many wonderful new adventures ahead. x
Brilliant news, we’ll all be getting to hear & see what your busy with in the Schoolhouse. Looks like a wonderful setting. Moxie away! (As in Chocks away! but that’s maybe just my humour ) 😆
Love your decision! You should follow your ❤️. I would like to have a long arm myself.
BR from Lena in Krylbo
Looks like this was meant to be for you Jo and who could blame you, what a lovley work setting and opportunity. It’s your time now and your disciples will still be able to tap into your inspiring world.
Enjoy and have fun following your heart💞
As they say this life is not a rehearsal. Well done you to be so brave to start a new journey. Sounds really exciting. Very disappointed that we won’t get to enjoy a class at your Tiny Schoolhouse.
Good luck.
Good luck with your new venture Jo sounds exiting.
Good for you Jo, do what makes you happy, you will still be there sharing your new experiences.
I have recently bought a new to me quilting frame to avoid the dreaded crawling about the floor to baste. Baby steps so far but every day a school day.
All the best.x
Well done Jo, make time for yourself now!
Even t hough you will be sorely missed as a tutor I’m sure 😘