----- Original Message -----

From: Constantine Quilts

To: machine_quilting@yahoogroups.com ; AMQA_Open_Discussion@... ; quilters_unite@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2007 3:12 PM

Subject: [AMQA_Open_Discussion] What I've been doing.....

Hi everyone!

I’ve been very quiet lately with head down & bum on seat trying to juggle all my work to keep everyone happy. Not sure if I’ve totally succeeded with quilting mounting up to be done to deadlines!

 

Anyway, thought I would share at least one thing that I’ve been working on and achieved……My first E-book.

 

This is a 6 part e-book that is FREE by simply subscribing to it via our website http://www.wysistas.com

I have been madly working on this and the new Downloadable Quizzles® that are now available on the site – boy what a drama learning how to do all this! Thank goodness for good help is all I can say VBG.

 

This has all come about due to our Quizzles® -Interactive Quilt Patterns on CDRom being reviewed by Alex Anderson & Ricky Tims on www.thequiltshow.com that went to air this week! We are so excited and thrilled that they chose our patterns to review and demonstrate on their show that we decided to create the book as a thank you to all those that visited our site to see more.

 

So now, if you want to learn more, you can play with a Quizzle Trial right on the website to see what they are all about. They are intended for everyone, but aimed at new, beginner quilters with very detailed instructions and diagrams to assist them to create more quilt tops for us machine quilters to have to quilt LOL….(I sure have an ulterior motive here don’t I)

 

We are so pleased with the wonderful response already this week that I just had to share with a few more hundred friends’ right here….

 

Cheers from warm & sunny South Australia where our crops are almost ready to harvest.

 

Tracey Browning
http://www.constantinequilts.com
Australian A1 Quilting Machine & Intelliquilter dealer & also your Aussie supplier of rulers/templates for commercial quilting machines, books, patterns & notions!!
http://www.quizzles.com.au
Wysistas - makers of Quizzles- interactive quilt patterns with pizzazz!
My blog   http://www.traceybquilting.blogspot.com

 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.13/1074 - Release Date: 16/10/2007 2:14 PM

---

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.12/1072 - Release Date: 15/10/2007 5:55 PM

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.3/1081 - Release Date: 19/10/2007 5:41 PM

Woohoo!!! That is fantastic news for Jody...congratulations

Hey Jody can I put this news on the AMQA website too?
cheers

Tracey Browning
http://www.constantinequilts.com
Australian A1 Quilting Machine & Intelliquilter dealer & also your Aussie
supplier of rulers/templates for commercial quilting machines, books,
patterns & notions!!
http://www.quizzles.com.au
Wysistas - makers of Quizzles- interactive quilt patterns with pizzazz!
My blog   http://www.traceybquilting.blogspot.com

-----Original Message-----
From: AMQA_Open_Discussion@...
[mailto:AMQA_Open_Discussion@...] On Behalf Of Wendy Watkins
Sent: Friday, 19 October 2007 11:32 AM
To: AMQA_Open_Discussion@...
Subject: [AMQA_Open_Discussion] Jody's a Winner

Jody Abel was one of the State winners in the Spotlight Houston
competition.  I've placed a photo in the Albums of her lovely trapunto
quilt which was one of three quilts she entered.... she was desperate
to get to Houston.

This was like a 2nd place prize, awarded one in each state.  Jody
received a $250 Spotlight voucher.  This was Jody's first attempt at
trapunto so she was really excited with the finished product.

I thought it looked fabulous too Jody!!  I haven't even attempted it
myself yet.... maybe next year for Houston???

Congratulations Jody!!!

Wendy Watkins
Honey Pot Quilting
Bendigo Vic
http://community.webshots.com/user/honeypotquilter




Yahoo!7 Groups Links




No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.0/1076 - Release Date: 17/10/2007
7:53 PM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.15.0/1076 - Release Date: 17/10/2007
7:53 PM

Jody Abel was one of the State winners in the Spotlight Houston
competition.  I've placed a photo in the Albums of her lovely trapunto
quilt which was one of three quilts she entered.... she was desperate
to get to Houston.

