Teacher Review–Kim Bradley

Our next talented teacher is Kim Bradley from Sydney.

Kim is passionate about piecing, quilting and machine embroidery and produces her own designs for quilting, embroidery and appliqué. She is also one of the pioneers of colouring and embellishing quilts. At Festival, Kim will be teaching four classes, all are reasonably priced at just over fifty dollars and go for two hours each, you can see specific details here.  There is something for all skill levels in Kim’s classes.
Kim’s first class is “McTavishing your way” where you will learn how to put your own spin on this popular style of background fill.  You can also join Kim for Feathermology and be inspired to create perfect feathers and to go beyond feathers by adding different motifs to the spine.  Kim’s next class, Beyond pantos, will help you take the leap into custom quilting. Learn how to confidently use rulers and templates as a base for your own stunning designs.
Lastly, you can get out of that design rut and join Kim in her Banish the Boredom class for a fun inspirational session to get your quilting groove back with freehand fills.
Now for some eye candy……………
 

 

Kim has her own website, kimbradleycreations.com where you can see some of her lovely designs and learn more about her.

Web Based Business Promotion
We’ve extended the deadline for this promotion to September 15th,  if you’d like to take advantage of this great opportunity contact Sharon for further details.   All you need to do is provide 500 business cards and pay $110 (GST inc) and we will do the rest.  If you are concerned about the cost of your business cards Vista Print have a fantastic promotion at the moment.  They are offering 250 cards for $2.00, 500 cards for $5.00 plus postage – now that’s cheap!  Click here to go to their “Super Offer”.

Alzheimer’s Benefit Online Quilt Auction
The Online Quilt Auction will go “live” on the website on Saturday, 1st September; please show your support, by bidding, to those that have worked hard to produce such gorgeous quilts.  These quilts have then been donated to us to raise much needed funds for Alzheimer’s research.  Words cannot express the feelings that we’ve had handling these treasures and reading the memories attached to them – it has truly been a humbling experience! For further information on each quilt just click on the image of the quilt and you will be directed to another screen where you can read the story pertaining to that particular quilt including details of who made it.  Please read the Terms and Conditions  carefully to ensure you understand how the auction will be run.
Bid on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Until next time,
Sharon & Tracey

Bernina Australia Gala Evening

Wow, it just keeps getting better!! We are thrilled that Bernina Australia along with their SA Dealer, Otto & Penny’s Sewing Centre have been able to assist us to present both the Ricky Tims Seminar and the Bernina Gala Dinner.  Please join us for a fabulous night featuring a concert by Ricky Tims & join us in raising much needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Association Benefit Quilt Auction of our top 10 quilts!

An EXTRA special bonus of a Commemorative Bernina 215 sewing machine will be given away on Saturday 29th at our dinner.

Isn’t she a beauty!! RRP$1199-

This is THE AMQF Commemorative Bernina 215 machine.

The key features of this machine are:

• Thread cutter
• LCD screen
• LED Sewing Light
• Needle stop and motor speed
• Quick Reverse button
• Two spool holders
• Direct stitch selection
• Stitch length and width
• Threader
• Thread tension

We know that everyone that attends the Gala evening will be thoroughly entertained, enjoy the meal & join in with the quilt auction. We have many wonderful prizes to give away throughout this evening and you'll have a very high chance of leaving with more goodies!
Tickets are available here & a very limited number will still be available on Saturday at Festival - see us at Reception.
******************************

Otto & Penny’s Sewing Centre will also be available in our Vendor Mall where they have told me they will have some NEW products to show everyone. Please go along & say thanks for all their support when you visit to see these…
The new Bernina 7 series machines….
BERNINA Introduces Its New 7 Series Line With Patent-Pending BERNINA 9 Hook Technology
The 7 Series offers many features to make sewing easier. Each machine is equipped with a colour touch screen for intuitive navigation and features the integrated BERNINA Dual Feed which tames hard-to-manage and fine fabrics. The 7 Series also includes an extended free-arm area with ten inches of space to the right of the needle and a practical extension table with ample space to hold your larger sewing projects. Additional features include a presser foot that automatically lowers and lifts. It will even cut the thread for you at the end of your seam or colour change. All machines in the 7 Series are also equipped with a semi-automatic needle threader, one-step buttonhole sewing program, slide speed control and a built-in Sewing Consultant that is ready to assist you at anytime. Additionally, the 7 Series provides an exclusive level of stitch control. Whether altering stitch length, stitch width or needle positions, or even creating combinations, the 7 Series will remember the stitch details for you.
Also the Bernina Quilt Frame and their Quilt Motion Software will be on display at Festival.

