My People

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Jane Sassaman is teaching 2 workshops at the quilt show this weekend. She is a contemporary quilt artist from northern Illinois, who is also a fabric designer, author and teacher. Her award winning internationally known quilts are known for their bold designs celebrating garden flowers and plans. She's quilting royalty!

As luck would have it, she stopped by my booth yesterday after her workshop, while I was in the ladies room. My booth sitter told me when I returned, "Jane stopped by and loved your work." I said, "Darn, I wanted to meet her!" The volunteer must have told Jane because shortly thereafter Jane came back to my booth, "I really think you're on to something here," she kept saying. We talked for a while and I told her about some new ideas I had and she pointed me in the right direction, "Look up Heather Bailey's website and see what she's doing."

And check this out. I started the show with a whole box of business cards. Because each one has a stitched design on it, a box full is less than the original 250 but still, it's a lot. I ran out yesterday so that's what I'll be stitching in my booth today. Very late in the day I was down to one card. Quite a few people stopped by my booth when I had just the one lone card sitting there - and no one took it. Like at work, no one wants to take the last cookie or brownie. Humans are weird that way.

Then Jane came into my booth and I mentioned my business cards in conversation. She asked if she could have it. That last card was sitting there the whole time, waiting for Jane! I love that stuff. (I do have a few in my purse, now that I think about it but don't ruin my mystical story with facts, okay?)

I could hardly get to sleep last night thinking about 2 new projects. I'm not ready to share details just yet. Still mulling things over and need to do some research.

I did get to the show early yesterday so I could walk around a bit. I had to stop at one point to go sit down in my booth and catch my breath - the colorful creativity was literally overwhelming. I'm completely serious. I'll go in early today too to look at more stuff. And a bunch of vendors came in my booth yesterday towards the end of the evening when things slowed down so I want to reciprocate and see what they are up to today.

The title of this entry is My People because as I said to Jane yesterday, while I've been to lots of quilt shows (I name dropped Quilt National of course), this was my first time as a vendor and I've definitely found a niche I was looking for. I said, "I feel like I'm among my people," and she smiled and nodded.

A fellow vendor asked me if I ever vend outside New York. I said, "Not yet, but I'm interested," so she took my card and is going to send me information about a big quilt show in Massachusetts. It's full for this year but is held every 2 years in September. I think that would be very cool.

Pam and I had fun hanging out yesterday. My head is swimming with ideas. I've met a ton of nice people. I've seen old friends too. I generally worry about setting my expectations too high. I had high hopes for this weekend and those have been exceeded.

I'm having such a good show. It feels like it's been a while since I could say that.

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You may notice the post time of this entry is 4:47 am, the time I started it anyway. I got up extra early today to see Gretchen off at her first triathalon at 6:00 am. It's in Pittsford and Mom is volunteering with her old Parks & Recreation co-workers. I paid for Gretchen's entrance fee as her 50th birthday gift - I'm very excited for her! She didn't know I was coming so when she walked up and I was standing with my arm around Mom, Gretchen burst into tears. Score! (See? It runs in the family!)

In response to a couple of comments on yesterday's entry - Ann, re Steve's transgression, I know you're right. I just have to finish up being mad about it - I'm almost there. The fact that he forgot about something that means so much to me is 100% personal. If he cared, he'd remember. For him, it's 100% not personal. I know he can't put it on the same scale that I do. It's kind of a historical complaint with me that I've almost gotten over - that he never remembers "my stuff". I think it's rude. He doesn't. This quilt show is a big important deal for me though, that I've working hard towards for weeks. I wasn't totally shocked that he forgot about helping me pack the car, but the heavy sigh of inconvenience put me over the edge.

Leslie - I decided to quit worry about drinking water in my booth yesterday. Hell, I even ate licorice too! So far, the Food Police haven't shown up to cart me away.

Btw, the hand dryers in the ladies room are soooo strong, the air moves your skin around like you're in an airplane testing G-forces or something. Besides being fascinating to watch, it's incredibly quick! They should all be like this.

Must go punch more business cards before leaving.
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