There’s something about a workshop…

Blogger: Kathy Schmidt, Quirks Ltd.

Workshops are so appealing to me. I take them for a variety of reasons. Sometimes to learn a new technique, to explore a teacher’s creative process, to spend some time with a friend or two, or maybe to have some uninterrupted sewing time! I always try to go into them with an open mind, expecting to learn something, and so far I always have!

Have I gone to workshops that were bad? Of course. I’ve had experiences with the teacher who can’t teach or the subject that was so simple I couldn’t believe I spent actual money to take a class about it! I’ve been in classes that really didn’t teach what had been advertised and don’t you hate those classes where you bring a ton of stuff and then don’t use half of it?

But I am also so very grateful to have opportunities to attend workshops covering the textile work that I love so much. Those teachers who travel all over the country to bring information and hands-on-instruction right to me. Those guilds, museums, stores, shows, craft schools who make it possible for classes to be held.

Maybe I sound a bit like a broken record, but I believe the workshop presentations by our guild are an incredibly valuable resource. I also know first-hand how expensive they are to produce, how much work goes into producing them, both mental and physical labor. There is always someone who complains about what is OR what is not offered or how much it costs or even how hot or cold the room is!!! (Don’t be a complainer without offering a solution…or volunteering to help…just sayin’…). AND we have so many members who are very happy to have the chance to study with so many teachers.

I would like to offer up a HUGE thank you to all those who have volunteered and worked so hard over all these years to bring workshops right here to us. We have an incredible guild and an incredible resource for learning.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!