There has been a discussion lately on the QA list about the high price of taking classes etc. Someone on the list talked about volunteering to behostess at workshops she couldn’t afford to attend just so she could soak up the info. Great idea! It made me think back to the early days of quilting for me and reminded me how much I have to be thankful for.

I was always a SAHM  and thankful tha  DH had a good enough job that I could do that. My DH took me to my first quilt show and he taught me to sew using a castoff sewing machine from my SIL. He oohed and aahed over every ugly thing I made.

He tried to make it home early enough one Wednesday a month that I could go to the local guild meeting. With 4 small kids at home, I looked forward to that one night like it was Christmas. I was often one of the last to leave because if I got home before all the kids were in bed, I felt cheated :). I did pretty much all traditional stuff back then but I got a great education by joining guild activities. I volunteered to be the librarian one year so I had access to all the books between meetings! I was also involved in AOL Quilters Online way back when because I could do this from home. I always dreamed that when the kids grew up and I could afford it, I would take classes or workshops.

To date, I have taken one 2 hour class on machine quilting.

I would love to someday take a class but I have learned that I don’t need to. If I want to do something, I figure out how one way or another. When I did finally have the money to take a class, I usually found I would rather spend the $ on supplies or books. I guess what I am really trying to say is that not being able to take a class can be a good thing. It has forced me to find out things on my own and to find my own way of doing things. I am NOT knocking classes or those who take them. I do dream of one day being able to go to the Crow Barn and take a class from Nancy herself. But looking back, not having cash can make the journey a bit more interesting. It has for me.

Remember these bits?

Sorry for the bad picture. Now they have become this:

I am going to try to at least start the quilting on this today. I am not in love with it but I am going to push through and see if I can break through m creative doldrums. Until next time…..be thankful!