A Feathers Four Ways class and Houston prep
There’s so much prep for an event like the Houston International Quilt Festival and Market. I’ll be gone 11 days this year and will attend Market for the first time. I’ll be promoting my new book (squeeee!) and see what is new. It’s not just about quilting, there are wardrobe and grooming tasks too. So: hair, check; nails-next week; shoes-as good as it’s gonna get; chiro-check; theraputic massage to try to get this foot under control, check.
Right now THIS is my biggest problem. The right foot is swollen both top and bottom. Every step holds discomfort. The swelling is pushing second toe out of alignment. I’ve been to an excellent podiatrist 3 times in 6 weeks. I’m now doing laser treatments on it which have helped. Let’s hope that they hold out for 11 days of 20,000+ steps/day.
And wardrobe decisions are not all about fashion! The classrooms are either heat from hades or cold the North Pole so it’s about layers. I have to be able to move a lot too!
I did finish all 3 infinity scarves and one was a bust. The cotton lawn for my black and white one was too stiff. I do love this diaphanous orange scarf!
I also needed a few new pieces, 2 bottoms and 2 tops. I need help when clothes shopping so I am a big Nordstrom’s fan-they hire the BEST help. Eva here was so helpful and was honest in her opinion of what worked and what didn’t. I would not have purchased two of the pieces without her help and styling. She’s the bomb!
Perhaps it sounds trivial, but I want to be confident in my clothes. I’m not looking to be a trend-setter or fashionista, just want to hit the target and feel confident. It will be tricky pulling this off for 11 days!
On to teaching prep:
I already sent 2 big boxes of quilt sandwiches and this became my last box containing all my handouts (1,225 pages!) and other teaching supplies. My 2 29″ suitcases will max out at 50 lbs so I needed to ship this. I have thought long and hard about my handouts. It is not uncommon for other teachers or students to copy handouts and call them their own. Many teachers have cut back or eliminated handouts entirely as a result.
I’ve deliberately chosen to stick with my handouts. When my student has a handout, I can confidently say, “Don’t take notes, watch. What I’m showing is in your handout so you don’t need to take notes.” Then I get their full attention and they benefit greatly from watching me draw or quilt as opposed to taking notes. So there I go, sending 1,225 pages to Houston!
I finished off a box of staples-how often does that happen? There was a lot of printing and stapling going on.
But it wasn’t all prep this week. I had a great class of students for my “Feathers Four Ways” workshop:
I asked my students to allow me to take a photo of their best work for the day (not everyone wanted their work shown). With the exception of one, these were first time featherers! I was blown away by how well the class fared and the feathers were flying. I love feathers–I want to feather the world.
I leave on Halloween for Houston. My 11 day stay is going to be jam-packed:
- 5 classes with 125 students
- I’ll be taping a short video with C&T to promote my book
- Book signings at both Market and Festival
- I’ll be presenting at Schoolhouse (a part of Market, promoting my book)
- One sampler (Saturday) and one Forum (Machine Quilting Forum)
- I’m the lead for Machine Quilting Forum
- One Meet-the-Teacher
- I’ll get to be a student in a Jane Sassaman class!
- Various luncheons, meet-ups and meetings while at Market and Festival
Friday will be my busiest day with a full-day class to teach, a Meet-the-Teacher, a book signing and a SAQA meet up. Oh I hope my feet behave!
I will post while I’m gone but it may just be a photo or two. I just don’t seem to be able to teach all day and come back to my hotel room and write a blog. I’ll play it by ear. Wish me luck!
Don’t forget, my book goes on sale Nov 4th while I’m at Festival. You can pre-order here. If I’m in your area I would love to sign your book.
I’ll be linking up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday!
Have a wonderful trip! The Houston show is on my bucket list. I can’t wait to get your book but I’m local so I hope to get it signed by you. Any chance you might have a book signing at Meissner’s in Folsom? I’ve taken your beginner class and hope to take your feather class one day too. Have fun and good luck on your trip.
Denise if you get a chance to go to Houston, do! It’s unlike any other show. I hope to have signings locally, just haven’t set anything up yet. Thank you!
How exciting to be a published author. You are generous to continue to provide handouts to your classes. I hope your feet hold up. Maybe you can commandeer a wheelchair and use that on extra heavy days. Think of how people will open doors and otherwise help you out.
It is exciting Joanna! I think handouts are a necessity. Oh man, hope I don’t need a wheelchair! There is just so much schlepping to be done, I just pray that my feet hold up.
no wheelchairs, get a scooter and a bicycle horn! BEEP BEEP!! Be obnoxious and LOVE IT!!! :)
I hope I do not have to do that! I have so much stuff to tote, don’t know how I’d do that on a scooter. But I’ll do what I have to!
I appreciate. Your e-mails.
As to your feet. Try eating a can of cherries red an not sour. A home remedy.
Enjoy every minute of the up coming
Events. A hug to Zelenograd
The cherry thing-about a year ago I did an intense regimen over several months of “tart cherry” extract. It helped other things but not my feet oddly enough. I don’t have general inflamation but something structural that results in swelling. I know it works, really does. But my feet seem to be a different story. Thank you Mary!
OMG! Your post makes me tired, but it sounds like it’s going to be a wonderful time. My post this week is on cotton lawn and I made an infinity scarf. I was surprised you found yours stiff. I absolutely love mine! Have you thought about putting your handouts on thumb drives? I attended classes recently in Paducah and I loved having their handouts on drives. Hope your foot feels better.
Ooo, your scarf is lovely and drapes so well! Mine does not drape softly like that, it’s not bad, and I have a thought of washing it a bunch of times to soften it. I personally do not want my handouts easy to transfer and copy. So your instructor gave each student a thumb drive with handouts? Curious, what type of class? It would be a part of the kit fee I guess. Thank you for the comment and suggestion Lynda! Just signed up for your blog.
Just reading your post made me tired. I admire your persevering in spite of painful feet. If your feet hurt, everything else does. Good luck and I hope it all goes well.
Your students’ feathers are gorgeous. You must be a great teacher!
Oh such encouraging words Norma-thank you! Truth be told, I think most of us of “a certain age” have an ache or pain that may not ever go away and you just have to keep going. I do hope this goes away!
Thank you for the thought Gina! One year I messed up my handout for one class and had them print for me. Wowsa-it was enormously expensive! It’s not like what your local FedEx charges, this is right there in the Hilton and I don’t have time to go anywhere else. Plus, more than one teacher that has done that has ended up with handouts that are not right. So, I ship. It’s expensive no matter what!
Hey re handouts, would it be easier for you to email a file to a Houston area FedEx printer and pick them up there? I would think that would save you some money if you’re paying to have them printed anyway. I don’t know your routines and prep plans but thought I would throw that out there. Looking forward to seeing you next week!
Will be taking two of your classes in Houston. Very excited to see you!!
Oh wonderful! Please remind me you wrote-I’ll forget! See you soon Sharon!