Farewell 2013............Hello 2014!

So, here it is! The last day of 2013!

 

This year has been a difficult one for all of us with the loss of Di Huck in February. Di WAS Patchwork & Quilting magazine. She was the driving force behind it. Although her influence has been sorely missed, life does go on and the magazine has continued to go from strength to strength.

By now many of you should have seen our new look January issue which came out just before Christmas.

 

 

The magazine has a new clean modern look but still has all your favourite articles and features. We are particularly pleased with how the projects are looking; giving you all the information you need to make a particular project on one double page spread.

 

Looking forward to 2014 we have a special celebration later in the year as the November issue will be our 250th issue! Lots of plans are afoot for exciting ways to mark this occasion.

 

A new year is traditionally a time to reassess our lives and to set ourselves resolutions. Quilting resolutions are much more interesting than losing weight, giving up smoking etc. For myself, this past year I have managed to be more productive in my quilty finishes, mainly because I have taught myself to machine quilt. For 2014 I think I would like to try and find the time to make more quilts for me............including finishing one I started over ten years ago!

So what are your New Year Quilting Resolutions? Leave a comment on this post and I'll see if I can find a prize in the offices for one lucky commenter. Closing date will be 12 noon Tuesday 7 January 2014.

 

So from all of us at P&Q, a very happy and peaceful New Year!

Joanna

All Change please!

Well not ALL change, at least not yet!

If you have picked up a copy of the December issue, you will have read that Judi is leaving the magazine so she can spend more time teaching and travelling.

The last couple of years have been quite difficult what with Di's illness and then her sad passing and Judi and I were thrown together at that point. And whilst we had both worked together on the magazine for a year or so, we had both tended to work via Di who had overseen the running of the magazine, so our paths didn't cross over much.

But the great thing was and has continued to be, that we made a great team. We have agreed on everything and have been in sync in every way, even when its a moan about something! And that has made running the magazine so much easier.

 

I will be sad not to be working with Judi on a regular basis but am pleased to tell you she will continue to be contributor to P&Q, hopefully a regular one......!

 

Emma Horrocks is our new assistant editor and will be taking over Judi's share of the magazine. I have to say, despite not working in the magazine industry before, she is an absolute natural and is going to be a fantastic asset to P&Q. We already have the makings of being a great team and I am going to enjoy working with her.

 

And so starts the next chapter in the life of P&Q!

 

 

Sad News............

Many of you may already have heard the sad news we received last week, that Di had lost her fight with cancer. She passed away peacefully last Tuesday.

 

Judi and I, her family and everyone at Traplet Publications have been very touched by the messages of condolence from you all. Di was a remarkable woman who, along with Elaine Hammond, started our magazine back in the 1980s. It was the first of its kind in the UK. This led to the creation of Quilts UK which is still one of the country’s best loved quilt shows. She also organised tours to quilt shows all over the world through her tour company P&Q Tours Ltd.
A lot of what stands for patchwork and quilting in the UK today, is thanks to Di.

 

Another of her achievements was setting up the Amy Emms Award, awarded each year at Quilts UK to someone for their ‘Services to Quilting’. Many unsung heroes as well as renowned quilters have received this award over the years.

 

The funeral is this Friday (8th March) in St Andrews Church, Evesbatch close to where Di lived. She touched so many people through our craft that it may be standing room only. The family have asked for family flowers only, but if anyone would like to make a donation instead of flowers these will be split between four charities: Friends of Tewkesbury Hospital, St Michael’s Hospice, The Quilters Guild and St Andrews Church.

Cheques should be sent to:

Hawcutt Funeral Directors

Hawcutt House

Bye Street

Ledbury

Herefordshire
HR8 2AA

 

Donations can be made specifically to one of the charities, in which case please make your cheque payable to the charity, otherwise make the cheque payable to Hawcutt Funeral Directors and they will apportion the donations between the four. All cheques should be sent to Hawcutts.

 

A Just Giving page is being set up in Di’s memory in favour of St. Michael’s Hospice. We’ll blog details of this as soon as it’s ready.

 

Judi and I will continue to carry on her work. These last few months we have made a great team putting the magazine together for you, scarily nearly always agreeing on everything and Judi will continue to run P&Q Tours.

 

Di Huck will be sorely missed.

 

 

Joanna and Judi