Glorious weather forecast for Festival!

Only one more day left for me to get organised up here on Yorke Peninsula. The infamous ‘trailer’ is still not finished but is promised by lunchtime tomorrow so we can pack it…

Hopefully I can take photos of it when it is ready to pack!

Here is the weather forecast for Mawson Lakes! Couldn’t ask for better I don’t think. There are beautiful walking tracks, lovely cafes overlooking the water to fill in your time if you are not shopping or doing classes.

and the Mawson Lakes Hotel which we have booked out & have our Banquet Dinner! There are still seats available for this if you have not already booked.

Not long now…

Tracey & Sharon

Appointments for Electrical Tagging

I have had quite a few queries about the equipment tagging and have this information to share. The electrician will be at Mawson Lakes from 10.30am to 4.00pm on Friday 1st October. If you wish to have your equipment tagged, and it MUST be tagged to use at AMQF, please email sharon@amqfestival.com.au If you can't make it during these times you will need to make your own arrangements to get your equipment tagged. This is for ALL electrical equipment, including extension cords and it is something that is non negotiable!

Entry to quilt show & vendor mall

If you have partners or friends that are coming to festival and have not registered for classes, then please let them know that the most economical way to do this is by purchasing a ‘pass’ for $15 that will allow entry all four days of festival as many times as you like.

Class requirements lists

If you go to the online registration page you can still click on the class you registered for to go to the teacher page where all the class descriptions & requirement lists are. Please ensure you have all that you need to ensure an enjoyable & fulfilling time in your classes.

See you soon!

Sharon & Tracey

Electrical Equipment Must Be Tagged!

Blog posts may now become very disjointed as we think of topics that need to be addressed. All electrical equipment must be tagged before it can be used at Festival. This is an accepted practice but for those than are unaware of it, this is a gentle reminder. We will have an electrician onsite during set times Thursday and Friday so if you'd like to take advantage of his service please contact sharon@amqfestival.com.au ASAP.. The charge for this service is $4.40 per machine and you pay the electrician direct.

General Information

In your Registration Bag/Attendee Package you will find an information sheet which has local essential services listed. Keep this handy, It also contains contact numbers if you require further information - please be respectful of times when calling these info numbers.

I'm too frightened to add a countdown number here, I just know it's too close and we still have so much to do:-)

See you soon,

Sharon & Tracey

We are back online!

What a day of headaches & computer woes…

The infamous Turkish Hacker has been annoying 1000’s of websites since 2006 and this time it was my turn! A huge learning curve, assistance from our host server and lots of time that I don’t have means that www.amqfestival.com.au is now back working for you to finish signing up for classes.

Online Registrations closing

Please note that online registrations will be extended to 6pm on Monday 20th September due to this problem on the website to allow for each & every registration to be printed & packed into their bags for you to collect on arrival. This is a mammoth job that needs to be done in the next week!

If you miss the deadline and still wish to attend "Festival" or register for extra classes, this can be done by coming to the Registration Desk where we will have forms available.

Banquet

The final numbers for the Banquet will be submitted on Monday 20th September so if you are thinking about attending now is the time to register to avoid disappointment.

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I would also like to mention & show my appreciation to the amazing Christine Abela from www.geckogully.com who has also spent a lot of time today assisting me in getting 2 of our websites back up & running as well. Christine  (also a sponsor of AMQ Festival) has done an amazing job of creating both Constantine Quilts & Patternpress (both sponsors of AMQ Festival) and has fixed all the hacked files in these two websites for us!

Now I have to go get my hair dyed from this grey before Festival as well! The Turkish Hacker is to be blamed vbg…

13 days to go…

Tracey & Sharon

Registrations closing!

Breaking news….

We are working  on it & going  greyer by  the second!! We have been hacked  by  a  Turkish hacker (?) so the website it  currently  unavailable. Please  be patient whilst we  sort  this out  & we will  let you know what is  happening as soon as we know.

We can hardly believe it!

The time since registrations opened in July has just flown with "Festival" only 2 weeks away today. The time has come to close them now, so that we can finalise everything and have your Registration Bags and Attendee Packages ready for collection on Friday 1st October.

Registrations will close at 6pm on Sunday 19th September and the ability to register online will be closed at this time. If you miss the deadline and still wish to attend "Festival" or register for extra classes, this can be done by coming to the Registration Desk where we will have forms available.

