There are creative ideas swirling in the air over San Jose. I will talk about two of them who happen to coincide. They are both quilting related — my favorite subject (hee, hee…)
I’ve spent the better part of this last year with one foot in the boat, one on the dock about where to teach classes. My current store location has been showing signs of wearing out my welcome, and if I remain there I will wear out too. I have looked at every possibility where teaching classes are concerned and couldn’t find anything that met my criteria. There is a lot to choose from, but too many restrictions and I won’t teach where students can’t be comfortable.
Two solutions landed in my lap. It’s funny how a need presents itself and the solution finds a sneaky way of clicking in place.
I have been approached by students to have a “drop-in” class where they can come and work on any project they want and get help. Because a store location is restricted by its’ class schedule, and spaces to rent are 1.) hard to find in the location that is most convenient, 2.) so expensive to rent it’s ridiculous and 3.) community centers, which would be ideal, are already full with wonderful classes, I had to find something that would be a good compromise.
It was my husband who suggested that I offer classes at home. (Isn’t he a keeper?!) Having had parties in our home, I knew how I could set up the area and how many I could fit without people feeling cramped. I sent out an email, letting the students who asked me to do the drop-in know that I would offer the class on certain dates for a maximum of five students. I started on Tuesday, with one student. By Wednesday morning, I had four reservations for the next class and was setting up to have my regular Wednesday night class at home because we had gotten bumped by the store!
One year ago, there was a group of us who bought kits for a “Yellow Brick Road” quilt and have tried all year to get together to make them. So, on Friday night, four of the five original group members had class at my house, catered by Chef Guy. This is how my husband supports my “habit”: BBQ Beer-can chicken, sauteed asparagus and carrots in Guy’s special sauce, and Asiago sourdough garlic bread — yum yum. Oh yeah, he’s a keeper. Did I mention that he did the dishes after we ate? Good food and an evening of getting together with friends to do what we love best – quilting – was wonderful.
The experiences that I had this week holding three classes in my home made me realize that this could be a good thing. I really enjoyed having quilters working and conversing in my home. I loved the Friday night dinner-and-quilt so much that I think I am going to offer it on a quarterly basis. I’m already thinking what our next project could be and I can tell you that it is going to be an original project, and that Guy will cook again!
Happy quilting!
Annie
p.s. If you are looking for a quick holiday gift for someone you love, the Yellow Brick Road goes together pretty easily. It is perfect for your fat quater stash! One caution: if you are making a quilt larger than the small Crib size, you will want to look at the pattern introduction, which tells you to make multiples of what the actual written instructions say! The pattern instructions do not remind you to make as many as you need for the size that you are making!