Peggy and four other American quilters, respectively known as ‘Team USA’ are entering Quilts into “Patchwork Promises” an international round robin exhibit taking place at the first ever “International Quilt Festival of Ireland“.

Matt Sparrow in Ireland

Peggy asked me to quilt her quilt and after seeing a photo of her center block, I was unable to refuse. Several months later, I finally finished quilting her quilt and as I type this, her quilt is on a truck out for delivery. This will be the first time Peggy has seen her quilt since sending it to me months ago. I am only allowed to share this one photo.

International-Quilt-Festival-of-Ireland

I am taking my mom to see the quilt hanging in Ireland in June. Can’t wait!!!!!! I hope you enjoy this photo and wait patiently to see the eleven borders around the center block. YES I said eleven!!!

… That APQS makes the best Longarm on the planet backed up by unrivaled customer service.

That quilty tattoos are far more common than you could ever imagine.

That bringing a world famous longarm quilter to Canada to teach will be a huge success.

Just over a week from now, me and my iPhone will be at the airport with my live stream running as Karen walks out of customs with a giant army duffle bag full of hand quilting stencils. Be sure to Join us throughout the week for candid little updates and photos of all the fun that is going to be had.

Moving forward, I am going to adopt the following motto!

Better brief than nothing at all.

That is how I am going to approach blogging from now on. It may come across as a bunch of little rants, but that’s how I roll. Maybe that’s why I love Facebook so much. It feels more natural to blurt out random thoughts in my status on fb than it does to waste an entire post on my blog.

When I look back at the conversations I’ve started on my wall, I sometimes wish I would have blogged them instead. Then, at the very least they would be ‘searchable’ and wouldn’t feel like they were slowly pushed off my wall And forgotten. Isn’t the whole point of creating content on the web to ‘create a timeless resource for years to come? That’s how I look at it anywayz.

I have decided the best way to keep my blog current is to force myself to blog every day for a month. That is my goal for December. That and not ‘eating out’. Shit! Where did that come from? I love eating out! but seeing as I am not getting any taller yet keep gaining weight, it’s time to take a few precautions to ensure that I don’t hit 250lbs any time soon. That might have the reverse effect as I will now cook bucket loads of food on Sundays and freeze it for the studio throughout the week. Mmmm, can’t wait to start planning recipes.

What’s your favorite festive recipe? crockpot ideas would be greatly appreciated!

I am very excited to bring Sparrow Studioz to the merchant Mall. The last vendor’s mall I participated in (as Manquilter.Com) was in the Creative Stitches show in both Calgary and Edmonton. I was extremely dissapointed at the Calgary show as 3/4 of the booths were dedicated to scrapbooking. Not sure where the word ‘stitches’ fits in there but I have recently learned the reason for the lack of a quilty presence in Calgary. Edmonton on the other hand was a much better show with lots and lots of quilters encouraging the growth of the quilted crafts by coming out and supporting the vendors.

What am I brining to the event next weekend you ask?

Why my buddies GEORGE and LENNI of course!

Who is George you ask?

George is a space-saving stationary APQS machine with an amazing 20″ of throat space. George uses the same sewing components & belt-driven technology as our other machines but in a smaller, basic package. A fast, affordable way to move to a professional longarm machine without sacrificing quality. Warranty: 8-year (96-months) parts/labor.

APQS George Complete quilting system

Although I look like an extremely happy George owner, looks can be deceiving.

Although George is in my Studio, it is only temporary as this little man belongs to a brand new APQS owner in Cochrane, AB. She has graciously allowed me to use her new portable longarm to demo in my booth at Heritage Park next weekend. I’ve been having a blast playing with her new toy even if I lack any skill at all. OMG did my first samples look terrible. It didn’t take me long to realize I needed practice, practice and more practice.

So what does a longarm quilter do when they want to improve their skills?

