Newsletter No.22

Editor’s Message

Hi Everyone,

I hope you have all had a good start to the year. I had a bit of a reality check a few weeks ago. My clothes dryer had a malfunction and could easily have burned down my house. It has led me to think about having a disaster plan. I have discussed this and have the full story of my dryer further down the newsletter.

The AMQA Show has been forefront in committee discussions for quite a while and we are really ramping up the action with entries due in July. You can enter the AMQA Show online and we would love to see lots of your quilts there. There are a total of eight categories, from edge-to-edge to wholecloth to machine embroidery. Pay attention to your favourite quilts that you have quilted for yourself or for clients and enter them. We have well over $11, 000 in prizes up for grabs!!! As the old saying goes - you’ve got to be in it to win it. Here is the link to enter http://www.amqa.com.au/index.php/events/amqa-show-2012/amqas-2012-entry-form

Tonia Brooks has been working very hard for AMQA in procuring sponsorship for the show and we are proud to announce our sponsors in this newsletter. Please remember them and give them your support next time you need a product/service they offer.

Here is a reminder to join the AMQA Yahoo Group. As the time to the  AMQA Show draws closer, I anticipate that there will be more discussion and announcements made. To join, sign up for a Yahoo ID at www.yahoo.com then click on the groups link or go to www.groups.yahoo.com and search for AMQA Members then click the next link to join the AMQA Yahoo Group. Sounds hard, but it is pretty straightforward. Once you have joined you can opt to have messages emailed to you as they appear or have a daily digest of the day’s messages sent to you all at once. All of the committee members read the yahoo group messages and can answer any questions for you there.

Michele Turner editor@amqa.com.au

President’s Message

(Acting) President’s Report

It has been exciting and sometimes daunting to consider the work needed to bring a quilt show into being. I am pleased to report that due to the committee’s dedication the show preparation is on track and it has been great to see the numerous sponsors join with AMQA Inc. to make the show a wonderful event. Currently the prize pool value stands at over $11,000 in cash and goods.  This is wonderful and our thanks go to the many sponsors so far.  A list of companies and businesses has been added to the website as they have sponsored the show; please take the time to have a look, www.amqa.com.au .

 

As the show nears there will be a call for volunteers to help with some duties during the shows open hours, please consider signing up if you will be there.  Our arrangements for setting up the show have been altered to include Thursday 27^th Sept as many who are coming also wish to attend the Ricky Tims seminar (AMQF) on Friday 28^th.

 

We have been able to secure judges for our quilt show.  Both Kerry-Ann Riles and Helen Godden will be teaching at AMQF as well as judging for AMQA Inc.  I have been able to arrange to be present on judging day and certainly look forward to seeing this aspect of the quilt show.

 

I am still working on my entries for the show and have quite a few hours of work ahead of me.  It would be great to see an entry from all our members and please let your friends know of the opportunity to enter as well.  We have had one query about a junior entrant, at this stage we do not have a junior section but this can be reviewed before the next AMQA Inc. Show if feedback indicates such.

 

Our AGM has been set for the 2^nd August 2012 at 12midday EST.  Meetings occur via Skype linkup.  Please contact the Secretary to be added to the call list, all are welcome.

 

Happy Quilting

Raylee Bielenberg

Acting President AMQA

vp@amqa.com.au

AMQA Show - Adelaide September 28 to October 1 2012

Call for Entries

The AMQA Committee are working very hard to bring you the AMQA Show for 2012. We have sponsored and cash prizes to the value of over $11,000 total for eight categories. We thank the following sponsors for their contribution for prizes for the Quilt Show and ask that you visit their website or call them next time you are looking for products/services for your quilting business. If you are reading this newsletter on the Continuous Lines Blog, here http://continuouslines.blogspot.com.au/ the links are clickable.

 

Walters Imports ph 07 3277 0799

 

Dayview Textiles

 

 

Malanda Quilting and Sewing Supplies

 

 

Australian Machine Quilting Festival

 

 

Westalee Rulers

 

 

 

Threads and Tangles

 

 

Victorian Quilters Inc

 

 

 

 

Kennard & Kennard

 

 

Know How Sewing Essentials

 

 

Horn Australia

 

 

 

Pinetree Cottage Quilting - A1 Quilting Machine Dealer

 

 

 

 

 

 

All entry categories and terms and conditions can be found at this web address - http://www.amqa.com.au/index.php/events/amqa-show-2012

Think about your favourite quilts that you have quilted in the last year or so. If they are your client quilts, it is OK to enter those with permission from your client. Perhaps you have your own quilt that you are particularly proud of. Please enter them and support the AMQA Show.

The judges for the AMQA Show are Helen Godden and Kerrie-Ann Riles. Their profiles are listed on the AMQA website, the link is here http://www.amqa.com.au/index.php/events/amqa-show-2012/2012-judges

Volunteering at AMQA Show/AMQFestival

The organisers of AMQF have fortunately been able to allocate the Thursday September 27th as AMQA Show set up day. If you are able to volunteer some time to help set up, it would be very much appreciated. The bonus is that you are free to then attend the Ricky Tims Seminar on Friday September 28.

You can volunteer to help with other aspects of the Show/Festival as well. Even if you can spare only 2 hours your help will be welcome. To volunteer your time at the AMQA Show / AMQFestival, please go here  to fill out the form. To streamline volunteer allocation, this will be handled by AMQFestival organisers. Thank you.

