GAAQG President Kathy Johnson welcomes spring

 

by GAAQG President Kathy Johnson
February 26, 2017

As I write this letter, we are experiencing an unusual February with very warm weather. I am thankful for the sun and warm air, but it is also creating a comfort zone for my bulbs and plants as well as the birds who think it is spring. The snow drops are out well ahead of their normal time, and bluebirds are flitting among the leafless branches. For me, this weather has gotten me thinking about my own personal comfort zone.

Definitions of comfort zone vary, but the one I am referring to is ” . . . a place or situation where one feels safe or at ease and without stress.” (OED). In other words, a comfortable place to be that provides a relief from the stresses of daily life. The downside is that a comfort zone can become too comfortable to leave. So, in my comfort zone I can sometimes find myself bored and looking outward for a little more challenge, another chance to learn, or a way to change my routine: learning one more skill, finding more time to give to others, or meeting just one more potential friend. At times like this, I think about how I can expand, stretch, or grow.

Take a workshop

If you are looking to expand your quilting comfort zone, there are several options within our guild. Taking a workshop can expand both your skills and your friendship network. I consider a workshop successful when I both learn something new (such as a new technique or a new way to mix colors or patterns) and get better acquainted with other https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs of the guild. I find myself inspired by learning about other people’s quilting journeys. The guild becomes a smaller place when I can put faces with names.

I can attest that our March speaker, Mary Hogan, teaches a wonderful workshop. I took her “Hexagon” class a while back, and that class ranks as one of the best I have taken. I am sure her workshops in March will be just as good.

Quilt University  on July 28-30, 2017 also provides an opportunity for classes and networking. We will announce the teachers and classes at our March meeting

Join a group

Another option is to join a GAAQG Small Group. It is a challenge to step into a new group where you may not know anyone or even if you like the group format. For me, these groups have been a chance to expand my circle of friends and my skills in a quieter format than a class. Many https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs credit their small groups with helping them grow in expertise or in creating lifelong friends.

Another group activity that you could consider is the SafeHouse Sewing Event held after the guild meetings in March and September this year. Just bring your machine and sew while meeting other guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs. The “Box Kits” are prepared with cut fabrics and patterns. As event leader Jan Kosko likes to say, “All it needs is ‘u.’” Other guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs iron the sewn pieces so things move quickly, and at the end of the day we have tops ready to be quilted for SafeHouse.

Volunteer

The last way to expand is to volunteer. Members volunteer to support the guild and its mission, and to meet new people. Volunteering is another way to grow outside of your comfort zone. In many of the interviews that I have done in the past month with guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs, there has been a constant theme of learning when you volunteer.

The founding guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs spoke of learning to make newsletters (both before computers and after computers), develop teacher contracts, teach classes, create databases, use web tools, and lead a group. I know that each volunteer position that I have assumed for the guild has caused me to learn new skills, and this has kept my mind busy and growing. Right now, on the Volunteer page we have a few key positions for which we are seeking volunteers, but there are many other ways to volunteer. Just look at the Contact page and reach out to any of the volunteer leads for an area in which you are interested.

I hope you consider one of the many opportunities offered by the guild to help you stretch a little outside your comfort zone.

See you at the March 18, 2017 meeting for a great meeting and celebration of National Quilting Day.

Kathy Jackson, GAAQG President