The work on the Sweet Tooth piece is unbelievable. Thanks for showing the detail. I was especially enamored of the rock-type chips used as nuts (??) on the cake. Brilliant. I am sure that looking at this in person meant that each inch brought a new discovery.
thanks.

When I lived in Tokyo I had a similar group with whom I took ikebana classes for seven years from the time I was 22 until I left Japan at 29. The group ranged in age from 19 to early 70s. I learned so much from these women and have a picture of them hanging in my kitchen. It’s hard to explain how much that group made me the person I am today. I think about them every day.

For years I longed for that group and missed them every Saturday until I decided that it was time for me to take the lead and start my own group but with quilters.

All of the people in our group had taken classes with us and most had done at least one session of the week-long Design Camp we have run in the past. I specifically chose people whose work, attitude and demeanor I wanted to have in my life for a long, long time. I wanted the members to have a wide variety of skills and interests and I really didn’t want a bunch of people who just wanted to make quilts like ours. In addition, I didn’t include people who might make incredible quilts but would be unreliable or a downer to be around and would bring the rest of the group down. Although the group offered to pay, I refused to take any money because then I would feel like the teacher. I wanted to be able to be “off the clock” and learn some things instead of always being in the teaching mode.

Over the years some members have changed and sometimes there will only be three or four of us in a given month because of travel or schedule conflicts but that’s fine.

If I were you I would take a class somewhere or go to a guild meeting and see if there are people who would like to join you on a trial basis. You might also post a notice at several local quilt stores. Maybe you say it’s going to be for six months only. Meet at some neutral location like a conference room at the local library. At the end of the six months you’ll know if it’s a good fit or not. Having a definitive end date gives you an easy out if it’s not working out but also the option to renew and establish something more permanent if it’s helpful.

I hope this helps you get started. Since you’re nearby, I’ll extend this offer: If you get a group together, and want me to come talk to your group about some guidelines that we’ve found helpful, call me at FunQuilts and I’ll come chat with your group for a bit. For those of you who aren’t local and want some guidance for your group, I’d be happy to Skype with you. Making these connections with people who share your interest is a really wonderful thing and I want everyone who wants it to have it.