The BERNINA Quilt Frame will help you manage your most
expansive of projects with its expandable size that fits quilts of any
size, from crib to king!
More to come soon…
Tracey & Sharon

Handi Quilter–Major Sponsor & Vendor!

I’d like to introduce you to our Major Sponsor again – Handi Quilter! Not only have they been terrific to deal with & very generous with providing support & machines, but they are just as EXCITED as we are to be involved with Festival.

I asked them to provide some information about what they will be showing all of us at Festival in their booth & now we are really excited to let you know that:-

On the HQ stand they are launching!!!!!:-

· NEW 24” Fusion Package – machine, frame and Pro-Stitcher

· New Table overlay for the Sweet sixteen

· New TRUSTITCH – stitch regulator for the Sweet sixteen

There will also be an educator from Salt Lake City, Utah Handi Quilter Head Office coming over to help on the HQ stand & to meet all the Aussie & Kiwi HQ owners & potential owners!

******************************************

AMQ Festival is thrilled to have Meander Publishing sponsor our main stage area for 2012. This is where the AMQA Quilt awards ceremony will be held on Friday evening at 7.15pm for all to congratulate the entrants & winners for their winning entries in the 2012 AMQA Quilt show. The MQU Main Stage will also be the place to learn all about new products & new skills!

Saturday

10.30am    Patchwork on Parade - Quilt Parade 

Looking for a new project?  Join Patchwork on Parade for a trunk show of the many quilts they have available in kit form.  You will be sure to find something to inspire you!

11.00    Tulis Textiles - Curved Pieces

The Simple Curve: A simple shape but the wonderful ways we can use it are endless. See the easiest Double Wedding Ring ever.

11.30    Patchwork on Parade - Hunter’s Star Ruler

You will be shown how to whip up a Hunter’s Star Block in a quick and easy way.  Eliminating all that fussy cutting, saving so much time.  Step by step instructions to take you through the process of strip piecing and trimming down the Hunter’s Star block

12    Patchwork on Parade -Quilt Totes

Sharon will demonstrate these great totes showing how professional it looks to hand your completed quilts back to customers.  If you’re giving a quilt as a gift it’s a great way to package it.  You’ll be shown how easy it is to fold up to a King Size Quilt and pop it in the tote!

12.30pm    HandiQuilter -Marking the Quilt   

Show & tell with samples of:- Quilting dot to dot, GT Quilting Paper, Powder Pounce, Sticky Dot Stamper, Preview Paper, Pantographs, Groovy Boards & Frixion Pens with Narelle Morris.

1.00    Always Quilting -Thread Matters   

Choosing the thread for a project is just as important as choosing the fabric. Learn how to select the right thread to achieve the best results in your next project.  

1.30    Constantine Quilts - Amazing Swags!

See how amazingly easy it is to create swag designs in the borders of any sized quilt!

2.00    HandiQuilter - Useful Accessories for Sweet 16  

Showing & demonstrating use of:- horizontal spoolpin, open toe hopping foot, TruStitch, Table overlay, and side extension tables.

Sunday

10.30am    Patchwork on Parade - The Binding Tool

Come and see the innovative binding tool demonstrated.  This amazing ruler eliminates binding stress.

11.00    Tulis Textiles - Curved Pieces 

The Simple Curve: A simple shape but the wonderful ways we can use it are endless. See the easiest Double Wedding Ring ever.

11.30    Patchwork on Parade - Quilt Totes   

Sharon will demonstrate these great totes showing how professional it looks to hand your completed quilts back to customers.  If you’re giving a quilt as a gift it’s a great way to package it.  You’ll be shown how easy it is to fold up to a King Size Quilt and pop it in the tote!

12    Patchwork on Parade - Double Hourglass Tutorial 

Join quilt designer Shontelle Stanyer to learn how to make a double hourglass quilt the easy way!

12.30pm    HandiQuilter -Handi Tools & Tips for Longarm Quilting

Show & Tell with samples of:- Micro quilting, rulers, setting frame at correct height. Level the frame, super leader, command hooks, zinger & scissors, Centring tape longarm & tool tray.