Feature Article - Disaster Can Strike

by Michele Turner

Here’s the story - I was home alone (well, the two doggies were with me) and I had turned my dryer on and headed upstairs to have a shower. Once I was done and about to dry my hair, I popped my head out into the bedroom and thought I could smell smoke. I went out of the room and not only could I smell smoke, I could see it too!! I immediately suspected the dryer so I ran down the stairs clad only in my jeans and bra yelling out “no! NO!” I ran into the laundry and yanked the power cord from the wall. I opened the dryer to see if there was any lint in there and acrid black smoke poured from the dryer vent. Yikes.

I next thought to pull the dryer from the wall and get it out of my house so it didn’t catch fire. Of course it got stuck and I couldn’t yank it free. It was smoking but there were no flames. It was decision time. I called ‘000’ because I would rather have them here when the flames came than not and I could not yank that thing off the wall. Oh boy, I tried. I ruined the wall with my efforts…and had the bruises to show for it too.

I grabbed a shirt out of a clothes basket and put it on - no need to frighten the firemen - and they arrived quite quickly and got the dryer out of there for me. They pulled the clothes out of the dryer and they were all burnt smelling and oh so hot. A potential disaster was averted. It all happened so quickly, but I was able to have time to make a mental list of things to save. My thoughts were to 1. Get the dogs out. 2. Get all of the client quilts out - luckily I only had about 5 in the house at the time and 3. Get my hard drive so I don’t lose my business records.

This is relevant to everybody because now I am asking myself if I should have a crisis plan for my quilting business? Now I am thinking of ways to minimise risk, and have a backup plan.

To minimise risk, I prefer not to have more than 10 quilts here at any one time. I book in custom jobs and take in all overs as they come. I store them all in a labeled box in a particular cupboard. In an emergency. They are all to be found in one place and not far from a door so I can grab them and chuck them outside. That works for fire, but what if you live in a flood prone zone? Out local river also flooded that same weekend. What would I have done in that case. I am asking myself, but also asking you what would you do to save your client’s quilts in case of flood or fire. Do you have a plan??? And do you have insurance???

I keep all of my client records on my computer. I backup regularly, like daily. I have a little hard drive permanently attached to my computer that I can unplug and use if my computer crashed. But this would be absolutely useless if my house burned down or it was ruined in a flood. I am now making it my mission to back up my files online. I have yet to research how to do this. I think that even iCloud or Dropbox would be sufficient. Does anyone else do this and have any tips for me???

So one minor breakdown of my dryer has led me to make these plans. Please think about this for yourself and make a plan for yourself too. Whilst it was amazing how quickly I accepted that my house could burn, and that the stuff I may lose was just stuff. Other peoples stuff in my care was very important to me, and the contacts that I have built up over the years were too.

I bet you’re thinking that I had a dryer stuffed full of lint, right? Well. No. I have a brother in law who is a fireman who has well informed us of the million ways your house could catch fire, and the dryer was right up thereon that list. I have always cleaned the filter after each and every load. After 16 years of faithful service, whenever it rained for more than a few days (hey - there are six people in my household and washing can build up very fast) the capacitor was the culprit. Hubby pulled apart the dryer when he got home and the innards were pristine apart from the very melted electrical component inside. So please, look after your dryer and look after your home and business as well.

Michele

Achievements in Longarm Quilting

Congratulations to Karen Terrens for being juried into MQX East 2012 with her quilt Purple Haze, which was her 2011 AMQA Challenge quilt. Best of luck at MQX with that Karen!!!

Some Housekeeping…

AMQA Web Site

Find a Machine Quilter Page

Please have a look at your information on the ‘Find a machine Quilter’ page and check to see that it is current and valid. Some of you may have changed address, telephone number or e-mail address so please take a minute to check your listing. If you have a link, please make sure you take a minute to check that it is correct and your website is accurate and up to date. Sometimes we forget to update things on our web sites and any link to an invalid address or to incorrect information compromises the professional image of AMQA.

If you would like a web link attached to your name, please contact the Web Diva and give her the corrections to be made.

We hope that you take the time to check your information and notify us of any changes required. Thank You!

Behind the Scenes

AGM

The AMQA AGM date has been set for 2012. It will be held on August 2, 2012.

Please be aware that new committee members are needed if AMQA is to move forward as an organisation. This organisation does not belong to the current committee, it belongs to the members. If you feel that you have a contribution to make, then please consider joining the committee. If you see a need for improvement and wish to take action, then consider which role on the committee that you would best be suited for and put your hand up for it!

You may note that the AGM is to be held BEFORE AMQA Show. Please do not think that if you join the committee then you will be expected to take over the reins for the AMQA Show the month before it is on. The AMQA committee has a Show Committee which is functioning alongside the AMQA Committee. The Show Committee will see that the show is run smoothly and will cooperate fully with the new committee members that come on board.

Several members of the current AMQA Committee have been serving for a number of years now and are ready for a break. If AMQA does not fill a committee at the AGM then the future of AMQA will be in jeopardy.  You are implored to think about AMQA and what it means to you and how you can help. If you have been waiting in the wings or wanting to add your ideas then this is the time to put your hand up and go for it!!!

Hint and Tips

Don’t wash the SD card with your quilt pictures on it. Make sure you download and organise your quilting photos asap. Otherwise you may lose 3 months of pictures. Don’t ask a committee member how she found this out the hard way!!!

