FabricWhisperer wrote:
Oh so true about the journey and the process and allowing thoughts and creativity to flow! We recently had a Quilt-Over-Nighter at my guild. One gal commented to me the next day that she was amazed that some of us couldn't get our sweatshirt jacket projects finished in 6 hours. Well, sheesh, it took me that long to figure out what fabrics to strip and how I wished to place the scraps. I didn't realize I was behind the 8 ball. lol I didn't know we had quilt police in our midst! *tongue in cheek grin!*

I buy most of my fabric on ebay and online fabric stores, and try to buy used books as often as possible. This not only saves money, but makes me feel freer to pay top price for a special tool or irresistible fabric.

I don't have a LQS -- the closest store is over 30 minutes away, and doesn't seem often to have unusual or (to me) exciting fabrics. Factor in the price of gas, and it really makes more sense to shop the limitless selection online.

I quilt with a number of ladies who are on limited budgets; most of them don't have newer sewing machines or the latest gadgets. However, they still manage to turn out some beautiful quilts! Furthermore, they are wonderful friends with great hearts, and a joy to know. They can borrow my gizmos any day!

Margo! 6,000 hits is awesome.... Either like you said, I alot more of use are doing the BOM, or the ones doing the BOM are logging in ALOT to check our progress against your tutorial... LOL

I vote for a lot of people checking it out, and if it is anything like use here, your tutuorial hits are now being generated from other groups, and probably other blogs and even local quilt guild members sharing information with their fellow members.

My first computer had the green screen and message boards were very geeky. I literally typed in the language to run "Frogger" and the graphics were so primitive. What a nightmare proofing, but I finally got it to work. We've come a long way, and it amazes me every day.

It's such a wonderful feeling to know we all share a common bond. Margo, thanks again for sharing.

Some people think that quilting is an expensive hobby. Maybe so, but it's cheaper than a shrink, and lots more effective!! LOL!

I have not taught quilting in over a decade, because of situations like NancyAnn and Snowplow described, but I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed working on my photo tutorial for our TQS BOM, because I feel like the people who are working on it really want to learn and share and are excited about the project. When they ask questions, they seem glad for the help that is offered by any TQS member. I am so glad that I'm a member of this amazing group of quilters and just love the sharing atmosphere that has been created and nurtured here.

I just got a message from Webshots that over SIX THOUSAND people have looked at my tutorial this week!!!! That makes me think that there are more than a handful of us working on the BOM project!

Looking forward to the next block!
Margo

FW, I agree with you totally...the most special quilts I've made are so much more about the journey than the finished quilt. Natural patience comes easiest for me when I'm in my sewing room. That calmness is something I wish I could experience with every part of life.

Dana in Olive Branch, MS

I was in classe where a gal thought she could make and take away an entire quilt in the 2 hours!! :shock: Some gals are just not quilters...just like I am not one for scrapbooks. I have a gal pal who is great scrapbooker and card maker. I appreciate her talent and celebrate her joy in her craft.

I find people want instant gradification. I always tell folks it is about the journey and the process. A time to slow down...allow thoughts and creativity to flow.
I don't know about anyone else...but I enjoy the time with my own private thoughts when I am in my sewing room...or bonding with my fabric.

FW

ROTFLMBO!!!! Thats almost as good as the Cottonelle "Quilters" sitting at the frame with knitting needles, lol. Some people just don't get what making a QUILT is. My SIL's new husband was telling me the other day his aunt makes fantastic quilts and that he had one there at the house. When I asked to see it he pulled out a knitted afgan. Yes, it was very pretty (she is quite talented!!), but I had a heck of a time explaning to him that an afgan and a quilt are two different things - the only thing they really have in common is that you can sleep under them lol.

BethMI wrote:
Makes ya wonder about the future of the gene pool, doesn't it?
eileenkny

About a year ago or so I was trolling at Joann's looking for sewing machine needles. I heard a woman say to he friend, "Have you ever done one of these Blocks of the Month kits?"

The friend replied, "Yes, I tried that once, but I didn't like it. It was crazy! You had to sew all these little pieces of fabric together!"

What did she EXPECT when she was piecing a quilt?!?!?!?!

BethMI

I teach crafts in a seniors park in Texas. I am prepared for the person who can't or won't thread a needle, some people without supplies that I list to bring etc. I always take extra supplies and am prepared to help almost anyone. And because we are seniors the occasional person will come who has decreased vision and struggles or the person who is beginning to get Alzheimers and still wants to participate and doesn't realize how much trouble they have with simple directions. the supply issue I understand because many of us live in RV's here in the park and do not pack up the whole sewing/craft room when they travel.

My TWO pet peeves are the people who think that just because they heard what I just said they are experts and can now teach their neighbors what they don't even understand yet. And the people who come to the class with such limited grasp of English that they need a translator or I have to do everything visually by demonstration or sign language. We have many French Canadians in our park and I don't speak French. I don 't mind if they come with a friend who can help interpret but they usually do not warn me that the other person will be translating so I am not prepared for someone else talking over me.

I would no more think of trying to teach a class in the middle of someone else's class and I really try not to even tell things I have done along the same line if someone else was the teacher nor would I go to a class in Quebec and expect to be catered too because I only spoke English.
and I am truly not picking on the French that is just the experiences I have had I would feel the same no matter the language barrier.

I think I am a pretty accepting and patient teacher but when my tongue needs stitches because I have been biting it so hard when the class is over I wonder why I do it. It is a volunteer position so I don't make money at it and it sure isn't for the glory guess I am just a glutton for punishment because I go back for more. But the one student who does something fabulous after the class that is better than I can do makes it all worthwhile. So now I have vented too and need to finish preparing my class for tomorrow.

Ann with the lacerated tongue lol

As a teacher, I am amazed that at EVERY class I have taught, I have: 1 person who comes unprepared.
1 person who has a malfunctioning machine and wastes time fussing with it.
1 person who disregards basic instructions such as pressing or the specific seam allowance and then is frustrated that things aren't going together right!

I've had a student who bragged about what a professional she is and tried to teach stuff I wasn't teaching.

I've had a student who actually contradicted me and tried to tell everyone I was wrong (which I was NOT). I was speechless and since it was a group of HER friends at HER house, I let it go!

I once participated in a block exchange where we chose a pattern and it's colors and everyone in the group fo 12 made us a block. I asked for NAVY and one person insisted on using her stash and buying NO fabric and gave me a block with a very light blue instead. I puzzled over it for a while and then took the block apart and fixed it. It's the first quilt on my profile.

Thanks for letting me vent! This was very theraputic!

PhyllisA wrote:

Have the guild treasure send her a bill for the class. It is only fair then next time she will know nothing is a freebe.

Lynn, even though I'm on the wrong side of Nottingham for the Bramble Patch that's where I go a couple of times a year. I always combine it with one of their Saturday workshops so it's worth going a distance and I get a whole day of fun out of it.

Lorchen

I live in the same crafts desert called the East Midlands, uk, BUT there is a very good fabric supplier in Leicester -Kisko- Also in Weedon Northants there is a very friendly shop selling all requirements for quilting- Bramblepatch. they also run classes.