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A few weeks have gone by since QuiltCon - interestingly it actually feels like it was longer ago than that - but the good energy I carried away from the show is staying with me. (This is my fourth (and final) post. The others were QuiltCon Recap My Quilts, QuiltCon Recap The Quilt Show, and QuiltCon Recap The Best Bits.)
For me, the one word which describes the whole experience is joyful. The big feels of community, inclusion, and kindness are top of mind even a few weeks later. The time spent with good friends, inspiration overload, and the overall kindness and cheerfulness of everyone is like a warm hug.
So what are my fondest memories as I reflect a few weeks later?
Seeing my quilt Patent Pending in the show and grabbing a fun photo with as many of the contributors at once whose schedules supported. There was so much laughter and joy, it made me so happy. These folks are the best and it made me so happy when they agreed to collaborate. (Read more about my quilt in the show on this post.)
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| Six of the seven friends who contributed were at the show and we had great fun grabbing photos. Linda @florishingpalms, Kitty @nightquilter, Charles @feltlikesweets, Val @valbetweenquilts, and Me (kneeling). Not pictured in this group photo are Pat @peacockcreekdesigns and Sarah @saroy but I grabbed individual shots. Sadly Yvonne @quiltingjetgirl wasn't able to attend. |
Sharing an Airbnb with three friends - so many laughs, great quilt discussions, and just general discussion about life and family. It was amazing to actually see Kristin in real life after doing three QALs together. (Note to future self - make sure to get a group picture of all roommates together.)
Walking the show floor, inspired by all the quilts and techniques, moved by some of the writeups, meeting friends, fellow guild members or random people and talking about what we liked about the quilt we were standing in front of.
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Chawne Kimber's keynote - funny, warm, thought provoking - and the emotional impact of her quilts. (See my Instagram post.) Chawne is an amazing person and I'm glad I've had the opportunity to meet her several years ago and enjoy her quilts again at this show.
Things I would like to try after seeing the show (in no particular order) -
- a two color improv quilt (my Dance Like No One is Watching mini was a trial piece)
- experiment with larger shapes and bold colors
- incorporate more hand quilting into my finish quilts - one of my favorite bits on quilts was a mix of hand quilting and machine quilting
- another group quilt (although perhaps one that isn't quilt as complicated!)
Notes to my future self (in no particular order) -
- Shop the vendor floor late in the day to avoid the crowds and the noise
- Volunteer again during registration - it is fun and exhausting all mixed together
- However, think twice about signing up for a 7 am volunteer slot (that was an early wake-up time!)
- Take a break for a cup of tea and a chat with a friend every day
- Grab more photos with friends (those are the ones I cherish, not the show quilt photos)
QuiltCon is so much more than the show itself. It is about the people - those who create the art and the story behind theirs quilts and every person you share the experience with.
Counting down the days to QuiltCon 2024 in Raleigh!
Happy St. Patrick's Day! from Jan in Ireland. Came upon your blog by chance enjoyed
ReplyDeletethe post from quiltcon. As a self-taught quilter of a few years I've tried to get other
people interested but where I live is a dead zone as far as crafts are concerned.
Sometimes I regret that I started but I still live in hope.
QuiltCon really is about the people. I'm glad you still find joy in volunteering. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful wrapup & something I would love to attend, but at my age, I hardly think so. Maybe you could come to AQC here in Melbourne?(giggle). Thanks for sharing your experience, take care & hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh Patty! In this post you absolutely nailed the best parts of Quiltcon. I am in wholehearted agreement with your paragraph about "joy." - "good friends, inspiration overload, and overall kindness" encapsulate what QuiltCon is about... and what I too am remembering and thinking about, even three weeks later. Funnily, I also agree with your list of things to try! That two-color quilt idea (which may come to fruition during a "Dance with the Wall" two-color virtual quilt workshop I'm taking in April with Irene Roderick), and another group quilt are top-of-mind. People pictures are so important too! Hopefully, I'll do a better job of that in Raleigh because I'll have my new iphone that takes way better pictures than the old phone. Anyway, this is a delightful blog post. Again, thank you for including me in your group quilt. It was an honor and a pleasure. Hugs.
ReplyDelete