When you are quilting, take a picture of the top border, especially the corners so you don’t forget what you quiltied by the time you get to the bottom of the quilt. A tip by Michele Turner

Upcoming Events

July 31, 2012 CLOSING DATE FOR AMQA SHOW Enter Here http://www.amqa.com.au/index.php/events/amqa-show-2012/amqas-2012-entry-form

Position Vacant

Committee Members - we would love to invite members to join the committee. Your commitment is to be available for once a month voice linkup via SKYPE and help out on the committee. Please email the secretary, Tonia Brooks, for more information. The next meeting is April 19 2012.

Webdiva -  we need to have someone to keep tabs on our website. Duties will include but not limited to updating memberships on the website, adding photographs, general maintenance etc. The website is run on Joomla so if you have an interest or experience in web design, please get in touch with a committee member. Thank you.

Coming Up Next Time…

We NEED more pictures - please share your triumphs and quilts that you are extra proud of - don't be shy. Email them to me please! editor@amqa.com.au

Submission Deadline is April 20, 2012, so do it NOW!

Your 2011-12 Committee and Contact Details

President: Terry Elverd, WA president@amqa.com.au
Vice President: Raylee Bielenberg, ACT vp@amqa.com.au
Secretary: Tonia Brooks, Qld secretary@amqa.com.au
Treasurer: Gayle Dayman, SA treasurer@amqa.com.au

Membership Secretary: Gayle Dayman, SA membership@amqa.com.au

Minute Secretary: Val Towill, SA minutes@amqa.com.au
Web Diva: POSITION VACANT webdiva@amqa.com.au

Editor: Michele Turner, NSW editor@amqa.com.au

Committee Members:

Julie Nixon, SA committee1@amqa.com.au

Val Towill, SA committee2@amqa.com.au

Vicki Jenkin, VIC committee4@amqa.com.au

AMQF Liaison/General Committee Member

Tracey Browning, SA webdiva@amqa.com.au

AMQA Corporate Member

Our Corporate Member is:-

Lorien Quilting

Lorien Quilting - Australian publisher of machine quilting patterns by local and international designers.
We carry block designs and motifs, pattern sets and a huge range of pantographs for all sizes of quilting machine. Our pattern clubs are a must for adding variety to your pattern stash while saving big bucks!
Visit our website for discounts www.lorienquilting.com
We would like to give a special thank you to Hermione of Lorien Quilting for allowing AMQA to use her design "Fantasia" on the background of the new AMQA website.

Newsletter No. 21

Continuous Lines

AMQA Newsletter No. 21

Editor’s Message

Hi Everyone,

Can you believe that it is December already? Are you on the home stretch for finishing up your quilts for the end of the year? Do you take time off and if so, how much?

I always feel a little frantic at this time of the year. I have the last few quilts to finish off and have lots of commitments to end of year concerts and award days at school. Having four children means that there is always someone wanting something at this time of year - usually my most precious commodity - time! This week I have had an injured child and a post-surgical doggy to take care of as well. The fun never ends at my place.

I have about four quilts left to go until I finish up for a break. I take January off most years. This year, I am really planning to get on with some quilting for me! I have about four quilt tops ready to quilt. I am really wanting to spend some time on them so that I can enter them in to the AMQA Show next September/October. The AMQA Show will be run by AMQA and held concurrently with the Australian Machine Quilting Festival in Adelaide. Keep these dates in your diary. September 28 to October 1, 2012.

Keep reading the newsletter as the quilt show categories are all listed. I just can’t wait to go to the show and see the quilts that will be entered. Please think about making a quilt for the show. There is a category this year for machine embroidered quilts, so if you have an embroidery machine or a client that has you quilt their machine embroidered quilts, take a look at this category and enter it if you can.

There is a Quilt Challenge being run at AMQ Festival. I hope you consider entering it. The challenge is sponsored by Lloyd Curzon Textiles, Dayview Textiles and AMQ Festival to raise money for Alzheimers Australia. More information follows in this newsletter. Keep an eye out for it as you read on…

I have booked my accommodation for Adelaide. I suggest that if you are attending AMQA Show and AMQ Festival, that you make your booking ASAP. It is a long weekend and accommodation will book out fast. Click here to see the special rate accommodation. The Adelaide Convention Centre is located right next to the main railway station, so you can also have easy access by public transport to the Show. Visit www.amqfestival.com.au for more information. I hope to see you there.

Michele Turner

editor@amqa.com.au

Member Article

By Tonia Brooks of Malanda Quilting and Sewing Supplies www.malandaquilting.com.au

A Blank Page (confessions of a newbie quilter)

Like most people when faced with a clean page and asked to write or draw something, we are immediately blank.  It’s like being asked to say something in another language, and so it is for the new quilter.

What to do? Draw a squiggle, write my name or attempt a straight line (one of the hardest things to do I may say!). All are valid responses I hear you say, but not especially helpful when that space happens to be fabric and your pen a needle.   No magic eraser can make needle punch marks disappear. It’s enough to make a grown woman cry.

I began the journey into quilting as a necessity, when after creating those first patched tops I needed to have them quilted.  I had followed the directions in the pattern and now I was faced with that most dreaded of sentences, Quilt as desired.  As desired, hmmm, I desired swirls, feathers and interesting background fillers.  But I wasn’t then familiar with the fact there were lovely people around that would do this for me.  So down to the library I went to indulge in some quilt research.   Here I struck a snag.  The ole, Quilt as desired. Books were filled with intricate designs but none actually told me how to approach the sewing bit.  Okay, so I had to get a bit more detailed here.  The local patchwork shop proved to be a saviour.  A book by Alex Anderson – Learn to Quilt.  This looked good.  Home I went and devoured the book.  Following every instruction I began the process of laying and pinning – Oh my aching back! – But hey, here I was undaunted, attempting a new skill.  This was the mantra that kept me going.

