Monday, March 29, 2010

stories of the lancaster aqs quilt show

note: i can't post pictures of show quilts until i hear back from aqs & the quiltmakers... oh rules!

so until then...

the fantastic lynette anderson informed me via twitter that a few of her quilts would be on display in the booth of the christmas shoppe... and asked if i'd take a few photos for her.

well the booth was super busy... but the owner was nice & said i could snap a few photos for lynette... as long as i didn't ask people to move!

pond house block of the month

buttons...

santa's blessings quilt

pillows!


one of the main reasons i decided to attend the show.. 
last minute & all... 
michelle & i have been blog buddies for a while now
we are even in bee beautiful together
i figured if she was making the trip all the way from canada... i could handle the hour and 1/2 drive!!
it was so great to spend time with you michelle!! ;-)


i also got to meet michele... {with one L }
aka michele of the quilting gallery

we had to take this photo 3 times... 
apparently i blink a lot??
anyway..
michele & i are also contributors together on quilter's daily blog along
we spent lots of time chatting & coming up with new ideas for events!


michele invited me to join her for dinner... and 20+ other quilters...
how could i say no??

it's hard to eat when people keep taking your picture....


and even harder when ruth calls you out...
and embarrasses you in front of the entire restaurant...
luckily i enjoyed every minute of it!
ruth may go down in history as the only person to get me to stop talking...


i heart my new quilting family.
made up of mostly Canadians.
they even brought presents!!

edit.. blogger is working again.
so here are the rest of the photos


dinner

the after dinner photo shoot in front of the cow...

just the girls!
{yes that's me laying across the front...}



oh lastly..
i don't "rant" much...
but if i had a dollar... for every time i heard "young" at this show.
i'd be rich.
really rich.
as in... you are "young" to be quilting
or you are so "young" do you quilt?
occasionally i got the it's nice to see a "young" quilter...
don't get me wrong... i get it.. i'm below the average age... but every once in a while it would be nice for it not to be the first thing out of someone's mouth! ...and for some reason... at this show... above all others i've been to... it was the #1 thing people said!

32 comments:

Strlady said...

I understand completely what you are saying! When I started quilting 12 years ago I would hear the same thing. I was 32 and that was YOUNG. Now my daughter (22 yo) joins me on retreats and to guild meetings and the young comments fly her way. I was commenting on this over the weekend. I love that the avg age of the quilter is going down because it assures that the craft will survive.

Meg said...

I totally understand your rant, Julie! I went to a local quilt show (put on by the largest guild in the state, the CT Piecemakers) this weekend and got a number of comments like that--and I'm in my early 30s! Know what drew even more strange looks? The fact that my tall, handsome husband came with me! We had a lovely afternoon, though!

Kathi said...

Yeah and when you're over 40 you'll be glad to hear these comments!! It was fun meeting you Julie! The quilting world needs more artists like you. We'll be seeing you in high places and I am glad to call you friend (even tho you could be my DD!)

Moneik said...

I routinely get the young quilter comment too. I've come to realize it's a lot of times because they are jealous that they didn't start the art as early as we have.

Kris said...

sounds like you had a great time and I totally hear you on the young quilter comment. I get it all the time too!

Anonymous said...

I'm 23 and by far the youngest in my quilt guild. The comments I usually get are along the lines of "how do you have time to quilt while you're in grad school?" Sometimes I wonder that myself...

Angela Nash said...

How fun that you and Michelle got to meet up!

Glad you had a fun time - can't wait to see the quilt photos (if they let you).

Dresden Quilter said...

It was great to get to spend time with you too, Julie. Definitely a highlight of my trip! I use to be the youngest in my guild. I have had people in it ask me if I have time to quilt. I thought that was funny since I usually show sometime for show and tell a few times a year. I have also had people tell me they wish they had started quilting when they were my age.

rachel griffith said...

dude...aren't you a little young to be quilting???
*wink*

Anonymous said...

Tres cool! I'm so glad you took pics with everyone! Did you know Ruth before you met her in Lancaster? Looks like you all had an awesome time!

Sandy said...

Ruth.. You are a woman after my own heart!! How did you get jaybird to stop talking? She does have good stuff to say though!! Silence around here would just be way too weird, and down right wrong. Her bubbly chatter brings life into our home, and makes me so proud!! I have given her the gift of gab!
With love,
MOJ

Ariane said...

