Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilt Challenge

Today was the judging of the Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilt Challenge.  We have been overwhelmed by the incredible work that has gone into the quilts which have been so generously donated for our charity.

Our judge, Deb Treherne from Alzheimer’s SA, was equally impressed. Deb is the Dementia Educator, Leisure & Lifestyle and works extensively with dementia patients using art and craft as a stimulus.  She was very excited to be a part of the judging process.

I won’t keep waxing lyrically or hold you in suspense any longer.  It gives us great pleasure to announce the winners……

First place goes to Kathleen Stonehouse, Hampton, Victoria for her quilt,  “The Journey”. 

Second place goes to Denise Griffiths, Shellharbour, NSW for her quilt, “My Hero, My Dad”.

Third place goes to Lorraine Stone, Blakehurst, NSW for her quilt “Tranquility”.

 

The top 10 quilts in alphabetical order (after the top 3) are as follows;

Kathleen Stonehouse – The Journey

Denise Griffiths – My Hero, My Dad

Lorraine Stone – Tranquility

Rachelle Denneny – Roses are red, Violets are blue

Sue Elliott – My Quilting Memory Garden

Sandi Kelliher – Tumbling Memories

Kim Kennett-Tribe – Fiesta

Judy Nolan – Long Way Home

Joy Plug – Star of Bethlehem

Cindy Watkins – Grandma’s Garden

Thanks once again to everyone that participated in the Quilt Challenge and we look forward to raising further funds at the auction which will take place at the Bernina Gala Dinner.  Special thanks to Tim Meyer, Lloyd Curzon and Bill Day, Dayview Textiles for their fabulous support of this initiative!

We’ll be back later in the week to profile another couple of teachers.

Cheers,

Sharon & Tracey

Sharon Parkinson

Hello again!  I’m back again to do another teacher profile, this time it’s Sharon Parkinson. 

Since Sharon has been machine quilting she has gained a reputation as a fun, accessible teacher who is unstintingly generous with her knowledge.  She has taught in Australia and overseas and always gets rave reviews for her classes. 

At Festival Sharon is offering her popular “Basics for Beginners and Beyond” class which is a 4.5 hour class absolutely jammed packed with information.   Sharon has travelled extensively and studied with many quilting masters to learn all she can about the art of quilting and is eager to  share that knowledge with you.  The class will cover tips and tricks for everything during the quilting process;  from when you load a quilt right through to delivering it back to your customer.   You can read more about the class here (insert link)

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Sharon’s class will also cover many gorgeous background fills, including McTavishing and the use of Sharon’s favourite rulers.  

In the interest of full disclosure I have to tell you that Sharon is my Mum,  but believe me when I say that her class is awesome and you really don’t want to miss it! 

Teacher Review–Michele Turner

Many of you may know Michele through her column that she has written for Quilter’s Companion over the past year or so.  Michele is an outstanding quilter and has won awards both Nationally and Internationally and now adds the title of Master Quilter to her bow.
AMQF are fortunate to have Michele teaching for us again this year, her classes in 2010 were a great success receiving fantastic feedback from her students.
Michele is teaching two classes this year, the first Custom Quilting the Smart Way is where you will learn to quilt smarter by working efficiently and still make a profit if you are quilting for customers.  This class will help you come up with designs to enhance your quilt using easy marking techniques and methods.  The second, Wholecloth Quilt Design will teach you the fundamentals of design so that you can make your own wholecloth.  Michele will guide you through the process of choosing motifs and using complimentary background fillers.  You will also learn how to mark out your wholecloth and the method Michele uses for her trapunto work.  This class is for all quilters – longarm, domestic and hand quilting!
Feast your eyes on Michele’s gorgeous quilting candy!!

Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilt Challenge

The extended date for the Quilt Challenge of 13th July has now passed, however, if you still wish to send your quilt for the auction you are more than welcome.  If it arrives here before judging day we will allow it to be judged, otherwise it will be hung at Festival to enable people to bid for it which will enable us to raise as much money as possible for Alzheimer’s.
Change of Teacher
Due to family matters, Jo Northcott, has had to withdraw from teaching at Festival and we wish her all the best in the coming months!
We are very fortunate, and grateful, to have Kim Bradley step in at this stage and provide us with her own classes in Jo’s timeslots plus one extra on Saturday.  Kim’s bio and classes can be seen here.  We’re sure the classes that Kim has offered will make a wonderful addition to your experience at “Festival”.
If you are one of the students that have enrolled in Jo’s classes you should have received a separate email.  You have the option of withdrawing or we can transfer you to Kim’s class/s.  We apologise sincerely for the inconvenience that this may have caused.
Until next time,
Sharon & Tracey

Bernina Australia Ricky Tims Seminar

Friday 28th September at the Adelaide convention centre promises  to be a full day of inspiration, learning & entertainment by the world renowned Ricky Tims.

