QuiltCon 2020 seems like a long time ago, but I promised a recap and it is long overdue. To sum it up – it was a blast and I learned a lot. I must admit it is a nice memory to have in light of the current situation. There was, however, a bit of a damper to the trip – my friend Chris was sick and would not make it. This year a second friend was attending and that helped, the prior year I would have been on the trip by myself. I will tell the tale in 3 distinct parts….classes, quilts and people!
I took two classes. The first with Angela Walters called “Block Busting Designs: Machine Quilting Design for Blocks of All Shapes and Sizes”. This was an all day, hands on class. Angela is a terrific teacher, although my quilting won’t look like hers I learned a lot. Much of the content is available in her online classes. It you have been hesitating, jump onboard. She’s a great teacher with great hints. My quilting gets better all the time but it has a lot of “-ish” qualities: straight-ish, similar size-ish, round-ish, etc. Nonetheless, I persist. In fact she has a new online class starting, so check it out here if you are interested.
Next, I took a class called “Subtracting for Minimalism” by Cheryl Brickey of Meadow Mist Designs. What a fun class this was – I left with two quilts designed and plan to make one for the Curated Quilts challenge this month, but it is due April 1. Now I have plenty of time but here I am writing this and thinking I had more than a month. Cheryl drew a design out for us to erase…she made about 40 of these sheets in pencil while watching Netflix – what dedication. I won’t show you her quilt that she taught, or my plans, but you will see them soon – even if they don’t get submitted to the challenge.
Excuse this interruption to my QuiltCon review but this just came into my mailbox, so If you are really itching to learn something, Bluprint* is offering a 14 day trial (through 4/4) – so this is a perfect time to do that! All indications are this current situation is going to go on longer than any of us want, so maybe we learn something new?
Now, back to QuiltCon….the show was fabulous. There are really a ton of quilts. I took the better part of Saturday and Sunday to see it and really took a lot of pictures. I decided I would show you a few in the slideshow that I liked and leave it at that. 100 Days Down the Rabbit Hole reminded me of the class I took last year; I do think I will do this sometime, and maybe I should have started it for the quarantine (lets hope it is not 100 days). Keith’s Doodle is a fabulous interpretation of a doodle into a quilt into quilting. Divergent is just so graphically interesting to me. Fun that I met Vashuda in person, too! I loved Bruges, Belgium-Canal. again for its graphic presentation. The last 2 in the slide show are home to me: Triple Decker is Somerville MA. The house we lived in there was similar to the grey one and not a triple decker but it evokes homes to me. It is not my street but it easily could be – the victorian 2 and 2 family homes of the neighborhood we lived in for 20 years. Farewell to Fox Island calls to my heart, and is reminiscent of Peaks Island, ME where we have our retirement house. There are so many more, but I thought I would show a few of my favorites!
This is a picture of the goodie bag. I am not excluding the vendors but will talk about things I found as I use them. Lots of them aren’t with me in my “quarantine space” so just showing them is not as much fun as when I use them, so I will hold off.
People!!! What can I say about people. There’s a slide show…. I think this is one of the things that I love about QuiltCon is connecting with friends from all different parts of the country and world! I met my good friend Rose, from SomethingRoseMade and spent Friday seeing quilts and shopping with her. I met Rose the year I was in the 2017 new bloggers. I also saw Yvonne Fuchs, Cheryl Brickey and Paige Alexander from that group. I saw so many others – a bunch of the Island Batik Ambassadors/Alums – Shery Shish, Becca Fenstamacher, Vashuda , Anya Clyke. I met the Brimfield folks, the Ruby Star folks, Shannon Gilman Orr ( new Dandelion Fabric & Co) and Patti from Elm Stree Quilts.
This little saying was from my meal one night. In truth I had to change it as I had a blast with all the folks I met and interacted with. I was so grateful for Missy’s company. My only regret is that our friend Chris missed it – so maybe we have to do Atlanta as a do over!! or do in a new way!!
No wonder all of this took me so long to write. In summary, my advice is:
-stay as many days as you can (Sunday is much less crowded),
-take the time to see all the quilts (it will take you a few days)
-take a few classes but not too many
-spend some money with the vendors
-stay near the convention center – you get to go back and rest as you need
and finally, come home exhausted but INSPIRED!
Coming Up:
Awesome Ocean Top 3/29
Bits And Pieces (ProStitcher) Retreat
2020 Monthly Color Block April
Quarantine Project update
Linking up:
Looks wonderful! I enjoyed reading about your trip! It is unbelievable that a few weeks ago you were standing close to someone in daily life and In photos. My mind is already programmed for social distancing and for being cautious in crowds. I’m looking forward to seeing your new projects!
It was over a month ago and now is such a different way of living! I really do wish I had gotten to do more of Austin, but it is a big show and it takes a lot of time.
Wow — the pictures are beautiful! I would love to take a class from Angela Walter’s in person — she’s so funny and keeps it real 🙂 The Cheryl Brickey quilt is amazing definitely has the WOW factor. I’m looking forward to your projects!!
There were so many fun quilts and I do hope to get some inspired projects underway soon!
I definitely relate to the coming home exhausted part. I’m glad it was a good experience and I’m sorry your friend had to miss out this year. <3
Also: it was wonderful to meet you in person!!
It was a pleasure to meet you again this year. I really got a whole lot out of it being there for 4 full days! I’m sorry Chris didn’t make it, but it was the right decision for her.
I was beginning to think that I missed your post on this! But I think your timing is just right to give us something fun to see and think about.
I was so exhausted when I came back and then went on another retreat 10 days later and then the quarantine hit! I has so many pictures too, that culling them seemed so hard but I like what I did. It seems like a very long time ago!
KATHLEEN! You got to meet Rose, Vasudha, and Preeti and lived to tell about it?!!! How fabulous. I can only imagine how Vasudha felt, seeing her quilt hanging in the gallery with all the other fabulous quilts. Actually, nope. I can’t imagine. I think your quilting looks fabulous – just as good as Angela’s. Your ribbon candy looks so perfect – I’m always intimidated by that pattern. Great job! Take care, and I look forward to seeing all those goodies in use. ~smile~ Roseanne
I was so pleased to meet so many great folks. It was really a good time and I feel like I learned a lot this year. Oh, that is Angela’s quilting, I should make that clearer! I have a had time with drawing it and really need to work at it. I, too, look forward to using them. I have so many things to do; hope I start working faster this week…we’ll see. Happy Saturday (or Sunday-depending on when you see this)
I love seeing the slideshows and photos of Quilt Con. My #1 bucket list show is Paducah but it will have to wait until next year now. Sisters was awesome when I went to it. Thanks for taking the time to write this up!
I sure did have a good time, and there are so many others I’d like to get to, too! It did take me a while, but I finally did it…now how this got lost in the translation….that is a whole other ball of wax!
What a great report! So fun seeing pictures of my online friends with each other! Looks like you had a grat time. I’m still planning on Atlanta 2021.
I am glad you enjoyed it, as you will your own experience. I hope to make Atlanta too!