Crazy Quilters!

At Cock-A-Doodle Quilts we have earned the reputation of being just a little crazy so when I scheduled Melinda Bula to teach at the store, as always, I did it with just a little trepidation!  I mean, my customers know that we are just a little "off the wall", but inviting an "outsider" into our midst can be just a little intimidating!

I hadn't actually spoken to Melinda - I mean e-mails travelled back and forth through cyberspace, but somehow I just knew she was my kind of "crazy".  I happily anticipated the York Heritage Quilt Guild meeting where I would finally meet her and hear her speak - and I was not disappointed.  The first thing she said last night in her lecture was that she was born in a sanitarium!  It was at that moment that I knew what I had already suspected - she was crazy like me and we were going to have a fabulous day today!

She is a delight and I'm pretty sure her students today will agree me - a fun time was had by all and they learned some great techniques!  I bet they all send out the most fabulous Christmas Cards ever! ....and from what I could see today, it won't stop there!  Melinda has some other great patterns for cards that they can all have a ball with - and once you know this technique - well the sky really is the limit....

I couldn't resist hanging her quilt from Candy Cane Lane on the design board to admire all day along with some decorative stockings she brought with her.....

Claire took one of the classes Melinda taught for the Guild and brought her work along to share with us.....

The class got off to a great start, Melinda showed them how to prepare their fabrics.......

...and then the creativity began!  They worked with Christmas Trees and Stockings and as you'll see in the next photos, each and every one of them is an art piece to be proud of.......fabrics flew, were exchanged and changed and Melinda inspired a bevy of activity which resulted in amazing art!

You will note, I am not naming names here, that way if you are the recipient of one of these cards you will be doubly excited!  Melinda did not just sit back and relax, she too worked vigorously creating her cards.......

She really used some great fabrics (some of which she found in the store!) and really had a great time working alongside the students......

Lunch was served - Chicken Caesar with Warm Baguettes, Strawberry Shortcake for Dessert and everyone got back to work!  It was a full day but I'm pretty sure that everyone left inspired (a little tired too!).  They all worked very hard (we know by the large bag of garbage we disposed of with all the off-cuts and little pieces of Steam A Seam 2!)!

After the class Melinda and I went out to dinner at ZETS on Old Airport Road right across from the JAZZ hanger.....Chicken Souvlaki was chosen meal and Melinda had her first taste of incredibly good Greek food!  I have to say - it really is the best deal going and we both enjoyed it!  We had company too, Liz and Barb joined us for dinner and then rushed back for their Baltimore Album class with Laurissa.....

After dinner we headed back to the store for Melinda to sign some books.....Kristen came by with her quilt and Melinda just loved it!  Actually we all loved it - it's gorgeous......

Here's Melinda, after a very long day, admiring the quilt from afar........

I couldn't resist making her open up the suitcase and showing off her other amazing quilts!  I love all of her floral quilts...........

As much as I love all of the quilts above - my absolute favourite is this one......(and she says she's going to make a pattern!!!!)

It was time to pack up and get Melinda back to the hotel - she has an early flight tomorrow morning.......what an amazing day!  Melinda really has inspired me and once the dust settles I really think I may try my hand at a little personal creativity!

Today was a much needed "holiday" for me!  It was just so enjoyable and I was able to put aside all the turmoil I have been experiencing the last few weeks and really just "go with the flow"..... I am exhausted but I'm also smiling and one of the reasons is that Melinda promised that she will be sure to come back to Cock-A-Doodle the next time she comes out east.....and she'll definitely teach again!

Tomorrow I go back to dealing with the priorities in my life - but tonight I will fall into bed and dream creatively - thank you Melinda!  You made my day!

By the way - Melinda's Blog will now be accessible from our blog if you'd like to keep up with what she's doing! (http://www.melindabula.blogspot.com/)

Happy Quilting and Creative Dreams to All!

Jo-Ann