Don't tell me that computerized machines do not provide quality craftmanship!

It was a rainy day in Winnipeg. I didn't go for a walk because I had to pack, and since I didn't sleep well, I decided to take a nap before the day actually started. How crazy is that? 

And now I'm writing late at night because I have an early-morning flight and likely won't have time to write in the morning. EDIT: I wrote the blog last night and am editing this morning. 

This was the condition of the room when I left near noon to go to Carellen's Sewing Center. I had one suitcase mostly packed and most of the stuff off the beds. So that was good. EDIT: Just had a shower and everything is now packed, except for the computer. Then I'm off. 

The packing process

I wonder if, after any major quilt show, the X-ray people at the airport question these "things" in suitcases. There are many spools of thread in one of the suitcases. While these are loose spools of thread, there are two boxes of thread in another suitcase! 

A pile of threads in one of my three suitcases

We had a great time yesterday and saw a lot of inspiration for quilting with your embroidery machine. There is so much to share, and I get so inspired myself that I can't wait to get home and get to work. There is so much to do!!!! I have a load of samples I want to make, and I need to make a list of the things I need/want to make, as well as the things I need/want to learn. 

And it was great to see Brenda. Brenda is part of my machine embroidery club, and it's nice to see the people in person! 

OH my -- I should tell you what happened at breakfast yesterday. I was sitting at a table, minding my own business, when I noticed four women nearby talking about Quilt Canada. One woman seemed to be dominating the conversation. I tried not to listen, but how could I help myself? 

She was lamenting that so many of the quilts in the show were NOT hand-made, and that her quilt, which she had spent over 5 hours hand-embroidering a small section, was NOT accepted into the show. Then she told the others that these machines have no craftsmanship in their end result, and all the makers do is push a button and walk away. 

I think she was in particular talking about the jacket that won first prize, I think. It was beautiful and machine-embroidered on silk. It would have taken weeks/months to do all the satin stitching by hand. I have a picture somewhere. 

OK -- so I couldn't help myself. I had finished my breakfast, and I walked over to chat with them. I identified myself as someone who works with computerized machines, and I politely gave them a wee lesson: people with computerized machines still need to worry about the impact of what they have done, which involves choosing the design, fabrics, and threads. We also need to be skilled at using the computerized machine. It needs to be set, we need to know how it works and how to solve the problems, and a whole lot more. WE do NOT just push a button and walk away. 

I don't think she was too impressed. I was very polite. She then started to talk about how she teaches children to sew. So I piped up that if she was doing that, why didn't she sponsor children in her groups to participate in the Youth Challenge at the show? OH -- she didn't know what to say to that. But then she agreed that it might be a good idea. 

I then suggested that she write an article or contact CQA to see if they would be interested in publishing one on what she is doing in her community. It's not about embarrassing these kinds of people or making fun of them. Just ask them why they aren't making a bigger impact!!!! That's partly because they live in small bubbles and are not exposed to other things! 

I didn't stay too long to chat, but enough to make them think. However, I think she was the kind of person who would continue to complain about the computerized machines simply because her handwork quilt didn't get in. 

People do NOT get it that submitting your quilt to any show, even with exquisite handwork, doesn't guarantee that it will get in. What other quilts is it competing with? Just because you do exquisite handwork doesn't mean the overall impact is desirable, and there are so many other factors.  And each person's definition of exquisite handwork may not meet the judges' standards. 

And people, the rejection letter they send is NOT directed to you. It's a canned letter - it has no reflection on your work. She was quite offended by the letter. And let's face it - if your pictures are crap, that is all the judges see, and your quilt won't get in. 

So many factors—you can be disappointed, but you can't criticize. 

But to complain so publicly about it and to put down the computerized machines -- well, that was too much to let slip past! BUT I was as polite as could be, praised her for what she was doing in her community, and encouraged her to do more! I am not a mean person. Just like to set the record straight and stand up for us techies. 

Later in the day, I ran into someone who complained about the show's layout. People—the show coordinators are at the mercy of the space they have been given. Some shows are big, some shows are small. I don't know if the number of quits was the same as in past shows, but it's amazing how people remember shows differently. Oh, when the show was in "city X," there were so many more quilts. It was better laid out, it was bigger/smaller or whatever. I wish I were better at remembering statistics (which I don't even know myself),  so I could prove a point to people. 

And it is a show—there will be lots of people; the booths are small; it is all about MONEY!!!! If you have accessibility issues, then DO NOT go during the busy times. I do not know how many times I need to repeat that -- go when the crowds are lesser (later in the day). Don't go when it's crowded and then complain! I'm not sure I could handle being a coordinator of the show -- the complaints would drive me mad. 

But the one issue with the facility was the stairs between floors 2 and 3. There was a slow elevator and one escalator that went up or down beside that set of stairs. I believe they had to swap the convention hall at the last minute due to an issue, and I'm not sure if the stair issue was the same on the other side of the hall. I don't know the details of that, but I do know that we were NOT in the hall that we were supposed to be in. 

For someone with mobility issues, taking the stairs either up or down could be quite the issue, or they had to wait for the slow elevator. Thankfully, I am very mobile, so I took the stairs up and down all the time. My knee wasn't always happy, but I told it to be quiet - I was in a hurry! 

The previous day in class, we were talking about donut shapes, and well, on the way to Tim's, guess what? I spotted this donut place and decided to stop in on my way back. 

OH Doughnuts!!!

I ordered from Tim's kiosk because the line was long. Then I was fiddling with my phone when I realized the line was gone, and I still didn't have food. One of the staff asked me what I was waiting for, and I said I had ordered at the kiosk. OH -- turns out my food had been waiting at the other end of the restaurant. Sigh............  I might get all this stuff sorted out at some point. They shout out the in-house orders to the customers, but not the orders in the pickup line. The kiosk qualifies as a pickup line. 

Ordering at the kiosk

So, on the way back to the hotel, I stopped by the donut place. OH MY!!!!! And yes, I had my cup of tea and several Tim's bags in my hands. Good grief. 

But look at those donuts!!!! OH MY -- they looked amazing. 

OH Doughnuts is right!

I bought the key lime donut, and let's say they weren't cheap, and I'm sure there were two days' worth of calories in each one. The lady asked me if I wanted a bag to put all my things in, and I said yes, because I had a lot of small bags from Tims.  

The donut was so thick I could barely get it into my mouth, and at one point, I had key lime pie cream on my chin and whipped cream on my nose. Thankfully, no pictures were taken at that time. 

Now that's a donut!!!

But oh my—it was delicious and well worth it. Not as good as if I had ridden my bike to the shop, but at least I walked there. 

I forgot to mention that after breakfast, I told the lady at reception that we had some excitement in the hotel earlier that morning. She apologized and then asked what room I was in. Later in the day, I got a text, and they gave me a slight discount on one night's rate. That was a very nice gesture, and it pays to talk to people!!! 

I'm back at the hotel, and I have everything more or less packed in the suitcases. I will have to carry a tote bag on the plane in addition to my backpack. Thank goodness for airline status, which allows for three 70-pound suitcases. Having access to the lounge? Useless for me. 

Hopefully, there will be no issues, such as flat tires on the plane, and I'll catch you when I get home!!! I can't wait!!!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!!