Sewing Summit Gossip

The sign of a good weekend?

My baggage gained 25 lbs! "Only" 42 lbs on the way to Salt Lake City, but 67 lbs (!!) on the way home. Fabric binging, people!!




Looking at this {yummy} stack it is kind of embarrassing, really...I need a 5 year plan!

Good times were had. I really don't know how to begin to make this post even a bit coherent. There is so much to say.

My impressions:

It is the oddest feeling to walk into a room of 100+ people that you "know"....but have never seen. The opening reception was a bit overwhelming for that reason. I walked through the sea of people and then would spot a purse I recognized...."OH! I know that bag! It belongs to so-and-so" and boom, a connection was made!

Out and about with my BF Samantha, who joined me from Toronto to take in Sewing Summit, we were lucky enough to find an awesome art show selling handmade items by local artists. As I was trying on a cool belt I hear a voice behind me say "blahblahblah Joel Dewberry blah...." My head whips around. "You know your fabric. Are you from Sewing Summit?" And sure enough- it was Amy from Amylouwho! Along with Dana from Old Red Barn, and then Diary of a Quilter's Amy and Leigh of Leedle Dee Quilts. All such wonderful, genuine ladies.



Finally met that crazy Kaelin! And that girl spoiled me again with....drum roll....3 fat quarters of KJR ribbon Flowers. Eeep!!! Along with some amazing New Orleans treats! Love them!



I had brought her a little goody bag with some Canadian chocolate bars and an extra large eraser shaped like, what else, a plaid scottie! But me thinks I came out on top with that little exchange...thanks K! Enjoyed dinner with her and some other amazing girls- Angela, Cara, Candice, Cherie, Ali, Michelle. Good laughs!

Also finally got to meet my lovely Drunkard's Path QAL partner, Kate, in person! Had some fun shopping for fabric and hanging out over dinner with her and Natalie (another one of my very favorite blogging people!).



I also had a very intimate, special interlude in the washroom....ran into my new friend Becky who had a "special delivery" for me....a hug from our common Australian buddy, Shay! She decided to deliver it promptly.....




....don't worry, I had already washed my hands!

Also met so many more of my favorite ladies.... so nice to put faces to the names (and quilts!).





Saturday night Sam and I were lucky to take part in a dinner organized by Dana. She even arranged goody bags for the occasion! I gathered together some little fun personalized notepads to add in that I ordered locally (here):



And Dana spoiled us all with handmade pouches containing these adorable sewing machine silver pendant necklaces, made by Cinnamon Sticks! How stinking cute are these??? AND did I mention that she had gotten these for 40 of us???? Worn with pride all weekend long (and beyond). Thanks, Dana!



Speaking of shwag, man did we get awesome freebees! A huge tote, full of goodies, patterns and more upon registration!! And, in Jeni's color class, we got a free Kaufman Kona color chart! Whoo hooo!!! So needed for a Canadian girl who has to order all this stuff online!



I can also now reveal that I was one of 22 ladies involved in the SSSS Bee- "Super Secret Sewing Summit Bee", organized by the ambitious and talented Ali of a2w, where we made blocks to contribute to quilts for Amy and Erin, the organizers extraordinaire of the Sewing Summit. These were presented Sunday morning to two very emotional, proud (and TIRED!) ladies who had worked so hard to bring all of us together. They really are the NICEST ladies, knew us all by name and made us feel like they had invited us all over personally to their house for a party. I was so pleased to be able to give them a little something back :) My block was one of the wonky ones on the quilt backs!





So, what's a Sewing Summit without sewing??? We had open sewing time in the evenings, and Sam and I closed it out at 1 a.m. both nights. Had a blast! Here is what I pulled together using those lovely Baby Lock machines (a definite step up from my clunky cheapo Kenmore!):


(above photo by Natalie or Greenleaf Goods) :)


It was so much fun piecing this together in the sewing room with so many awesome sets of eyes coming over to give advice and support, taking photos for me to look at to analyze until I had the right balance, and cheering me on. Can I take you all home with me, please???

I could go on even more but I will wrap it up to say that it was a lovely weekend of making connections with wonderful people. It was so refreshing to be in a room (or 4) full of people who "get it." I am kind of on my own up here at home, I really don't have any friends I can get together with to share my passion, so all of my interaction is 99% online. Though I may not be able to do this annually, I do hope to make it back to Sewing Summit again someday!