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Yesterday I dropped my show entries at the NEC for Festival of Quilts 2018. It is always so funny to see it empty - a far cry from what it will look like on Thursday morning!
When I got home, my daughters said they remembered going there last year with their dad to drop my quilt. It took me a little while to remember why they had gone and not me ..... oh that's right I had the little matter of a quilt to finish for the In the Spotlight Gallery, which I didn't have to hand in until the Tuesday evening and so it wasn't finished until the Tuesday lunchtime!
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| Where to Next? in progress |
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| I love quilting words onto quilts |
I can't believe it's been a year already and soooo much has happened. Last Festival was my first time demonstrating on the Handi Quilter longarm machines for Pinhole Quilting. Whilst I knew and loved my machine, I have to admit to being somewhat nervous at the thought of setting up and demonstrating at such a big show. I needn't have worried I really enjoyed the experience and signed up for more!
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| My trusty Handi Quilter Avante - I love it!! |
So I am back again this year and not only demonstrating. A couple of weeks ago I received great news .....
I HAVE BEEN MADE A
HANDI QUILTER EDUCATOR
- ONE OF ONLY TWO IN THE UK!!!!!
I am thrilled. I have started teaching at the Foundation and Intermediate classes run by Pinhole Quilting for their Handi Quilter owners and I love it. It has been fabulous to help these people on their own longarm journey, which actually never stops, and to see that 'ah-ha' moment when something really clicks. Further teaching news will be up here shortly!
I have met some wonderful American HQ Educators and Ambassadors over the last year, Debbie Brown at FoQ 17, Laurie Tigner last November when she taught 4 days of classes in Worcester, and Kimmy Brunner and Kelly Cline, who were the tutors at the UK's first Longarm Quilting Academy held in February. It was a pleasure to be the classroom assistant for their sessions and I learnt so much. I would highly recommend any of the teachers above if you ever get the chance to take a class with them.
I have written my first quilt pattern, which is available over here, and I am running a QAL for it starting on 05 September - wow that's only 4 weeks away!!!!
On the family front, we have done our first full academic year of school, after years of home education ..... and we survived! There were lots of sporting fixtures, a Y6 residential for a week to North Wales when there was still snow on the ground, productions, SATs, leavers activities and much more. It has been wonderful to see how the girls have settled into school and made great friends. My youngest goes up to secondary school in September so we have more big changes coming our way!
It is always good to look back at what you have done because more often than not, whilst you are in the midst of it, you don't really appreciate all that you have achieved. I am looking forward to September and the start of a 'new year' to refocus after this hot, hot summer, make plans and put some long held ideas into practice. I hope you will join me! x
