The Biggest Show & Share in Washington!

I gave a presentation yesterday morning to the Quiltville Fans of Washington, group #1!

What fun to simply talk about something we all love – scrap quilting, and how it has affected our lives for the better.  I love just having a “fireside” type chat with small groups.  It’s so personal, and I love it when hands go up in the middle of what I’m saying so we can dive even deeper.  You ask, I’ll answer!

Unless you want to know just how many sewing machines I have – that number is unknown and off topic, even for me!

(Hey, I’m down 5 from my last trip…oh, no…make that 4, I acquired 1!  Oops!)

We talked about everything from thread to batting and scrap storing and usage and we had a great time.

But the best – by far – was the Show & Share brought by others.  It was EPIC.  Seriously!

And I loved that these ladies knew me enough to also bring some of their vintage treasures with them.

Made by a great grandmother.

SO beautiful!!

Can you imagine piecing this without rotary cutters?  Without paper piecing?  Just simply scraps, template, pencil, scissors, needle and thread.  And TIME.  Lots of TIME.

An 1800s crumb quilt!

How WONDERFUL is this??

As these two gals sat by each other during the lecture portion and before show & share, they also came to see that the quilts they were each holding in their laps contained some of the same fabrics.  Made in different parts of our country, they had some of the same scraps in their scrap bags.  It kind of connected us to how we feel about each other’s quilts today as we exclaim “Hey!  I have some of THAT!”

A treasured quilt with embroidered flower blocks.

Beautiful!

A favorite pinwheel with pink sashings faded nearly white with years of use.

Family heirloom blocks, reproduction sashing fabrics added and newly hand quilted!

Great grandma would be so happy!

Simple Square in a Square with wonderful shirtings!

There was so much show & share that we had to break for lunch and resume AFTER!

Burgers, sweet potato fries and all the fixins, Al Fresco!

Get ready for a long slide show of gorgeous quilts!

You may CHOOSE to leave your sound off.  Let’s just say that it’s not easy to find a track within YouTube for a 6 minute slide show. LOL!  My limits were to classical music, and this is at least one step better than the William Tell Overture! LOL!

It was a marvelous way to spend the day into the early afternoon.  Some of our friends had to leave after Show & Share was over – long drives home, with family awaiting them at the other end.  Some others left after dinner.

Some stayed to continue sewing up the memories in this beautiful place,  Others of us enjoyed horseback riding followed by a much needed massage upon our return!

More on that tomorrow.

We have just had the most wonderful time, I can’t say that enough!

I am sad to see group 1 depart, and anxious for the arrival of group 2!

Quiltville Quote of the Day.

We haven't had ANYTHING of this kind while at retreat.  It's been wonderful.  Life should be like this.

I’m done watching groups of quilters singling out those who are different from them in whatever reason and talking trash about individuals behind their backs in “secret” private facebook groups and feeling they have the right to do so because it is a “private” group and their “safe place.” 

It is never a safe place if other people are being put down.  It is never a safe place if people feel justified to build themselves up as righteous while pointing out the unrighteousness of others.

Talking trash about people you find trashy doesn't make you any less trashy than they are.

Before you put someone down, look for the one good thing in them you admire and mention that instead.

If indeed there is a heaven, I know who I don’t want to be spending my eternity with.

Have a lovely Saturday, everyone – I’m off to breakfast!


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