Out came the trusty sewing machine – throat size, small – and so I began.  Up and down, just like the book suggested, crosshatching.  Cross-eyed more like it!  No walking foot for me. I didn’t even own one.   But Oh! How hard it was.   But even I could see this was not going to stand up to my perfectionist nature for very long.  There had to be a better way.  There was a lot more research and practicing and finding of other ways to do bigger and bigger projects.  Not for me the stitch-in-the- ditch and she’s complete.  (Though of course we all must learn this skill as it forms so much basis of custom quilting).  I wanted those lovely designs that I saw on the most beautiful quilts in the book.  Did I mention I never walk before I run?  That’s right! My learning curves tend to go straight up!

After a few years it became apparent that though I loved the intimate approach that is quilting by domestic machine, my back and shoulders didn’t.   So to continue what I loved to do I had to find another way.  Roll out Long arm quilting machine research, another of my steep learning curves.  Where do you begin to find out about what you need in a long arm?  Who can explain to you the difference between cruise and normal mode?  What about tension? Weight, what about weight!  Are you saying I’m fat?  And what the heck are Edge-rider wheels!  It took 2 years of stop/start research, lots of questions and constant watching of the Aussie Dollar to make a decision.  Thanks to the patience of the machine dealers and the AMQA mentors I am now the proud owner of Sally the A1 Elite Long arm.  Every day she brings me joy.  I have progressed with her into new territories.  Learned wonderful new techniques from great teachers, who were both patient and kind, and understood when I asked probably the most obvious of questions.

It’s taken some time, but now, that ole quilt as desired, it’s no longer quite the same problem it was.  Now I just need another lifetime to quilt all the designs I want to.

Editors Note - Here is some of Tonia’s Quilting. Her longarm was delivered in November 2010 and I think she is doing great. Here is some of her latest work. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

 

AMQA Quilt Show 2012

The categories have been finalised for AMQA Show 2012 and are listed below. You can enter online by clicking here. If you wish to download an entry form, click here.

AMQA Inc will again be holding a judged quilt show in conjunction with AMQ Festival in Adelaide in 2012.

The dates will be 28th Sept-1st Oct 2012 and it will be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, North Tce, Adelaide, South Australia.

AMQA Inc. SHOW 2012
In conjunction with
AUSTRALIAN MACHINE QUILTING FESTIVAL
Terms & Conditions of Entry

Quilt competition entries must be postmarked no later than Tuesday 31st July, 2012. Acceptance letters will go out on or about August 31st, 2012 by e-mail. If no e-mail address is available, please give us the e-mail address of a friend or relative that is nearby and might be able to accept the letter for you. Instructions for delivery will be included in this email. Postage costs to send & return your quilts to AMQA Show 2012 are the responsibility of the entrant.

AMQA Inc. individual members must submit a separate entry form and a $7.50 entry fee per quilt. Cheques should be made payable to AMQA Inc. or we would prefer you Internet Bank your fees and confirm the details on the entry form as listed.

All other entrants must submit a separate entry form and a $15 entry fee per quilt. Cheques should be made payable to AMQA Inc. or we would prefer you Internet Bank your fees and confirm the details on the entry form as listed.

Any entrant wishing to join AMQA Inc. as a new member prior to entering the AMQA Inc. Show 2012 is encouraged to do so at the rates as detailed on the website www.amqa.com.au and will then only incur the half price entry fees.

Entries must have been completed within the previous five years from date of entry, and not have been previously entered into an AMQA Show.

A photo of the complete quilt and another of the detail of the quilting must be provided with each entry. Please write your name, address and name of quilt & indicate the top of quilt on the reverse of the photograph. Please have more photos of the quilting detail available for e-mail, if required by the coordinator to confirm entry into the correct category.

All entries must be machine quilted. Quilting may be done on any type of machine including, but not limited to, domestic sewing machine, longarm, midarm or shortarm.

Enter the category that best fits the style and size of the quilt. If you have a question or concern about the categories, please tick the box on the entry form and an AMQA Inc. representative will contact you to provide assistance.

No quilt will be disqualified if it is inadvertently placed in the wrong category. AMQA Inc. will review the entries several times before they are brought into the judging room. If an error occurs AMQA Inc. will contact the entrant to apprise her/him of the error and work together to correct it prior to judging.

A false backing is grounds for immediate disqualification. You must not put a second backing on your quilt to hide tension flaws or messy quilting.

A 10cm deep rod pocket/hanging sleeve must be attached to the top of your quilt and a label detailing your name, contact details including address and telephone along with the date of completion.

AMQ Festival’s insurance liability is limited to public liability only. By signing the entry form you are agreeing to display your quilt with this knowledge and accept that you may wish to personally insure your own quilts. AMQA Inc. & AMQ Festival will do everything in its power to safeguard entries. However, transporting your quilt to/from ANY show is a risk and that risk is often limited. Transportation companies do not pay claims for quilt loss or damage without a certified appraisal. No matter what the value, consider carrying your own quilt insurance AND having your quilt appraised by a certified appraiser; especially if the quilt is irreplaceable.

