Tag: quilts

QuiltCon 2024 Recap

February 28, 2024

That’s a wrap! Raleigh marked my fourth Quiltcon and the farthest I’ve ever driven to attend one. It’s also the very first time I received one of the coveted swag bags at registration. You don’t know that you’ve been selected to win one until your registration badge prints out. The little shopping bag icon in the lower left corner of your badge identifies you as a swag bag winner. The bag of goodies definitely did not disappoint!

Honestly, the real reason I went to this particular QuiltCon was to see people and shop. I was able to catch up with former ATL quilty peeps, check-in with the very few ATL peeps who’d made the L-O-N-G trek to Raleigh and finally meet a virtual quilty peep – Sharon – in person. It was great! Yes, I did spend a few minutes admiring quilts and took the obligatory photo of my guild’s entry into the group category, which is pictured to the left.

I didn’t take any classes, but opted to do a Friday lecture pass and attend the key note address on Saturday. All lectures were livestreamed this year. Since QuiltCon is in Phoenix next year, it’s doubtful I’ll attend, but viewing lectures at home is certainly an option (depending on the speakers).

While crowded, I think the Raleigh show was well-executed. There were plenty of staff and volunteers on hand to direct folks. Parking was easy to find, reasonably priced and I felt safe in the downtown area. Having the vendor area and quilts on one level instead (of the multiple levels that made up the Atlanta show) was so convenient. There’s one thing I would like to see at future QuiltCon events: more seating in the exhibit hall/concession areas. While the MQG has a decidedly younger audience, about half the attendees I saw sported gray hair. Perhaps an affinity group just for them? Or better yet, chairs or benches in the vendor booth area, tables and chairs in the concession area and more seating in the quilt viewing area? No one should have to sit on the hard concrete floor to eat or simply rest.

If you plan to attend QuiltCon and your intention is to shop until you drop, be there when it opens on Thursday. The booths were packed! I was interested in the new M3 Oliso mini-iron. They were sold out by the time I made it to the booth at lunchtime on Friday. Fortunately, I was able to hold and try out the new iron in the booth. I discovered I didn’t really like the way it felt in my hand, so it wasn’t a big deal that they were sold out. FYI, many of the vendors had sold out of merchandise by Saturday afternoon. Cary Quilting Company and Bernina World of Sewing (the two local quilt shops I visited) were also running low on inventory, as well. I did manage to get stickers and other freebies for my CraftLAB kiddos, a rope bowl book & kit for me, plus a weighted mini-clapper for my travel sewing bag (for a reasonable $15 instead of the fancy $145 one I saw in another booth). The fabric I purchased from the local quilt shops will go for two “boy” quilts I plan to donate to my guild’s community service.

Next year’s QuiltCon will be in Phoenix. The 2026 show location will be announced in April. Hopefully, it’ll be back in the SE again – Charleston, Knoxville, Tampa or Jacksonville perhaps? We shall see.

Loving the lake view!

February 17, 2024

Sadie and I took a detour and explored the area in the picture on our way back from Cabin Fever Quilt Studio in Ellijay a couple of weeks ago. I really liked what I saw (so much so the dog and I sat through a sales presentation so I could go look at model homes). It’s located about an hour north of where we currently live. A former co-worker and a couple of quilt guild members live in this particular community. I’m definitely adding it to our short list of areas to consider for retirement! It was a nice surprise to find an area that checks so many boxes on my wish list tucked away in the northwest part of the state..

Playing the waiting game

February 9, 2024

On Tuesday morning, I officially applied for retirement. A short while later, I received a document outlining additional tasks I needed to do in order to complete my retirement application package. It took some time, but everything has now been submitted. I’ve done everything on my end. Now, as with our health insurance, we wait while everything goes through the prescribed processes. Unfortunately, at this stage, there’s no tracking mechanism in place for me to follow the status online. I’ll actually have to call and speak to a rep to find out where we are in the process – or wait for the mailed document. Maddening. Quilting keeps me focused on other things while I wait.

Yesterday, Sadie & I participated in the Middle Georgia Shop Hop. It took nearly 2 hours to reach our first stop off I-75 with all the traffic getting out of Atlanta. The shops were really busy. A number of vans were taking shop hoppers to the venues this year. Three of the shops were so crowded, I didn’t even look around. I merely had my passport stamped, purchased my blocks and left.

Of course, we made the obligatory pit stop at Buc-cee’s in Fort Valley before heading across the state to the shops along I-85. Around 3:30 p.m., I turned in our completed passport to Hometown Quilt Shop – we were the first completed passport to be turned in! 

Today, I helped a friend spray baste her first quilt and learn how to do straight line quilting using a walking foot. She finished quilting her top right as we needed to pack up and vacate our space at the library so the next group could use it. Perfect timing! She’s going to trim her quilt and make the binding this week. If she’s brave, she’ll try to attach it. I’ll guide her through machine stitching it down and joining the binding ends next Friday.

My CraftLAB kiddos will be stitching with me on Saturday afternoon to complete their cross body bags. I’ve already advised them that the next project will be to work on their blocks for the kid’s exhibit at the June quilt show. Speaking of which, I’d best get started on quilting my own entry.