Australian Machine Quilting Festival 2014 Round Up

Wow! What an event! Of course there was plenty of work done but there was fun along the way too. Now after the event there is even more work to be done. This was the first time we have traded at this event and at a venue we haven't dealt with before.  I am always nervous how things are going to work out. Setup went smoothly besides some silly woman (me) who forgot to put the ladder in when she loaded the car. Whoops but I always forget something and we always manage. My LSH (long suffering husband) won't let me live that down for a few events. 

Is that a sneak peak of one of the Batik Rainbow Sampler blocks on the wall? 

There was a full six days of classes and three and bit days of trading in the vendors hall. I did manage to sit in on a Squedge ruler demo from Joy's Craftworx and yes I did purchase one with a book. I have some ideas using batik fabrics I want to play with. I will share them when I get to it. That is why I got the book because it may be a few months before I get to play with it. If you saw my last post you would know I got to meet Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Co who was here teaching. I wish I had done one of her classes but it just wasn't possible.  I have promised myself I will do a class next time.

Of course, at an event like this, you must have a quilt show featuring Machine Quilting. I just love looking at all the work that went into creating these quilts. Even my LSH had a favourite.

My LSH favourite one. 
 Some of the quilts on display in the Quilt show.

Also at this event we launched our Aurifil Batik Bright Thread Club (starting December) which is now available to sign up for in the web shop. Here is the link to the post on the club.

October has started with a bang. With our Batik Rainbow Fabric Club launched on the 1st and now our Aurifil Thread Club launched, 2015 is shaping up to be a big year for us and to top things off I know there are some very exciting patterns using batik fabrics, more batik fabrics coming and some new tools I think as well.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Australian Machine Quilting Festival 2014

What a big day I had at AMQ Festival at the Adelaide Convention Centre.  There was a sneak peak for everyone Friday night which was something new to me. It made it a long day but it was an interesting experience. 

So today we were back for the first full day of trading and it was a full day of meeting up lots of people, including long-time customers from interstate and friends who have travelled a long way to attend and look who I got to meet. I am over the moon to be able to talk to Jenny Doan from Missouri Star Quilt Company and hear her story. It was very inspiring.

I don't know what could top this experience but we will see what tomorrow brings us. Hopefully I will get to see the rest of the quilts on display. I did have a look at the Pam Holland display, her work is just amazing. I also heard a lot of good things about her class from her students today. I might have to do a class or two next time.

I will share some more about this event in the next day or two.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Aurifil September"s Block of the Month

Here it is. All finished just in time and all caught up for a few days. I must start by saying this is my favourite block so far this year. 

This block really took my fancy from the first time I saw it and I can see this block enlarged and four blocks sewn together for a quilt. Just imagine it. Maybe one day I will make one along with all the other quilt ideas that pop in to my head. It won't be long before we are sewing all our blocks together to complete our quilts. 

Where has the year gone? October is knocking on the door (so to speak) and we are nearly halfway through Spring which means for us here in Australia Summer is just around the corner with Christmas. I better start on my Christmas presents. Oh Hang on a minute! I am waiting for the Christmas fabric to arrive. It should be here this week and will be available from us at Stand #12 at the Australian Machine Quilting Festival (AMQF) Adelaide, South Australia this long weekend or online at Cynthia's Ark hopefully by the end of the weekend, just depends how busy we are at the Festival.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

What is going on here!

I have been busy preparing for our big launch on the 1st October. It is a surprise so you will have to pop over to www.cynthiasark.com.au  and sign up for our newsletter to be one of the first people to learn what we are launching. It is limited offer.

Also I  have been doing lots of fabric cutting for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival which starts on the 1st October with classes then from the 3rd-6th everyone is welcome at the Adelaide Convention Centre, North Tce Adelaide South Australia. This is the first time we have done this event so it is exciting to see what happens. I am looking forward to setting up on Friday.

I did take Saturday morning off and we went to the Balaklava Show which is 35 km (about 20 miles) up the road from us.  It is an agricultural show, so lots of animals, sideshow alley full of rides and games, a range of displays, food and of course handicrafts of all sorts on show. You all know what I wanted to see the quilts but we had to look at every else first as the hall was closed for judging in the morning. I got there after an early lunch. There was lovely a display of cakes, home brew, vegetables, photos, knitting, quilting and so on. I love looking at the quilts and I was wondering about entering one of my quilts in to a competition just once for the experience. I am not much into competing so maybe that is why I haven't done it before. I decided to ask about how to enter. So I visited the show secretary to get the details and she took my details so when they send out the details for next year event I will receive them. This will give me some time to think about it a bit more and what to enter if I choose to take on this challenge. I didn't see any batik quilts in this year’s display so I think that will be my starting point. How you entered a quilt show? I would to hear your experience on entering quilts in a show. Was it easy or stressful?

Sorry there is no photos I forgot the camera and my phone isn't a smart phone.

Until next time

Keep stitching

Cynthia