I took Charlotte and Angela to the Georgia Celebrates Quilts show on Friday. The girls earned a free admission ticket for making a block for the guild’s student exhibit. Those two were literally treated like rock stars by all of the attendees and vendors we met. I also appreciated the feedback from others thanking me for taking the time and energy to work with kids to instill the love of making, sewing and creating in the next generation of sewists. I also finally got to meet Miss Fran, who has run the guild’s kid’s exhibit for several years.

My quilt didn’t win an award, which is totally fine. I appreciated hearing the comments and watching people smile when they saw Sadie represented on my quilt. The one thing I did realize by seeing all of the quilts on display is that my skills have definitely improved over the past decade. My skill level is finally on par with most members of the guild that I always held up as the “gold standard” for quilting. When Miss Fran invited me to go downstairs and join the guild, I did just that. Done. I am now officially a member of the East Cobb Quilt Guild. It’s a large, active guild with many opportunities for classes, workshops, bee groups, quilt shows, leadership opportunities, retreats and meeting new quilty friends. It’s also the closest guild to me that meets during the day. Several of my friends from the former AMQG are members of this guild. It’s a win-win on all counts as far as I’m concerned.

When I picked up my quilt after the show tonight, I waited until I got back to the car to open the judge’s remarks. Ten years ago, my piecing was rated between satisfactory and good. My longarm quilter actually received higher marks than I did. Today, my workmanship (including piecing) rated a solid very good, as did my use of color, choice of fabrics and overall visual impact. I scored higher marks than the longarm quilter. Of course, this wasn’t a quilt done specifically for a show. I decided to put it out there to get some feedback and share my happy quilt with others. The judge’s comments were confirmation of what I’d observed looking at the various quilts in the show. I’m an intermediate – advanced quilter (depends on technique) and if I take it up a notch, quilt it myself and place it in the correct category, I might actually win a ribbon (any place, including Honorable Mention would be wonderful). Hubby was like, “Well, why don’t you?” So, I’ll look at the categories and see what the timeline is for the next show. In the meantime, I may just enter my happy quilt in the Georgia State Fair to get another judge’s perspective.

All of this is important because my former job did a number on my self-confidence. I knew I was a damn good librarian and well regarded by my peers, but education is a beast. No matter how much I gave of myself, went above and beyond, strived to improve my skill-set – it still wasn’t enough. COVID merely exacerbated the issues. The sheer indifference by all levels of administration for my area of responsibility was hard to take. I felt invisible. No amount of advocacy seemed to make any inroads – even from fellow colleagues who told leadership what they were missing out on by not tapping into my expertise. I grew weary of dysfunctional leadership, double standards and being made to feel as if I no longer mattered. My former parapro deemed the work environment as “toxic” and advised that life would be so much better a couple of months into retirement. Even after only two weeks into retirement, I’d say she’s spot on. Leaving the job was scary, but everything is “gonna be alright”.

Keep on quilting!
Teresa

I had so much fun at this quilt show. I’m definitely planning to return!

The camaraderie among attendees at this show mirrored what I encountered at my pre-COVID Idaho quilt retreat. It was AWESOME. Both times, I went not knowing a soul and left feeling like I’d really connected with other folks. THIS is what has been sorely missing since COVID started. While I’m thankful for all of the online content provided by various quilters, no amount of virtual quilt events and Zoom guild meetings will ever replace the in-person contact we all crave with our quilty peeps.

My journey to Pigeon Forge and back to the ATL:

I took backroads from Atlanta up to Pigeon Forge. Followed the Appalachian Quilt Trail for part of the way, looking for quilt blocks on barns and buildings in towns as I passed through. I was not disappointed. One of my side trips to view blocks led to an hour long visit at a textile museum. The rest of the drive up through Lenoir City, Maryville and the way to Cade’s Cove was particularly nice. I stopped at Apple Valley for a delicious late lunch A later stop led to my find of the trip – a Singer Penguin walking foot in excellent shape at a great price. I confirmed the price with the old gentleman, purchased that sucker and quickly left. I am still grinning about my find. You just don’t see them in this area.

I stayed at the new Holiday Inn & Suites on the Parkway. It’s in a great location. I could see the LeConte Center from my hotel room. My room was huge, clean and quiet, but not particularly well lit in the evenings. I like to sew in my room at night, and plan to stay here again, so I will definitely bring one of my task lamps next time. Once they open the footbridge to the LeConte Center, it’ll be a 5 minute minute walk to the quilt show – no need to even move the car.

My return journey started off going the backroads, but Google maps was hell bent on me taking I-75 instead. I finally acquiesced and treated myself to a stop at Buc-cees in Calhoun, GA. A few miles down the road, traffic on I-75 was so stacked up that I exited the highway and drove the remanning 37 miles the back way. I probably made it home faster, too!

Quilt show recap:

The LeConte Center staff, Pigeon Forge employees, local quilt guilds and all the folks who collaborated to put on the show did a first class job.

Admission to the quilt show, mega vendor shopportunity and parking is totally free. Based on what I saw and heard, the vendor mall is a HUGE draw for quilters in the region. And the shopping was quite good, too! I didn’t think there were that many quilts to see; however, my frame of reference is my local show with 300+ quilts on display. This could easily be a fun day trip for quilters within a 1.5 – 2 hour drive of Pigeon Forge.

Classes and specialty events have fees. ($35-$75, depending on class/event – kit fees are extra)

Classes are taught by well-known faculty. If there’s a class you want to take, you’d better register as soon as the official sign up opens or you may be out of luck. Be aware that the kit fee probably rivals the class fee.

Workspace in the classrooms is generous and the rooms are well lit. You have plenty of room to spread out at your station. Definitely bring your 18″x24″ rotary mat and large wool pressing mat, if you like. I brought my 12″X18″ rotary mat and 9″ square wool press mat. I made it work, but made a note to bring the bigger ones next time. A power strip will also be useful. Task lighting is optional.

Concessions are available, but they are pricey and offer limited choices. Pepsi is the official beverage vendor, if this matters to you. At the very least, bring your own refillable water bottle and packaged snacks. Consider packing a lunch if attending all day classes.

If you’re a pin collector for each quilting event you attend, be sure to buy the pin sooner, rather than later.

Mountain QuiltFest is definitely on my list of annual quilting events. Many attendees in my class drove at least as far as I did to attend multiple days of classes due to the quality of the faculty and classes offered. I now see why. I’ve already planned to add an extra day onto any future trips to Mountain QuiltFest so I can take full advantage of the classes and events.

Other recommended “big” quilty events from quilters I met: Shipeshewana, AQS Branson, and QuiltFest Jacksonville (the September one sponsored by six local quilt guilds).

Until next time…stay quilting my friends!

Meet the fabulous five members of my travel/class rotary cutting kit: a 6-1/2” x 12-1/2” ruler, 6-1/2” square ruler, 2-1/2” x 6-1/2” ruler, 12” x 18” folding cutting mat and a 45mm rotary cutter. These items cover about 95% of any cutting I may need to do on the road. The wild card ruler would be a specialty ruler needed for a specific project or a specific size square needed to trim blocks to the needed size. For example I packed a 12-1/2” square ruler for my trip to Mountain Quiltfest. I’ll need it for the class I’m taking and for the project I brought for my personal in-room retreat.

These items pack easily in a suitcase if I’m flying or in the rolling tote with my sewing machine if I’m heading to a local event.