Is it to learn a new skill? Or to get together with like-minded ladies? The later is totally me. I love taking or teaching a quilt class because of the quilters. What a great bunch of people! The more talkative the class, the happier I am. I know, I know… to you die hard students, rowdy classes are distracting and you’re there to learn something. I love learning new info just as much as the next quilter. But… a class would be sew dull if we didn’t interact with each other.

A couple weeks ago, Lora and I taught a workshop in Tulare. This morning I received an email from one of the students sharing her project from the class. She not only finished the project she started in class, but she made a second one too!! I was delighted to see her accomplishments! If there was a mic on her email, she would have heard me clapping with delight. I asked her permission before sharing with all of you.

“Hi. I took your Party Lights class in Tulare on March 9….. SO loved your presentation and the two of you…. your mom was unable to join you . I look forward to meeting her at BOTV !!! I have made 2 quilts. I would like to share with you. I loved Kristin’s hand dyed background grey with Nancy Rinks fabric. [My first one,] I was not loving the block colors but happy I did not give up. I think they look like records. The old kind 😂 Thank you again sincerely DeAnn”

Didn’t they turn out great?!! The below picture is from the workshop of most everyone’s blocks. A few had left already before we thought to take a picture!

This was the pattern and a picture of the two sizes hung next to each other. We were making the smaller version in class.

Did everyone come to class to learn a skill? I doubt it. There were several accomplished piecers there that could have taught the block for me. Did everyone learn something? Oh, yes.  We learned there was a great place up in Napa that made homemade English muffins. We learned more about the 4 personality types and why it was important to sew in your own personality. We learned how to encourage each other. We learned that the primary class objective was to have fun. Did I get much done? Nay. I think I pieced a portion of one block. But I bee-bopped to the party music as we sewed on our Party Lights blocks. The class was so talkative. I sew enjoyed myself.

Here is an old say, and if I was better at google search I could have found the exact saying and who said it. (Send it to me if you know. I can add it!)

“Children need women. Men need women. And women need women.”

Next time you’re considering a class to take, don’t dismiss it just because you can figure out how to make it on your own. Consider the other reasons to take a class or workshop. You never know what new information you may pick up. I know I’d have never known about the Model Bakery in Napa and their homemade English muffins! Yum!

Absewlutely,

Lisa