AMQA Inc. awards all prizes to the ENTRANT. The entrant may share any prize at his/her discretion. When an entry is machine quilted or pieced by someone other than the entrant, two ribbons will be awarded.

Quilts accepted into AMQA Inc. Show 2012 must be available from September 10th through to October 10th 2012. AMQA Inc. & AMQ Festival reserves the right to photograph any or all entries for publication and for other appropriate purposes.

All decisions of the judges are final. AMQA Inc. reserves the right to reject any entry, including those that fail to follow the AMQA Inc. Show 2012 rules.

AMQA Inc. & AMQ Festival will not be responsible for any damage, or loss suffered by any person or organization due to infringement of copyright.

Categories
Note: Perimeter is determined by totalling the measurements of ALL sides. Please measure your quilts once completed to ensure correct measurements as this is needed for category choice and exhibition planning.

1. INNOVATIVE CUSTOM Large: Minimum of 240”, maximum of 480” perimeter. Heirloom/Show quilts have been specifically designed as quilt show entries and/or not intended to be used as functional bed quilts. Fibers, fringe, crystals and embellishments of any other kind are permitted.
2. INNOVATIVE CUSTOM Small: Minimum 60”, maximum 240” perimeter. Heirloom/Show quilts have been specifically designed as quilt show entries and/or not intended to be used as functional quilts. Fibers, fringe, crystals and embellishments of any other kind are permitted.
3. WHOLECLOTH: Minimum of 100” perimeter, maximum of 480” perimeter. The entry must be a single piece of fabric or minimally pieced from the same fabric to increase size only. The Wholecloth piece should be designed to highlight the many quilting techniques of today’s machine quilters, including, meandering or background quilting, straight lines, feathers, continuous line and non-continuous line designs. The quilting must be the dominant feature of the Wholecloth and the quilting should encompass the entire quilt. Painting or other embellishments are not permitted in this category.
4. TRADITIONAL CUSTOM LARGE: Minimum of 240” perimeter, maximum of 480” perimeter. This category is for those functional bed quilts that we do for ourselves or for our customers that are meant for daily use but have been machine quilted with high quality custom quilting techniques. No embellishments, metallic threads or thread painting of any kind are permitted in this category.
5. TRADITIONAL CUSTOM SMALL: Minimum 60”, maximum 240” perimeter. This category is for those functional quilts that we do for ourselves or for our customers that are meant for daily use but have been machine quilted with high quality custom quilting techniques. No embellishments, metallic threads or thread painting of any kind are permitted in this category.
6. THREAD ART /PICTORIAL: Minimum of 100” perimeter, maximum of 280” perimeter. Involving thread play and/or a mixture of mediums and embellishments.  All embellishments must be firmly attached and quilt must be able to be hung conventionally and with minimal care required.  All quilts entered in this category must be the original design of the quilt maker and not made under the direction of another person in a workshop/course situation. 
7. MACHINE EMBROIDERY: Minimum of 240” perimeter and maximum of 480” perimeter. The quilt must incorporate machine executed embroidered blocks or machine embroidered appliqués or motifs as a significant design element. Hand embroidery, while beautiful, is not allowed in this category. Specialty threads and embellishments are allowed. The quilt will be judged equally on the quilting and machine embroidery.
8. EDGE-TO-EDGE: Minimum of 240” perimeter, maximum of 480” perimeter. An all-over-the-quilt pattern which is continuous-line derived from a pantograph or freehand quilting. The quilting design must cover the quilt completely from one edge to the other. Painting on fabric is permitted in this category.

AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED
Best of Show
Runner up Best of Show
1st, 2nd and 3rd in each category if applicable (as per above)

Novice Award – This is an additional award given to a quilter who has begun quilting since October 2010, either on a Domestic Sewing Machine, Short or Long arm and have NOT entered any other exhibition.  This award is applicable to a quilt entered into any of the above categories. Please indicate on entry form if you wish to be considered for this award.
Note about quilts that are machine quilted with a Computerized Quilting System (CQS): Any quilt that is machine quilted with a CQS may be entered into the categories except for the edge to edge category. Utilization of a CQS is not a guarantee of perfection since stitch quality, stitch length, design choice and proper design placement are important factors for ALL machine quilters.

Achievements in Longarm Quilting

Congratulations to Judy Simcock whose quilt won the Award for Excellence in Embroidery and Embellishment at Vic Quilters Showcase in Melbourne recently.

Well done Judy!

 

If you would like your achievements shared in this newsletter, please email your photos to editor@amqa.com.au so that they can go into the newsletter.

PLEASE NOTE:- It is up to members to share their news and winnings as the AMQA Committee cannot possibly know which members have placed quilts into shows and won awards, unless you tell us that you have. We will gladly share your achievements and celebrate with you here.

 

Alzheimers Quilt Challenge

AMQ Festival is running a challenge to raise money for Alzheimers Australia. This is what they are doing…

Quilt Challenge Theme “Memory”

Let your imagination run wild and think of a special memory that you have and then transfer that vision into fabric. A memory that is special to you, a childhood memory of a ride on a carousel, a place that you’ve visited, a person that holds special memories, a favourite quilt block the list is endless and remember how blessed we are to have our memories and be able to participate in this initiative.

Each entry is to be accompanied by a story of the memory no longer than 250 words.

All quilts are to be donated and auctioned with full proceeds going to the Alzheimer’s Association. The top thirty finalists will be selected for display at AMQ Festival 2012 with the top 10 being auctioned at the Banquet dinner at Festival. The remaining 20 quilts will be up for silent auction at Festival; all others will be auctioned online within 30 days.