This was like a 2nd place prize, awarded one in each state.  Jody
received a $250 Spotlight voucher.  This was Jody's first attempt at
trapunto so she was really excited with the finished product.

I thought it looked fabulous too Jody!!  I haven't even attempted it
myself yet.... maybe next year for Houston???

Congratulations Jody!!!

Wendy Watkins
Honey Pot Quilting
Bendigo Vic
http://community.webshots.com/user/honeypotquilter

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.13/1074 - Release Date: 16/10/2007 2:14 PM

If it cuts grooves into metal, I'd hate to think what it will do to the
threads in a quilt over time!!

Linda





Shelley Pinnell wrote:
> Thanks Susan -  it's a scary thought when it does that to your
> machine! I'll certainly think twice about using it now.
> Shelley
>
>
> On 10/14/07, *Susan Campbell* <rowdyflat@...
> <mailto:rowdyflat@...>> wrote:
>
>     Dear Shelley,
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>     I won't use monofilament thread on my quilt machine -  I used it
>     once and the thread put grooves in the thread guides and when I
>     changed back to cotton thread it kept on breaking and I had to
>     change all the thread guides.   I have also spoken a quilt judge
>     of long standing and she always marks a quilt down that is quilted
>     with monofilament thread.   That is good enough reason for me to
>     never use it again.
>
>
>
>
>
>     Susan Campbell
>
>     Post Office Box 888
>
>     YACKANDANDAH   3749
>
>
>
>     TEL:  02 60 271 387
>
>     mob:   0402 333271
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi Everyone

This is a late call I know and I apologise that it is, hard to
squeeze some spare time away from quilting this time of year isn't it?

I would really like to get together again especially as I missed the
last gathering in May.

So Open House at my place, 41 Elsanne St Aspley, on Saturday 27
October from 10am and all machine quilters invited.

If you are not too tired of my demonstrations, I will be happy to
show you some quick and easy border ideas. Or someone else might have
some ideas they too would like to show us. We might even make some
new discoveries on the day.

Please join in for Show & Tell or if there is a quilt you would like
to talk about or ask for help with bring that too. I am sure everyone
will be interested to hear about any new products, books, patterns or
tools. Fun discovering new things.

I am also working on some other activities for the day, possibly a
surprise guest.

Please let us know as soon as you can if you are able to attend.

Oh and the usual …….. bring a folding chair and some lunch. I'll have
the urn on and ask Cook to bake a cake. LOL

Look forward to catching-up with you.

Cheers

Barb C

Hi Shelley,
Welcome to AMQA.
I don't use the mono on my longarm, so I could be giving you a bum steer,
but have you tried putting a "sock" over the spool to control the speed the
thread comes off - you know, like a stretchy netting thingy - mine came with
my overlocker and I use it on threads that don't play the game.

Belinda

Belinda Betts
Eucalypt Ridge Quilting
P O Box 1579
Orange NSW 2800
Australia
+61 2 63658205
www.erquilting.com.au

Arbonne Independent Consultant
ID 613000322
www.Eucalyptridge.myarbonne.com.au

Hi to you all, this is my first message! I use a Nolting SMS 18" long
arm machine and I have had problems using Signature monofilament
thread - even when loosening top tension. I am wondering if its because
it's on a normal thread spool, not a cone and I am used to using the
latter on my domestic machine with no problem. I do not have a
horizontal pin on my LA machine to put the spool on. Any suggestions? I
would love to use it for SID on appropriate quilts.
Thanks
Shelley

