The Great APQS Canadian Roadshows

Free Longarm Quilting Seminars in Canada

APQS Road Show Longarm Quilting Experience
The APQS Road Show crew is traveling across the country, bringing our longarm quilting machines to you! This is your chance to get your hands on one of our longarm quilting machines to discover the model that is right for you.

What you’ll learn:
Designed for quilters who do not currently own a longarm machine or current owners who are looking to upgrade, the seminar includes valuable information about owning your first longarm.

• Discover resources for templates, batting, freehand instruction manuals, wholesale contacts, thread, etc.
• Find out where to buy pantograph patterns, books and stencils to make your longarm quilting fun and hassle-free.
• Learn business philosophies, products and services, pricing, marketing and income forecasting. (You’ll even get a Sample Business Plan.)
• Explore the differences between each APQS machine model and adding computerized quilting to a new or previous APQS machine.
• Learn which accessories are the “gotta haves” to make your quilting fast and easy.
• Learn how to oil, clean and service your machine to provide years of quilting fun!

Roadshow Dates:
March 7, 2014 (10am-1pm)
Grande Prairie, AB
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Grande Prairie-Conference Ctr
9816 107 St, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 8E7
Register Below

March 10, 2014 (12pm-3pm)
Ft. McMurray, AB
Quality Hotel & Conference Centre
424 Gregoire Drive, Fort McMurray, AB, Canada, T9H 3R2
Register Below

March 30, 2014 (12pm-3pm)
Abbotsford, BC
Best Western Plus Regency Inn & Conference Centre
32110 Marshall Rd, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1A1
Register Below

April 14, 2014 (10am-1pm)
Kamloops, BC
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Kamloops
675 Tranquille Rd, Kamloops, BC V2B 3H7
Register Below

April 15, 2014 (12pm-3pm)
Kelowna, BC
Holiday Inn Express Kelowna Conference Centre
2429 Hwy 97 N, Kelowna, BC V1X 4J2
Register Below

April 30, 2014 (12-3pm)
Regina, SK
Flirt Formal Fashions
348 Victoria Ave, Regina, SK S4N-0P6
Register Below

REGISTER FOR A CANADIAN APQS ROADSHOW BY CLICKING HERE

APQS Demo Sale, the deal of a lifetime

Oh my!!!! This is the very first demo sale on our NEW GENERATION Millie and Freedom! Top thread break sensor, low bobbin alert, pre-set stitch length, simple fingertip controls, lifetime warranty!

Available Models:

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)
Lifetime warranty
Machine Value $20,500 – Sale Price – $16,500

Demo Freedom SR with Standard Table
(10, 12, or 14 foot table)
$1,600 cash off
Free Quilt Glide ($1250 value)
Free Motorized Fabric Advance ($1350 value)
Lifetime warranty
Machine Value $19,900 – Sale Price – $15,700

Demo Lucey on Standard Table
(10 or 12 foot Table)
$1,100 cash off
Lifetime warranty
Machine Value $12,400 – Sale Price – $11,300

Demo Lenni on Standard Table
(10 or 12 foot Table)

$1,100 cash off

Lifetime warranty

Machine Value $11,400 – Sale Price – $10,300

For more information on this offer, contact Matt or Bradie @ Sparrow Studioz 780-463-4242
Don’t forget the amazing extras that come with APQS machines:
Bobbin Winder
Beginner’s class, a $200 value
Year subscription to Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting magazine
Two sample spools of Thread
Two pantographs from Golden Threads
Package of needles
Bobbins

New Generation Millennium Tried, Tested, Loved by ALL

We chose the smaller of the APQS longarm models as a way to reduce cost and still give our renters the best possible stitch quality available on the market. The most important part in our decision to buy a Lenni(20″ throat) was of course the ‘EASE OF USE’. We needed our renters to feel comfortable and confident the very first time they touched our machines. Although Lenni did everything we wanted it too, we felt there were a couple key features missing for the novice quilter.

#1. Power fabric advance

#2. Low bobbin alert

#3. Top thread break sensor

We were happy to hear that APQS re-designed their flagship Millennium and Freedom models to include every single feature we wanted in a Longarm. It didn’t take long to sell our renter Lenni and upgrade to a brand-new fully loaded Millennium. Here is a look at the set up of our new machine.