1.00    Always Quilting -Thread Matters   

Choosing the thread for a project is just as important as choosing the fabric. Learn how to select the right thread to achieve the best results in your next project.

1.30    Constantine Quilts - Amazing Swags!   

See how amazingly easy it is to create swag designs in the borders of any sized quilt!

2.00    Patchwork on Parade - Keep it Simple   

Join Shontelle Stanyer as she demonstrates several rulers and techniques that will simplify your piecing and help make use of all of your precious scraps!

Monday

10.30am    Handi Quilter - Easy Quilting with Rulers 

Ruler Base for Avante & Fusion. Versa tool, half circles, set circles, swag set, mini circles, clamshells, straight edge & mini show & tell with samples presented by Helen Godden

11.00    Tulis Textiles - Curved Pieces   

The Simple Curve: A simple shape but the wonderful ways we can use it are endless. See the easiest Double Wedding Ring ever. 

11.30    Patchwork on Parade - Tube Quilt 

Come and learn how to make a lovely quilt from jelly rolls using the innovative “tube” method.

12    Patchwork on Parade -Quilt Totes   

Sharon will demonstrate these great totes showing how professional it looks to hand your completed quilts back to customers.  If you’re giving a quilt as a gift it’s a great way to package it.  You’ll be shown how easy it is to fold up to a King Size Quilt and pop it in the tote!   

1.00    Always Quilting -Thread Matters

Choosing the thread for a project is just as important as choosing the fabric. Learn how to select the right thread to achieve the best results in your next project.  

1.30    Constantine Quilts - Stunning sashing/border designs using rulers

There are many rulers that can be used to create stunning slashing/border designs. Come & be inspired!

There are still time slots available for demonstrations on the MQU Main Stage! This program is printed in the show program & we will also have a schedule on display each day next to the MQU Main Stage. Please download & complete the application form if you wish to take advantage of this marketing opportunity for a product on your booth or one that you would like to promote to those attending.

Over the next 5 weeks we will be highlighting more of our teachers as well as our fantastic group of vendors! So stay tuned to hear about special releases & new products that will be offered at Festival!

Until next time

Tracey & Sharon

New classes on offer!

We are thrilled to be able to offer two extra classes from Renae Haddadin to fully take advantage of her inspirational ideas & tools. It has been suggested that some of us may have already purchased Renae’s Mini Ray, but not really learnt how to use it to the best advantage? There are so many ways to use this tool in both designing piecing patterns to create unique & delightful creations and also for designing quilting patterns - that I’m sure this will be a popular class.

#285 Renae Haddadin - Circular Patterns

Sunday 30th September, 2012  11-1pm

Learn to use Renae’s MiniRay to draft both quilting patterns and patchwork patterns. Renae will demonstrate how the tool works and how to use it in many ways. We will draft stars, flying geese, serpentine feathers and more. If you like centre medallion quilts you will love the ideas this class will give you! This class is a 2 hour demonstration with the MiniRay.

Handout fee of $5- is included in registration fee.

Cost: $65-

Next is a class that many should probably do?? I would be reasonably confident that I could challenge you all with my huge stash of stencils & then admit that I haven’t really used all that many of them (but I just had to have them!!!)

#284 Renae Haddadin - Working with Stencils

Sunday 30th September, 2012  6.30-8.30pm

Are you frustrated when stencils are beautiful but don’t fit in the area you want to use them? Do you wish all your stencils were continuous line? Learn simple tricks to modify any stencil for use with a longarm quilting machine. Renae will demonstrate ways to use them in borders so that they work out perfectly. You will love using stencils after learning just a few helpful tricks. This class is a 2 hour demonstration on a longarm machine.

2hr demo/lecture

Handout fee of $5- included

Cost: $65-

With only 37 days until Festival commences we are confident that EVERYONE is going to have an amazing time of seeing new gadgets, making new friends and learning so much from our very talented pool of teachers. Don’t delay in booking your classes as there are quite a few with very limited numbers left in them.

Congratulations to those teachers who have filled their classes!

Stay tuned for more teacher reviews and also we will be commencing our vendor reviews this week so that you will all be aware of some special NEW releases & products that they will have available in their booths at Festival just for us! This is SOOOO exciting!

Until next time

Tracey & Sharon

Teacher Review–Lee Vause

Zentangling seems to be a mystery to many of us as it is quite a new application using age old doodles and putting a gorgeous modern twist on them!

