Tuesday, August 26, 2014

AQS UPDATE

I spent 4 days driving back and forth to Grand Rapids, MI for the AQS show. It's about 1 hour away, but Wednesday it took me 2 HOURS to get home. I didn't see any reason why. I always wonder why this lane is moving so slowly, but usually, there's no reason evident.

Next year, I hope my BQFF will be going with me to this show, and we can stay in GR and not do the (annoying) drive back and forth. I just didn't want to swallow the cost of a room by myself this year.

As I mentioned in my last post, I met up with my Supernova partner, Pam, on Friday. It was great fun meeting a bloggy buddy. She called me from the lobby, and there I sat, seeing a tall (she told me she was tall) person making a phone call. What a kick! Had a great time seeing the quilts with her.

AQS has the machine vendors supply each classroom with appropriate sewing machine. The longarm classroom had Handi Quilter longarms. There were also irons, cutting mats and rotary cutters provided. Very convenient that you don't have to bring your whole sewing studio with you. I had a NQA class in June that I had to bring my machine. I like having stuff provided.

On the down side of that thought: you are not in control of what type of machine you will get. The whole classroom has one model of machine, but it could be top-of-the-line, or bottom. My last two classes, with Joanie Poole, has lower price Janomes provided. In the last class, several machines were acting up. The top thread kept breaking. So frustrating! I finally packed up early, disgusted with the machine. Told the Janome rep all about it.



This is Joanie's sample, above.

Here's mine, below, as far as I was able to get:



This is (supposed to be) the beginning of barn wood slats. I actually think it's pretty neat.

Here are some pics from the first Joanie class I took, on Thursday:

See my name?




Free motion circle shaped designs. I think there are some inspirations in this sample. Needs work tho, of course.

Tomorrow I'll show you my piece from the long arm class, and finally, I'll post pics from the quilt show. Be ready for a long one that day.

Thanks,
Lin

4 comments:

Ruth said...

Love your trees and clouds. they look great.

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

Oh, the barn wood slats quilting does look great! Bummer you had such trouble with the machine.

purduepam said...

I am wondering if the needle was not the correct size for the thread? If I have a problem with thread breaking I usually change the needle.

Love your wood. I am looking forward to see more of your samples.

Liz said...

That wood slat looks awesome! Her samples are pretty impressive, I think you did a great job practicing them! I'd love to take a FMQ class someday...and get a sewing machine that could handle it as well!