This past week, quilters from 38 different states converged on Lehi, Utah for the annual Garden of Quilts sponsored by Riley Blake Designs. It was everything I could have imagined. I even ran into a couple of folks who were also from Atlanta. We all remarked how refreshing it was to be in Salt Lake City.

This was my retirement trip, but hubby tagged along to go hiking. He served as my Uber driver to different events on the two campuses at Thanksgiving Point. I knew he had a good time when he said he’d like to tag along again if I decide to come back. Yes, I’ll definitely be back and am already planning to return next year.

Things to remember for next year:
(1) pack a power strip
(2) rent a machine instead of flying with one (you get to sew on brand new Bernina, Brother and Baby Lock machines)
(3) premium kit fee is totally worth it to see Lori Holt or any other sewlebrity on your list
(4) choose a different evening event (skip the meet the maker event)

I’ll post more pictures and discuss classes in detail in a few days.

This was the response I received the I asked the clerks (at the only area quilt shop open on Sunday) if they had any fabric of a particular line in stock. I was invited to check the sale room. Nothing in there that would work. A few minutes spent scouring the sales floor did turn up a soft orange floral print that I could potentially use in my project. I bought my 1/4 yard of fabric and left.

When I got back to the car, two things came to mind:

(1) What qualifies as an “old” fabric line? The particular fabric I was searching for has been out for less than a year. Boxed kits, precuts and yardage are advertised for sale in various places. I know saw the fabric line on display at one of the shops at the beginning of the summer. This doesn’t constitute an “old” fabric line to me.

(2) Now I understand why some of my quilty friends mentioned they only shop this store if they absolutely have to. It’s always been a nice, well stocked shop. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is the management and several of the shop staff. Customer service isn’t the same. No one was rude, but I felt as if I had been “dismissed” after my initial inquiry. No one offered to help me find a substitute fabric until I appeared at the cutting table with bolts of fabric in my hands. From my perspective, that’s just crazy, especially as this store charges premium prices. At least 3-4 staff members were on duty, with only one other customer in the shop.

Oh well, that’ll teach me to read the directions more carefully and measure twice (maybe 3x) before cutting.

It took the better part of 3 days to cut the hundreds of pieces in the kit mentioned in the previous post. I did not need to use the soft orange floral print I purchased, but my suspicions were correct that the green print in the kit should have been cut at 1/3 yard instead of 1/4 yard. I need a 1.75″ x 22″ strip or a 10″ square. Hopefully, they’ll have some extra fabric at the class on Thursday afternoon.

Next week is my long awaited “retirement” trip – 3 days at the Garden of Quilts at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. This event is an outdoor quilt show sponsored by Riley Blake Designs. It features classes taught by several of Riley Blake’s designers and is reported to have an outstanding shopportunity for attendees (like I need any more quilty stuff!).

UPS delivered surprise on Thursday. Inside said box was a quilt kit from Riley Blake with instructions to precut all pieces prior to class on Thursday afternoon – per the designer. So, I’ll be spending this rainy Saturday cutting all the pieces for the throw kit. The instructions also stated to bring the box and its entire contents to class. Nope. No room in the suitcase for a bulky box I’ll be placing the bits in marked ziploc bags, organized by step in the process. I’ve done enough table runners by this designer to know the best way for me to work her patterns. Looking forward to her class. The quilt is cute!