Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Table of contents
- The Calico Needlers Quilt Guild is a fun group of quilters!
- Likened to eating dessert first, we had the program straight away.
- In Our Quilting Journeys, I challenge quilters to ponder their own journeys.
- Sometimes we are surprised by the memories we gain by quiet reflection.
- While in the area, I made a stop to Batiks Plus and, eureka, I found a gem!
- Finally, a big thanks to my new friends in Saint Peters!
The Calico Needlers Quilt Guild meets in Saint Peters, Missouri at the St. Charles Library. This day-time guild meeting starts bright and early at 9:30.
Even so, the room was filled with friendly quilters.
The Calico Needlers Quilt Guild is a fun group of quilters!
Everything about this event was smooth sailing! I am grateful for their kind welcome and hospitality and the ease of setting up everything from technology to hauling my wares!
For starters, each guild program presentation begins with selfies of the group. I am currently without my selfie stick, so disregard the mop of gray at the bottom of these pics!
Likened to eating dessert first, we had the program straight away.
In Our Quilting Journeys, I challenge quilters to ponder their own journeys.
Take a quiet moment, maybe over a cup of coffee or tea, to think about who has influenced your quilting journey.
First, many quilters have family quilters who either directly or indirectly expose us to the craft. In other words, “we get it honestly”!
Furthermore, our quilting journeys are influenced by many things, like shops we frequent (they choose what we see), friends, emails, sales, free shipping offers, retreats, and even Show and Tell!
There’s never a wrong reason for making a quilt!
As expected, much of the program is dedicated to sharing my quilting journey, which I often refer to as a “very curvy quilting journey”. With the newest curve in my journey being repeat pattern design, I remembered just days before the presentation a big influencer on the latest curve of my journey: Tula Pink.
Several years ago, at the Fall Paducah Quilt Show, fabric designer Tula Pink was the featured guest. We were fortunate to get tickets to “An Evening with Tula”. When Tula began her talk, she announced she was going to tell us the process of how she designs fabric. I guess I had been thinking about it back then because I took out pen and paper and made notes. She mentioned she uses Adobe Illustrator, a vector software for digitizing her designs.
Later, when I needed to update my laptop, I told the computer guys I would be getting Adobe Illustrator. I didn’t have a clue what it was or how incredibly powerful and involved this software was. But it was in my Tula notes!
Sometimes we are surprised by the memories we gain by quiet reflection.
The power point/trunk show continued with pattern quilts and what influenced me to make them.
The Calico Needlers meeting continued on, with business and pleas for volunteers – a common thread amongst guilds. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stick around for Show and Tell, my favorite part of any guild meeting! But I must say these quilters were most helpful and gracious to me as a speaker. Aren’t quilters the best?
While in the area, I made a stop to Batiks Plus and, eureka, I found a gem!
Hidden away, under another bolt of fabric was this bolt of Crystalia, the Hoffman digital spectrum fabric used in my original Phoebee pattern! Phoebee is the gal that started it all and helped me discover how to use BOTH beautiful sides!
See more about Designing for Hoffman Fabrics HERE.
Read more about Phoebee HERE.
A special note of gratitude to the quilt holder gals! You did a great job!
Finally, a big thanks to my new friends in Saint Peters!
Remember to enjoy YOUR quilting journey, Karla
