stack and whack quilt

Here is one of the photos of the stack and whack quilt. 

Here is a couple of the other blocks as you can see when sewn back together they make some lovely patterns. I love the first one best so far.
I have another 6 or so to finish putting together and than add the finishing touches to make it into a quilt. Stay tuned for more photos.

Wendy

Tutu Quilt

Here is a photo of a quilt I made. I found the pattern on line at www.cutequiltpatterns.com

I just loved the pattern so I made one up it was really easy to make. I have added black ribbon down the border of the white pieces in the centre. I couldn't get rick rack here that was big enough.
I need to quilt it now. What would you suggest that I quilt on this.
leave a comment to let me know what you think.
hugs
Wendy

New York Beauty Quilt A Long

the first block for the New York Beauty Quilt along was published today. make sure you click on the link on the side bar and go and join the fun.
Wendy

Photos of the test quilt

Here you go these are the photos of the test quilt that I did for Arbeedeen quilts you can purchase the pattern here http://arbeedesigns.com/star-medallion/ you will find the picture of my quilt on here too. I love it in the black and gold and it sits on my 10 seater table everyone who visits says something about this quilt. I will make another one in different colours when I get a chance. I have some fabric in purples with african violets on which I think would look great in this.

Pattern testing

I am so excited I finished my first test pattern and sent off the photos and report last week. I have had an email back asking if they could use my photos on the website and blog. They loved my quilt and thought the fabrics I used were beautiful. I can't wait for the the pattern to be released so I can put up some photos. 

sorry it has been a while

Well it has been a week since I was last on here but I had used up all my internet download looking at blogs. There are so many amazing blogs out there, I know of a couple that are about to or are doing free blocks of the months.
http://estheraliu.blogspot.com/ this is one that will be opening next month on the 15th. If you haven't been to Esther's blog before you should have a look she is an amazing sewer, patchwork, applique and quilter.
Weathervane block tutorial this is a great tutorial for anyone looking.

Embroidery machines

We are in the process at the moment of deciding if we are going to purchase an embroidery machine. We are looking at a Janome MB4 Embroidery Machine. Do we go ahead and get this or not. Does anyone else out there have any experience with these machines? Are they good quality machines, what about the program that you get to convert pictures etc into the digital format for embroidery, can these patterns also be used for quilting? All these questions, will this enhance our business, will this be just money spent that we never make back.
It is so hard to decide what to do about these things.
We purchased a very expensive longarm machine and our business is very slowly taking off. We got a website www.dahlwardquiltingservices.com hoping this will make our business grow faster, don't think we have anything from that. When we purchased our machine the man said that he had found that people got very little work from advertising in the quilting magazines. I just wonder is this the way to go to get us off the ground?
Where do you get your business for your quilting businesses? Do you advertise locally, do you advertise in magazines? or is it all word of mouth? I would really like to know what you think.
Wendy

Fabric won

Lucky Me! Prior to Christmas there was a big blog promotion going on with giveaways on many blogs. I entered quite a few of these and I was lucky enough to win on one of these. http://marijasfabricreations.blogspot.com/ Marija on this blog  sent me 2 beautiful fabrics. that I had won on her blog. These fabrics are gorgeous there seems to be 2 yards of one and 1 yard of the other.
The fabrics I received are 2 yards of Flower of the month Club - February are Violets #2796
and 1 yard  of Flower of the month Club - February are Violets # 2794. these are from www.northcott.net
these are both beautiful fabrics and would look amazing in a quilt. Now I have to decide what sort of quilt to use them in. Thanks so much to Marija she even sent it all the way from New York to Australia at no cost to me.
There are so many generous people out there. Oh!  I have decided what I will do with it, I will make a lovely little quilt  for my SIL for her birthday.
Wendy

Insurance

We have a long-arm quilting business with a very expensive machine. We haven't been able to get any insurance on this machine or my other sewing machines through our insurance or another company that we dealt with before when I owned a coffee shop. We have been told that no company will insure us as it is too high a risk.
I don't know if anyone else out there is having the same problem. One lady I spoke to on a yahoo group I am a part of she was told that her business is like a mattress making business and the risks are too high to insure her business. We only want insurance against fire and electrical. This would be a costly machine to replace.
If you know of any business in Australia that does insure sewing and long-arm machines please let me know.

Pattern testing

I have almost completed my first pattern testing quilt. I was chosen to do a test pattern. This is the first one I have done the quilt had a couple of little problems I have to just sandwich together and quilt and write my report.
I really like the quilt even if there is a couple of problems with it I am hoping when quilted it won't show as bad.
I will post some photos when I am able to.