People who inspire me # 2

This is the second edition of people who inspire me. To read the first one, you can go here. This one is the QuiltCon edition!!! I met all 5 of them at QuiltCon. They are brilliant and inspire me in their own ways.

So who are these wonderful 5 more people?

Today I am featuring those whom I have met and they have made a difference in my life!

First up is my Quilting BFF, my sister from another mother - Emily Lang. I met Emily in some Flickr group I think and then we followed each other's blogs. In 2011, she was my partner for the DQSX swap on Flickr. By that time, we were good friends. We chatted almost everyday over messenger. So keeping it a secret from her that she was my partner, was not easy. When she went for QuiltCon 2013, I was green with jealousy! We both decided that we will go to QuiltCon 2015 together and will be roomies! And we did it! It was surreal meeting her for the first time! We took off like we had lived next to each other all years long. And when it was time to say goodbye, we stood in the corridor of the Austin Convention Center, hugging each other - crying! 

This girl has been a phenomenal motivator for me! We have lots of dreams together! And I am sure some day we will make them all come true! We were always meant to be friends! We know so much about each other, even our husbands dont! We're even friends with each other's moms on FB!

Next is a Quilting Diva that I have adored the moment I read the words "Free Motion Quilting". She not only is an amazing quilter, but a terrific entertainer! Her keynote speech at QuiltCon 2017 left everyone with an energy like never before!

Angela Walters - is the icon when it comes to Long Arm Quilting. Her stunning quilts have people drooling (not over the quilt) over the designs! I have never seen a more grounded person. She has not forgotten her roots and she was not ashamed to show her First quilt - a rather sorry pink quilt - in her keynote speech rather than her best work. She is encouraging, motivating and inspiring - the whole bundle! I am blessed to be in touch with her!

Next up is a person who took me completely by surprise. She was someone I had hear of, but not really looked at deeply. I signed up for her workshop at QuiltCon 2015 and was not very enthusiastic about it. I had not gotten into two other workshops that I wanted and was sulking about it. So when I took the class from Sherri Lynn Woods I was totally blown away! 

She helped me ground my mind and her book has been like a manual for me! She unleashed something in my mind in those 3 short hours that I spent with her in her workshop and there has been no looking back ever since!

Next up is the tallest lady I have ever met! She is also one of the best speakers I have known! And the best part of getting to know her was buying her book and learning how to make Double Wedding Ring Quilts!

Victoria Findlay Wolfe is one of the most popular modern quilter worldwide! Her books have been super hits. She has traveled the world teaching and her classes and lectures are always sought after. Another lady who has stayed true to her roots and often talks about them in her books and her lectures. I met her on both my trips and our interaction always gives me a fan-girl moment!

And finally, another fellow abstract portrait maker who actually inspired me to make my Abstract Expressions series. I have been in awe of her work ever since I saw her quilt at Quiltcon 2015. Hers was the workshop I was dying to get into at QuiltCon 2017 and I got into it! 

Playing in her workshop was as much exciting as I had hoped it would be! She taught us to create expressions from bits and pieces of fabric! We connected so well that it was like a total party!

I love how straightforward and authentic Melissa Averinos is. Her posts, her words and her work comes from her heart and I do not think there is a person around whom it has not touched. She won the Best of Show at QuiltCon 2016 for her quilt "My brother's Jeans". It was a really beautiful homage to her brother - who had committed suicide and the jeans were actually pulled out of a dumpster! She is strong, honest and really unapologetic about  being herself! I am totally inspired by this wonderful girl all the time.

I am so thankful for having all these people in my life who are my inspirations! They make me a better quilter today, and a better person. They have made me the way I am and I love them for it!

Who is your inspiration?

What you will (and will not) need for QuiltCon!

As I am getting ready to board my flight (an excruciating 26 hour long journey - not counting the 10 hours that I have to drive to reach the airport) to take me to the other side of the world to spend one of my favorite weeks, I decided to put together an "essentials" list for all of those who are travelling (near or far) for QuiltCon.

What is Modern Quilt Guild?

The Modern Quilt Guild is made up of over 150 guilds across the country and world. Their mission is to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community.

