Two weeks ago I was landing in Salt Lake City at the beginning of one of the best weekends of my life. I’ve been on the internet for a long time. I’ve been to sewing groups on the internet for almost as long. I feel old trying to describe to my girls that when I was their age, things they take for granted did not exist. No Google. No Facebook. No smartphones….oh wait, no cell phones at all. No Twitter. No digital cameras. We didn’t even have a home computer. And we had to walk to school uphill in the snow each day, both ways. 😉
I have attended many different sewing get togethers. Many of which included long trips and meeting people that you wouldn’t normally have coffee with, but the common connection of sewing created an instant sense of ease. I was nervous as I packed. What if no one talked to me? What if everyone else is a really good sewist and I’m not? What if they all love the color fushia pink and I’m not a fan? What if they all exercise regularly and I don’t? What if they all have iPads and I don’t have one?
When I first heard about Sewing Summit, it wasn’t the classes that attracted me. What appealed to me was meeting other sewing people that understood that need for fabric. I know my neighbors don’t get it. I know my husband’s co-workers don’t get it. Even my teen says she doesn’t “get” Twitter. (Really? I’m still stunned by that one. I think she is making fun of me. Maybe. I’m not sure. I’m probably just too cool for her to handle…..yeah right.) To most of my real life friends, having friends on the internet is dangerous. Something that leads to kidnappings and murders. That those relationships aren’t “real”.
But going was fantastic. I got over my fear and started meeting lots of really cool people. Because I am lacking in fabric (cough, cough) I flew in Thursday so that I could go fabric shopping on Friday morning. I really loved that I got to meet a few people on Thursday suffering from the same lack of fabric, so that whenever I walked into a room, I knew someone there.
I even had a very sweet and nice room mate. I had never met Angie before, but she is super awesome! I had “tweeted” with her before, but never talked until she arrived on Friday. I highly suggest you check out her blog, Stitching By Starlight.
The craziest thing happened in the classes. Usually there is some kind of announcement to please turn off phones, etc. Not here! Phones were out, tweeting pictures, texting with friends in other classes, being social and sharing everything that we saw and learned.
The whole weekend was very well organized. Amy and Erin deserve many gold stars for putting something like this together. They thought of everything and had back up plans too. Most of all, the hotel was amazing and very affordable. Did I mention that the room there was much bigger than my bedroom in my house? And had a full couch next to the window? And a chandelier? And turn down service, with chocolates? My husband tried to tell me that the half bag of peanut M&Ms in my nightstand drawer was just as good. And big huge couches in front of giant fireplaces so that groups could sit and sew or chat or whatever? I also loved that the classes were short and there was lots of time in-between to just meet people. And talk. And laugh. And share stories. Completely amazing weekend!
As if that was not enough, there was swag! Free Stuff!! And it’s stuff that I want! Even better!! Most of the swag is in the photo.
The classes were good too. I felt empathy for some of the teachers. They looked so nervous. I’ve been there. The first time I taught a sewing class I was shaking before it started. It does get easier! And you get better as an educator! It just takes time and practice and mistakes.
Overall, I’m definitely signing up for next year. I don’t even care what classes I take. I just want to experience the whole online community thing again!
A few pictures from the weekend. If there is one thing that was needed was better lighting for photos. EEEEKKK! Or maybe I need new equipment. Yeah, that’s it. I bet a new lens would make everything better. 😉
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