With A Very Heavy Heart
It is with a VERY heavy heart, and lots of tears, that I begin this blog with news of our good friend, Sue Garman – exquisite quilt designer, applique enthusiast, great teacher, and prolific hand quilter. If you have not heard yet, Sue shared that she has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Rick and I are keeping Sue and her family in our prayers. If you would like to drop her a quick email her address is: shgarman@verizon.net.
As I write this, Williamsburg is in the middle of a week long, ferocious storm. I am sure that when it passes and the sun comes out, the flowers will bloom, birds will sing, and all will be right with the world. Of course, with the weather so ugly outside, there is nothing else to do but sit inside and stitch. So today really IS a GREAT day!
The 2017 Academy of Applique has “engaged” all of its teachers, and not to spoil the surprise . . . but WHAT a lineup! I am going to try to blog at least once a week from now until the class Schedule comes out August 8th, and feature one or two teachers a week.
Life is abuzz at the Blanton house as we feverishly work on the “behind the scenes” details that help make the Academy run smoothly. After reading through ALL of the evaluations, some GREAT ideas/suggestions came to light. First, we are extending the “Bring a Friend” campaign for 2017. This promotion contributed significantly to our 2016 growth. Let’s keep the ball rolling! The rules to this promotion are easy – if you are a returning attendee, and invite a new attendee who registers for classes – both of you will receive $50.00 off of your registration. Or, if you are new to the Academy and bring a friend who is also new to the Academy – both of you will receive $50.00 off of your registration. Also, these discounts are “stackable.” In other words, if you are a current attendee to the Academy and invited multiple new attendee friends (who each register for classes), you will receive a $50.00 discount for EACH friend. Invite enough friends, and YOUR classes can be entirely FREE!! Such a DEAL!!
Another GREAT suggestion was to have our Chinese Gift Exchange items be handmade. This game is where the players can either keep a chosen gift picked from the center of the room, or “steal” a gift from another. What a GREAT idea, to have the gifts homemade at an Applique Retreat. The suggestion, which I LOVE, was to have all of the “gifts” be either a handmade pin cushion or a handmade needle case. So get those creative juices flowing, or surf the net for patterns and ideas, and start making your “gift” for this fun game. The game will be Wednesday (3/1/17) after class.
We will offer a bus trip to the MidAtlantic Quilt Show again next year, on Sunday, February 26, 2017. Plan on arriving at the Academy a day early and join us for this wonderful trip and bonding time. For those that participated this year, not only was a good time had by all, but it was a great way to meet new appliquers, and/or nurture new friendships. Thank you Trudy, Pat (one of my new BFF’s), Maria, Sandy, and the rest of the “bus gang;” I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know you better, and can’t wait to see you again next year.
Remember our motto: “There are no strangers here, just friends we haven’t met yet.”
Keep stitchin’
Barbara Blanton
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