The MQG developed out of the thriving online community of modern quilters and their desire to start meeting in person. The founding guild was formed in Los Angeles in October of 2009. Through blogs and the Internet, word spread quickly of the fun they were having and soon guilds started popping up everywhere.

What is QuiltCon?

QuiltCon is an international modern quilt show featuring over 550 quilts, over 100 vendors, and dozens of workshops and lectures over four days. QuiltCon 2020 takes place in Austin, Texas from February 20-23, 2020.

If you ask me, QuiltCon is the place where I can travel across the globe and still feel at home! It is a wonderful event, brilliantly organized by an organization that I am proud to me a member of. I have attended QuiltCon in 2015, 2017 and 2019 and was totally floored with the atmosphere there! It was an experience that I'm sure I will cherish for a lifetime. 

So what will you need for QuiltCon?

Your preparation will begin right when registrations open. Here are the things you should get done right at that time.

Registration: You will need to do a lot of planning when it comes to registering for QuiltCon. Firstly, you will need to book the lectures and classes that you love. For this you will have to make a list of those that you want to take according to your preferences. Then be ready at the moment when sign-ups begin. The best classes are sold out in minutes! So be sure to act fast. Check your internet connection the day before to be safe. Keep your payment information handy. And when its time, sign up!

QuiltCon Tip #1: Decide your order of preference when it comes to classes and the moment the registration opens, register ONLY FOR THAT ONE and finish the process. Then go back and modify your registration to add others. That way you will get at least one of your favorite workshops.

Accomodation: You will also need to look for hotel accommodation. The best way is to share rooms with your quilting friends.  In 2015 and 2017, we booked our hotels in June, and believe me, we did not have a lot of options left. So, as soon as the QuiltCon dates and all other info is up on their website, I suggest you look at the most desirable hotel and book it. While booking the hotel, make sure it is as near as possible from the venue. you do not want to end up having to travel a lot to and from the venue everyday. There are usually a lot of options for hotels. You can also try AirBnB or Couch surfing or if you have friends in the city, you can just crash on their couches.

Transport: Book your transport. For me it means booking a flight ticket. But for you it could be anything. You might be driving to the venue. Make sure to make all the travel arrangements.

Volunteer: Sign up to volunteer at the show if you can. It is a wonderful way to be a part of the show and it is really fun!!! Plus if you are a super volunteer, you get a goodie bag free (It is totally worth it)

About a month before your trip:

Get the household ready: If you live alone - just skip this part. Get your household ready for your trip! If your SO is not familiar with the kids schedule, get them on board. Keep talking about how BIG an OPPORTUNITY this is and how it MEANS A LOT for your quilting career (or hobby or passion or love).

Make financial arrangements: You will have a lot of temptations at QuiltCon. So be ready with a budget and train yourself to some SUPER self control. (Try working / volunteering in a quilt shop and NOT BUYING a single piece of fabric for a week). Make a list of things you want to buy and then set a suitable budget. 

QuiltCon tip # 2: If you are a super volunteer or you sign up for more than $350 worth of classes, you get an awesome goody bag! 

Plan your itinerary: To pack your bags, you will first need to make your itinerary. Make a day-by-day list of your plans. For the Quiltcon 2015 trip, I used one index card for each day and marked hourly intervals on it. I had my classes and lectures marked into it so that I knew where I would (or rather should) be every moment of the day. After 3 QuiltCons, I no longer plan hourly, but I do have a dedicated double page in my Bullet Journal for the 6 days (Day before to day after QuiltCon) where I put in any important appointments I do have for that day. That way I do not miss out on anything. I also click a picture of the page and keep it on my phone for quick reference. 

QuiltCon tip #3: Download the QuiltCon App as soon as it is available. You will not only have all your registrations in one place, but will also have a map of the venue to help you find where you have to go quicker.

Plan your outfits: Once you have your itinerary, you will be able to plan all your outfits for the trip. I make a detailed plan in Excel. I make columns for 

Date - Event - Category - Top - Bottom - Other - Footwear - Accessories

The date, event and category columns are the ones filled first. In the category column I usually just write Indian Casuals/Indian Formals/Western Casuals - Cold  Weather/Western Casuals - Warm Weather/Western Formals. That way I can later just put in the other details and have a packing list ready. Once  my list is final, I write it down in my bullet journal.

