Renae Haddadin

Renae is an astoundingly talented machine quilter and she is self-taught. After sending out her third quilt to a longarm professional, she decided they didn't share the same vision and that she'd better learn how to do it herself. So that's what she did. She decided on a machine and spent many hours practicing. After only nine months, her quilts began winning awards. After using the infamous Mr Google we found this wonderful smilebox presentation that was made by 'The Quilt Show' when they featured Renae on Episode 703.

Episode 703 – Tools of the Trade (Rachel Clark/Renae Haddadin) where you'll also learn about Renae's Amazing Ray Tool. If you are a member of The Quilt Show then you will be able to re-watch this episode!

Renae loves to quilt! ...and loves to share that passion with others. She has developed tools and techniques for piecing and quilting that have been used by many to create beautiful quilts. It thrills her to see students succeed and grow in their own quilting and piecing.
Renae is always looking for new ways to challenge herself personally and professionally and believes that her physical, emotional and spiritual condition have a great impact on her quilting. Many of her quilts are entered in competitions and she has won numerous quilting awards...but her biggest thrill isn't winning. She considers the best part of quilting exploring the unlimited possibilities that the art affords and the friends that she has made along the way.

Renae's love of quilting is evident as she teaches. Her classes are designed to teach techniques that work for all machine quilters, longarm, midarm and sit-down quilters can all benefit from many of her techniques. Though much of her familiar work is seen in shows, the same techniques are effective in everyday quilting. Running a successful quilting business requires that she stays on top of all the new quilting products available. She strives to make each class unique, offering different ideas and techniques in each one.
In many of her classes she offers class notes. All notes are multiple pages in color with drawing and photos.....a great value to take away what you have learned.

Classes being offered at AMQ Festival are:

#106 Hip to Be Square

Saggy baggy quilt backs? Quilts turning out warped, with dog-eared corners? Do you constantly struggle with tucks on the backs of your quilts? If so, this is the class for you!

# 107 Show Off! – Background Fillers

Learn numerous background fillers using your frame quilting machine that will show off your motifs. Watch Renae stitch her favourites, while discussing the best places to use them.

# 109 On Your MARK, Get Set….GO!

If you wonder how and when to use which marking tools, this is the class for you! There are so many marking choices available, but how can you use each method most effectively? Renae demonstrates numerous options and variations, some marking much detail and some marking very little

# 211 Feather Your Nest

Have you been a chicken about trying freehand feathers with your frame quilting machine? In this class, you will learn many feather variations and which application works best in different situations. Perhaps you have heard the terminology: formal feathers, longarm feathers, funky feathers, and feathers over the top. We will dissect them all so that you will gain the confidence to fly with your newfound feather freedom!

# 208 Throw Them a Curve or Play It Straight

Learn elegant ways to use your frame quilting machine to stitch curved crosshatching or traditional crosshatching in any shape or area. Renae will share tips to travel between lines without starting and stopping, while accentuating the motifs. She will demonstrate tools that are helpful and tips that work to make curved crosshatching fast and simple.

# 310 Circles and Rays are in the Bag

Using Renae's Miniray, this class is designed to teach the concept of using radiating lines and circles as the basis of your design. You will learn methods of drafting that will require nothing more than drawing some circles, dividing them into wedges, and connecting some points (remember dot-to-dots?).

All of these quilts have been designed using Renae’s Mini Rays or Amazing Ray tools…

 

This last class is an 8 hr class with Pfaff domestic machines supplied for your use along with Mini rays to use to learn how to design. The Mini Rays will be available to purchase in the vendor mall, if desired. Renae’s method of curved piecing is simple but very accurate and will release your creativity to achieve some amazing results.

You can learn more at her website

Until next time when Shontelle will be back with another review!

Tracey

Less Than Four Months To Go!

I can’t believe how quickly the time is whizzing by and how much there is still to do before AMQF opens.  It’s a very exciting and busy time and we’re working hard to bring you a festival to remember!

Alzheimers Benefit Quilt Challenge

The entries were due to close for the Quilt Challenge on 30th June but this has been extended until Friday 13th July as we are still receiving requests for kits and we’d like to raise as much money as possible for this very worthwhile charity.  So, if you have been “sitting on the fence” about this challenge now is the time to get your kit and take part.  There are fantastic prizes for the first 3 placegetters and the Challenge Quilts must be judged by mid-July so that travel/accommodation arrangements can be made for the lucky winners.

To enter click here.

First Prize

Bursary to attend AMQF 2012 which includes;

• Attendee Package,
• Registration to Ricky Tims full day Seminar,
• Ticket to Banquet dinner
• Up to 8 hrs of classes
• Fabric pack - value $750.00

Second Prize

Bursary to attend AMQF 2012 which includes;

• Attendee package,
• Ticket to Banquet dinner
• Up to 8 hrs of classes
• Fabric pack - value $500.00

Third Prize

• AMQF 2012 registration bag
• 4hrs of classes
• Fabric pack – value $250.00

Bernina Australia Gala Dinner

With the generous support of proud sponsor, Bernina Australia, we are thrilled to present the Gala Dinner with entertainment by Ricky Tims. This spectacular evening, featuring the Alzheimer's Quilt Challenge Auction, fabulous door prizes and a sumptuous three course dinner, promises to be a night to remember.

Why not get a group of friends together, book a table and enjoy a wonderful evening out?  By booking a table of 10 everyone on your table will be entered into a major prize draw. Tickets are still available at $120 per person.

 

Handi Quilter News

Handi Quilter, our major sponsor, have increased the number of  Sweet Sixteen machines in their classroom to 16!!  Student numbers for these classes have now been increased so you may find a vacancy in some of the classes – get in quick!

Registering for the classes where the Sweet 16’s will be used is a great way of working with the machine and getting a really good feel of how it performs.  A new feature, Trustitch, has just been released which is an advanced way to sit-down and free motion quilt with stitch regulation.

Please visit www.handiquilter.com to learn more about this new add-on feature that is now available to order.

Room Sharing

Over the past few weeks we’ve had a few enquiries about room sharing.  If you would like to share a room can you please send an email and we will do our best to set this up.  Please provide as much relevant information as possible eg, arrival/departure dates, smoker/non smoker etc.

 

Web Based Business Promotion

We have been working on a fantastic web based business promotion and we are now offering this to those that run an online business.  Any businesses that offer products and/or services to the patchwork and quilting industry are eligible to take part in this promotion.

The cost is very low and set at $110.00 (inc GST) and all you will need to do is provide 500 Business Cards.  These business cards will then be put into a Business Card Folder and included with all the Registration and Festival Packages and also made available, to the public, from the Merchandise Desk during Festival.  In addition to this a link to your website will be placed on the AMQF website and will remain active until 1st October 2013.

This is an excellent advertising opportunity directed at a target market for an extremely low cost and by being presented in a lovely folder it keeps all that information in one place at your fingertips.

If you would like to be involved in this initiative please email Sharon and the relevant information will be sent out to you via return email.

You’ve Registered Now What?

Once you have registered for your classes you should have printed out the list of classes that you have registered for.  Unless you are contacted by us you can safely assume that everything has gone according to plan.  The registrations come through to us and are then manually entered into a database which is checked against the online registration database.

Even though your list of classes will be included in your Registration/Festival Package it is strongly recommended that you bring all your paperwork with you.

If you haven’t registered at this stage we would suggest that it’s a good idea to complete this process asap to avoid disappointment should your preferred classes be unavailable.

Countdown

A Countdown timer has just been added to the blog and I’ve now scared myself witless!!!!

See you sooner than I’d thought

Sharon & Tracey