Hi Everyone
I am sure you will all join with me in welcoming another new member,
Julie writes:
I live in Mt Gambier. S.A. We came here 22 years ago from Adelaide
because my husband was in the Police force . I have been quilting for
20 years and machine quilting my own quilts on a pfaff 2170 and
recently a Bernina 440Q with stitch regulator, both beautiful
machines.  I am using machine embroidery in my quilts as well (a
passion at the moment ).  My Mum passed away in April and left me
with a considerable amount of money and as she has always supported
my quilting I decided to buy the Gammil
Classic plus to finish my quilts myself as a gift from her and Dad. I
also have a 30 yr old daughter who is a single mum and there is a
possablity that she may want to quilt for others, thus opening up a
door for her if she wants to proceed down that path and be
successful.   I am 57, retired, a quilter also studying the
Generations software program to be able to digitise my own designs
somewhere in the future.  I am very excited about my Gammil,  Ive
been looking at books and DVDs on the net to help me with learning,
but it seems like there is nothing like practice.
regards Julie

Hi Everyone
I would like to introduce a new member to this group,Shelley writes:


I have been a patchworker/quilter for nearly 20 years and have been
teaching for 5 years, with a special interest in beginning
patchworkers and machine piecing/applique.  I am an  WAQA accredited
teacher . I commenced my long arm quilting business last year and
have spent much time learning the  techniques specific to long arm
quilting. In the past couple of months I have opened my doors to
customers and am looking forward to building my business as well as
continuing grow in experience. It has been a huge learning curve!

My background is medical - I am a Registered Nurse and Midwife by
profession and still work 2 days a week as a midwife at a local
hospital in WA.  I had a back injury 5 years ago and began to think
about what I could do  if I had to leave nursing - and the idea of
Heritage Country Quilting was born. The business is located in my
home in the Brookton Valley area of Kelmscott WA. It took a while to
realise, but now its happening, I'm very excited.  I am also married
and have one adult child still at home.

I have been learning from various books including books by Linda V
Taylor, Carol Thelen and Karen McTavish. I have found DVD's
invaluable as there are no physical lessons (other than basic)
available here. I really enjoy custom quilting more than pantograph
quilting as I find the latter harder on my neck than working from the
front of the machine, and custom quilting is, I feel, also more
creative and fulfilling.

I already have an application form to join the AMQA and will do so as
soon as funds permit! I am so glad that I will be able to join the
forum in the interim as one tends to feel quite alone in the industry
at times. It will be interesting and rewarding to be able to share
joys and questions with others.
Many thanks
Shelley Pinnell

Barb Cowan
Moderator

I just thought I'd drop a note of congratulations here to Tracey
Browning who was the guest speaker at the SA Guild meeting last week.
It was a really interesting talk Tracey gave and complemented with some
really great photos which were presented on a slideshow.  I for one
have never been to any of the major overseas quilt shows, and i found
it really interesting and informative.  The quilts were astounding.
Well done, and thanks Tracey.

Brenda
Quiltability

Hi All,

I've put a little video clip tip on my blog
http://www.lorienquilting.typepad.com

This first one is about how I made my laser shine a smaller light so
I could do more intricate patterns acurately - I use a cake icing
tip (very technical!)

I made the video by myself so it's not professional quality but it's
OK.

I'd love to know what you think if you have time to have a look.

Best wishes and happy quilting to you all,

Hermione Agee.

Lorien Quilting
30 Lockwood Rd
Belgrave Heights VIC 3160
Australia
Ph: 61 (0)3 9754 4916
Email: hermione@...
www.lorienquilting.com - paper quilting patterns
www.digitalquiltingpatterns.com - digital quilting patterns
BLOG http://www.lorienquilting.typepad.com

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.14.2/1052 - Release Date: 5/10/2007 6:53 PM

Thanks Lynne - sure is a good feeling after doing so many assesments
this week - Thankfully I have finished that stage now and it is all
practical assesments now next week.

You can view the winning quilts now at www.mqinnovations.com  It is
worth a look as there are some great quilts and they have
photographed them so we can actually see the quilting.

