Building up not breaking down......

I am still completely shocked that this happened today......... It baffles me to think there are people out there who could do this but yet again i have proof that it happens.  Let me back up a bit and give you some background information.

I teach domestic machine quilting classes at local quilt shops and guilds.  I am a relatively young person in the quilting world and I am about building people up.  My experiences in the quilting world have not always been positive.  People haven't always been kind to me, they have shared opinions with me in rude or negative ways.  I am a lucky one I have great confidence that each thing I do or am working on is the best that I can do at the time.  I am okay with my work and it makes me happy, I am MORE happy when my work effects others positively but I don't NEED people to love my work, I love it and that is enough.  I wasn't always this way, but I have grown into this confidence and I am enjoying it.  Don't get me wrong I am not cocky or bragging I have SO VERY VERY much to learn, I am just confident that what I am doing is the best I can do at this time.

Today I had a student in my class, an older lady, she was clearly worried about class and being able to do the quilting designs I asked.  I don't expect perfection, infact I let everyone know that they may not even be good at the designs when class is over, it takes practice.  Practice that needs to happen outside of class at home to become really good at the designs.  What I do ask is that every student tries each design and gives them their best shot.  This student did indeed keep this promise.  She worked hard, she tried every design, she gave her full attention to my class. 

When we were nearing the end of class time she made a confession to me....... she had been afraid to attend my class.  Not because I was young, and she feared we wouldnt have much in common but because of a past machine quilting class.  This student who gave my class her best effort had taken a class in the past (CLEARLY NOT WITH ME), a 3 day class on machine quilting.  After taking the class with the teacher and doing what I am sure was her best work on a hard new skill which she had just learned her teacher actually told her that it would be better if she just paid someone to quilt her stuff........ REALLY...... I was so shocked I asked if I heard her right....... Someone who is claiming to be a teacher told her "She better pay someone to quilt her stuff".  My student brought the piece she was quilting in the class that day and I looked it over.  Of course it wasn't show quality work she had just learned a new skill but it was definitely a good solid start and it was clear she had tried hard to do the skills ( the 2 things I require of my students).

So here we are back to the beginning...... how on earth can someone honestly feel good about themselves at the end of the day when they have done something like this to another person.  She made my student afraid to try, afraid that she wasn't good enough to quilt on her own machine, afraid of the process which should be so very uplifting and fulled with happiness.  What gives this "teacher" the right to destroy someones confidence in this manner??  How can she possibly claim to be an educator?  How could this teacher still be teaching??  I am just baffled by all of this?

I am taking a stand today.  A stand against the Quilt bullies who are spending all their time breaking down those who are doing their best, a stand against those who think that they are the best and nobody else can find their place in this big industry, a stand against those who think that their way is the only way to do or create things and that those who do things differently than they do are wrong or not as good.

I am instead asking that we take a moment to BUILD OTHERS UP, speak up, stand up and ENCOURAGE others to create their best work right now, encourage them to TRY, practice and create whatever makes their hearts happy.  Support others, it doesn't take anymore time to build another person up instead of breaking them down.  ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE, ENCOURAGE and help build others up!!  This industry is big enough for everyone no matter their level of skills and training, so help and support others whenever you are able.  Be a builder and take a stand against the bullies!!  PLEASE!!

Judy's Baskets

A few months ago one of my clients brought me a quilt.  It was a basket quilt and I must admit I am not especially fond of basket quilts, I have seen plenty and none have ever tickled my fancy.  This quilt was no different.  Judy didn't tell me much about the quilt but she did say this.....  :I don't really like this quit and I cant believe there is anything you could do to it that would make me like it............thats pretty much a challenge and well..... I ALWAYS like a challenge!!

It took me a few months to free up the time needed to do this one up right and Judy said I could do what I wished.  I showed progress as I went along on my Facebook page because I knew Judy wouldnt see it and when it was finished I didnt give her any photo idea of what I had done to the quilt.  She came to get it last night and well to say she liked it was a bit of an understatement.  She LOVED it, I even caught a bit of a tear in her eye.

Then she told me the story behind her quilt.  She made the basket quilt because she remembers her grandmother making baskets when she was a child.  Those quilts are gone but the memories remain.  The quilt was created with fabrics from her stash and she could fondly point out ones which had come from her grandmothers collection.  Mingled with grandmas fabrics were memories from projects when her children were young as well.

After I heard the story I was even more grateful I had taken the challenge and made this quilt into the stunning memory filled beauty it became!!

Enjoy some shots of the process and the final product and remember sometimes the perfect quilting really CAN make the quilt!!

MQX East and Yellow House Quilts

It is not a secret to many that MQX is my favorite quilt show of the year.....I look forward to the trip every year.  We begin planning for next year before we have even left NH.  Its just that AWESOME!!

The list of why its my favorite show could go on for a LONG time......I will only tell you my favorites

1.  The owners- Mary and Janet-Lee make you feel like you are THE  MOST IMPORTANT person at the show ALL the time.  If you  need something, or screw something up (which I do often with online things) they just send you an email or give you a call, or help you find your way with NOTHING but a smile.  They trully make the whole experience a DELIGHT!!

2. The Teacher list......This years line-up is beyond amazing.  I am going to be taking classes from Karen McTavish, Judi Madsen, Karen Marchetti, the ladies from Sew Kinda Wnderful, andAngela Huffman.  I cannot imagine how much amazing new stuff I will have in my quilters tool box after 4 days with this line-up!!

3. Registrations and the web-site.  Oh my goodness it is so DANG easy!!   The website is easy, class registrations are easy, and signing up for the quilt show is so SIMPLE!!  After spending 4 hours to enter 3 quilts for AQS today I am even more grateful of how wonderful their process is!!

4.  Volunteering- this is SO much fun!!  From helping to hang the quilt show, white glove duty to show off the backsides, to door greeter and meeting everyone who is coming to the show this really is a WONDERFUL way to get right into the middle of everything going on with the show!!

5. The World Class Quilt Show!!  Perhaps the best part of this is my quilts and a couple client quilts are going to hang this year among some of my most respected quilting colleagues and international quilters.  I am SO excited!!  The list of quilters who our stuff with hang with is really pretty intimidating!!

The quilts which made the cut this year are below!  I want to take a moment to thank my clients for letting me work with their quitls and my mom for always saying.... Do whatever you want honey!!

My Entry:

Blue in The Face

My youngest son Lukas in fabric

Can you see his face??

Close-up of the quilting

 Elaine Rubenau-Reich's Entry Sagamore Log Cabin

This quilt is King Sized

Her use of color is stunning

Center of the quilt

Border details

I love it from the back as well!!

Hanging at the NY State Fair

 Cathy Messengers Entry.....Hum i'm not sure what she named this one

A pretty nice backside!!

Doreen Hares (AKA MoM) Vintage Tins

These 4 beauties will be hanging amonst the amazing work at MQX this spring and I am beyond honored to have even 1 worthy of making the list.  Good luck to everyone, and I cannot wait for the show this year!!  It's not too late to get in on the fun check out the website, sign-up for a class and join in on the fun!!