Please be involved in this challenge, it is for a very good cause. If you really just can’t spare the time to enter, you may make a donation anyway, or even bid on your favourite quilt. Go here for more information and I suggest you bookmark the page, or like it on Facebook, or subscribe to the blog so you can go and bid on a quilt later on. You can also donate some extra $$$ as you enter if you wish.

Some Housekeeping…

AMQA Web Site

Find a Machine Quilter Page

Please have a look at your information on the ‘Find a machine Quilter’ page and check to see that it is current and valid. Some of you may have changed address, telephone number or e-mail address so please take a minute to check your listing. If you have a link, please make sure you take a minute to check that it is correct and your website is accurate and up to date. Sometimes we forget to update things on our web sites and any link to an invalid address or to incorrect information compromises the professional image of AMQA.

If you would like a web link attached to your name, please contact the Web Diva webdiva@amaq.com.au and give her the corrections to be made.

We hope that you take the time to check your information and notify us of any changes required. Thank You!

Upcoming Events

Christmas Day and New Year - The AMQA Committee hopes that you have a lovely break and take some time to spend with your family. Please stay safe in your travels. We would love to see you raring to go in 2012.

If you would like to know about quilty goings on, then please check the Upcoming Events listing on the left of the AMQA Home Page.

Position Vacant

Committee Members - we would love to invite members to join the committee. Your commitment is to be available for once a month voice linkup via SKYPE and help out on the committee. Please email the secretary, Tonia Brooks, for more information. The next meeting is December 15, 2011.

Webdiva -  we need to have someone to keep tabs on our website. Duties will include but not limited to updating memberships on the website, adding photographs, general maintenance etc. The website is run on Joomla so if you have an interest or experience in web design, please get in touch with a committee member. Thank you.

Coming Up Next Time…

We NEED more pictures - please share your triumphs and quilts that you are extra proud of - don't be shy. Email them to me please! editor@amqa.com.au

Submission Deadline is January 15, 2012, so do it NOW!

Your 2011-12 Committee and Contact Details

President: Terry Elverd, WA president@amqa.com.au
Vice President: Raylee Bielenberg, ACT vp@amqa.com.au
Secretary: Tonia Brooks, Qld secretary@amqa.com.au
Treasurer: Gayle Dayman, SA treasurer@amqa.com.au

Membership Secretary: Gayle Dayman, SA membership@amqa.com.au

Minute Secretary: Val Towill, SA minutes@amqa.com.au
Web Diva: POSITION VACANT webdiva@amqa.com.au

Editor: Michele Turner, NSW editor@amqa.com.au

Committee Members:

Julie Nixon, SA committee1@amqa.com.au

Val Towill, SA committee2@amqa.com.au

Vicki Jenkin, VIC committee4@amqa.com.au

AMQF Liaison/General Committee Member

Tracey Browning, SA webdiva@amqa.com.au

AMQA Corporate Members

Our Corporate Members are:-

Lorien Quilting

Lorien Quilting - Australian publisher of machine quilting patterns by local and international designers.
We carry block designs and motifs, pattern sets and a huge range of pantographs for all sizes of quilting machine. Our pattern clubs are a must for adding variety to your pattern stash while saving big bucks!
Visit our website for discounts www.lorienquilting.com
We would like to give a special thank you to Hermione of Lorien Quilting for allowing AMQA to use her design "Fantasia" on the background of the new AMQA website.

Newsletter No. 20

Editor’s Message

Hello AMQA Members,

I am acknowledging that it has been a while since the last newsletter and a lot has gone on ‘behind the scenes’ since then.

Our website was hacked and Tracey Browning and many other committee members worked very hard to get it back online. The website had to be re-built virtually from scratch and this took many (wo)man hours. I think the new website is a lot more streamlined and serves us well. Take a look at the zoom feature on the photos - it looks great. You can also now renew your membership online and forget the hassles of visiting the mailbox to post your form in. If you are paperwork challenged - such as myself - then it will be much easier to renew online.

There have been rumblings of poor communication from the committee. I admit that I have part responsibility in this manner. I have faced some health issues and have a large family to look after, therefore the time that I can donate to AMQA has not been available to me. If you are a volunteer worker in any capacity - despite your best intentions - your volunteer work cannot overtake other facets of your life. For me, that is raising my family and earning a living. The AMQA Committee welcomes any member who would like to help out.

We are all members of this organisation and there is a forum available to us to make suggestions and have a say as to how you would like things to be. Our Members Only Yahoo Group is always available to comment in - whether the comment be good or bad.

The committee will make decisions with only the best of intentions to AMQA Inc. We cannot know how members wish to proceed if nobody says anything.

There will be an AMQA-run Show next year, to be held alongside the AMQ Festival. This is very much like the manner in which our State Guilds run their show alongside a Quilt and Craft Expo. The Guild runs the Quilt Show and another company (eg - Expertise Events ) runs the Quilt Craft Expo. AMQA benefits having the Show alongside the Festival, as it will draw in many people to see our quilts and find out about our organisation. We had an increase in membership after last years Show as well. The committee is finalising categories for the Show and we are looking forward to presenting them to you shortly.

There is a lot of important information in this newsletter. Please grab a cuppa and sit down and take a good read through. As always, I welcome any contribution for the newsletter.

Any photos or exciting news to share? Email me and I will put them in the newsletter.

