The Craft Mailbox Studio

We will be fully operational from Monday 29 June 2009 at our new studio premises.

Unit 4, 17-19 Green Street, Banksmeadow (Botany) NSW 2019

Sandra May.

For Google Map

Heading East along Wentworth Avenue, turn right into Page Street (at lights), take second left into Holloway Street, then first right into Green Street. There are visitor car parks in the complex. Unit 4 is on the right hand side, at the back of the complex.

Craft Therapy

We firmly believe in the benefits of 'craft as therapy'. Share your experience of this with us in writing and we will donate $10 per story to The Cancer Council. To discuss further with a member of our staff, simply call 1300 307 721.

This is Wendy's Story: At 51 years of age, following a divorce, then 2 years later a new marriage, I discovered a lump in my remaining breast which was diagnosed as another cancer. Then my husband lost his job, and we had to move to another city to find work. With all the turmoil I became depressed and defeated but was aware that I had to get out to meet people so I joined the local golf club, embroidery group and learned to play Bridge but was extremely fragile emotionally. My insecurity and fragility was noticed up by one of the women I had befriended at the golf club, and seeing that I was struggling with life, she invited me to her place on the spur of the moment to show me a really interesting quilting pattern she had just learned. I explained that I had never done any quilting but she insisted that was an even better reason to come on over and stay for lunch. She insisted that I just come empty handed as she had two sewing machines and plenty of scrap material in her 'stash' for me to practice with. That dear friend saved my life by introducing me to a mental therapy more valuable and effective than any of the anti-depression drugs on the market, and I will be forever grateful for her warmth, love and caring nature, and for the sheer joy I get with every minute spent quilting or with other quilters.
We were so touched to hear Wendy's journey and in speaking with her she told me how incredibly important Quilting has been for her self worth, self confidence and self esteem. I want to share with you this quote from Wendy: 'Every day is a new present to open'. We applaud you Wendy and may you continue to quilt and use your creativity as therapy. Sandra May

Book Review - The Lost Quilter

'Master quilter Sylvia Bergstrom Compson treasures an antique quilt called by three names - Birds in the Air, after its pattern; the Runaway Quilt, after the woman who sewed it; and the Elm Creek Quilt, after the place to which its maker longed to return. That quilter was Joanna, a fugitive slave who traveled by the Underground Railroad to reach safe haven in 1859 at Elm Creek Farm.'
This is book fourteen in the excellent Elm Creek Quilts series - the story told here answers a number of questions raised in preceding stories. The thread of the quilt mystery has woven its way through several other titles, and the characters have spent much time in speculating on what may have happened to Joanna.
Being a Jennifer Chiaverini novel, it is of course told with great skill, warmth, compassion, excitement and emotion. For those of us without a great depth of knowledge of slavery in America, it is an awakening. The story flows seamlessly from the current day to the decades surrounding the Civil War and back again in a fashion that is fabulously detailed, emotionally entwining and heartwarmingly satisfying; this is yet another really good read!

Tool Tip - The Secret to Perfect Points

Discover how you can create perfect points in your patchwork every time.
Fork Pins are a fine double pronged pin in a U shape. The prongs can be moved in and out to place them in fabric the desired distance apart. This gives a double anchor point rather than the normal single anchor of one pin and it stops fabric swivelling around so it holds more securely – great for slippery fabrics but it’s best use is to get perfect points in patchwork where seams butt up against each other.
For example, joining a 2 patch to another 2 patch to create a 4 patch. Press seams in opposite directions. Place fabrics face to face and butt the seams up to each other. Put a fork pin in to hold - 1 prong either side of the stitch line – this also holds down the ¼” seams. Sew the line of stitching and the butted seams won’t move at all as you stitch across resulting in perfect points. A customer also tells me she uses fork pins to manipulate small bits of fabric because the pin holds at 2 points rather than 1 giving more control.

Tool Tip - Quilt and Tear Paper

There is no need to trace or use markers. Quilt and Tear
comes on a roll, 12in wide x 20yds long. Tear
off enough to cover your pattern. Photocopy
your original pattern, adjusting the size as
required for your project & copy on a very dark
setting. 1 photocopy is good for 5-6 transfers.
Place Quilt and Tear on top of photocopied
pattern then press with a hot, dry iron on a
firm surface. The heat activates the toner and
transfers your design onto the Quilt & Tear
paper. Let cool then carefully peel the Quilt &
Tear paper from the photocopy.
Pin your Quilt and Tear paper with the design to
your quilt using Flowerhead pins (these allow
you to quilt without being knocked off course).
Sew through the paper and the 3 layers of your
quilt following the lines on the paper. Once
finished, tear away the paper and you are left
with a beautifully quilted quilt, unmarked!