by Sandra | February 25th, 2010
It is hard to believe looking at this box of kits that it took three solid months of work to complete, but it did. It is really important to me that when I teach, I do my best to make the class an enjoyable learning experience for those who signed up for my workshops. I take your faith in me to teach you something that is helpful very seriously.
I can’t promise I will entertain you, I am a much better teacher than an entertainer, but I will try and teach you how to applique better. I never could sing or do a comical stand-up routine, so I always take pity on students and avoid any such pitiful moves on my behalf in that direction (now you know why I don’t do lectures). Instead, I will try my best to make applique more do-able, better and less frustrating.
Now as you can figure from the time involved in prepping for a workshop, you know why I don’t teach very often. One, it is difficult for me to be away from home and two, it takes three months to prepare properly for a class that meets my standards. As you can see, and doing the math, I don’t do this for the money. 
My sewing room is a disaster and this is but a small area of what needs to be cleaned up and put right again. I have piles of fabric that need to be sorted and put back in their proper place in the cabinets and a good sweep is needed too. Quite frankly, it looks like a tornado came through.
I am currently finishing up a quilt I promised to quilt for my aunt back in November and then must get some more workshop prep done by Thursday of next week before I hit the road to Seattle. I beg your indulgence for not keeping up with the blog at the moment as often as I would like, but I hope you understand. Oh and I have my mom duties as well. We are taking Jason to the Rose Garden for the “Walking with the Dinosaurs” show. He collects dinosaurs–436 and counting <sigh>.
When I return from Seattle, I get to play again for a whole year before I am to hit the road again for teaching at Asilomar. For me, I need a balance between professional quilting and my own personal quilting enjoyment. I can’t imagine NOT having time to make a quilt just for the pleasure of it.
Wow! now that’s dedication! Would love to take a class by you…those kits look pretty inviting….
Sandra, a week from now I’ll be in a plane flying to beautiful Seattle! I can hardly wait!!!
Thanks for the peek at the supplies. I may not sleep the rest of the week due to anticipation. Thanks for doing all the extras for us. I’ve already gotten more out of your workshop than any other by reading your blog and watching your preparations for it.
Safe travel!
Love the peek at your studio ….. I could be right at home there!
And knowing what has gone into puting those kits together I don’t think I would ever want to mess it up by even taking it out of the package!
Judy B
When will you be at Asilomar? I would love to study with you! You are such an artist.
Just amazing! I’ve been privileged to take workshops from some of the (IMO) best, and NEVER has anyone prepared for a class the way you prepare, Sandra. Your students are supremely fortunate.
436 dinosaurs! Impressive. Is storage an issue?
Thank you for all you do and for the blogs so many of us look forward to and enjoy.
fsb
Wow Sandra, thanks so much for the peek into your process. Would you consider selling one of those kits to those of us that don’t live near your class?? I know that’s probably the last question you’d want us to throw at you. Like someone else said above “those kits look very inviting!”
Melanie, I am really looking forward to meeting you in person.
Judy it is a bit like creating this fabulous looking meal and then it is all eaten up in a matter of minutes, but I always think it is fun to make them like “goody bags” at a party.
Can you see by looking out the window in that picture why I do so many birds? Trees, trees, trees. They are full of different little birds all year round. Because we are on a migratory path, I see a lot.
Gini I will be teaching at Asilomar next year May 27-June 1 2011. I would love to see you there!
Thank you Frances!
You could say we are having storage issues. We have told him he is running out of space and the rest of the house is NOT and option. LOL
Oh Eva,
If I have left over kits I will sell them if asked, but both of these workshops filled with waiting lists so there will be none left over.
Oh well maybe next time. Keep me in mind if you do find any left over. I’d so love to have one!
your room looks like mine! used ! that is not a bad thing .
I love your kits ! If you have any leftovers ( I guess your not going to ) but if you do , please let me know if your seeling them .
I live near Dinosaur tracks ! and I know of a couple of great knitting patterns . LOL !
Boop, I am always suspicious of a sewing room (studio is one must) being too neat and tidy. Not enough creativity going on in a clean one IMO.
“I am a much better teacher than an entertainer”
Sandra, that quote just sets you apart in my mind. When I take a class, the last thing I want is to meet an entertainer. When I take a class, I want to learn something! Thanks for setting a high standard in the world of quilting teachers!
Have fun at your classes.
Hugs.
I am glad to see that you are going to Paducah – I remember the blogs from last year when you did not go. Did you enter the “Tea With Miss D” quilt in their contest ??
One of my quilting dreams is to attend Paducah when you give a class there.
Ivory Spring, thank you.
Sarah I did enter my quilt and hopefully it passes the jury stage. This is never a given. I booked the plane ticket under duress from my pals and then remembered I was going to wait to see if my quilt got in or not! oops.
Oh well, I get to hang with friends I haven’t seen in a long time and get into lots of trouble. I find that the research for my Margarita quilt always goes well in Paducah.
It is where the idea originally came. LOL