Today our teacher in the spotlight is Lee Vause.

Lee definitely has the creative gene which seems to be prolific in her family and has been passed from her mother, to her and then to her daughters. 

Lee is a CZT or to the uninitiated a Certified Zentangle Teacher and she is passionate about this art form.  Lee will be teaching three classes at Festival and if you’ve ever wanted to learn a new skill that has myriad applications then this is for you!  Lee’s classes are as follows;

Maximising Inbuilt Machine Decorative Stitches for Quilting Purposes

In this “hand-on” class you will learn how to use those decorative stitches on your sewing machine, that many of us have never used, and make a small quilt.  How cool is that?

Basic Zentangle

Here you will learn the basics of this addictive and repetitive art form focussing on fun and relaxation through drawing.  All that is required in this class is pen, paper and a little imagination.  This will take you back to those times spent daydreaming and doodling – such fun!

Zentangle with Fabric & Thread

This is the next step in your Zentangle journey where you will transform the skills you have learnt in pen and paper onto fabric.  Voila!! A masterpiece is born.

If you are interested in finding out more about Lee’s classes click here.  There is also more information about Lee, her classes and products on her website, Threads and Tangles.

Kim Bradley will be out next Teacher in the Spotlight and until then my nose will be firmly attached to the grindstone

Cheers, Sharon

Anita Ellis

I can’t believe how close we are to our wonderful festival!  With that in mind it’s time to introduce you to another teacher.  Meet Anita Ellis.

Anita is a passionate quilter who is active  in her local quilting community in Victoria.  At festival Anita will be teaching a whopping 7 classes!  We are so lucky to have her with us sharing her knowledge and talent with our students.

Anita’s classes will be chock-full of wonderful ideas and practical advice with a focus on giving beginners the confidence to get started, but I really think that even more experienced quilters will have something to learn from Anita.  All 7 classes run for 2 hours and cost $53 each and include a handout.  

I have picked out a few classes to share with you today, but to be honest – they all sound wonderful so head on over to our website and have a look at everything she has on offer by clicking here. 

First up is  Basic Feathers for Anyone.  I just love feathers,  I think they lend an elegance to a quilt that is second to none.  In this class Anita will show you how to draw feathers and how to stitch them out.  She will teach you how to break a quilt top down and  how to best place the feathers to enhance the quilt top.  Here are some examples of Anita’s lovely feather work. 

Feathers

Feathers coupled with great background fills

Next we have Tricky Quilts.  In this class Anita will show you innovative ways to “fix the unfixable”.  We have all had quilts brought in that have wavy borders, fullness, split seams and a plethora of other problems.  Bring your own tricky quilts to this class and get some hands on advice on how to overcome their problems and turn them into a “screaming success”.

Another of Anita’s classes is Simple Background Designs.   Be inspired by Anita as she shows you how to get over that mental stumbling block of choosing a design to enhance appliqué, stitcheries and really use those open spaces in pieced blocks.

Background quilting free handed on an applique quilt.

Detail

Lastly, I want to share with you Anita’s Simple Custom Quilting class.  This class is a great place to grow the confidence to take the leap from pantographs to custom quilting.  Anita will teach you some simple designs and techniques to really make the quilt come to life.  Learn how to take the designs you create from the drawing board to the quilt-top.

Custom quilting enhancing block design

You can see more examples of Anita’s wonderful work on her blog.  And don’t forget to visit the AMQF website for more information about Anita’s classes – there is sure to be something there to inspire you!

More of Anita's gorgeous quilting

Until next time,

Shontelle.

Jeannie Balemi

I'm back!  And this time I'd like to tell you all about the fantastic class Jeannie Balemi is offering at Festival.

Jeannie is a talented quilter from New Zealand who has amazing sea views from her studio.  Talk about inspiration!  She has over 16 years experience as a teacher and students travel to her studio every week to learn from this wonderful tutor.

Join Jeannie for her Forest Tapestry class where you will create the amazing wall hanging pictured below.  In the class you will learn Jeannie's simplified applique technique to create the stunning fern fronds and then machine quilt the wall hanging with fern motifs.  This is a 6hr, hands on class and Pfaff machines will be provided for you, or you can bring your own tagged and tested machine.  You can learn more about the class here.

The kit for the wall hanging is included in the class fee and includes the precut fused applique pieces plus all the fabric and thread for the entire project.  It sounds like a great way to spend the day to me!