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    Home » Sewing

    Saturday Snapshots and Weekend Links

    Updated: Jan 25, 2022 by Melissa Mortenson · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 3 Comments

    Well I think it’s time for another Saturday Snapshots post… I always mean to share these once a week but never seem to prioritize the time to sit down and write up the post.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    This week it really started to feel like Summer… I was sewing the other afternoon and thought “hurry up, you have to stop at 4″… then I realized… it’s summer… my kids don’t have to be anywhere… I exhaled and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    If you follow me on Instagram you may know that I had the COOLEST weekend!  I was able to attend a Craft South weekend hosted by Anna Maria Horner.  I was absolutely blown away by Anna’s open friendly nature. She was so kind and generous with her time and her knowledge. I had to pinch myself a few times, and admit to thinking “is this real”? Once or twice.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    Along with Anna, Amy Bulter was there to teach a class for the weekend.  Amy didn’t just blow in teach a class and blow out. She came to dinner with us, sat and chatted with us while we sewed and taught an amazing class on finding color inspiration.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    The first night was a meet and greet at a local restaurant in Nashville. I sat down at an empty chair, next to me was a chair with a bag in it. I didn’t think much of it… then Amy sat down in that chair… next to me… at dinner… I just thought to myself “don’t be stupid Melissa” and tried to have a nice casual conversation with her. I credit Amy Butler and Heather Bailey with a resurgence in my desire to sew about 6 or 7 years ago.  Their fresh take on fabric made me WANT to find something to sew with it. I still have a few of Amy Butler’s Gypsy Caravan prints from her orignal collection that I can’t bring myself to cut up.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend
    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    (that’s my quilt on the design wall. I’m pretty excited about how it’s turning out, I’ll be sure to write up a pattern for it when I’m done)

    The whole weekend was patchwork themed. Anna Maria Horner shared with us some of the quilts she was working on and some of her personal inspration and creative process. She uses such rich colors and amazing textures, it completley inspired me. We were treated to a tour of her studio and dinner at her home. Then her Father in Law’s bluegrass band serenaded us. It was an idyllic southern summer evening, complete with good food, friends and even fireflies.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    I was privileged to meet many great quilters that weekend. I was happy to see 3 other gals from Utah there. I went down bymyself and was so glad to find such nice poeple to chat and connect with all weekend.

    Craft South Patchwork Weekend
    Craft South Patchwork Weekend
    Craft South Patchwork Weekend
    Craft South Patchwork Weekend
    Craft South Patchwork Weekend

    In other news:

    I read “What Alice Forgot”  in less than 24 HOURS! I started reading it and could NOT put it down. I can’t remember the last time a book hooked me so quickly.   Anyone else read it? Man it really makes you think about your life and how you affect other people.

    Hopscotch-modern-cross-quilt-amy-smart

    Amy from Diary of a Quilter has a Craftsy Class! I’m in love with the quilt class she’s teaching.

     HEADS UP All swim is 40% off at Lands End all weekend... Between the Pool and the Lake, I feel like I live in swimsuits all summer. I’ve bought other swimsuits before but always go back to the same ones from Lands End. They’re cute and manage to hold in everything you don’t want jiggling around all summer…if you know what I mean….

    That’s enough for now… Til next week…

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    About Author

    Melissa Mortenson

    Melissa Mortenson is a blogger, designer, and content creator. She is the Polka Dot Chair blog founder and has been sharing fresh and creative ideas with readers since 2008. She is the author of “Project Teen, Handmade Gifts your Teen will Actually Love.” Her work and designs have been featured on HuffPost, TODAY, Pioneer Woman, HGTV, BuzzFeed, Better Homes & Gardens, and many other established publications. Her first fabric line, “Derby Style,” debuted in January 2015 through Riley Blake Designs.  Additional fabric collections have followed it in subsequent years. A mom of 3, she considers herself lucky to be living in Kentucky.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise in PA says

      June 28, 2014 at 8:30 am

      Wow, what a fabulous weekend! AMH and Amy Butler – incredible! Looks like some beautiful work too! I read What Alice Forgot in record time too! I’m now reading Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret (after reading/listening to many reviews saying it was fantastic – not at all what I thought and it sucked me right in!) In fact, I’m now going to try and read all of her books!

      Reply
    2. Brita says

      June 29, 2014 at 7:39 am

      Would you please blow some of that color inspiration my way — I’m intoxicated by the idea of being around those amazing creative women!

      Reply
    3. Stephanie says

      July 09, 2014 at 9:12 am

      Hi Melissa! I was so happy to find your recap of Craft-South and your blog as well. What an amazing weekend, right? Did that really happen? I’m also happy to hear that I wasn’t the only one telling myself to play it cool next to AMH and Amy. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk more with you – perhaps at the Craft-South patchwork weekend reunion next year (I can only wish!). 🙂 Take care!

      Reply

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