Kindly,

Michele Turner

editor@amqa.com.au

AMQA AGM 2011

AGM Sept 2011 Report

The AGM for AMQA was held on Sept 7th 2011, with all committee members present via Skype. Although disappointing there were no other (general) members present nor proxy votes submitted for this meeting, there was a positive tone set by all those present.

Terry Elverd presented her President's Report & all positions on the committee were declared vacant. Re-election of Offices was then held with the following results:

President Terry Elverd
Vice President Raylee Bielenberg
Secretary Tonia Brooks
Treasurer/Membership Secretary Gayle Dayman
Minute Secretary Val Towill
Web Diva Position Vacant
Newsletter Editor Michele Turner
AMQF Liason/General Committee Tracey Browning
General Committee Julie Nixon
Vicki Jenkin (new committee member)

All were congratulated on their positions & were also thanked for their previous year's service to AMQA. Treasurer's Report was presented by Gayle Dayman with total account balance of $7060.29
Membership Fees remain unchanged - these have not been changed since they were originally set when AMQA first began in 2008.

The AGM was declared closed at 3:05 pm Qld time.

AMQA General Meeting Report

The general meeting was held prior to AGM on September 7

There was much discussion with the organising of Categories & Conditions for quilt entries to AMQA Exhibition 2012. Please note there will be some changes made (from the 2010 quilt show) therefore helping to improve and clarify areas that may have previously been unclear.

The Special Awards for Prize Categories was decided upon & these are:
Best of Show, Best of Show Runner-Up, 1st, 2nd & 3rd Prizes in all Categories plus a Novice Award.

More details on these will be announced at a later date with other news as the event approaches.

Sponsorship is being sought from many areas of our industry and it is hoped there will be more come aboard as this event approaches, as without this sponsorship it would not be possible for the Quilt Show to take place.

All entries (forms & quilts) will be sent to Julie Nixon, Sth Aust. There has been an Agreement set up between AMQA & AMQF to stipulate areas of responsibility (for both parties) in regard to the organisation of the Quilt Show & Festival.

The agreement states that AMQA will be responsible for organising such things as judges, volunteers, quilt entries, prizes & ribbons, award presentations (plus many other areas). AMQA will be financially responsible for these expenses.

AMQA shall also receive all entry fees & forms for this event. AMQF is to provide floor/hanging space & quilt frames, public liability & volunteer insurance, assist with marketing & provide the judging venue all at their expense, plus other responsibilities.

AMQF will also publish a Catalogue & Show Program which will include all Categories & Conditions for AMQA Quilt Exhibition.

Both parties will also provide logo's & promotions for the other party in all advertising for both the Quilt Show and Festival.

Membership Report by Gayle - current membership is at 82 members plus 2 corporate members and this continues to grow.

There was no other general business presented so the meeting was declared closed at 2:40 pm Qld time. The next meeting is set for Wed 19th October, 2011.

Just in closing, the Committee is confident that the only way to have a successful Exhibition is to combine with another event which has vendors & classes just like all the state guilds currently do. With the minimal support the AMQA shows have had in the past being held as a 'stand alone' show, we feel that going in this direction would not be in our best interests.

Combining the AMQA Quilt Show & AMQ Festival in 2010 was proven to be a winning formula, so moving forward with yet another combined event such as this is hoped to be nothing but successful. There was a great deal of positive feedback received after the 2010 event, so much so that vendors, teachers & visitors were contacting the organisers with a promise to return in 2012. There was much enthusiasm from those who attended with promises to return for the next Festival which made the event a rousing success.
As an organisation we should be doing all we can to support AMQF. It is promoting our industry and giving opportunities for education that we would otherwise not have, or have to travel overseas for. It also gives us opportunity to gather with like-minded people in this somewhat isolated industry.

Member Article

No submissions by members were made.

AMQA Quilt Show 2012

Stay tuned for important announcements about the AMQA Show 2012. The entry categories are being finalised and we are actively seeking sponsorship for prizes.

Please contact the Secretary, Tonia, if you have a contact for sponsorship or would like to sponsor a category yourself.

Feature Article - Blogs and Websites

By Michele Turner

Do you blog? Do you read blogs? A blog is a great way to have a website for your business to have and promote yourself and show off your work. You can set up a blog for free at www.wordpress.com or www.blogspot.com .

If you don’t have a website and think that it is all too hard, then click on the links above to see how simple it is. For a small fee, you can even get a domain name - for example www. yourbusinessname.com rather than a blog web address, e.g.   www. yourbusinessname.wordpress.com. It would make your blog/website look a lot more professional.

You can add different pages to your blog and have a page for your contact details/price list, an about page where you can write a little bit about yourself. You can select from a range of themes or formats so that your blog is more individualised. It helps to update your blog regularly and ask your clients if you can put pictures of their quilts on your blog. They can let their friends see their quilt on your blog if you send them a link. This is a great way for potential clients to see your work.

Your AMQA Individual Membership allows you a link of your website in the ‘Find a Quilter’ section of the www.amqa.com.au website. You are missing out on a great opportunity to have a potential client see your work if you do not have a link on that listing.

I would love to add your blog on to the AMQA Blog blogroll so that it is displayed on the AMQA Blog. Please email me your link editor@amqa.com.au when you have set up your new blog or if you have an existing blog.

Achievements in Longarm Quilting

Have you won an award lately??? Please send a photo and details so you can share your achievements here.

