The Quilt Skipper

quilting makes me skip for joy

Jenny K Lyon

Quilting makes me skip for joy

Life – Virtual and otherwise

Remember taking classes at quilt shows???

When the world began to change, I quickly realized I was going to have to adapt or go home. So adapt I did, kicking and screaming. Now that we’re 7 months into this I am accepting that our current norm may stick around for a long while. This week’s casualty was the in-person Road to California show which on Wed announced it will be entirely virtual as opposed the the hybrid they had proposed. Sigh. Do you not looooong for a real quilt show?

Remember quilt shows???

This week I have come to a deeper realization that there are some positive outcomes from this whole virtual thing. I decided to make a list:

Good Points About Virtual Lectures and Classes:

  1. I can afford to take classes from the best teachers and artists around the globe!
  2. I can eat onions before a lecture or workshop.
  3. My quilts are clean, lying prone, in pristine condition, on the bed in the guest room.
  4. I don’t have to load all of my products, quilts and tech gear into my car or pack in a suitcase.
  5. There is that awesome “touch up my appearance” button on Zoom!
  6. I can teach a workshop for a New York based platform (RaNae Merrill’s https://liveonlinequiltclass.com/) and reach students from all over the US in one class.
  7. I can turn around and speak for a Washington state guild the next day!
  8. I gain lots of time: all that commute time is gone. No airplanes, cars or hotels.
  9. My students are comfy in their own home.
  10. Both my students and I have access to our entire stash and notion bin during class.
  11. Both my students and I also get to easily see the work of others in the class.
  12. I actually think that I reach some students easier via Zoom than in class. Many students are flummoxed by the classroom situation and much more comfortable using a screen from home.

As a student or teacher, can you add to this list? Do let me know.

This week has been busy so far with the last 3 hours of my Fearless Fills and Frills class over at liveonlinequiltclass.com followed by an early afternoon lecture for the Gig Harbor Quilt Guild in Washington state. I could feel the love between members in the meeting, what a fun guild! I’m warming up to this.

Just before class, for grins, I took a selfie. I took one shot and it worked for once. I rarely have a reason to dress up a bit these days and it felt good to put on a necklace! That necklace was purchased at a SAQA Conference, I’m thinking it was in Alexandria, VA? It was made by Judith Content, the master of Arashi Shibori and hand-painted jewelry. I had to dig into the bottom of my purse to locate some, gasp, lip gloss. I cleaned up a bit:

I am in love with pairing that necklace with a v-neck – it works well together! I had a fun time with the Gig Harbor Quilters and it was fun to “dress up”.

I did pull out my forlorn trapunto quilt (wrote about it here, here, here,  here and here poor thing) to begin to work on it…..again. Don’t hold your breath waiting for me to finish this quilt. It will be a long time coming I’m sure. I’m at a cross-road now, not sure which way to head. I can work on the trapunto while I get my act together.

And in the Biggest News of all, I’M GOING TO BE A GRANDMOTHER, FINALLY!!! Baby is due in late Dec/early January and Mom and baby are doing well. It’s my oldest son’s first child and my/our first grandbaby. My DIL assures me that Baby has a mask on in utero. We are so excited! I will soon be blathering about my grandbaby and finally, I get to join the ranks of grandparents. I hear there is nothing like it and I can’t wait to experience it myself. I haven’t begun to sew for baby yet and I need to get on that! Whooop!

I’ll link up with Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday as usual. And really, there are so many good links there every week – take a peek!

Comments

    • Thank you Barbara! I am SO excited! I sure am going to miss seeing you this year. Oh how I hope that 2021 has a real show.

  2. Happy Dancing here! What exciting news! You’re going love being grandmother.
    I know I sure do!!

  3. Nothing like being a grandma. Especially if it is a girl since you and I both have only sons. Love the selfie, great photo. Looking forward to getting back to SIS.

