Squam June 2011

Before it gets too far from me, I wanted to talk about Squam this year. I don't have any of my own pics, because my camera didn't even make it to my bag! It's getting to the point that I need someone following me around taking pictures!

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

I want to just touch on each of the classes, and how I have come to understand myself better through teaching, and pay tribute to what Squam is in my life.

This year I taught another session of block printing fabric. This class and the people who take it NEVER cease to amaze me. Year after year, as I teach this class, the work that people produce is so inspiring. And I love the opportunity to bring people to the inky side of printmaking. My peeps find peace in carving and printing for a couple of hours, and I am always grateful for the chance to facilitate that. I love that a 6 hour class might help you discover talents and expression you didn't even know you were searching for. Every one did such a fantastic job. In this class especially, I was moved by how everyone worked together. Using ink together, moving tables when the power went out together... just a sweet action sisterhood of printmaking. It makes me weepy just thinking about it. But I'll have you know I held it together pretty well the first day. 

For the first time I taught Mini Quilts! I was emotional right out of the gate with this one... I think I've shared it here before, but I started quilting for a couple of reasons, but the reason I came to love it was a need for a kind of healing therapy from a tragic event. But it was through teaching this mini quilt class that I came to better understand the kind of teacher that I am.

I am about your success.

In that, I feel like I am also about failing, in the very best way. Because it's only through the stumbling that we learn to solve the problem and try again.

I give you the tools you need. I give you the pieces to the puzzle. I give you the space, and the guidance. I give you the comfort that I have the knowledge and I am always right there if you need to talk through something, but ultimately, your success stems from the fact that you went out on your own. That way, you aren't learning how to follow exactly how I teach, or have a specific end product that you would compare to someone else's, you are solving problems which will give you more permanent solutions, and let you OWN your success. Hopefully, I am giving you the space to learn to express yourself in a new way. The Mini Quilt class was a testament to the process. There were 16 students, and all 16 students created beautiful, unique pieces, and from those, about 12 were actually finished in the time from breakfast to dinner. The best part of this class was getting to watch these sparks lighting all over the room in people as they discovered where they were going, and what they were capable of. Not joking at all, it was as if there were actual lights over people. It was such an incredible experience. Discovery is such a beautiful thing.

It is because of my Mother, and the incredible teachers I have had in my life, that I am able to enable capability and discovery in my own students.

Also the biggest thanks to Singer Sewing for providing Squam with 20 brand new machines! People who had never sewn before IN THEIR LIVES were able to just take off sewing. And it was because of Singer's fantastic generosity, that: Pixie, Maya, Cal, and myself were all able to offer sewing classes this year! and hopefully more in the future!

The final class was our Champion Ribbon class! and again, I was thrilled to see the beautiful and abundant ribbons created by everyone in the class. The best part was seeing my Peeps each wearing almost all of their ribbons at one time... just how they should be worn. 6 or more at a time!!

Just thinking about Squam now, and the time that I had, and have had in years past...this year was different for me. I have become increasingly busy, and this year I reached exhaustion after Spring Market. I am constantly learning how not to over fill my plate (by over filling my plate!), it helped me reflect on the people, places, and things (nouns) that really matter. I don't think I will be teaching more than a few workshops next year, as part of this refocusing of my life. So stay tuned to know where you can find me.

But know this, Squam has become such a powerful part of me. It's through Squam that I have come to better understand what teaching means to me, how vital it is to connect to the people that fill the seats of your tribe, and also how crucial it is to take a quiet step outside of your everyday life, to breath, to think, to be, and to fill up your creative lamp.

Squam has been so formative to me, and as always, I hope that it can become such for you.

My biggest thanks and continued gratitude go to Elizabeth for continually letting me be a part of the beauty and goodness that are created through SAW.

love to all of my Squam Peeps from this year, and all years past.