Machine Quilters Showcase 2015

This year’s Machine Quilters Showcase, sponsored by the International Machine Quilters Association was located in Cedar Rapids, IA.  It was a week of fun, learning and adventure for my favorite traveling quilter, Sheri and I.

We were scheduled to start the week off with some classes, however, bad weather cancelled our first class as the instructor was not able to make it in.  But on Monday evening we were entertained and educated by Dusty Farrell, a longarm quilter from Pennsylvania.

Dusty showing us how to create "Bread and Butter" Designs.

Then on Tuesday, I started off with my Meandering Methods workshop.  It was a fun class with great students.

    

Then in the afternoon, I taught my Nature Inspired Quilting Motifs workshop.

    

Then it was on to more classes, sessions, and some very important consumer research…..

Linda Taylor sharing Essential Technical Skills for Longarm Quilting.

 We took a couple of classes from long arm instructor, Linda V. Taylor.  We also took classes and networking sessions from Gina Perkes, Sally Terry, Fredrick Hill, and Deloa Jones. 

My "Anniversary Rose", a photo transferred quilt with mixed media enhancements.

  This year I donated my "Anniversary Rose", quilt for the Audacious Auction to support the grant program offered by the International Machine Quilters, to encourage and assist machine quilters to expand their knowledge and skills in machine quilting.  As a group we raised over $9,000.00 for the program.

  And of course finding the fabric you spent most of the week searching for---motivates me to get back to my studio to sew!

Next year’s dates are set for May 11-14, 2016.  For more information about the show go to www.mqsshow.org or follow Machine Quilters Showcase on facebook.

The Machine Quilters Showcase 2014!

This April I was selected to teach my beginning domestic machine quilting class, Meandering Methods, at the Machine Quilters Showcase.  The event was hosted by the International Machine Quilters Association, Inc., and held in Wichita, Kansas.

MQS Class Schedule

I had a full class with students coming from; Kansas, Nebraska, and even Minnesota!

They did a great job!  Just look at their class samples.

A special thanks to Midwest Sewing of Wichita, Kansas, for providing great machines for my class.

This is Michelle from Midwest Sewing sharing information about the machines.

It was great fun to meet with other teachers, share ideas, shop the vendors, and see the quilt show.  But the best part was working with a group of quilters who wanted to develop their machine quilting skills.

Special thanks to my helpers: Sheri, Elaine and Janice, you were loads of help, and a blast to shop with! (You don't have to share the last part with your husbands.)  Searching for our next adventure--Linda

New Faces, New Places

I really enjoy getting to know and work with people.  It probably explains why I entered into the field of education as a career choice.  Every year I try to reach out and work with new faces.  This year I was blessed to work with the Battlefield Quilters, from Lexington, MO. 

Quilters ready to learn about free-motion machine quilting.

They invited me to do my Meandering Methods Workshop, and I had a blast.

I enjoy classes that allow students time to practice what we cover.

They were a fun, generous, and serious quilting group.  I look forward to working with them in the future.
With fond memories-Linda

2013 In Review

This past week I have been making plans and sewing for my classes in 2014.  However, before 2013 slips by I would like to take some time to reflect on some major and minor events that were noteworthy.  I hope to have 13 flashbacks from 2013.  So here is the first. . . .Starting off early in 2013, I took the advice of my students and began working on my Meandering Methods, a No Mark Method of Free-Motion Machine Quilting, Workbook.   After many meals in front of my computer, and with the help of my good friend Sheri, I was able to complete it!

The finished workbook!

This workbook contains the information that I present in my Meandering Methods workshop.  The feedback from my students using it has been great!   

So now I am currently finishing my workbooks for Nature Inspired Quilting Motifs and Fun with Feathers Workbooks.   

My students continue to motivate me to be a better teacher, and for this I am very appreciative. -Linda