Easy! They take a class. Seeing as how I teach a Longarm Quilting Class at Sparrow Studioz, I decided I just might be the best teacher for the job. So off to my filing cabinet I went to dig out my Muscle Memory handout. After only twenty minutes I could see a noticeable improvement. I plan to spend at least an hour/day practicing my muscle memory so I look somewhat competent while demo’ing the George in my booth this weekend. Drop by my booth and see how much I have improved after only one week. You can meet George and I’ll tell you everything about him while you sit and sew. Bring your husband along as he may want to remind you later how well built APQS machines look. In the mean time, watch Claudia Clark Meyers (who just happens to use the APQS George long-arm quilting system to machine quilt her projects) kick ass with George.

Optional Bliss Upgrade available for all machines including LENNI!! Only $1,000

Demo Millennium with Standard Table (10′, 12′, or 14′ foot table)
$1,400 cash off
Free Quilt Glide ($1250 value)
Free Motorized Fabric Advance ($1350 value)
8-year warranty
Machine Value $20,000 – Sale Price – $16,000

Demo Freedom SR with Standard Table (10′, 12′, or 14′ foot table)
$1,800 cash off
Free Quilt Glide ($1250 value)
Free Motorized Fabric Advance ($1350 value)
8-year warranty
Machine Value $19,400 – Sale Price – $15,000

Demo Lucey on NEW Standard Table (10′ or 12′ foot Table)
$1,100 cash off
8-year warranty
Machine Value $11,900 – Sale Price – $10,800

Demo Lenni on NEW Standard Table (10′ or 12′ foot Table)
$1,100 cash off
8-year warranty
Machine Value $10,900 – Sale Price – $9,800

Personally, I have always thought of the long arm quilting machine to be of the stand up for variety, where the machine rides on a table. This is not necessarily always the case. There is also the long arm quilting machine that you sit down at to quilt. As I meet with more and more quilters, looking to take their quilting to the next level, I realize there is a huge market for sit down long arm quilting machines. As a sales rep for American Professional Quilting Systems, I am just a little bit excited to see that APQS has made huge improvements on their sit down model, the George.

The complete George portable quilting system down to a very affordable $6400 US.

The New and Improved APQS George

The all-new George features bright view LED lights that illuminate over 200 in.² of your quilts surface for great visibility. They have also added a second model of table that brings the price of the complete George portable quilting system down to a very affordable $6400 US. Now you can own a sitdown long arm quilting machine with all the great features and superior stitch quality that APQS is famous for.

The George is perfect for any quilter tired of struggling to squeeze quilts through a small standard sewing machine. You will love the expansive 20″ throat space. This space-saving machine produces superior stitches and is perfect for art quilts with beautiful, intricate detail. George uses the same sewing components & belt-driven technology as our other machines but in a smaller, more basic package. It is a fast, affordable way to move into professional long-arm machine quilting without sacrificing the APQS quality.

Whether you want to take George to your next quilting retreat or you’re just short on space, this table makes machine quilting even easier. Never worry about scrunching up and wrestling with your quilt sandwich again. George has 20 inches of throat space so you can even conquer king-size quilts with ease. The smooth-surfaced portable table lets the quilt glide easily and has rounded corners so your quilt won’t catch as you’re moving it. With ample room to the left and behind the needle, your quilt won’t bunch up in the throat like other sit-down machines. The table measures 24” x 60” and adjusts in height from 22” to 32” to help you quilt without raising your shoulders uncomfortably like standard tables.

APQS George Sit Down Quilting Machine

The table legs fold up completely for storage. A clear view table insert is standard and gives you great visibility when changing the bobbin. George’s Smart Bobbin, Gentle Touch Tensioner, and simple thread path mean you can even use delicate threads or specialty threads on your project. George’s touch-sensitive foot pedal lets you place stitches precisely where you want them, even one stitch at a time! The single stitch needle positioner and motor speed control help you customize your quilting experience to your personal style.