Make a detailed packing list: And by detailed I mean, absolutely detailed. This is the part which I enjoy the most! I am a chronic list maker! And my recent obsession with bullet journaling has given me an opportunity to actually make a list of the lists I would love to make! You already have a list of your outfits. Add a few for reserve and your clothes category is complete. Next make a list of all the supplies you will need for your classes. Then make a list of all your skin care, makeup and hair care stuff . Next comes the miscellaneous list - this is the list which has your luggage and all other items you will need to carry - your travel documents, snacks, water, electronics, books, notebooks, pens, medicines and anything else you specifically need. 

Check your documents: Make sure you have all the necessary documents to travel and they are all valid. Check BOTH your visa and your passport. Also check if you will need a visa for your layover. A quick visit to the website of that country's visa office will let you know. Click pictures of all your important documents and email them to yourself. That way even if you loose them and your phone, you will always have the details with you.

Get business cards: It is the best way to connect with other quilters. Get your business cards done if you haven't got the mdone already. 

A week before you leave:

Start Packing: You have your list ready, now its time to start packing. I just get my clothes from my list ready - washed and ironed - and put them in my guest room as and when I remember. I wash my clothes even when they are clean so I can check them for stains or tears. This is also a good time to get stuff that needs professional help or special attention, cleaned. Dry cleaning, shoe cleaning etc.I pack all my clothes  and other stuff into the packing cubes over the week. But I do not put them into my suitcase yet.

I also keep all the luggage I am taking in the guest room. So that I can visually see it together and know how much room I have.

I also start bringing other stuff that is  not used and  putting it there. I use a lot of pouches to separate categories. It helps me find my stuff easily. I do not, usually, put anything directly into the suitcase.

QuiltCon tip#4: Pack a second set of your daily makeup for touch-up in your purse/bag that you intend to carry to the convention center. You will be spending a lot of time there. And if you use makeup, you might need a touch-up. That way you will not have to remember to carry your makeup with you everyday.

Get your prescriptions: If you are taking any prescription medicines, make sure you have enough to last the entire trip. I also make sure that I carry the prescription with me (and of course a photo on my phone) for all the medicines that I have.

Get currency: If you are travelling abroad, get your currency converted or your travel card loaded. Inform your bank that you are travelling so that they do not think that your card is being misused and block it. Make sure your debit card or credit card has not expired.

Two days before you leave:

Pack suitcases: Now it is the time to play Tetris. All those packing cubes and pouches now go into the suitcases. I weigh each pouch and cube and write its weight on a post-it and stick on it. So when I have to pack my two 23 kg suitcases the job just gets easier.

QuiltCon tip#6: Even if you think you do not need the complete luggage allowance, bring along the two suitcases you're allowed (Maybe one inside the other like I did in the first picture above - the brown suitcase has a carry-on size suitcase inside) You will need all that space inside to bring back all the stuff you pick up there!!!

Charge your power bank: Make sure your power bank is fully charged.

Check your list: Make sure you have packed everything on your list and put all your packing cubes inside your luggage. This is where having all my luggage and my packing items  in the guest room helps. A quick glance around the room tell me if I have left anything behind.

One day before you leave:

Take rest: You are going to have a hectic few days ahead of you so take some rest on this day. Do absolutely nothing.

On the day you leave :

Check your documents: Make sure you are carrying your documents and your money - both card and cash. If you are travelling abroad, make sure you do not carry only foreign currency. You will need some money on your way to and back from the airport.

Charge your electronics: Make sure all your electronics are fully charged. If you do not have duplicate cables, remember to pack your charging cables. 

When you reach the destination (In this case Austin):

Check-in and unpack: I used to find it very silly that people unpacked in hotels and would prefer to live out of my suitcase on my trips. But on my last trip, just because I was alone in the room, I decided to unpack my clothes  and realized that just hanging them reduces wrinkles! And remember the tip I gave you about not packing your cubes according to type but according to day, it comes in handy here. Just unpack a couple of days worth of cubes at a time so that you do not end up hogging all the closet space if you are sharing room with others.

