Day 3 of HandiQuilter Academy got off to a great start when I won a prize for the best social media posting. I was excited to win, but the funny thing is, I didn’t even know there was a contest. Imagine how much worse I would have annoyed my non-quilty friends if I had known! 

The first class of the day was a Prostitcher demo with Megan Best (Instagram @bestquilts) where she taught us how to use the channel lock and mark tools. I was very grateful for her excellent explanations as I was able to follow alone, even though I don’t have the software yet. 

The photo doesn’t do her work justice so I encourage you to visit her Instagram and see for yourself. The details of the quilting are so intricate and well done. 

The second class was a modern quilting hands on long arm class with Susan Brunner. I missed the first class where everyone drew their design and quilted them in the part I was in. I had to leave to go back to the airport half way through so I helped (or hindered) new quilty friend Pam as she worked on her design. 

This was such a great experience and I learned so much. I have to thank Nancy Allen (HandiQuilter marketing), all of the educators (especially Vicki and Marie), the staff in the shop (Melissa and others) and CEO Mark Hyland for an exceptional event. (And Mark, please ship my Prostitcher asap!😁)

I am also so excited by my new quilty friends, Pam (right), Amy (left) and Denise (not shown), among others. I first met Pam on the bus Thursday nice. It was such a coincidence because I had just blogged a review of her favorite quilt shop, Prarie Point, in Shawnee, Kansas. When she stood up I saw Shawnee on her name badge and was like, “OMG!” And off we want. I am so excited to visit them in Kansas City next month to visit their favorite shops. 

And now a beach day in Miami before an 8 day trip to Europe starting Tuesday.