We got a few hours the one evening to drive to Niagara Falls which I last seen in 1989. Just as impressive as I remember!

We got a few hours the one evening to drive to Niagara Falls which I had last seen in 1989 before I could call myself a Canadian. That was back when I was still dreaming about one day being able to live in Canada! Niagara was just as impressive as I remember even if parts of it make me think it should maybe be called Vegas-at-the-falls !

OH yes, on the way back from Niagara Falls, we passed by one of the locks on the Welland canal. I am fascinated by locks so I talked Linda P into stopping…..as luck would have it, a big ship was just about to enter the lock to come up a level. We watched this but did not stay to see it sail out of the lock at the higher level as we were SO tired and needed our rest! With me in this pic is Ryo who is currently in Canada for a year working with us. He returns to Japan later this year. Thank you, Linda, for stopping…..made my evening to see another lock. BTW this pic was taken at almost 9.30pm – now that summer is here it is still light this late in the evening.

I have very recently returned from our premier Quilting event of the year in Canada. Janome is now one of the major sponsors of this show – we supplied approximately 130 machines for classrooms all over the Brock University campus in St Catharines where workshops were being taught by many well known teachers. Actually I do believe we were the only supplier of classroom sewing machines besides the long arm quilting machines – it was the first year Quilt Canada offered classes on long arm machines.

Quilting fun in the classrooms

Our wonderful Horizon MC8200 which was one of the models we supplied for the classrooms.

The other Janome model we supplied for the classrooms was the 4120QDC – these sold like hot cakes at the show!!

It was a LOT of work and involved quite complex logistical “gymnastics” as we moved machines after classes on most days to other rooms where they were going to be required by a different class & teacher the next day. We also did “housekeeping” every night after the quilters had left: cleaning away threads etc, putting a new needle into every machine so there would be a “fresh” one for the start of the next day, etc. It was well worth it all. Judging by all the comments we received from folk attending Quilt Canada as well as the various people who volunteered countless hours of time & energy to arranging this great show, it was appreciated. We also had fun working together (there were 5 staff from both our Vancouver & Toronto offices including Linda P who many of you know – we don’t often get the opportunity to work together when we work out of offices 3 time zones apart!) We also got the opportunity to meet & chat to SO many of you wonderful quilters who made the trip to St Catharines to join in the excitement and joy of seeing so many incredible quilts in the 4 separate exhibitions, shop-til-you-drop opportunities as well as attending wonderful classes. Thank you for coming to tell us why you love your Janome sewing machine(s) and ask questions, tell us about your quilting journeys etc. It was a pleasure to share the whole Quilt Canada experience with you.

Our Janome booth in the merchant Mall. Our dealer, Sean from Nova Sewing Center in Hamilton was in attendance for all 4 days of the show.

Having fun on the Janome booth.

Linda P asked me to acufil quilt this baby quilt between answering questions and doing machine demo’s on the booth……..well we were so busy, I don’t think I got even 1/3 of the way done….sorry, Linda but you will have to finish it!

This was one of the entries in the Trentex Challenge which is held each year. It is entitled Ribbons of Niagara and was made by Joanne Love of Whitehorse, Yukon. She wanted to make a modern quilt that would reflect the Wonders of Niagara. The ribbons are to represent the falling water. Never mind the ribbons……check out this incredible quilting!!

This Trentex Challenge entry was made by Jenny Perry of Lac Le Jeune, BC and was the Viewers Choice winner. It sure got my vote!

Another Trentex entry was made by award winning quilter Anna Hergert and is called “Chasing Circles in a Modern World” Anna hails from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Now you might wonder why there are no pics of quilts from the National Juried Show? Well, that is because we are not permitted to take photographs in that Exhibition. But if you check out the Quilt Canada website, I am sure the catalogue of pic’s of all the entries will be available for ordering and they might even post pics of some of the winning quilts on the website. It was rather exciting to see a record number of entries this year: I think they said 153 entries with more than 50 of those being FIRST time entrants….way to go quilters!

At the closing Ceremony, we were all given one of the wine bags that Quilting Guild members all over Canada had made for this year’s festivities. We asked a passing server if we could borrow 2 (sadly empty) wine bottles so we could take a pic of our wine bags! Our thanks to the many ladies who made these bags for us.