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To say I love taking classes is the understatement of the year!  Early in 2016 I decided to treat myself to Craft Napa 2017 – conveniently located 60 miles from home. Honestly it was very difficult to decide exactly which classes to take. They ALL looked so intriguing! Three days with three different instructors – BLISS. I thought it would be fun to share my work and what I learned.

Day 1:  Machine Quilting with Jenny K. Lyon

Imagine spending the whole day sitting in front of a BERNINA special edition 765 Rose Gold machine stitching away to your hearts content. Jenny had a plethora of tricks up her sleeves to help students grow their confidence at free motion quilting. I learned I LOVE bubble quilting and how easy it is to try different motifs with just a little practice. Practice, Practice, Practice! That is the name of the game.

Day 2:  Draw eight items eight different ways with Jane Lafazio.

We were instructed to bring 8 objects that related and then Jane taught 8 different ways to draw, paint and render it. It was a play date with my inner child. What I learned is that we can ALL draw, it is simply like learning to write cursive - a practiced skill. You might remember her Show 1903 – if you haven’t watched it check it out!

Day 3: UFO collage Class with Lynn Krawczyk.

We were instructed to bring the “uglies” or unfinished projects we were willing to sacrifice. We would then deconstruct and then reconstruct our pieces. I didn’t exactly follow the class supply instructions, because most of my uglies end up in the trash at home. As Libby Lehman taught me, “if it is butt ugly most likely it will always be butt ugly” (sorry, I just had to share). So I went to my Dupioni silks and decided to play with that. The colors are so vibrant and seductive I knew they would be fun to work with. Lynn gave us some simple instruction then set us loose. What I learned is that with just a little magic and a willingness to trust the process...yes process...your piece will come together. I was reminded it is about the process or the journey; that is what counts. I intend to explore more with my silk.

All in all, it was a very magical weekend that I will always hold dear to my heart. I cannot express how wonderful the whole experience was and intend to attend again. We ALL have something to learn and it’s fun to do so!