For the first time since 2019, our Aussie Quilt Market trade show has returned!
Now called AQCM (Australian Quilt and Craft Market), it was on for Friday and Saturday this past weekend and it was sooooo good to be able to catch up with wholesalers and fellow business owners in the quilting industry!
There were talks from various businesses starting at 8am both mornings which was a great way to hear about new products coming onto the market or hear more about existing products that may go well in our shop.
This is the talk from Winterwood wool felt (and that coat on Luna Lapin has been added to my want-to-make list!)
And then it was wandering the aisles, seeing people I haven’t seen for ages, or have only ‘talked’ to on social media!
And there were some wonderful new products / patterns and goodies that will be coming to the Quilt Barn very soon!
These super cute xmas ornament kits are paper pieced – I have a few of these in stock if you wanted to make one (or more!) before Xmas this year! The wood ornament pieces, string, foundation paper and pattern are included, you just add your favourite fabrics!
Robyn from Robyn J Designs who has designed these had an emergency appendectomy just 48 hours before being at AQCM! Her mum also came to help out, but wow, Robyn was a trooper to be there!
And of course I couldn’t resist the pattern (with included papers) for the Quilt Barn ornament! Whether you pop the ribbon in the top to make it a hanging ornament, or just have them as standing barns, these will be so much fun. The Sweetwater one *almost* came home with me (with Nic’s approval!) but I forgot to pick it up as I left. Oh well, I have a robust Sweetwater stash, I am sure I can make another one once the patterns arrive!
There were quite a few quilts hanging up along the corridor to the rooms where the talks were, so I drooled over this fabulous quilt called Loventwined by Nic of Craftapalooza…. so much so that these patterns will be coming to the Quilt Barn too! You know how I love a good heart quilt!
Then last, but definitely not least, the Lexie Hoodie pattern by Melly & Me was released on the Friday and WOW, this pattern packs a punch!
I made a quick reel of it and posted it to socials and I have been answering questions from all around the world ever since of where they can purchase it! (FYI if you are in the US, chat to your local quilt shop as they can order it in from Checker’s Distributors)
The paper pattern will be available soon, you can pop your order in now and as soon as they arrive I’ll ship them out to you (Australia and New Zealand only).
So my thoughts on Aussie Quilt Market?
Yes it is tiny compared to Quilt Market in Houston, US, but gosh, for us small businesses that are usually one woman bands, this was just what we all needed to get a bit of a lift, some inspiration and get re-enthused about our businesses and the industry!
I came home exhausted (that is a lot of peopling for someone who only talks to @thefabrichusband most days!) but lifted up and happy. AND with a new to-do list of patterns I want to make.
Thank you Sally and Brett for taking it on and re-starting AQM as AQCM, I am sure that each year will get bigger and even better as we go! Hopefully a few of the larger wholesalers will join in on the fun next year!