Congratulations to Rachelle Denneny

Rachelle has just received notification that she has won an award for her quilt entered at Houston - the organisers never reveal what you have won until the presentation ceremony but have told Rachelle she has won one of the top 7 awards. We are so happy for Rachelle and proud of her accomplishments, if you haven't booked into a class with Rachelle you only have 2 days to do it; her work is truly magnificent!

Quick Quarter Demos

Sue Van Riet of Sue's Sewing World has just announced she will be offering some fantastic Show Specials during "Festival". Check your Show Program for times if you're looking for a great deal on a new domestic sewing machine - you won't be disappointed.

Banquet

The final numbers for the Banquet will be submitted on Monday 20th September so if you are thinking about attending now is the time to register to avoid disappointment.

See you soon,

Sharon & Tracey

15 days to go..

I am writing to you  from the beautiful Mt Remarkable location in the mid north of South Australia. The event? My youngest DD’s  Yr 6 camp where I am in charge of the kitchen. This is my third Yr 6 camp as cook and will be my last, so I couldn’t not come again this year. It was also DD’s 12th birthday on the first day - yesterday, so the whole class celebrated with a big cake & fun activities last night.  Today I made the effort to go with them all to climb the mountain. 6.4 kms up/down means that I might not be able to walk very well later tonight & tomorrow! The weather turned bad but the views were magnificent!

You will  meet Sarah  on  the Constantine Quilts booth at Festival!

I’ve had some correspondence with one of our most experienced  quilters here in Australia who is also one of our two judges this year for the AMQA quilt show. She has offered this advice to share with everyone…

Dear Tracey,  

I was speaking to a beginner Longarm Quilter last night and discovered that she had only chosen beginner classes. 

As quilters of various abilities I thought all should be looking at attending classes which are the next step up from where they consider  themselves to be.  Even if your skills are not up to the more advanced techniques, attending classes that are more advanced can give direction to where the quilter would like to be and arm them with the techniques that can get them there.    This Festival is an opportunity for the quilter to grow and advance but more importantly it is an opportunity to invest in themselves and their businesses.

Susan Campbell, Rowdy  Flat  Quilting

How true this is!!

Thank  you Susan for sharing  this…

I’ve also had a phone call today (whilst climbing the mountain vbg) from a student getting excited  about coming to Festival.  I am sharing this as probably most would have the same question?

She was  wanting a  hard copy of the AMQ Festival Information  Book to have on hand with all the info. However, we are  printing  a huge number of Show Programs that will have a list with descriptions of all quilts entered into the AMQA Show 2010,  a list of  teachers & their classes, advertising, sponsor lists, vendors list & much more.

These will be in your registration bags plus they are available to the general public as they purchase their entry tickets.

Until next  time – which will be really soon now!

Tracey & Sharon

A Give-away for everyone!

I have just had a note from John Nielsen, our wonderful digitising teacher from New Zealand…

Dear Tracey & Sharon

I can't believe that it's only three weeks until we will all gather for the first AMQF in Adelaide!

Of course I am really looking forward to be part of your Quilt Festival, meeting lots of new quilters - and to see all your talented work.

As I lived 10 years in Christchurch I am also looking forward to do a bit of sight seeing in Adelaide and shall stay for some extra days - where I hope to get around and see as much as possible.

I am sure I have mentioned this already in my class description, but here is a reminder anyway!

It would be good if "my" students could bring along a USB stick - as I plan to copy and give away designs we make in class - or if there is any special requests.  Students can also bring photos or scans of shapes or design they wish to draw/trace.

As an IQ-man myself I shall bring my tablet, and if any of my students want to bring theirs too, that's fine as well - and we can check how well our designs transfer to IQ.

I have attached a *pdf file with some designs I have made in Art and Stitch as well as in Pre-Design Studio.  I have converted these to all "computer quilt formats" please feel free to download them all for sharing.  These are not "super-duper professional" made, but I think still quite acceptable - and I have used most with great success!

I am saying this - as I do not consider myself a "professional digitizer" but certainly with Art and Stitch it does get very easy for everyone to make your own designs.

Furthermore - if any of "my" students have any questions or requests please let them know they are quite welcome to email me direct.

*Notes re files:

Hibiscus is a True Font conversion to stitch file.  Ironwork is of an old Church door. Aust. Rabbit panto still needs some work re spacing, but might be OK if you flip one row and off set it!  The unit for the circular panto can as a panto be off-set etc and works well in 1 inch strips too - enjoy

Kind regards

John Nielsen

Quiltfairies at Baylys Beach, NZ

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REMINDER!

To everyone that has registered… if you wish to be able to purchase wholesale from those that offer this then you MUST advise Sharon of your current ABN so that we can provide easy identification to those vendors involved. This must be done prior to September 20th.