Wear comfortable attire: Walking shoes are the best to wear to QuiltCon. Or any shoes that will not hurt your feet at the end of the day after walking about 5 km (3 miles). Dress in layers, because the exhibition hall that is cold at the start of the day can get warmer as more and more people come. 

Register at the first possible moment: The line for registrations gets long, like suuuuuper loooong, in the evening so register as early as possible. Make sure that you do this the first thing when you go out of your hotel. Just doing this will save you about 50-60 minutes!

QuiltCon tip #5: If you have a quilt in the show or if it your first QuiltCon look out for some wonderful ribbons for your registration card. I loved flaunting my "Board Member" and "Faculty" ribbons at the 2019 QuiltCon

Attend the award show: A lot of people avoid attending the award show unless they have a quilt in the show that could probably be a winner. But the sheer energy in the room and the eye candy of all the wonderful award winning quilts is simply so inspiring. Also, you get to see the winners first hand and can connect with them about their quilts that you like.

Start the day well: We need to do this all the time, but it is especially true during QuiltCon. Start your day with a large healthy protein-rich breakfast. It is going to be a long day and you will be on your feet most of the time. You need all the energy that you can get.

Use the bag check facility: MQG provides Coat and  bag check facility at Quiltcon. Make full use of it. Carry large bags for your shopping and check them in as they fill while you enjoy the show or attend workshops. It is a lot more tiring to lug around a heavy bag. The fee is totally worth it.

QuiltCon tip # 6: Sometimes booth owners have fabulous deals on the last day. Watch out for these deals to save money. 

Start a conversation with a stranger: When I was alone at my first QuiltCon, often the thing that would cheer me up was a complete stranger starting a conversation with me over a quilt or a class! Since then I have made it a point to connect with complete strangers at QuiltCon. You never know when you might make a friend!

QuiltCon tip # 7: Do not overbook yourself. For the first QuiltCon I had signed up for 19 lectures and 2 workshops in 4 days! Not only was I always running around, but I was also super tired a lot of the time. 

Take lots of pictures: Don't forget to take a lot of pictures, and not just of quilts. You want the wonderful moments to never end. Having them in the form of pictures lets you remember and enjoy them again and again.

QuiltCon tip # 8: When you click pictures of quilts to post on social media, include a picture of the info card that is hanging right next to the quilt. That way it is easier to give credit to the maker.

Enjoy the show: QuiltCon is one on the most fabulous shows that features modern quilts. This once a year show is the go-to for anything modern. There are awesome special exhibits that you should definitely spend time seeing.

I hope my post will help you plan for your best QuiltCon experience. Have you attended QuiltCon? What are your tips for those who want to attend the show?

Tiny, Precise, Piecing: Tips by Emily Lang

Welcome all, here's the first guest post on my blog! Yay!!! 

Today on my blog, I have invited my BFF, my sister from another mother - Emily Lang. Yes, she is the one my Bernina 330 is named after! She is super well known for all the tiny piecing that she does. That's the reason she is talking today about tiny, precise piecing!

Hello! I’m Emily Lang, you might remember me from past guest appearances here on Shruti’s blog, or from my own blog and instagram, Mommy’s Nap Time. I've been sewing for about twenty years, and fell in love with quilting after my daughter was born. I love to design quilts, and I love quilt math! Writing patterns is my passion, and I have published over 30 patterns available in various quilt magazines worldwide. Check out my newest pattern Shades Quilt available on Craftsy.

I’m here today to talk about tiny piecing, and ways to maintain precision while piecing with small pieces.

• Use your scraps! Tiny piecing only requires small scraps, so grab some of your favorite fabrics and cut some 1” x 4” strips, and some 2 1/2” x 2 1/2” squares.

• Cutting matters! It is very important to measure and cut accurately. There is no room for error in cutting accuracy, every little millimeter of wobble will show in the end product!

• Switch your needle plate out for a straight stitch needle plate. This needle plate has a smaller opening, and is less likely to pull your fabric in!

• Lower your stitch length. For regular piecing I would use a 2.5 stitch length, for tiny piecing I would take it down to just under 2.

• To avoid loose stitches at the beginning of your seam, stitch through a scrap before beginning your seam, leave the threads connected, and start chain piecing your small pieces. Some people call this a leader / ender, but I just use the same scrap until it’s too messy to use anymore.

