Wednesday 3 October 2012

Australian Machine Quilting Festival....

Wow, what a week !!!
I went with Jan and Clare to Adelaide for the Australian Machine Quilting Festival. The first day we went to a Ricky Tims seminar. He is a quilter and musician and a very funny man. It was a huge day and I learn lots about his techniques.
 
 
All the crazy quilters at the Ricky Tims seminar...

Ricky's Caveman style quilt...

His beautiful Rhapsody quilt... I love this...
 
Day 2 we started the classes...oh so many classes!!!
 
Jan and I....Oh yes, we look really happy here. It is our first class. You should have seen us at the end of the day with our bloodshot eyes... 

Some designing I did in class...

Sharon Parkinson's class. She had tonnes of helpful tips...
 
There were tutors from Australia and the US. I did four classes on the first day, three on the second day and two on the third. The end of each day was a huge blur....
I met so many fantastic people and some very talented quilters. My 2 favourite tutors were Michelle Turner and Vicki Jenkin. Both local girls with loads of talent. I got to spend a bit of time with them both out of the class. I was very chuffed that they both knew who little old me was. It made my day.
 
Besides the classes there was a vendor mall and quilt show. I spent a little to much at the shops and the quilts were amazing...
 
I love this quilt. I have always wanted to make one similar to this...

This is a snippet of the Best of Show quilt. All done on a domestic machine by Rachel Denneny. It is a queen size quilt with the tiniest stitching...
 
For 5 days I didn't go out of a 100 square meter radius. On the last morning we had a bit of time to walk through town. Adelaide is a beautiful city.... there is loads of inspiration for quilts everywhere.
 
Tessellated Floors...
 
 
Beautifully patterned ceiling...
 
 

The architecture is quite German...
 
In a little arcade there was this button shop. Absolutely chocked full of the most amazing buttons.

 
 
Thanks to Jan and Clare for being great roomies and the 2 year countdown is on til next market.
 
Back to reality and the studio...
 
Happy quilting 
Leanne xo