MAQ Recap

It's been almost 2 weeks since MAQ.  That doesn't mean that I've put everything away, but it has given me time to reflect and appreciate.  I just never thought that I would be in the position to do what I love as a job, to have women sign up to take classes with me, to reconnect with lots of people who have taken my classes in the past and to spend time with other professionals in the field that I am so lucky to call my friends.  So that's a summary of my time  at Mt Saint Mary's University with the Mid Appalachian Quilters.
I taught 3 classes - Silk Curvalicious Skinny Quilt, my new Medallion Mosaic and Mini Mosaic Quilts.  Sometimes I remember to take photos, but there is also Show & Tell on Saturday night to catch a view.
Day #1 Class : Silk Curvalicious Skinny Quilt

 Show & Tell

Day #2  Medallion Mosaic

This was its maiden voyage.  I was so excited to share it and more importantly to get feedback from my students.  Everyone made their own fabric choices and supplied their own fabric. I was curious to see what they chose. There was a minor problem that day. WE HAD NO AIR CONDITIONING!  But how could you be tooooo miserable when you're having so much fun?

Day #3  Mini Mosaic Quilts
Our new classroom.  I was moved to another building so that my classroom had A/C on Sunday.  Thanks to everyone who helped schlep all my stuff on Saturday night and made sure I was set up for the next day.

 Tiny Town transformed into a mountainside village!

Black eyed Susans

The dates for next year are July 12-14.  Go to www.MAQonline.org to sign up for info.

PS  The Torah covers for the synagogue in Germany are on their way.  According to tracking, they are in customs in Germany.  As soon as they receive them, I will share the rest of my process and the final photos.  Stay tuned.

Who Is Scott Fortunoff and Why Should I care?

Last year soon after the wholesale Fall Quilt Market, there was an "earthquake" in the quilt world.  What we all thought was one of the most successful fabric manufacturing company, Free Spirit, was closing their doors. How could this happen we all wondered?  They were home to some of the most popular fabric designers - Tula Pink, Kaffe Fassett, Amy Buttler and on and on.  Not only were we surprised, but so were the designers themselves.  

Social media was a buzz as we waited to see what would happen to these talented designers.  Where would they land?  Would they each negotiate new contracts with other fabric companies?  And then, in the blink of an eye, Jaftex (owner of e Studio Fabrics, Henry Glass and others) swooped in and bought Free Spirit.  There are very few details as to the why and how, but Jaftex is doing everything in their power to deliver the fabric that was ordered by shops at Market as promptly as they can.

The face of Jaftex is Scott Fortunoff.  

Why should we care?  

Scott is Co-President of Free Spirit and is front and center and trying to be transparent and to start the #sew revolution.  It's his effort to strengthen the fabric industry.   He has a blog called

 "Tales of a Fourth Generation Textile Executive" and a facebook page.  He has frequent FB live events where he shows what it looks like behind the scenes of the fabric industry and what fabric we can expect to find in our local quilt shops. 

He has been visiting quilt shops for #sewdays, for Q&A's, along with giveaways.  He has even learned a little bit about sewing. Here he is visiting Ladyfingers and Gail Kessler.

The most impressive step he has taken is to give away sewing machines!!!  He wants to engage the young and make quilting available to those in need.  You can e-mail him if you are in  need of a machine or if you know of someone who does.  Over 100 lucky people have been gifted with a  new machine from him so far. What generosity!

I am very impressed with Scott.  We need someone like him who has the energy, enthusiasm and status to help our industry grow.  He is definitely worth watching on social media.  Maybe you can win something during his FB live broadcasts  or watch to see if he is coming to a quilt shop near you.

Let's support him!