The beefed up model of the APQS George will start shipping in just a couple short weeks. Now is your chance to get on the list  to be the first to receive the George on the movable table. A $500 fully refundable deposit will ensure you are one of the very first quilters  to fall in love with the all-new George.

Call me today at 780-463-4242 to reserve your spot in line.

Throughout my life, I have met literally hundreds of people that I can’t stand. Seriously, if you knew me when I was an Asshole, and I was acting like one it’s probably because I didn’t like you. Then again, If you are reading this post, chances are that you are not one of those people I couldn’t stand. The chances are pretty darn good that you are a quilter too. The best I figure, it’s because I no longer hang out with assholes that I no longer act like one.

I have a new peer group of quilters that bring out the best in me. I have yet to meet a quilter that I didn’t like. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that all quilters are the same here, I’m saying that all quilters are likeable, unlike the vast majority of non-quilters. HARHAR! Not only have I met a lot of quilters that I liked, I’ve met a lot that I connect with. We share similar goals, and seem to help or at least motivate each other to achieve them.

Throughout the first few years of my brand new quilting career, I have to admit that as February drags on I become inreasingly drained. My creativity come to a screeching halt and needs desperately to be recharged. At these time I reach out to my local peer group to be inspired but more times than not I find that they too are fighting for air. To cure those quilty blues, I chose to travel to a huge quilting exhibition in the US for five fun filled days of classes with world renowned teachers. Surely that would have to put a spark up my ass. So to Speak OWWWWW! I think I mean ‘A fire under my ass’. Yah that’s better.

Anyway, the past couple years, after a long cold winter, I flew down to Providence, RI and Manchester, NH to take classes from Karen McTavish, Dawn Cavanaugh, Pam Clarke, Debbi Trevino, Deloa Jones, Elaine Huffman, Gina Perkes, Linda Taylor, Debby Brown, Cathy Franks and Sue Patten. Both times I came back ready to quilt and more importantly inspired to create. I also came back with a StrongAss urge to share the excitement with everyone I knew.

After thinking ‘long and hard‘ (can’t believe those words appear together in a quilting blog can you?) The best I felt I could do was invite the crazy, caffeine induced wild women of quilting up to Edmonton to yell at us for five days straight. WELL! That’s exactly what I did! I called my buddy Sue and told her to pack all her quiltiest shit in the backseat of her car and get her ass to Edmonton Alberta to entertain and motivate us right into spring with her awe inspiring classes.

Because out of all the classes I’ve ever taken, I know that Sue is the one and only teacher that connects with each and every student in the room. She treats her students like they are her peers and that’s a great learning environment. She makes your confidence seep from your pores! I know Sue will get the job done! She is going to change the way Edmonton quilters quilt. Well at least the Edmonton quilters that are lucky enough to take her classes.

Every single class I’ve taken has motivated me to become a better quilter but Sue’s classes have changed the way I quilt forever. No joke! Sue Patten has more design ideas floating out of her little ginger head than there are loose threads on the floor of all our sewing rooms combined.

I would love to be a fly on the wall of her studio and watch as these ideas are painted onto her quilts with thread. Wait, I AM, Sam I AM going to be a fly on the wall from March 9th to 15th at Sparrow Studioz Quilting & Gallery. Are you?

more info & register here

The longarm quilters of Sparrow Studioz are offering a One Penny Meander sale.

Just when you thought you couldn’t afford to have your quilts professional finished, Sparrow Studioz goes and launches an unheard of sale on longarm quilting services. Choose from a variety of all-over designs to finish your quilts. One Penny per square inch! So gather those unfinished tops from your closet, head on over to the grand opening sale at Sparrow Studioz Quilting & Gallery this Friday, Saturday and Sunday and get ready to attach the binding baby. We are only accepting the first 30 quilts, so you better hurry. Sale starts at 7pm Friday the 18th.

Grand Opening Hours
Fri Feb 18 7-9pm
Sat Feb 19 10am – 8 pm
Sun Feb 20 10am – 5pm