    • Oh Helen how I miss SIS! I can’t wait to be a real Gramma and we’ve got a boy coming – I know just a little bit about boys:-)

  4. We really enjoyed the lecture; sorry I missed part when my connection pooped out.
    Would you like some raw silk fabric? It’s still part of clothing that “shrank” in the closet, but beautiful fabric that I’m afraid to cut into personally.

    • Oh Mary Ann I am so sorry that the connection was a problem! It turns out that it really was a Zoom problem, no us!

  7. Congratulations on becoming an expectant grandma! That was when I pulled out knitting needles, crochet hooks, sewing machine, and busied myself making all sorts of Gramma things. I was blessed to be able to make christening outfits for both boys. For the first I was able to take my DDIL shopping with me in Denver. She chose the pattern (boy outfit, not a long gown) and the very fine (aka expensive) fabric. I loved every minute making those outfits. Add to your list of benefits to virtual classes the ability of students to see projects up close. I can get within inches of my screen. RaNae is terrific! So happy you are teaching with her company!

    • Funny you mention knitting Joanna – I have decided I need to learn to knit. I know all the other needlearts but not knitting. I need to have something to do while my students are quilting in my virtual classes. And of course I need to knit for baby! Good point about seeing up close. I love that they can see the details of my quilting.

  8. Being a grandmother is like getting a new look at life! You already know that no matter how much you worried as a parent, they grow up and stop sucking their thumbs, learn to use a toilet, to read, and make friends. Far less anxiety than when you’re raising a child the first time. I love the necklace – I just bought another one from Judith via email. Thanks for the tip on V-neck matching!

  9. So excited for you Jenny! Our first grand any was a boy and I am so totally smitten with him! You will love it!

  10. Congrats ? grandma to be. You are becoming a member of a very special club. You are correct, there is nothing like it.

  11. Great photo! And yes to all comments about being a grandma. Funny how much cuter, sweeter and smarter the grandbabies are than our kids!!

  12. Congratulations on hearing the news you will become a grandmother! It is like no other job in the word! So excited for you and your family.

  13. Wonderful news! Best wishes to your whole family, soon to be increased by one new adorable boy.

  14. Hi Jenny, although these are tough times for many people, I do love being able to take classes from around the world. I can imagine that as a teacher it must be great. I wish you all the best and have fun being a grandmother :-) Take care.

    • Thank you Andree! I appreciate that also and I’m writing teachers that Is like to take that do not currently have virtual offerings, asking if they will consider it.

  15. Congratulations on your little grandchild!!! So very exciting for you and the family!!!! And I Love your button necklace-fun and perfect for your selfie!!!

  16. Congrats on your Gbaby news. As a card carrying hermit I welcome the zoom classes, and the cache of teachers is only limited to those that bravely went virtual.

    • Thank you! And yes, I have become more aware that there are lots of quilters who for whatever reason, much prefer to take classes from home.

  17. Congratulations on your amazing news, Jenny!!! It sounds like your grandchild will be arriving around my oldest son’s birthday, December 26th! I’m so happy for you and your family. Also that is the best selfie I’ve ever seen. It looks like you were photographed professionally!

    • Thank you Rebecca Grace – I a so excited! And that is a once-in-a-lifetime event there, that selfie. You’ll be hearing lots about my baby adventures!

  18. I’m really happy about you becoming a Gma i’ve been one 17 years and love it….there’s a light in the heavens…lol

  19. So excited for you to having a grandchild.
    Another advantage for zoom workshops at home is having more space in addition to all your fabric. At some workshops we each have a small space. So I’m happy to have the cutting table, ironing board and sewing machine all easily available.

    • Good point about the space Sharon. I seem to always get next to the student who takes over 3 spaces when at an in person class. And yes, I am SO excited about being a Gramma!!

    • Oh and I’m giggling Sharon because I take terrible selfies! That one was so good that I thought I’d take another 2 or 3 and the next ones were awful!