This trip started out with a blond moment. I thought I was leaving Monday and actually left yesterday, Tuesday. Can you imagine showing up a day early? As luck would have it a quilter did that, showed up at the airport a day early. Oh I felt for her and her flight home is something like 24 hours. My flight cross-country was, thankfully, uneventful and using the Portland transit system is fairly straightforward. I did call our contact just to make sure I got off at the right stop. Portland has the Convention center and the Expo center. I’d printed out the correct directions however when on the train, being kinda tired at that point, I needed to make sure my brain was still working. I have come to the conclusion that I’m going to make myself a new teaching bag/carry on at some point, I love the Fiskars case that I have however it’s heavy on my shoulder!
While I was on the plane I figured out the Open Text version of PowerPoint so when I get home I’m going to make a Power Point presentation. I like when I have some focused time like that. I could have used it at the Ice Cream social last night or just about anywhere and while I love taking my quilts with me I see why PowerPoint presentations have become necessary in the quilting world. It’s a lot lighter bringing a laptop or flash drive than a number of quilts.
While I was waiting to meet up with a couple of quilters I saw that Cathy Wiggins received an email from MQX West that her quilt won a ribbon. I checked my email and I’d received the same email. I won’t know until tonight if it’s Serendipity, Serendipity the Third Time Around or Tilde or some combination of quilts.
The Ice Cream Social is always fun. There’s the ice cream of course and the quilters and the MQX show theme song this time to the tune of the Brady Bunch. I love meeting and chatting with quilters. I met Arlene Simpson last night. We’ve been facebook friends for a long time and she’s taking one of my classes this week. Yay! As I talked with the quilters last night I shared one tip several times so I’ll share with you:
When using Metallic thread I put either So Fine or Bottom Line in the bobbin and use a 90/14 top stitch needle. One of the reasons I had to pick out that quilting in August is that I used cotton in the bobbin and cotton being rather fibery was pulling the metallic thread to the back. Once I switched to the polyester thread I had no more problems.
In about an hour I’m going to go help hang the quilts.
PS before I go as you know I did the tutorial for October for the Free Motion Quilt Challenge at SewCalGal. SewCalGal sent me this link last night which, to me, beautifully sums up why I love teaching. I’ve enjoyed looking at the work the quilters have done!
Happy Quilting!
Teri
How funny-I have those moments too where I know it’ say, Tues, but I show up at a Monday event! Congrats on the ribbon-pls post when you hear something!
Nice to have you in my time zone!
I went to a convention in Portland last year, and it is a very visitor-friendly place, including the public transportation.
Because of the picture placement, for a moment I thought your tip was going to involve gummi bears! Darn.
Beautiful view! Powerpoint is a great tool for any presentation!
Congratulations for your ribbon! Hope you’ll post a picture of which quilt of yours won, can’t wait to see it! Cheers and enjoy your stay!