The New Generation of APQS Longarm Quilting Machines

As an APQS Dealer in Canada, I am always excited to tell you about new innovations to APQS machines. I am especially excited when the newest machine arrives in my studio to play with. As I mentioned this weekend, the new generation of APQS machines are now shipping and it took me all of 3 minutes to place my order. The good news for you guys… We are replacing our rental Lenni with a fully loaded Next Generation Millennium.

This means you can come in and test drive the very latest longarm quilting machine on the market. I know what you are thinking… ‘Edmonton is so far from where I live’. If that is the case and you are not able to make the drive, let me take a few minutes of your time to walk you through the newest features on the Millennium and
Freedom models.

1. LOW BOBBIN INDICATOR

APQS Low Bobbin Indicator

2. TOP THREAD BREAK SENSOR

APQS Thread Break Sensor

3. SMART TOUCH PAD

Next Generation Multi Touch Panel

4. SINGLE FINGERTIP CONTROLS

Single-Fingertip-Control

5. LIFETIME WARRANTY

For those of you that have been waiting for years and years to finally take the plunge and buy the last longarm you will ever need, the time has come.

Have a closer look by watching the video.

Give me a call to discuss your needs. 780-463-4242

Quilt Path. The excitement of Automated Quilting. The Simplicity of APQS.

As many of you know, APQS is the machine to use when simplicity really counts. Now they’ve gone and added a feature rich computer tablet that guides your machine hands-free across your quilt. The touch screen screams Ease of Use while the belt drive offers super precise stitches. You are gonna love what Quilt Path can do for you.

To top it off, APQS is releasing 15 free tutorials you can watch before you even buy Quilt Path. I’ve been watching these videos roll out and am thoroughly impressed how easily they are guiding me from totally intimidated to a Quilt Path Yogi.

How does a proficient freehand quilter get any joy out of running a computer over a quilt? Well, let me tell you. As a freehand quilter, I have a very recognizable style.

Even after taking a class with a master quilter, I never quite stitch like they instructed me, my own style manipulates the design into something unique. It is influenced by my own process. My good friend and mentor Claudia Pfeil calls this ‘Your Personal Hand-Writing’.

Today while standing in the shower, the steaming hot water pounding on my tight shoulders(no visuals please), I got to thinking. I can have Claudia quilt my daughter’s 18th birthday quilt and I don’t even have to ship it to Germany. I can go to Digitech Patterns and download her digital designs and load them on my Quilt Path. Are you with me so far?  That’s right, with a couple clicks of the mouse, I can have Claudia Pfeil quilt my quilts over and over again. Keep your eye on this blog for some of the stitch outs. She really does do amazing work 😉

Quilt Path. The excitement of Automated Quilting. The Simplicity of APQS.

Dawn Cavanaugh Classes at Sparrow Studioz

ANNOUNCING! Our First Guest Teacher for 2013

We are over the moon with excitement about the Teacher that will be honouring us this June with her passion for quilting.

Dawn Cavanaugh Classes – June 18-21, 2013

Dawn Cavanaugh – APQS’s National Director of Education – 

Class list at the bottom of this email (Tentative dates of of June 3rd or June 17th) Let us know which works best for you by replying to this email

http://www.youtube.com/user/DawnCavanaugh

Since 1994, Dawn Cavanaugh’s custom freehand quilting has been winning awards for clients of her business, Rockin’ Bobbin Quilting, Inc. Her work has appeared in publications such as Century of Quilts, Quilter’s Newsletter Magazine, American Patchwork & Quilting, Leisure Arts, House of White Birches, and Fons and Porter’s Love of Quilting publications and TV shows. Dawn also designs patterns, most recently contributing to 505 Quilt Blocks by Meredith Publishing.

She has taught at Machine Quilter’s Showcase for ten years, plus Longarm University, MQ Innovations, Quilting the Quilt, Quilting on the Waterfront, Canadian Machine Quilters’ Expo, the Australian Machine Quilters Showcase, and several regional guilds. Judging machine-quilted projects in quilt shows has also kept her busy. In addition, Dawn is the National Director of Education for APQS, Carroll, Iowa.

