Yesterday was a mere most-of-the-morning gathering of students, giving the last round of hits and helps, open discussion on things such as batting choices, binding choices, and off-the-top-of-our-heads winding up and winding down.
Some had flights to catch.
Some had 7 to 8 hour drives ahead, looking forward to being in their own beds by bed time.
Some were driving part-way home to stay with family or friends finishing up the rest of their long journeys, greatly (and gratefully) divided with a soft place to land for the night.
Some of us – Me, Sue Spargo, Jane Sassaman and a handful of others were left to stay one more night with shuttles and flights to catch early this morning.
This is sweet Erleen! I have loved having her in class. She has such a sharp wit and a wonderful smile and at 82 years young she just kept plugging away at our project -
Pat from Maryland and Charlotte from Texas (Who USED to be from Maryland) are sitting with Nancy from California who was with me in Utah last July , along with her friend Wendy, also from California.
And these 4 people whom I met in different places at different times NOW all know each other, having spent the past 5+ days together during our time here at Asilomar.
This is the kind of thing that can really leave an impact on your quilt circle as you watch it grow.
We were talking about this last night, long after the whole 9-minute-presentation was over (It went swimmingly! I was only 9 minutes and 18 seconds for the WIN on not going overboard!) and all agreeing that this was the best group ever –as diverse as we were, there were NO sour-pusses in the group. Not a single problem causer, or prickly personality.
It must be the ocean breezes and the abundant doses of sunshine beyond our 3 glass walls in what is DEFINITELY the best class room Asilomar has to offer.
I get the biggest giggle out of student-friends who come up to me and say:
“A friend I hadn’t talked to in more than 2 years emailed to say they saw me on your blog!”
Whatever it takes to put friends back in touch with friends, I’m happy for it!
At the beginning of our Asilomar experience on Friday I said “If anyone is in the witness protection program, or doesn’t want to be caught in photos, please let me know now, or forever hold your peace!”
Turns out that one gal said “Not today – Work doesn’t know I’m here, I’m taking a sick day.” LOL! I said “You are taking a mental health break, and we’ll hold you off from photos until tomorrow.”
Sometimes you just have to care for YOURSELF ahead of your job. But we want you to keep your job, too!
I just took this photo over looking the Asilomar Conference Grounds (ocean to the right!) off of my little balcony.
Time: 7:24am
Sky: crystal blue with nary a cloud on the horizon.
It’s the beginning of day 4 during my session at Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar.
It’s passing too quickly. How can it be Monday already?
We’ve all settled into a routine of sew a bit, try a new technique, and continue to work at our own paces on the project ahead.
Before we know it, it’s noon and we are headed for lunch in the dining hall with the hundreds of other quilters also here for their own workshops with their chosen instructors and projects. During meals the dining hall is a boisterous place and you can catch conversations of
“So, where are you from? Who are you taking from? Have you been here before?”
I’ve heard from some ladies who have been here as much as 34 years in a row. Because it is that incredible.