• Always sew with a scant 1/4” seam allowance. Accuracy is much harder when we try to use an 1/8” seam allowance, there isn’t any need to reduce the seam allowance.

• Press the seams open. This reduces bulk and helps to see when lining up the little pieces.

• For half square triangles (HST) cut larger squares (2 1/2” x 2 1/2”) and sew the HST units in the normal fashion. After you press the finished HST, trim each one to 1 1/4” x 1 1/4”. It’s easier to accurately sew a larger unit, trimming it will provide the teeny end product, without the craziness of sewing a 1” bias seam!

• Sew all the little bits together. Log cabins, friendship stars, improv., anything is possible!

With these tips you’re ready to start a mini project! The practice piecing here would make a great front for a zippered pouch, or it might become a mug rug or mini quilt!

Quiltcon Part 1 : Roomies!!!

I went to QuiltCon this year!
It was a dream come true for me. I had been planning on doing this since Quiltcon2013.
I managed to save enough money to make it a reality this year!!!

It was an awesome experience!!!

I traveled 9500 miles to reach Austin, but it was totally worth it!

I will need much more than one post to write about all that. But in this post, I will write about the wonderful women that I shared my room with!

Here are my room mates for QuiltCon.

From left to right : Laura (she won the people's choice award for her awesome quilt), Emily (since we had 2 Emilies in the room I called her EmB), Elaine, Me and Emily (This one was EmL)

We stayed at the Marriott! It was a beautiful room on the 10th floor with a wonderful view of Downtown Austin.

Meeting Emily (EmL) was the highlight of this trip EmL and me have known each other since 2010 and we really became friends in 2011 after I made this Doll Quilt for her in a Swap.

We have been talking (aka chatting on FB) with each other so many times. When she went to Austin in 2013 and had a lot of fun, I was so jealous! It was then that we decided that we will be roomies for Quiltcon 2015!!!

EmL's and mine is a friendship I cannot describe! Meeting her in flesh was so awesome!

We talked a lot (as much as I could stay awake to do) into the night. We got Tattoos together. Not same ones (But I'm sure she's going to get one to match mine - she was so in love with it)

Mine is the "expecto patronum' one.

She did hers first. I was super nervous. When I asked her if it pained a lot. she said - Not a lot. A little. But when I started getting mine done it pained. A LOT!!! I was actually glaring at her!!!

We spent a lot of time giggling about it!!!

When it was time for good byes, we did share a lot of tears. I remember people giving us sympathy smiles or avoiding looking at us while we stood outside a classroom that I was volunteering in and hugged and cried!

I loved all my roomies! I had heard about them through Emily. We started chatting on FB as a group and if one of us missed a (long) conversation, they had to go back and scroll through eternity to get to the top!

We also had our own roomie swap!

I made all the girls mini quilts. Here they are.

This one is Emily B's

 This one was for Elaine. I wasn't a huge fan of the colours, but this was definitely the one most difficult to part with!

 This one was for Laura. It even had her blue glasses!

Lastly, this one was for EmB. It was the most difficult to make. I dont know why. But it was also the fastest to come together!

I had a blast at Quiltcon because I had such wonderful girls to come back 'home' to! Thank you ladies, for making my stay awesome and for making me not feel homesick.


More about my trip in the next post. Stay tuned!!!

Friendships across oceans!!!

I received a wonderful parcel today...

From Emily!

Wondering what was there inside???




A WHOLE LOT of goodies!

The first is a wonderful Box pouch she made for me!!! It even has the tiniest pieced star that's her trademark!

And there's Mac&Cheese (that's due to our conversation about it when I told her that we don't get it here)... Some chocolate for Aadi (he let me keep it long enough for the photo and now its gone!)
 Fabric - Sketch & some chevrons and some awesome Echino!!! How much better can it get?
Lots of ribbon that she used to tie up everything!
Some erasable pens for Aadi (I doubt he's getting them though)
And lovely something that I have never seen before but I think its a trivet! I have already put it up in my sewing room on the wall! It has some wonderful quiltinspiration!

And to top it all there was this most AMAZING card! I LOVE it!

The idea is really simple but the effect is stunning!

Thank you Emily!

I too am lucky to have you as a friend!

Hugs!