Back from Louisville!!!

 

I just got back from classes with Karen McTavish (on the left) that were held at the APQS store in Louisville, KY  that is run by Angela Huffman (on the right).  I have been friends with Angela for probably over 10 years where we started our friendship on Alex Anderson's message board. 

 

Anyways, I took McTavishing, Victorian Feathers, and Heirloom quilting from Karen and had such a good time and learned so much.  Only down side is that Karen says I can no longer consider myself a "newbie" to long arm quilting.  Guess I am going to have to do a lot of practice so that I don't feel like a newbie. 

 

 

Anyways, at the APQS store we all had a long arm to work on with a partner.  Karen taught and then we went and practiced what she preached.  She is such a hoot.  So funny, yet so full of information.  I absolutely loved taking these classes and am so glad I did it. 

 

By the way, did you know that the speed limit in Ohio is 65 and that if you are going 80 and get stopped and pulled over on the side of the highway, you run over "junk" and get a flat tire?  Then you can wait two hours in pouring rain  for a tow truck to come and hopefully they  fix or change your tire to only end up going to Walmart Superstore and get a new tire?  For the cost of a ticket AND a new tire, one could "fly" to Louisville much cheaper  rather than driving from MI.  Just thought you would like that little tidbit of information. 

 

So, here are some of the samples that Karen did for us that we had to replicate. 

 

 

There were feathers, too, but apparently those are on my phone and for some reason I can't get the pictures off of my phone right now. 

 

I took three consecutive classes and while my friend, Shirley (who is quilting here)....

 

 

took one more class, I ran around Louisville (thank goodness for GPS) and found a couple great quilt shops.  One was Among Friends Quilt Shop (my favorite as it was a Quilt Sampler feature) and Cozy Quilter.  Didn't buy a thing as I was more focused on long arm stuff this week. 

 

Then later that night Karen had a trunk show and everything was just awesome. 

 

Here are a few of my favs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the four of us after our classes were finished.   

 

 

 

When I get myself together a little more than I am right now, I will share some pictures of "my" practice pieces  and might just show you the quilt that I now (somewhat) feel confident to tackle after taking these classes.  Remember, I am not supposed to be a newbie anymore.  We'll see how it goes. 

 

Glad to be back and am so ready to give all this knowledge a try now.