My Busy Winter
I can’t believe that it has been SIX months since I last Blogged. OUCH! There goes last year’s resolution to blog monthly. Oh well, I will try harder this year. A lot has happened since I last wrote. The FIFTH Academy of Applique took place the first part of March, 2019. A good time was had by all; thanks to the help of my family (sister Jane, sons Jacob and Tom, and daughter-in-law Jennifer), and friends (including husbands). The number of attendees almost doubled from previous years, and yet everything remained organized and TONS of fun! The pictures should be available on the website (www.academyofapplique.com) in the next couple of days. Enjoy! The store offered almost 400 bolts of fabric, books, patterns, and notions. I have said before, but will again, that this is my FAVORITE week of the year! As long as you come, I will host this event until I am too senile to remember to show up. If you haven’t already, please sign up for information on the 2020 Academy by completing the “dancing” envelope on the website, or emailing me (Barbara@academyofapplique.com). The Class Catalog will be available by August 3, 2019 with registration again on Labor Day September, 2, 2019.
I have been teaching and lecturing (well actually giving trunk shows), and have a pretty full schedule thru 2020. It had been said that appliqué was “dead” here in Virginia . . . but . . . my local guild hired me for (2) classes, a beginners and an advanced appliqué class. The beginner’s class had (48) students and the advanced had (30). We bore MANY new appliquers and rebuffed the idea that no one wants to learn appliqué. We had a BALL! I must say, I LOVE teaching and traveling – perhaps a new niche?
I also, FINALLY, launched HUZZAH QUILT SHOPPE, an online quilt store specializing in reproduction civil war era fabrics and much more! This was a steep learning curve for me as I.T. has always been my challenge. Fortunately my BFF Nancy Swietek joined me on this journey, and good friends Peggy, Nancy N and Sue helped inventory and enter all of the products online. WHEW! This took hours and hours. New fabrics arrive monthly, so visit the store often at www.huzzahquilts.com.
Nancy and I started a new venture – “An Applique Getaway.” This will begin in the Fall of 2020 and will offer an additional time to appliqué and learn, for an intimate group of (20), meeting in the Midwest. If you are interested in being on the list for more information, please email Nancy at anappliquegetaway@gmail.com.
I have also finished (3) new appliqué quilts. So I guess in retrospect, although I think I twitter away many days, I AM moving forward.
Enjoy the beautiful Spring weather, and until me “meet” again,
Keep stitchin’
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