Quilt Expo

Every September, Madison has a Quilt Expo.  I have gone almost every year for many years, and always come home all fired up and inspired.  Because Bob had been sick, and I had hip issues, I have not gone to the Quilt Expo for the past 2 years.  This year,  Dianne flew in from Colorado to attend the Quilt Expo with me.  We got two-day tickets, and spent a night in a hotel in Madison.  It was a mini-vacation for us, and we got to cruise the Quilt Expo for two wonderful days.  There was so much to see, and because we had 2 days to enjoy it, we took our time and thoroughly investigated every exhibit, booth, nook and cranny. We cruised the Hall of Quilts and our Shock-and-Awe meters went through the roof. So many outstanding beautiful awesome (superlatives to infinity...) quilts.  How DO they do that??  I felt humbled just looking at all those beauties on display!

There were so many venders, we had to make a "flight plan" so we didn't miss any. Of course we bought (more) fabric we didn't need, who could resist! Someday, somehow, we're REALLY gonna use those fabrics, right?  Only problem was which irresistible fabrics to buy!  So many choices can overwhelm a person!  (We managed nonetheless!)

Something else I couldn't resist was the Bernina Q20 Quilting machine.  I've been thinking of a mid arm sewing machine for a long long time.  When I saw the Q20 on display, I KNEW this was the one!  It's actually a long arm machine but not on a frame.  It's a sit-down model.  I bit the bullet, and bought it.  Now I will be able to finish my quilts with ease!  I upgraded from a desk-type table to a hydraulic workstation, which will allow me to raise and lower the machine so I can sit or stand to sew.  It has wheels, so I will be able to easily move it around.  It's still big and will take a lot of space.  Where in the world am I going to put it!!!??  I'd better figure it out soon, it'll be delivered next week!

This has been the BEST QUILT EXPO ever!  It worked so much better to do it in 2 days at a slower pace than trying to go at a feverish pace to squeeze everything into one day.  And having Dianne with me, sharing my passion, was the highlight of the event.  It couldn't've been better.