AQC 2012

This week I’m settling back into home after a couple of action-packed weeks in Australia.

Firstly, I would just like to welcome all my new subscribers. Putting this blog together is still all very new to me; seeing people are interested in what I have to say has made my day, so thank-you!

Exhibition Stands

As mentioned in the previous post  I have just been to The Australian Quilt Convention for 2012. The weather was beautiful and the surrounding gardens were stunning, the show itself was wonderful as always!

Exhibition Hall

AQC is always a highlight in the show circuit for me. It’s somewhat different, largely because its main focus is bringing together outstanding tutors from around the world, enabling keen quilters to learn new skills and techniques, not just the quilt show and exhibitor stands. With four days of classes, it’s always exciting when my quilting friends come down and show me what they have learn't.

Finished setting up the stand on the night before

From left: Leesa Siegel, Chris Timmons & Lois from Sydney

Classes take place that range from one day to the full four days

The 1 metre and half metre pieces I took this year, did much better than I anticipated. I was surprised at how many people said they would actually prefer to buy larger pieces rather than fat quarters. That’s why I have decided that I will stock these sizes, at the other shows I attend.

1 Metre & 1/2 Metre Pieces

This year I was again helped out by Kim Bastiani, I couldn’t do the shows without the help I get from the lovely ladies I’ve met over the years.

Kim on the stand

At every show; I do a workshop showcasing new and interesting tools, that people may not have seen before. The workshops are great because the stand is not the most convenient place to give complete demonstrations; they also allow me to answer questions people may have.  It's always a pleasure to see the ladies that come and listen to me time and time again.

This year my workshop was on The Folded 3D Mariner’s Compass, a Phillips Fiber Art product. It’s a pattern and tool set that enables you to put together a Mariner’s Compass without foundation paper. People just loved this product; we sold over 80 in the four days.

 

On the more social side, I had dinner on Lygon Street with some of my friends, who had flown in from around Australia for the show. I've met these ladies over the years through quilting and we always have a fantastic catch up whenever possible.

 From left: Karen (Queensland Quilters), Deb & Michelle (Victor Harbour, SA)

From left: Michelle & Kerryn (Victor Harbour, SA), Faye Cunningham (Perth)

 Since AQC is over for another year, it's time to focus on what is coming up in the rest of the year.

Click Here to see more photos

AQC - Australasian Quilt Convention

This week I am heading to Melbourne is be an exhibitor at AQC, I've learn't from past years that quilters attending AQC are just nuts about fabric, as opposed to tools and accesseries you tend to find at the other shows. For this reason, this year on the Tulis Textiles stand I will only be selling fabric. At the other shows I only stock fat quarters but because of the classes at AQC I will also be stocking half metre, and metre pieces.

For those of you who haven't been to AQC before, it is Australasia's biggest quilting event. It's four days of classes with the best tutors from around the world and of course an exhibition of shopping and a quilt show comprised of the best quilts from around Australia and New Zealand. Although classes need to be booked and paid for months in advance, just to get a space, the exhibition is open to the general public from Thursday 12th - Sunday 15th of April.
The convention is held in The Royal Exhibition Buliding, in Melbourne's Botantical Gardens. It is a truely beautiful location. Here are some photo's taken from last year.

The building stands across from the Melbourne Muesuem, the mix of the old style architecture of the Exhibiton Building with the new style architecture of the Muesuem is always worth a look.

AQC is one of my highlights of working the quilt shows around Australia and New Zealand. There is some bias there, I absolutely love Melbourne. My family and I moved there for four years in 2000, for my husband's work. The Royal Exhibition Building is located in the suburb of Carlton, known for Lygon Street. The street is lined with restaurants and eateries, specialising in all things Italian.

Restaurants, Gelati Shops and Patisseries

Old and new quilters a like travel from New Zealand and all around Australia to be part of the annual convention. I always see friendly faces, that I've met at other shows.

For any quilting enthusiasts out there that haven't been, whether you're from Australia, New Zealand or another part of the world, it should be on your bucket list.

For more information Click Here, the link will take you to the AQC website.

Here is the link to my Flickr account to check out some more photos from last year Click Here

Hope to see many of you there

Coming to Terms with E-Commerce

Welcome to the next step for Tulis Textiles. After much deliberation I have decided that Tulis needs to embrace the wonders that E-Commerce has to offer.

The wonders include:

·         A Facebook page; for all you tech-savvy quilters out there, click like below

·         A Flickr account; with the hope of inspiring old and new quilters alike, from new projects to classes I have taught to even quilting related events, all for your viewing pleasure

·         Regular updates on this blog.

Updates to the blog will include current projects I am working on, exciting new products from around the world, upcoming events, new fabric ranges, classes I will be teaching and all things QUILTING! If you are interested in receiving updates from me, sign up to the free email subscription and you’ll get the updates right into your inbox.

Tulis specialises in selling beautiful batiks from Bali, mainly via online shopping but also at a variety of quilt and craft shows around Australia and New Zealand. Check out the website http://www.tulis.co.nz. Over the next 6 months we will be re-developing the website, so look out for some exciting new changes!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Kerry. I have been a passionate quilter for many years now, so much so that 7 years ago I decided to make it my life. I operate Tulis from my home in New Zealand. It is wonderful to be able to work in an environment that fully caters for all my creative needs.

Since starting Tulis I have sold and worked with Batik fabrics, I love the contemporary feel these fabrics add to even the most traditional patterns. I have a reputation as being a bit of a "circle freak" as I have gravitated to working with pieced circular shapes. I have taught classes both in New Zealand and Australia, passing on those techniques I have learnt and developed during my quilting career.

 I travel frequently to Australia and around NZ selling my fabric so perhaps I will be coming to a town /city near you.