REGISTER TODAY – Classes are filling fast

DAY 1 -AM- Tuesday June 18, 2013 10am-1pm

$150.00

Machine Quilting Skills for Newbies—Practice Makes Perfect—hands on

DAY 1 -PM- Tuesday June 18, 2013 2pm-5pm

$150.00

Continuous Curves for Newbies–Hands On

DAY 1 -EVE- Tuesday June 18, 2013 6pm-8pm

$75.00

2-hour Lecture: Solving Tension Headaches EVENING

DAY 2 -AM- Wednesday June 19, 2013 10am-1pm

$150.00

Background Gridwork Fillers – Hands On

DAY 2 -PM- Wednesday June 19, 2013 2pm-5pm

$150.00

Border Designs in Half the Time — Hands On

DAY 3 -AM- Thursday June 20, 2013 10am-1pm

$150.00

Best Backgrounds Design Collection–Hands On

DAY 3 -PM- Thursday June 20, 2013 2pm-5pm

$150.00

Stipple No More—Backgrounds Galore — Hands On

DAY 4 -AM- Friday June 21, 2013 9am-3pm

$250.00

Weave a Quilt on Your Stand Up Machine – Hands On

DAY 4 -PM- Friday June 21, 2013 4pm-7pm

$150.00

3-hour Hands-on Project
Piecing On Your Stand-Up Machine — Hands On

REGISTER TODAY – Classes are filling fast

Introducing Quilt Path – APQS’s Automated Quilting System

 

Quilt your masterpiece with ease and professional accuracy using Quilt Path for APQS machines. Enjoy the benefits of an automated quilting system. Quilt Path’s easy to use touch pad makes it simple for you to design and layout your project and let Quilt Path quilt it!

QUILT PATH!

 

Although I am a freehand quilter and love it ever so much, I have installed my Quilt Path (APQS’s Computerized Quilting Tablet) on my machine and am having tons of fun getting perfect designs with very little effort. Believe me, if I can figure this one out, you’ll have no problem. The most amazing part was the install. It only took me 20 minutes to install this puppy and get it up and running. Quilt Path can be effortlessly installed on any APQS machine except George. I am filming several Quilt Path videos to show you just how easy it is to run. Here are the two quilt path videos I recorded last week showing just how easy it is to install. Come by and experience Quilt Path first hand.

Video #1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgCR2IMzin4

Video #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utjn4yThBDQ

Say this 10 times really fast… My first computerized machine quilting edge to edge all over Stitch out with my new APQS Quilt Path Stitched with Aurifil’s variegated polyester thread.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Quilt Path is now shipping. New orders ship in 8-10 weeks. Call Matt or Bradie today to put your name in queue 780-463-4242 for your very own Quilt Path.

Who is ‘The Scissor Guy’ of the Quilting World?

A couple years ago my friend Sue Patten was sportin a pair of rainbow stainless steel scissors. It was the only thing at the show I could not find to take home. Who would have thought that two years later I would have an entire wall of these bad boys in my studio. Now although I just wanted them cause they were shiny, I have since come to realize that they are oh so much more than just a pretty little springing pair of scissors. They are an efficiency tool like no other. They really do save me shit loads of time with their comfy ergonomic grip and springing action. Oh yah look at the guy in the photo with Sue. That’s Brint Fanizza. Affectionately known as The Scissor Guy

DID I FORGET TO MENTION THESE SCISSORS COME WITH A LIFE TIME WARRANTY AND FREE SHARPENING FOR LIFE! 😀

Check out this interview with Brint http://darlenecahill.com/

I had no idea how much goes into a great pair of scissors and the passion Brint shares with the entire sewing community. Famore Cutlery is proof that doing things the hard way is by far the most rewarding of all attributes. With a world full of businesses trying to cut corners it’s nice to hear of a company with some integrity. We are very proud to support such a business as http://famorecutlery.com

A new breed of quilter & the cutest Miniature Pinscher Puppy EVER

Is it just me or is there a new breed of quilter emerging? Seems to me that more and more of the clients walking in to Sparrow Studioz to rent our longarms are new quilters. Just a short year ago, we spent most of our time convincing veteran quilters that finishing their quilts on a longarm was not only acceptable but fast and effective too.

