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Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Road to California, Day 1!


I know it is day 2 or 3 for some of the long arm teachers—they started on Monday in many cases! But today was the first day for me and it is oh so exciting!

Today’s workshop was Sister’s Choice……and I really really love this beginner-intermediate class!

My room came furnished with brand new fancy brother machines, and I had a brother rep, Coleen with me the whole day showing us how to set it for that perfect 1/4” seam, how to use the buttons, bells and whistles.

At first I thought “MACHINES PROVIDED, OH NO!!” because that meant every single person in the class would be sewing with a machine they were not familiar with, and I thought it would cause nightmares, but it turned out to be really fun, and if any of the students decide to purchase their machines, they will really get a super deal!

I had students from as far away as Maryland, and even some from Texas, so this is definitely a quilter’s mecca when January gets the blahs! It’s a bright and sunny oasis in the middle of the winter! Island with a palm tree

The pic you see above was my glimpse of set-up going on from the quilt show office windows above the show. I had gone in there to ask some questions ((And to tell them to turn our a/c OFF because it was starting to snow in our class room…lol!)) and I couldn’t resist whipping out my phone and snapping this pic from the window. I can hardly wait until the show starts “FOR REAL” tomorrow!

Here are a BUNCH of pics I took of people’s blocks today. They were all turning out SO great, and I love seeing the different color themes!

They were all so great! I keep thinking I need to retire this quilt and make a new one because it is one that is on my guest room bed a lot and has been washed and slept under and washed again and hauled around and the fabrics are starting to fade, but every one tells me that they LOVE how worn and cozy it looks and that IS the best life of a quilt after all, isn’t it? So…I keep dragging it around. Maybe one day I’ll make another one, only NOT. SO. BIG! ((You don’t believe that, do you??))

Tomorrow is going to be fairly crazy. I’ve got  someone coming with a Jeep at noon, meeting me to move the trunk show from the hotel room to the convention center because my lecture starts at 5pm, and class is out at 4:30pm…..do you see a time shortage here?! Never fear, we will get it sorted out, and go with the flow!

I’m off to take a long hot bath. I’m trying to stay up til 10pm west coast time so I don’t go too sleep too early and wake up at 4am again, but I think I’m fighting a losing battle. If I do wake up, there will be more hexagons Clock

12 comments:

  1. I hope I get my reminderearly ( for next year) i will try not to miss you.
    Have fun teaching

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  2. I love the Sisters Choice blocks. They look awesome.

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  3. Looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing the pics.
    Louise

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  4. You have some lovely quilts-to-be compliments of your motivated students. Enjoy yourself, we're loving the reports from the show... wish you could send some of the warm CA temperatures.

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  5. Thanks for sharing, Bonnie! Looks like a great show. Wish I was there, too! I could use some warm weather, also. Enjoy!

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  6. One of my favorite things about taking classes at a big show is the machines provided. No lugging yours around and getting to try out new ones (especially since you have a rep right there). I have actually bought a couple of class machines at Houston cause the prices ARE so good. Thanks for the report!! See you in Feb.!!

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  7. I just posted progress on my Sisters Choice, I'm loving this block much more that I thought. Great photos of student blocks, that's the best part of classes, seeing what choices others make.

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  8. looks SO GREAT!! I need to go there in JANUARY too!!!

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  9. A/C...oh that seems so funny when we haven't been out of the 20's or 30's for days and another snow storm on the way :0).
    enjoy those sunny days.....looks like a fun time....but the jet lag.. ugh.......hope you sleep tonight.

    Happy Sewing

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  10. Welcome to my neck of the woods. I'm really looking forward to attending the show on Saturday. Hope your time here is wonderful!

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  11. Sure looks like you are all haivng fun. I want to be there. Where in California are you? And is this a yearly thing? Thanks

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  12. Anonymous11:14 AM EST

    Enjoying your posts and pics from Road to Calif. Please be sure to post lots of pictures from Blue Ridge Beauty class! It is my favorite quilt. I'm still working on one I started in your Charleston workshop. Need some inspiration! Sally in SC jspwarren at aol dot com

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