AQC 2008...

What a fantastic four days! WOW! The Australasian Quilt Convention held in Melbourne was a quilting experience of some of the planet's finest teachers, perfect organisation, and wonderful fun. What did I turn all that bright fabric into? This work in progress:

Melinda (my quilting friend) and I, indulged in a wonderful two day class with Gloria Loughman titled, 'Playing on the Surface'. Play we did! I don't ever remember being in a class and learning so much in two days. Gloria has a way of teaching that makes everything just seem like having fun and only at the end of the day, when you sit back with a nice wine, do you realise that you actually weren't just playing, you were learning! Melinda and I were so keen to keep going on our projects we stayed up until 2am on the first night and 1am on the second night!

It was a great abstract class, and going way outside my comfort zone, I think I did okay.

Day Three saw Melinda and I in another one of Gloria's workshops all about colour, 'Color is Magic'. It was so magnificent. The only disappointment was that we didn't want it to finish! We did the theory and then it was into practise. Gloria gave us two landscapes to choose from (so we didn't get tied up in the design - ONLY our colour selection - brilliant - or people like me wouldn't have got anything done) and then away we went. Here's a portion of my work in progress:

We had the opportunity to paint our own sky etc, and it was just so much fun I felt like I was back in the art room at highschool!

Exhausted as we were we managed to frock up and attend the wonderful Gala Dinner - a wonderful national quilting event:

Do you recognise (above) me, Kirsten from 'Two Lime Leaves' who was one of the teachers, and Melinda?

Then there was a photo opportunity with Gloria Loughman:

And, so after another even later night, we managed to head off to a class with South African Quilter, Rosalie Dace. This was a design class and it was very exciting to sit and listen to some great inspiration from Rosalie.

I got about this far, and did another abstract quilt design:

Rosalie works with lots of different fabrics and embellishments and I had so much fun just 'playing'. Today I finished my design layout and just can't wait to get my new sewing machine and get going.

Yes, Jan is going to retire. I spent three days getting aquainted with Betty Bernina and I have decided that we just got along so well (she was VERY easy to communinicate with) tommorow will be adoption day for Betty...

Stay tuned,

Leanne Beasley xxx

Comments

[Amanda Browning]

Hi Leanne, I just LOVE your abstract piece..it looks fabulous. It is refreshing to go outside your comfort zone and try new techniques. Have fun with Betty..I just love my Bernina too.
Amanda

[Mary]

Both of these small quilts look wonderful. I typically learn new techniques from books rather than classes but it looks like these classes were really interesting.

How nice to get a new machine too!

[anne]

Wow you certainly have been busy. I am checking out sewing machines and see you have 6260QC. I am looking at buying this a 6260QC or the 6600P. What advise can you give as I am unsure what to purchase. Any help would be great.

[Kellie]

This is fantastic as is all of your work. I'm with Ethne how have you put the piece together - if with fusable what brand - I struggle with this stuff! Always seems to lift before I sew! I also wanted to ask about where you get the permanent marker that you list in the 365 challenge - I can't wait to start this one. Thanks for sharing I really enjoy stopping by here!

[Ethne]

I keep thinking about your first piece - and no doubt others are also wondering are the overlays on the free form panels fused, appliqued and are the flying geese pieced
Come on please put us out of our misry

[Amanda]

Oh Leanne sounds like you had a fabulous time. Well maybe next year I just have to get organised.

[Nicola]

Hi Leanne - looks you had a GREAT time - love your abstract piece - the colours are fab - how large is it?? Oh you'll just LOVE your new Bernina - my husband bought me one last year for our wedding anniversary - not very romantic I know, but OMG was he in my good books for MONTHS afterwards! Come to think of it, he was in my good books too, when he bought me some RED shoes!!

[Carol]

Hi Leanne,
Sounds like you had a lot of fun and made some interesting pieces. I love the first piece and look forward to seeing it finished. Thanks for showing us!!
Carol x

[Gail]

hope Betty has settled in well....

[Sue]

WOW!!! I just love what you have created and Im sure you had fun doing it. It is hard to move out of our comfort zones but you have done magnificantly. Well done!!
Cheers Sue

[Karen]

wow! LOVE your first piece!! What a great opportunity for you! I'm envious!

[Claire]

I love the coral sort of shapes in the first composition.
Now i am very jealous of all the things that happened at the ACQ.

[Angelman]

Dear Leanne,
Fabulous colours and design.
Can`t wait to see the finished project.
Sounds like the Convention was fantastic, and you both had a great time.
I am going to my first Stitch-In on Saturday with Rosalie,Janet Rowe and Helen Stubbings. I can`t wait.
Regards Angela.

[Jo from the farm]

Looks like you had a great weekend...Mum and I both got new Berninas last year, think they are the same as Gail's. We'll be all set for Loxton this year...
Happy Stitching, Love Jo XXX

[tracey petersen]

I LOVE your comtemporary piece. Outside your usual style, but your personality is still visible. I'm glad to see the photo with you and Kirsty. She was really looking forward to meeting you!

[Lissa]

what a fun time you have had Leanne.. new techniques, new friends and a new 'child'??? doesn't get much better than that in my book!!!

Lissa

[meggie]

Looks like you had a wonderful time! I love the landscape. But then, I like everything I see!

[Jenny]

I am so glad you really enjoyed yourself and those works in progress are just fantastic. I paticlarly like the colours in the first one. Happy quilting!!

[Carole Meier]

WOW! What a fun filled time! I enjoy classes that get me thinking outside the box! Lovely projecst! Thanks for sharing!

[Laila]

Hei. It seems you had a realy great time in classes. And your items was so not like you. It is so fun to see. I will be looking forward to se them finihed. Fun. ;-)

[Lucy Locket-Pocket]

Wow! What a lot of fun you had! I love that first piece of work and can't wait to see it finished!

[Jo]

I am so happy that you had a great time Leanne. Your energy is jumping off the page...literally!!
Hope to hear more about your adventures.

[nicolette]

You did so many different things in one weekend! OMG, I love it. It’s great to see you using totally different fabrics. Curious to see what you are going to incorporate in your new designs!
I only recently took some classes at my local quilt shop and I’m hooked. It’s so great to learn from talented people. Yesterday they had a workshop about the Tifaifai technique. Unfortunately I couldn’t make it. Happy week!

[Ethne]

WOW it looks like you had a really great time - I've been looking at free form piecing recently but that first project is something else - cant wait to see the finished item photo - and I desparate to see what you do with all those threads etc on your last project
Will these techinques appear in your new projects?