event

  • Keynote Delivered

    ByHeather Bailey

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    I just returned from Utah where I delivered the keynote address at this year's Sewing Summit
    in Salt Lake City. What a great experience. And what a fun respite from
    the whirlwind of work I have this month. I was there for the entire
    event which gave me the chance to get to know a lot of the
    attendees—such an inspiring group.

    And the Salt Lake City food! That was a surprise. It helped that I went out to eat with some local foodies. Take Note: Bruges Waffles, Settebello Pizzeria, Plum Alley, Gracie's Bar, Hatch Family Chocolates & Ruby Snap Cookies.

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    I'm back in the studio now and I have to tear right into my class project for Thursday's Creative Bug shoot. I haven't forgotten about the Lottie Da fat-quarters giveaway. We will go through those entries and select our random winner this week, then post it here on the blog.

    I just wanted to pop in with a quick hello and an update. I'm excited
    to tell you more about this great event and the thoughts and stories I
    shared at the closing dinner after I get through this next swirl of
    sewing.

    Thanks to @cailamade and @hotpinkstitches for letting me snag photos from your Instagram feeds.

  • The Creative Connection

    ByHeather Bailey

    I'm in Minneapolis, MN for The Creative Connection this week.  What
    an amazing crowd of bloggers and business women!  All brought together
    by Nancy Soriano, Jo Packham, and their fantastic friends and staff.

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    is an honor to be invited as a speaker and panelist. They have put
    together a perfect schedule of business-fodder, food, and fun, along
    with an impressive Handmade Market.

    The event kicks off tomorrow
    morning with a variety of classes for the attendees. At lunchtime, The
    Pioneer Woman    , Ree Drummond, will join in for some Q & A. Then MaryJane Butters and Amy Butler will speak at the kick-off
    dinner.  I have an autograph party tomorrow night and two panels on
    Friday, centered on business development, with some meals and meetings
    in there as well. Saturday morning I'm listening in on another panel,
    then heading back home.  It's a full schedule. 

    I can't wait.

    (It looks like the bio and pig-tailed photo of me on the Creative Connection site
    are both several years out-of-date. Oops. (No, I'm not introducing my
    first line of fabric this year.) Here's a more up-to-date portrait courtesy of Charlotte.)

  • Gilding my Sneakers

    ByHeather Bailey

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    I've just returned from Creative Escape,
    a several-day craft-a-thon with hundreds of enthusiastic and kind women
    from all over the world: Japan, Canada, France, Australia, the U.S.
    Though I taught all day a couple of days in a row, I'm surprisingly
    refreshed. I blame it on the touching & funny keynote addresses
    presented by Heidi Swapp & Melanie Wellman — and my decision to wear tennis shoes instead of heels. 

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    The CE students went out of their way to express their excitement
    for my class, bring gifts (chocolate, jewelry, handmade cards, hair
    clips, etc.), and make the experience fulfilling for us teachers as
    well. (Thank you, ladies!)

    All 700 or so in attendance were deeply moved by the response to
    CE's designer lamp fundraiser for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
    the final evening. All of the teachers at the event, and from past
    years, donated a hand-built, one-of-a-kind lamp to be sold in silent
    auction — all $ going straight through to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

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    To
    add excitement to the final evening, two of the lamps were sold at live
    auction. One bidder forked out $29,000 for charity to get her hands on
    Tim Holtz' lamp (neat girl too), and Heidi's lamp raised over $8000.
    Without gushing on, I'll just say I was seriously moved. I think we all
    were. It was a great time. Thank you, Heidi & the Bazzill team for
    including me in this year's event.

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    So…Now
    that the cat's out of the bag on the fundraiser, I can finally show
    photos of my lamp design — think tweet, tweet, chirp, chirp. I'll
    gather up some photos to post.

    It's great to be back. I'm wrapping up several big projects (hallelujah!) this week before heading out to Utah to deliver a keynote address at the Start-Up Princess event
    on September 11th. If you're anywhere near South Jordan, Utah next
    weekend, sign up for Friday's event and come say 'hi'. Or visit me at Material Girls
    quilt shop on Saturday the 12th — around 1ish (till 3ish?), I think. 
    I'll post a sure time as soon as it's confirmed. I'll also be on t.v.
    on Thursday, the 10th at Studio 5 in Salt Lake City. As for the rest of the trip — I'll probably be sleeping, huh?