WhAtS mIsSiNg & ThE sTaNdS........

Some thing that became noticeable last year to me and reinforced this year is the lack of display/patterns from some of our "big names" in Australian stitching/quilting/designing...............very disappointing especially for me as I live in an area where we don't have any quilt shops as it is always much better to see things in person and while I know all shops have different styles and keep different designers patterns etc but I would say Melbourne and Sydney have the biggest quilt shows in Australia. Would this not be a priority in the Australian market....and I as I don't own a shop I don't go to the trade show but quite a few of what I would call our big names are just not at the show you try and find a pattern from some.........non existent..........a lot of people don't follow blogs online like me so how would you even know they exist or have new patterns.............if your trying to make designing and selling patterns your business would this not be a great way to promote it all..................
Having said the above I have no idea what it costs to have a stand at the expos but I am sure it is too expensive as I know one shop told me she wasn't going back due to the cost.......AND I do know it is a massive effort for the shops/designers that make the effort to attend.
Maybe you could tag on with a shop..........they promote your patterns and you draw customers to their stand also.....share the cost.....I don't know what the answer is but that was disappointing..........
....but moving onto the good stuff.............

to the shops that did attend..........you hard work is appreciated...............
I did miss lots of photos of shops that were at the quilt show that I loved......there were heaps but here are some of the favourites............
Threadbear, Cherry Pie Designs, Monica Poole was with Margaret's Fabrics..........Kelani...
Quiltmania had a stand.........Kathy and the girls at Material Obsessions...........
I have a few of my favourites following...........

Hatched and Patched............Anni is always a massive hit.........

A wonderful surprise this year was to find Carolyns' Quilting Room........OMG reproduction heaven.........

Carolyn has big news since the quilt show.........Congrats Carolyn...........

I am so tempted by this quilt..........the blue,brown and creams

what do you think should I do it???

The Birdhouse.........The designs from Natalie's new book are to the left........
great to see Natalie at the stand Trev was hiding behind the middle quilt.........

Sue Daley was with Busy Thimbles..........I did have Sue in the photo but she may not have been speaking to me if I hadn't cropped this photo..........it wasn't very flattering............

Marg Low was on a stand with Blue Willow Cottage last year and this year branched out on her own............the stand was gorgeous and full of her designs............

birdseye view of some of the stands................

For some you may have heard of the Travelling Friendship Quilt............
Blocks are made up from all over Australia.............

This one was from Pauline Calico Crossroads in Tasmania
thats a pic of her shop in the middle.........hope your on the mend Pauline.......I'm sure your customers are missing you.............

This one I also snapped as it is from Hetties Patch  in South Australia and my friend works there............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

qUiLtS pArT tWo............

I brought raffle tickets in this one when they were holding the raffle but didn't win it so it was nice to see it again..................a group quilt............

not the clearest photo but there are a couple more blocks below...........

I love the fussy cutting effect I think I will have to make a quilt like this............

guess who taking a pic............

in love with this one too.............lots of awards

close up.......

a Roebuck quilt..........very different colours.............

Loved Catherine Butterworths quilts last year too..........

hoping to learn how to do these blocks soon.............

A friends quilt...............I missed the bit about the challenge fabric so when i went back to look at this quilt and realised what the challenge was I looked at all the quilts very differently.............wished I had some more pics to show you sorry............

I know the lady who made this one...........I think she should have won a prize............ one of the quilts that won a prize in this section was not put together very well at all..............points missing, loose threads etc.......I don't know anything about judging or what the judges look at etc but this is just my opinion.........

So many different tastes, styles, colours, techniques............I am so inspired..........

I wonder how many hours it took all the quilt makers to make all these quilts..............it would be huge I am sure.................

I actually missed going around the special hanging section with the camera but you can see more of the winners in sections here...............NSW Quilters Guild worth a look..............and if you click on the quilts the pics will enlarge..............

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue

qUiLtS pArT oNe........

The quilts were amazing at the quilt show...............this year I think there were more detailed lots of work quilts..........not so many simpler quilts which I think would be good to see a few more as if your a beginner you may never start.............

I have included all the cards below the quilts so you can see the details............

Just loved this one.............it featured heaps of stitches........bright colours very effective...........

lots of applique in this one.............

Want to make this.............

I see lots more patterns in this one.............

love this...........

the colours are a bit funny in my photo - sorry...........

perfect for me...........

More to come.........

Catch you later..............

Chookyblue......