I wish I could have gone. It looks like it was so much fun. I can't wait to talk to Michelle so that she can tell me all about it.

Lynette Anderson said...

Hi Jaybird,
Thanks for taking the lovely photos, its fun to see my quilts on display across the world. Looks like you had a heap of fun and from your stash repost it seems you went shopping!
See you in a few weeks time at market
Lynettex

Audrie said...

I didn't know you got to meet Michelle! How fun! Looks like a good time was had :)

I hear the young thing constantly too... not that I'm super young but I look like a child lol

Katie said...

That's too funny! I'm around your age, I'm pretty sure, and I get some strange looks and questions in the quilt shops around here. Haha, deal with it people, and let me spend my money in peace!

Kathi said...

Sandy I live in Lancaster and arranged for the dinner meetup. We all loved Julie immediately. She brings fresh, fun ideas and helped to teach me some tricks-such as learning how to blog! Felt a bit motherly towards her-my own children are 29, 23, 20, 19, and I finally have the time to quilt! You should be proud! She's a wonderful girl!

Jocelyn said...

But you ARE young and it is so WONDERFUL to see your interest in the craft/hobby we love! What a fun time you must have had.

Kelli said...

Hi Julie, I know exactly what you mean! I am 29 but I attend a patchwork group each Monday night and I am by far the youngest there, All the other ladies are learning because they are about to retire! My friends say that I go to Grandma class. There are very few young people here in Aus that quilt. Oh well, that will change, eitherthat or I will get old(er) :)
Kelli
xxx

Anonymous said...

Hi Julie - I'm 36 and I'm wishing someone would tell me that I'm too young (for anything!). Enjoy it - you are so talented!! And your work is very inspirational to us "oldies".

Pam P.

Kathy - mom of many said...

It won't be long and you will be up there in age...there will be a new generation coming up...my three older girls, ages 19, 17, and 15 quilt. Now, I'd say that's pretty young.

Natalia from Piece N Quilt said...

How fun! I love going to quilt shows and I usually get the same response. It's okay though, I hope they are all still thinking I look so young in 20 years! :)

Patty said...

It's because the mean age of the average quilter is 50 something and quilters are just so glad when someone younger picks up the mantle. You know we want to keep the art alive. :^)

Debb said...

No matter what the quilter's age... it's the threads that bind us together.... you will inspire other people to begin this wonderful adventure...

Christine said...

Looks like a great time- even as a YOUNG quilter. Hahaha! I understand your annoyance. I'm loving how many younger quilters are in our new guild. :) Christine

Leslie said...

this looks like so much fun!! the average age of traditional quilters is what kept me from sewing and quilting for so long. i was hung up on the stereotype. but now we are bringing young and modern into it and making it awesome. go you for being the young one there!!!

Melissa @Lilac Lane said...

We "young" quilters are starting the trends for the next generation, so I'm proud of it. Even if I do get that comment too.

Mary said...

Hooray for young quilters!!! Let's hope it keeps spreading!

Unknown said...

So sorry I missed you at the show, but it sure looks like you had a fantastic time! Yeah, bummer about the pics. I saw that as I was busy snapping away.

Vicky said...

At least someone is not asking you every single day where you are from. Actually, I think my first comment to you was you're adorable ... quickly following by .. and so young! :) We're all just totally jealous, trust me!

Jen said...

As a 25 year old quilter, I often get the same thing. You know the saying "She who dies with the most fabric wins?" Well, I always quote that and say that because I started so young I'm going to win as a joke.

Vesuviusmama said...

Try being YOUNG and BLACK. Most quilters have no idea what to make of me. Add to that the fact that I ride motorcycles and do karate, and the sterotype of a quilter goes right out the window! Glad you had fun. I'm headed up to Lancaster County tomorrow to spend 2 nights in a B & B with my twin sis and rustle up some Amish quilting beauty. Can't wait!

Mary P said...

I know how you feel! Generally I am the youngest at any quilt event I go to, but that's ok, because I can say I've been quilting for 20 years already (which is longer than some of the older ladies). I even wrote my college admission essay about quilting, which I think is how I got in to a really selective school. They were probably so surprised to see someone quilting in high school. :)