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Class requirements lists

It is your responsibility to read the class descriptions of those classes you have signed up for to ensure that you have any requirements with you. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us or the teacher involved for clarification. Most teachers have a link on their information page to their website for you to contact them if you need.

Please bring a notepad & pen to ALL classes.

Until next time…

Tracey & Sharon

Countdown to Festival – less than 3 Wks to go!

Domestic Machines are available to borrow…

Brother Sewing Machines in conjunction with Sue’s Sewing World, are providing sewing machines for Festival. So if you are sitting on the fence about doing a hands on class that requires a domestic machine then please don’t hesitate to contact us to arrange to have one of these wonderful machines available for you to use.

The classes that require you to have a machine are:

219
Introduction to Free Motion Quilting with Rachelle Denneny on DSM.
DSM-Hands on

320
Free Motion Quilting-Beyond the Basics with Rachelle Denneny. CB
DSM-Hands on

335
Fun With Inktense with Helen Stubbings. All-DSM Hands on

421
Trapunto by Machine with Rachelle Denneny. CB-DSM Hands On

453
Journal Cover with Sue van Riet

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The Gammill Statler get together is at the Mawson Lakes Hotel on Saturday night the 2nd of October.

Starts at 6.30 to 7.00.

Please RSVP By September 24th and number of people attending.

Reply to Libby at goldys53@yahoo.com

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We are thrilled to welcome Wonderfil Specialty Threads, Canada as a SILVER SPONSOR. Please ensure you show your appreciation by visiting them in the vendor mall over Festival.

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We also welcome Janome Australia educator to Festival - Julie Sallai.

She will be demonstrating the new Janome Horizon – A Quilter’s Dream on the Quick Quarters Spotlight Demonstrations stage in the Endeavour Centre where the quilt show & vendor mall are located.  This wil be everyday at 1.30pm

You can see this machine up close at the Country Chix booth in the vendor mall.

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We have planned some great Quick Quarter demonstrations but there is still room for more. If you have a product to share & promote then please download the application form & return it ASAP if you want to be included in the Show Program! We go to print this week so this would be a priority!

Festival is looking like the place to be! We now have quite a few groups organising get togethers at various times. If you would like this information to go out in our newsletter then please email me your details & it can be done!

Don’t forget you can download the AMQ Festival Information book & share it with your friends that are not online.

Until next time…

Tracey & Sharon

Eye Candy to see…

I’ve been given some wonderful photos from Penny Roberts of her quilts to show you all! If you visit her teacher page you will be able to view a slideshow of photos of her 3D threader and what you can achieve with it. Here is a small sample…

Thread Dimensions, Adding Texture to Quilting

There is more to quilting than just patterns! Learn how you can creatively quilt with multiple threads on Gammill, APQS, A-1 and more! Make 3D Textures of dense outlining, fluffy soft fuzz, and loopies! How about Red Work on your longarm? Thrill your customers by learning how to blend color and add depth using multiple threads on Edge to Edge and Bread and Butter quilts!.

BONUS for attendees!!

We have negotiated with Sue van Riet of Sue’s Sewing World that her class to make a Journal Cover, that was just announced this week, is now only $50- for a 4 hour hands on session with new Brother Sewing Machines to use. These machines will be available at a fantastic price after the show if you happen to fall in love with them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statler Owners invitation

Attention to all Gammill and Statler Gammill owners, we are trying to organise a get together on Saturday night of the festival.

We are looking at a dinner at a convenient venue.We need numbers, and any suggestions as to where to have it, or any other format you may wish. This a great opportunity to get to know each other and to learn more.Please email me  and as soon as possible as time is running out .

See you at the festival

Libby Goldsworthy

AMQA Members Get Together

PLEASE JOIN US FOR BREAKFAST

SUNDAY 3RD OCTOBER 7.30AM

The Committee Members would like to extend an invitation to all AMQA Members that will be attending the AMQ Festival to meet for breakfast at the Mawson Lakes Hotel Sunday 3rd October @ 7.30am. This is a great opportunity to meet us & other members from all over Australia for an informal get together. A buffet style breakfast is available at your own cost.

RSVP: 20th September 2010

Terry Elverd

AMQA President

E-mail: president@amqa.com.au

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We trust everyone has their travel & accommodation plans all made? We are so looking forward to seeing & meeting everyone at Festival, but there is still lots to do of course!

Don’t forget you can download the AMQ Festival Information book & share it with your friends that are not online.

Until next time…

Tracey & Sharon