As I sent an email out to our list this morning, I realized that many of our clients are eager new quilters. They don’t need to be convinced that saving time is a good thing. That seems to be the first lesson they learn when taking our beginner longarm class.

I thought I should share that email with all my blog readers in case you were wondering what I’ve been up to when I’m not quilting.

Here goes Nothing.

No, I’m not talking about the fact that I bought my daughter a puppy & Bradie is going to kill me!

Here’s the scoop. In our last newsletter I announced that our pre-paid (silver & gold) packages come with a (brand new) FREE class.

I made the

Miniature Doberman Pinscher Puppy Pic

mistake of limiting it to two classes and have been turning people away left right and center. We have been overwhelmed with sign-ups and although we had originally only scheduled two classes, we are extending this sale and booking several more Freestyle Quilting Classes to accommodate everyone that is interested.

This is the perfect class to learn how to disguise troubled piecing. As many of you know, no quilt is perfect and there are NO quilt police at Sparrow Studioz. We honor the time and love you put into every quilt. We are here to help you effortlessly finish your quilts, without judgement. Did you know that many of our renters finish 3-4 small quilts in a single session. No kidding!

Here is another look at the free class…

FreeStyle Quilting – 3 hours $150 Experience the front of the machine like never before. Let me show you how to choose fast, simple designs that add texture and character to those quilts that require a quick little something to get them on and off the frame in no time at all. Learn how to get in and out of corners without hesitation. Move from one side of the quilt to the other in no time flat! Let me show you the difference between pantograph and freestyle quilting. You will love the amount of control you gain by looking down at your quilt instead of at the pantograph.

Here is a look at the pre-paid packages…

Save BIG with our Prepaid Packages – Reg price is $20/hr
Bronze $250 – Save 10% (Hourly rate is $18) 14 hours of quilting time.
Silver $500 – Save 20% (Hourly rate is $16) 31.25 hours of quilting time.
Gold $1000 – Save 30% (Hourly rate is $14) 71.5 hours of quilting time.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT – You can share the Gold Package with a friend!

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While I have you here let me make a couple announcements…

Bradie just ordered TWELVE bolts of Hobbs 80/20 Heirloom batting. I said TWO bolts not TWELVE I yelled! To be quite honest, I would prefer to sell you guys batting at $22/M. Bradie on the other hand actually likes saving you guys money. She is pre-selling the first ten bolts for $299/ea. That works out to less than $10/yrd. Call her soon to reserve your bolt.

Bradie also ordered the entire line of GLIDE thread. That’s 180 magnificent colors. AND I get first dibs 😛

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Claudia Pfeil’s Quilts now on display as her August classes quickly approach. Have you signed up yet?

Not sure how to quilt your top? The design possibilities are endless. Bring your quilt tops and notebooks to class and let Claudia dissect your quilt block by block giving you tons of ideas and inspiration. You may never look at quilts the same again.
Check out all her funtabulous classes here

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Did I tell you about the sale that APQS just announced on their top of the line Millennium & Freedom Quilting Machines?

$3400 Cash Discount on new Millennium & Freedom models which include Motorized Feed and QuiltGlide.
Download our Machine Brochure here

You could be quilting in your Pajamas or less while watching TV! Just sayin…

Festival of Quilts, Heritage Park Saturday & Sunday • May 26 & 27

17th Annual Festival of Quilts
Festival of Quilts, Heritage Park
1900 Heritage Dr SW Calgary, Alberta
Saturday & Sunday • May 26 & 27, 2012 9:30am – 5:00pm

APQS Dealer, Matt Sparrow from Sparrow Studioz in Edmonton is bringing his show floor to Calgary & area quilters. Join him in Booth 105-106 where you can test-drive an APQS Millennium, LENNI & George in the vendor’s mall, talk machine maintenance or read all about the great longarm classes they offer at Sparrow Studioz for beginners thru to advanced owners of all brands of mid-arm & longarm quilting machines.

Want to know what to pay attention to when shopping for a longarm? Come by Matt’s booth and grab a comparison chart.

Wondering how things might turn out if you own a longarm? There is only one way to find out and it all starts with a test-drive.