Craft Napa 2018

How do I describe Craft Napa? It’s fun, exhiliarating, encouraging, inspiring and maybe a wee bit fattening! You meet new friends, see friends from previous years, enjoy spontaneous lunches with people you didn’t know before, peek into other classrooms and immerse yourself in creativity. I was  struck by the vibe I got from walking around Craft Napa, there is this sense that everyone is very happily working hard. Pokey Bolton, creator of Craft Napa, has created a fabulous new way to jump start your creative New Year. Everyone was generous, from Pokey to fellow students to the instructors. I hope that made sense–like I said it’s hard to describe.

I taught all day Thursday, including a night class. That was challenging and I’m thrilled that my energy did not flag:

My intro class was fabulous! It is such a gift when your students are inspired, attentive and open, a wonderful group of women. Of course I forgot to take photos until the end:

I think everyone left knowing they really CAN free motion quilt their own work, in their own style! One student was inspired by “Emerge”, one of my works with which I used a sheer border.  She went home that night and tried it on one of her quilts!

Isn’t that awesome?

I forgot to take ANY photos of my night class. Students submitted images of their quilt top ahead of time and I worked up a quilting plan for them, typically with some thread suggestions included. It’s a difficult class to teach-lots of work to create a plan and support it with associated images of similar quilts, techniques, threads, motifs, etc. It’s also a very gratifying class as students are usually very excited about their plan and can’t wait to get home and start quilting!

Every student was thrilled with the plan I created, tailored to their style and experience level. And it was a really fun workkshop–we had all genres of quilts from traditional, to political, abstract, painted, etc and all levels of experience. Everyone learned something useful from hearing the discussion about the work of others.

I did have a chance to peek into some other classrooms:

Libby Williamson is warm, fun and talented and her classroom reflects that. She created this welcome table for her students. Isn’t that just the cutest thing?

Some of Joann Sharpe‘s students’ work was drying on the tables in the atrium. This class was full before I could get in. There were lots more, just didn’t get a chance to photograph them.

I drove home on Fri morning and returned Sat for the Artist’s Luncheon (again, forgot photos). Pokey asked the teachers a variety of thought-provoking questions that the teacher’s panel answered. It was revealing at times and sometimes belly-laugh hilarious!

I was excited to take Leslie Tucker Jenison‘s Fearless Improv class all day Sunday. Oh what a gift that was! Here’s a peek at some of Leslie’s work she put up in the classroom:

This piece was especially interesting to me:

Leslie used a variety of whites (I know you can’t tell from the photo but it adds a lot of subtle interest). Also, note how the piecing lines made this piece almost pajogi-like–love!

And this piece will hang in the upcoming QuiltCon:

Here’s a portion of her planning sketch for that piece:

That was a surprise to me-I thought it was all loosey-goosey and free flowing construction, but it’s not. I did get my own piece going during class and it actually was unplanned:

I built this as I went. And no, I am NOT a Cal fan, just happened upon those colors–wanted navy instead of black and that yellow actually has a good bit of green in it.

Sorry it’s, blurry, but I had to have a selfie with Leslie. I found her to be incredibly talented, generous, organized and gracious. I hope I can take a class from her again, soon!

One unique part of Craft Napa this year was the Graffiti Wall. Pokey put up this (guessing here) 4′ x 8′ wall of fabric and stocked the nearby table with all kinds of markers and paints for making graffiti. It started out like this:

That’s Judy Coates Perez’s daughter Indigo starting it out. She is an amazing artist and photographer. But it grew:

I made my wee little contribution:

And it grew even more:

Isn’t that just so fun? A few more fun vignettes from Craft Napa:

The physical set up of CN is conducive to mingling. All the classroom are grouped around a large atrium. Each afternoon Pokey had a spread for us of GOOD cookies, cupcakes, beverages and such. So you would go out and get your nosh and run into someone from another class and chat about your experiences–so cool.

And if you go year-after-year, you make new friends! Carol was my student last year and we’ve become friends through Facebook as well. It was wonderful to renew friendships.

The Embassy Suites is built around a lovely pond with swans and fountains. It’s a lovely place to stay.

Melanie Testa, teacher, fabric designer, talented artist and a delightful person, walked around and hand delivered charm packs of her fabulous fabrics. See, everyone is so generous!

Pokey of course wanted to meet any dog in her path. This sweetie, Snickers, has his own Tutto tote!

Even the sound walls of the freeway were interesting.

I did have a little time to spend at Copia, a part of the CIA-Culinary Institute of America. I forgot to take photos, but I ate there Wed night and it was an amazing Culinary Experience. I tooled around the grounds on Sunday:

This is how you know you’re at Copia-hard to miss!

And yes, the giant fork is made of…forks.

Two happy wine enthusiasts greet you from above.

I found this tree in front, absolutely laden with Meyer lemons. I was so tempted to take a few!

There were quite a few students and teachers from colder climes. Our California poppies were already in bloom!

There are lots of beautiful places to walk, especially along the river. Craft Napa is so. much. fun! I hope you plan to go next year and kick start your New Year with lots of creativity.

I’m linking up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday. I hope you make a habit of checking out the links.