QuiltCon - The People

It's been almost three weeks since I've been home from QuiltCon and I still don't have much more to say other than, "It was AWESOME." It was everything I love about quilt guild meetings and this online community, amped up 100%.  The quilts, the people, the fabric. The quilts. Ah, heaven.

The trip started a little rough. Major snowstorm in Ottawa (51cm!) threatened to ground the Ottawa Modern Quilt Guild drinking team (#ottmqgdrinkingteam minus @aboutkirstin because she went through Toronto), but we made it to Montreal. Only to be turned back for the night because of rudder trouble. Boo!

Flight #2 #quiltcon2016 #quiltconorbust repost from @alisonharle with @owlyjulie @slostudio @wafflekisses

A photo posted by M-R Charbonneau (@quiltmatters) on Feb 16, 2016 at 4:40pm PST

But we arrived safe and sound the next day. I stayed with a friend in Los Angeles so I missed most of the QuiltCon nightlife, but I had a chance to catch up with a longtime friend and a cousin and experience a bit of LA, so I am pretty darn ecstatic with my trip! I posted some photos to @quiltmatters on Instagram if you want to check them out.

First, we'll start with the people. It was really great to be in a place where everyone was excited about quilts. I met so many amazing people. People I'd known online for years and many new people. It was a little overwhelming for an introvert like me. Okay, I'm an extroverted introvert, but still an introvert. I tried very hard not to Fangirl, but it was so hard! And then I'd forget to take photos of the people I met. I'm not one for selfies much and I'm really regretting it now.

I met Leanne Chahley from she can quilt for lunch on the first day. Finally! I adore Leanne and her work so much that it was a thrill to meet her in person! What a treat to get to know her a little better. No photo. Boo.

I also got to meet and spend a bit of time with Chawne Kimber from Completely Cauchy, who's gorgeous work I've been following for years. She was so delightful. Her quilts in the show were beautiful and thought provoking. I wish we could have spent even more time together -- maybe next year. No photo again. Boo!

I stole this photo from Cindy at Live a Colourful Life (hope you don't mind Cindy!). I think I've been following Cindy since I started blogging five years ago and it was fantastic to meet her in real life. She's as kind and genuine in person as she is on her blog.

I also got to meet most of my new BeeSewcial mates for lunch. What a great group! Finally met Felicity in person too! Love her! We were having such a great time that I completely missed a lecture I was supposed to attend. Oops!

#beesewcial @ylmommyx4 @shecanquilt @entropyalwayswins @spontaneousthreads @quiltmatters @felicityquilts @playcrafts #quiltcon2016 #quiltconwest So happy for a bee mate meet up. I thought I had posted this group photo but the weekend is one big (amazing) blur @themqg Thank you for the opportunity. #showusyourmqg

A photo posted by Karen (@capitolaquilter) on Feb 23, 2016 at 7:27am PST

And I spent some time with Renee from Quilts of a Feather, whose quilting won best machine quilting (frameless) at QuiltCon 2016! Seriously, that woman has skills! She's been a favourite participant to TGIFF! for years and I find her and her work so inspiring. And guess what? No photo. Seriously boo.

There were many other fun new friends met and made (who I now get to follow on Instagram) in the halls, at the workshops, and wandering the show. It was a wonderful friendly atmosphere. My kind of peeps.

Okay, this post is getting a little long so I'll save the quilts and the workshops I took for some future posts. Hope you have a great weekend!