Island Batik invited me as one of three teachers they sponsored (the other two were Tammy of Tamarinis and Jessica of Desert Bloom Quilting).
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If you're new here, hello! I'm Laura! I design quilt patterns, and I'm a self-proclaimed deal hunter! Be sure to join the popular Quilting & Sewing Deals Facebook group where I post sales, deals, and coupon codes from all around the web!
This was my first time visiting Missouri Star Quilt Co. They really knew how to roll out the red carpet for us!
We got a bit of a behind the scenes tour the night before. We toured the warehouse and saw where they do machine quilting for customers. Each hanger is one quilt waiting to be quilted on a longarm. And I thought I had a lot of WIPs!!
The Academy classes were at the Hamilton, MO Middle School.
As you may know, I used to teach middle school math. It felt so good to be back in my element! I absolutely love teaching!
In case you were afraid to ask, the answer is, "Yes!" Baby number three is due in September!
We got the gray teacher shirts the night before the Academy, and I immediately knew mine was not going to fit. I hashed out a plan, and the next morning, I got right to work.
With Tim Gunn's "make it work!" mantra in my head, I used scissors to cut both sides of the shirt from the bottom hemline to the armpit. Then I cut two narrow triangles from Island Batik fabric from the new line "Petting Zoo" that I was using for my class demos. I ran across the hallway to another classroom that had a sewing machine, and stitched the triangles into the shirt. Voila! From too small to maternity in 15 minutes!
The first morning, the teachers were introduced to all of the attendees. Look at that crowd! (My mom came as an attendee so she could come to my class too! She's in the back left corner of the gym - taking a picture of me while I'm taking pictures of her!)
The Academy lasted two days. I taught the same class twice each morning. My class was titled "Tips, Tricks, Tools, and Time-Savers." It didn't take long for word to get out that people loved my class! Every class was filled to the max!
I hung several of my Island Batik quilts in the classroom. (I shared a classroom with Heidi of Fabric Mutt, so she had her samples in the room too.)
The quilts shown in the photo below are:
Each afternoon, I went to the Batik Boutique shop (one of the dozen shops Missouri Star runs along the main street of Hamilton!) to demo making my Flurry quilt.
There's a bit of a background story for this. This demo had been on the schedule all along, but Missouri Star had not ordered any of the patterns. Just days before the Academy, I began emailing to find out if attendees would be able to purchase the pattern. Long story short: I brought a stack of patterns with me, and had to meet up with the right MO Star person the morning of the Academy (just before I altered my shirt!). While I was teaching classes in the morning, she got the patterns entered into the store's inventory and hand delivered them to the Batik Boutique so they would be available for my demo that afternoon!
Be sure to watch for next year's Academy on the MO Star events page!
THANK YOU to Island Batik and Missouri Star for a wonderful experience!!
We got a bit of a behind the scenes tour the night before. We toured the warehouse and saw where they do machine quilting for customers. Each hanger is one quilt waiting to be quilted on a longarm. And I thought I had a lot of WIPs!!
The Academy classes were at the Hamilton, MO Middle School.
As you may know, I used to teach middle school math. It felt so good to be back in my element! I absolutely love teaching!
In case you were afraid to ask, the answer is, "Yes!" Baby number three is due in September!
We got the gray teacher shirts the night before the Academy, and I immediately knew mine was not going to fit. I hashed out a plan, and the next morning, I got right to work.
With Tim Gunn's "make it work!" mantra in my head, I used scissors to cut both sides of the shirt from the bottom hemline to the armpit. Then I cut two narrow triangles from Island Batik fabric from the new line "Petting Zoo" that I was using for my class demos. I ran across the hallway to another classroom that had a sewing machine, and stitched the triangles into the shirt. Voila! From too small to maternity in 15 minutes!
The first morning, the teachers were introduced to all of the attendees. Look at that crowd! (My mom came as an attendee so she could come to my class too! She's in the back left corner of the gym - taking a picture of me while I'm taking pictures of her!)
The Academy lasted two days. I taught the same class twice each morning. My class was titled "Tips, Tricks, Tools, and Time-Savers." It didn't take long for word to get out that people loved my class! Every class was filled to the max!
I hung several of my Island Batik quilts in the classroom. (I shared a classroom with Heidi of Fabric Mutt, so she had her samples in the room too.)
 |
| Photo credit: Island Batik |
The quilts shown in the photo below are:
Rockslide (I haven't shared this exact version on the blog yet!)
Each afternoon, I went to the Batik Boutique shop (one of the dozen shops Missouri Star runs along the main street of Hamilton!) to demo making my Flurry quilt.
There's a bit of a background story for this. This demo had been on the schedule all along, but Missouri Star had not ordered any of the patterns. Just days before the Academy, I began emailing to find out if attendees would be able to purchase the pattern. Long story short: I brought a stack of patterns with me, and had to meet up with the right MO Star person the morning of the Academy (just before I altered my shirt!). While I was teaching classes in the morning, she got the patterns entered into the store's inventory and hand delivered them to the Batik Boutique so they would be available for my demo that afternoon!
 |
| Photo credit: Island Batik |
 |
| That's me and my mom! |
Be sure to watch for next year's Academy on the MO Star events page!
THANK YOU to Island Batik and Missouri Star for a wonderful experience!!
__________
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That sounds like an amazing experience! And congrats on the baby!! I love the creativity in fixing your shirt so quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great experience! That was some quick thinking with the shirt and it worked perfectly. I'd love to visit Missouri Star someday :)
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome experience, and congratulations, Laura! You definitely made the shirt work in the most awesome way and I look forward to hearing more about future opportunities this creates for you.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fantastic opportunity. I would have loved to have been there and learned all the tips and tricks....starting with the shirt. Congratulations on the new baby, too. Your Flurry quilt has been on my mind this week so it was good to see it again.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have been there!
ReplyDeleteAwww, congrats on baby number 3 coming your way!!! I enjoyed hearing and seeing your MS experience. Sew sweet of your mom to be there participating, too!
ReplyDeleteYou look terrific and so happy! You are too funny having to adapt your shirt - such a genius move. What a great opportunity and the first famous appearance for #3. Congratulations on being there and having such a fun time!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome experience! And you look adorable with your baby bump. Congratulations
ReplyDelete