Congratulations to Pam Hill who has won First Place in the Wallhanging Category at MQX West in the USA this month. Your quilt is gorgeous. Pam has posted photos for AMQA Members to view in the Yahoo Group photo section. Please click on the link below (or cut and paste if that does not work). Make sure you taker a look - it is worth it.

http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/AMQA_Members/photos/recent/558764516/view

Welcome New Members

Welcome our newest members of AMQA Inc.

• Harmina Wood of Frankston, Vic
• Wendy Johnson of East Lismore, NSW
• Stephen Johnson of East Lismore, NSW
• Joanne Ault of Rochester, Vic
• Robyn Welsh of Port Pirie, SA
• Steve Welsh of Port Pirie, SA
• Lesley Roth of Mapleton, Qld
• Kim Kennett-Tribe of Lapstone, NSW
• Lee Vause of Langwarrin, Vic
• Vanita Roychoudhry of Werrington County, NSW
• Patricia Cartner of Clontarf, Qld
• Lyn Crump of Withcott, Qld

Some Housekeeping…

AMQA Web Site

Find a Machine Quilter Page

Please have a look at your information on the ‘Find a machine Quilter’ page and check to see that it is current and valid. Some of you may have changed address, telephone number or e-mail address so please take a minute to check your listing. If you have a link, please make sure you take a minute to check that it is correct and your website is accurate and up to date. Sometimes we forget to update things on our web sites and any link to an invalid address or to incorrect information compromises the professional image of AMQA.

If you would like a web link attached to your name, please contact the Web Diva and give her the corrections to be made.

We hope that you take the time to check your information and notify us of any changes required. Thank You!

Behind the Scenes

Website News

You may have noticed that our website was hacked and not available for a period of time in July/August. Despite repeated requests to the business that built our website (at considerable expense) they did not respond to fix this issue. Subsequently, the website had to be rebuilt from scratch. This was a good opportunity to overhaul the website and make it more current.

The photo galleries were upgraded and you can now hover over the photos to see the detail that we all love to see. There is an online joining or renewal form, to make it easier and faster to renew your membership. The links/resources in the membership section has been updated and there are a lot more contacts for supplies there now. Please take some time to check out the new website if you have not already done so.

Our website is a valuable asset for AMQA Inc. We have had at least 42 000 page hits this year so far and over 300 000 hits on our website. You can agree that we really need a good website to provide information for those seeking a quilter as well as ourselves.

Of course, re-building the website took quite some time. Each committee member helped with the editing and format, however the majority of the work was done by Tracey Browning at no charge to AMQA. This was a considerable cost saving for the AMQA Inc as it would have cost at least two thousand dollars for this service to have been provided had we outsourced it. Thank you, Tracey.

Tracey has set up the website so it is relatively simple to edit. We are seeking a web diva to take over maintaining the website. Please see the positions vacant below or email a committee member (links to emails are below).

Upcoming Events

AMQA General Meeting - October 19, 2011 via Skype. Please contact the secretary for details.

Position Vacant

Webdiva - we need to have someone to keep tabs on our website. Duties will include but not limited to updating memberships on the website, adding photographs, general maintenance etc. The website is run on Joomla so if you have an interest or experience in web design, please get in touch with a committee member. Thank you.

Coming Up Next Time…

We NEED more pictures - please share your triumphs and quilts that you are extra proud of - don't be shy. Email them to me please! editor@amqa.com.au

Submission Deadline is October 31, 2011, so do it NOW!

Your 2011-12 Committee and Contact Details

President: Terry Elverd, WA president@amqa.com.au
Vice President: Raylee Bielenberg, ACT vp@amqa.com.au
Secretary: Tonia Brooks, Qld secretary@amqa.com.au
Treasurer: Gayle Dayman, SA treasurer@amqa.com.au

Membership Secretary: Gayle Dayman, SA membership@amqa.com.au

Minute Secretary: Val Towill, SA minutes@amqa.com.au
Web Diva: POSITION VACANT webdiva@amqa.com.au

Newsletter Editor: Michele Turner, NSW editor@amqa.com.au

Committee Members:
Julie Nixon, SA committee1@amqa.com.au

Val Towill, SA committee2@amqa.com.au
Vicki Jenkin, VIC committee4@amqa.com.au

AMQF Liaison/General Committee Member

Tracey Browning, SA webdiva@amqa.com.au

AMQA Corporate Members

Our Corporate Members are:-

Lorien Quilting

Lorien Quilting - Australian publisher of machine quilting patterns by local and international designers.
We carry block designs and motifs, pattern sets and a huge range of pantographs for all sizes of quilting machine. Our pattern clubs are a must for adding variety to your pattern stash while saving big bucks!
Visit our website for discounts www.lorienquilting.com
We would like to give a special thank you to Hermione of Lorien Quilting for allowing AMQA to use her design "Fantasia" on the background of the new AMQA website.

Widebacks Australia

Widebacks Australia is an Australian owned company which specialises in top quality 108" (275cm) wide backing fabrics including well known names such as Moda, Benartex, RJR, P&B, South Sea Imports and Marcus Fabrics. Widebacks Australia only sells top quality fabric and Brenda, the proprietor, feels confident that you will be delighted with the look and feel of them. They will certainly enhance your quilts and add value too.

Many colours are available from White on White to Jet Black, with every colour in between, including a selection of Batiks. The fabrics are all 100% cotton. Also available is a range of 108" wide Flannel in solid colours, Reproduction Civil War & 30's prints too.

Visit Widebacks online at www.widebacks.com.au