Cheers
Clare
Never Ending Quilting

--- In AMQA_Open_Discussion@..., "Lynne Van Rhee"
<vanrhee@...> wrote:
>
> Hey Congratulations  Clare,  that is a wonderful up after all your
exams
>
> Lynne
> Blue Wren Quilting
> Oxley Vic
>

Hi All,
I have just found out that my black quilt 'Snickle Dippinlips' has won
1st place wholecloth category at MQ Innovations USA.
I am very excited and after a week of exams I am ready to celebrate
something! Woo Hoo!

Cheers
Clare Fairless
Never Ending Quilting

That is so true Sally, and I think when a new customer comes along you wonder – will this be one of the loyal 10% - I‘ve often been really surprised as to who this can turn out to be!  There is one little old lady who comes to mind.  When she first appeared I thought – “Lovely lady, but a pensioner, won’t be able to afford to get many done.”  Boy was I wrong – 2 years and 26 quilts later she is my best customer and I love her to bits!

Kathy

 

 

koolkatquilting wrote:

Hi all,

I just thought it might be nice to start a discussion going about
marketing to new customers. I was really pleased today to get a
phone call from a new customer who found me by doing a Google search
for machine quilters and she found the AMQA site and hence my name.
That was great, as it made the cost of the membership really
worthwhile. In the past I have had a website but it is hard to get
up there in the Google searches so people can find you. Well done
AMQA! (Should also add that I once had expensive magazine ads which
didn't result in any sales at all!)

It made me ponder and I realized that not all quilters belong to a
guild, get a newsletter, or even know other quilters, so there can be
people out there who need us but couldn't previously find us. Then I
started to think about what my core business is, and who are my
customers. Sound like Business 101, but it is interesting to think
about. What I am finding is that the really experienced and skillful
quilters are not my core business, but the novice quilter and perhaps
the hobby or "grandmother" quilters come to me for assistance so they
can finish their quilts. I also have a smaller proportion of the more
experienced quilters, who mainly want custom work and are willing to
pay for it, but the greater majority, simply want to get their quilt
quilted, and they love the professional touch of the long arm
quilting.

In satisfying the needs of all my customers I find that I need to be
able to be versatile and do all types of quilting, but I am humbled
by the trust my customers place in me to make the best of their
work. It really is a satisfying job and I love it! (Most of the
time)

That's all for now - would love to hear other people's ideas about
this topic.

Kathy
 

Hi all,

I just thought it might be nice to start a discussion going about
marketing to new customers.  I was really pleased today to get a
phone call from a new customer who found me by doing a Google search
for machine quilters and she found the AMQA site and hence my name.
That was great, as it made the cost of the membership really
worthwhile.  In the past I have had a website but it is hard to get
up there in the Google searches so people can find you.  Well done
AMQA! (Should also add that I once had expensive magazine ads which
didn't result in any sales at all!)

It made me ponder and I realized that not all quilters belong to a
guild, get a newsletter, or even know other quilters, so there can be
people out there who need us but couldn't previously find us. Then I
started to think about what my core business is, and who are my
customers.  Sound like Business 101, but it is interesting to think
about.  What I am finding is that the really experienced and skillful
quilters are not my core business, but the novice quilter and perhaps
the hobby or "grandmother" quilters come to me for assistance so they
can finish their quilts. I also have a smaller proportion of the more
experienced quilters, who mainly want custom work and are willing to
pay for it, but the greater majority, simply want to get their quilt
quilted, and they love the professional touch of the long arm
quilting.

In satisfying the needs of all my customers I find that I need to be
able to be versatile and do all types of quilting, but I am humbled
by the trust my customers place in me to make the best of their
work.  It really is a satisfying job and I love it! (Most of the
time)

That's all for now - would love to hear other people's ideas about
this topic.

Kathy

For those who are interest I'm blogging at
http://www.lorienquilting.typepad.com/lorien_quilting/

I only started it today so there's not much on there yet but there
will be!

Hope you're all getting lots of quilting done.

Cheers,

Hermione.