Join Ricky Tims as he shares some of his most sought after quilting secrets in a day-long event that will leave you amazed and wanting more.  Enjoy entertaining and informative live lecture and video demonstrations as Ricky shares his favourite tips, techniques and a ton of fantastic quilting information.  No sewing and no supplies but you'll take away the equivalent of at least six hands-on classes and  you'll leave with knowledge, inspiration, and a spiral-bound notebook full of detailed instructions to start those projects when you get home.  Topics include demystifying machine quilting, quick and easy bindings, his award-winning Rhapsody technique and Caveman, Convergence, and Kaleidoscope techniques.  It's the class everyone will be talking about and you don't want to miss it.

Cost: $175- includes the following:

Book Now

• 6 hrs with Ricky
• 56 page full colour spiral bound notebook
• Morning tea - endless tea/coffee/expresso & biscuits
• Lunch - Sandwiches and baguettes with assorted fillings, Fresh whole fruit, Orange juice and mineral/spring water. Continually refreshed until lunch break ends.
• Afternoon tea - endless tea/coffee/expresso & biscuits.
• Entry into Vendor Mall & Quilt show with Award presentations & Official opening on Friday evening 6.30-9pm

Program for the day:

Registration desk will be open from 7.30am to collect your seminar bags! There are no other classes scheduled for this day to enable everyone to attend this wonderful seminar.

8.30 - 10am
Session 1 with Ricky

10am - 10.45am
Morning tea break

10.45 - 12.15pm
Session 2 with Ricky

12.15 - 1.45pm
Lunch break

1.45-3.15pm
Session 3 with Ricky

3.15 - 4pm
Afternoon tea break

4 - 5.30pm
Session 4 with Ricky

Don't forget your notebook & camera!!

Ricky will have time during the breaks to chat to attendees & will also have a range of his products available to purchase. He has asked for some volunteers during these times to assist in selling his products. Two will be needed for each break. Please let  our volunteer coordinator know if you are keen to do this on Friday. Ricky will reward each volunteer on the day, so don’t delay to get in first!

After the seminar finishes you can visit our Vendor Mall to shop until 9pm and see the amazing quilts in the AMQA Quilt Show.The  award presentations will be held on the Machine Quilting Unlimited Main Stage commencing at 7.15pm

On Saturday Ricky will be in the vendor mall & will be available to chat or sign books, whilst also perusing our wonderful Quilt show & vendors.

Bernina Australia Gala Evening Sat 29th

Gala Dinner featuring Ricky Tims: A Quilter & his Music

Book Now

Dinner commences at 7pm for an outstanding sit down 3 course dinner, beverage package, tea & coffee

followed by Ricky Tims

Join award-winning musician, quilter, and story-teller extraordinaire, Ricky Tims, for an evening of music, laughter and inspiration that will keep you spellbound and laughing.   Ricky took his first piano lesson at the age of 3 and continued his musical profession until quilting came along, lighting a creative fire that allowed him to combine both his passion for music and his passion for quilting into one very unique career.  Spend an evening with him as he plays his favourite and most recent compositions with visual display, and listen as he shares what inspires and motivates him in his work and life today.  It’s a perfect evening of music, wisdom and humour that will amuse quilters and non-quilters alike.

Followed by our

Alzheimer’s Benefit Quilt Challenge Top TEN Auction!

Join us in an exciting auction and have the chance to own one of the top ten entries in our Alzheimer’s benefit quilt challenge.

All proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s Australia.

Alzheimer’s Australia SA is a society committed to reducing the impact of dementia.

Ricky Tims Merchandise stand

Amazing prize draws throughout the night

We look forward to seeing you all at Festival in September! There are still tickets available for both Ricky Tims events.

Until next time…

Tracey & Sharon

Vicki Jenkin

Hi everyone,

Today I’m back to talk about Vicki Jenkin, an outstanding home grown talent.  As Vicki had 14 years of experience quilting on a domestic machine before she bought an A1 longarm in 2010, she has a wealth of knowledge to share with domestic and longarm machine quilters. 

Vicki’s award winning work is nothing short of amazing and at Festival she will be taking two demonstration classes that will be well worth attending.

The first class, Let’s Do Circle Work,  is suitable for beginners and more advanced quilters and showcases the use of circle templates.  Vicki’s students will learn how to create gorgeous border designs, continuous curves, elegant curved cross-hatching and more with the templates.

Feathers and Curved Cross-hatching

 In Vicki’s second class, A Flock of Freehand Feathers, she will be demonstrating many different types of feathers that can be stitched out with little or no prior marking.  Although Vicki’s techniques will be demonstrated on an A1 longarm machine, with her many years experience of quilting on a domestic machine she is full of advice for all quilters.

If you love the elegance that curved cross-hatching and feathers give a quilt then Vicki’s classes are a “must do” at Festival.