![](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_6040-600x450.jpg)
Machine Quilting Forum 2018–here’s my station (the middle panel was blank as it was the de facto projector screen. THANK YOU SO MUCH to Janome America and Greg Sanford for making sure I had a machine on which to demo! LOVE MY JANOME!
The day began with “leisurely speed dating” for machine quilters at the Thursday morning Machine Quilting Forum. For those who have never had the pleasure of attending, the 3-hour session begins with all the attendees sitting for the better part of an hour as the six instructors each got 8 minutes to introduce themselves and what they do. Then, each of the teachers decamps to their station. Attendees are assigned to one of six groups, one for each station. For 15 minutes or so, the teacher gives his/her talk and/or demo, then the bell rings, and folks move to the next station until they’ve visited all six. I absolutely love this session. I remember before I started teaching they also used to have an Applique Forum and remember going “Oh I’d like to take a class from that teacher (or perhaps not),” learning HOW to PRESENT to a class (Karen Kay Buckley was so kind 15 or so years ago answering my questions before I bought my projector), and so on. It’s also great for guilds wanting to book teachers–great preview!
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The cast of happy quilters, with the teachers in the front row. If you look in the far back corner, that’s my spot
I talked about thread coloring and actually demonstrated machine quilting on this little piece which, if I get my act together, will be a SAQA or IQA donation next year. It’s a rose hip:
![](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_6045-e1542830078401-600x450.jpg)
Work in Progress–free-motion quilting demo and nesting threads
Then it was off to the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon and lecture by Pam Holland, then a (DRUM ROLL, sneak announcement here) taping a quick 3-minute promo with Ricky Tims because (SHRIEK check off the bucket list item) I’m going to be taping a segment for The Quilt Show in April!!!! Should air sometime in the second half of next year! Then a couple hours to see quilts, then dinner with friends.
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Here I am, with thanks to the guard who took my picture, next to my Lilies of the Valley quilt.
I was absolutely enchanted with the portion of the Power of Women exhibit that was the 2 x 8 foot sheer panels of art cloth. Here are the four sides. Alas, instead of signage near the artwork, the info was in a binder on a table so I didn’t get details. If you are one of the artists, please let me know which piece is yours and I’ll update this post.
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Side 1
![](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_6052-e1542830002785-600x800.jpg)
Side 2; I know the one on the far right is by Lyric Kinard.
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Side 3
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Side 4
This updated “traditional” quilt stopped me in my tracks…details in the second photo:
![](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_6058-e1542829902540-600x800.jpg)
Then it was off to dinner with friends and fellow teachers Jenny K. Lyon, Deborah Boschert and Cindy Grisdela, at Ninfa’s on Navigation. No Houston is complete with at least one (hopefully more) trip to Ninfa’s!
![](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_6063-600x450.jpg)