Congratulations, Rainey! Sounds like a great class and a great teacher. I love teachers who are encouraging and won't let you give up.

I'm sorry to hear your LQS is closing, though...that's a bummer!

Donna

Yeah! Isn't it a good feeling when you break through a barrier? FMQ was a huge one for me too. I'm getting better at it, but probably still resemble the the drunken 2 yr old more often then I'd like. So glad for you! Sorry about the LQS - I'm noticing more and more small businesses closing down.
Karlene

Yes, I know it's horrible for small businesses but that's not the case here. This shop has been open for 30 years and she has always had a steady clientele because of the huge number of quilters in SoCal. But she's an older woman and she's just decided to retire so she's doing it on the shop's 30th anniversary.

The right decision for her. A sudden and devastating blow to all of us. ='o

So sorry for your local quilt shop's closing; as a longtime small business owner, I applaud her ability and savvy to stay open in a very tough business for 30 years! I imagine she is tired, and it was a painful decision for her to make, as it will be a huge disappointment to her loyal customers who are her extended family. Bittersweet....

Good for you for your accomplishment! I looked at Sue Rasmussen's website - she looks like a fun and talented instructor!

Sue is a genuine artist in fabric (she will be having her first book published in the near future) but I didn't know she would be able to actually get me to produce some results. II couldn't be happier.

Yes, my local shop owner has had a great run. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for her (she wasn't there when I took the FMQ class and got the news). I'm sure I'm just one of scores of customers who will be in shock. But the biggest blow, I think, must be to the staff. One of the women has worked there for the 20 or so years I've been shopping there. Three more have been working there a long time. And they really are a family. Lots more people have been teaching there for years and years. It's a big loss. ::sniff::

It really was the right decision for the owner who is older and, no doubt, wants to spend more time with her husband. I mean, if she didn't want to do it anymore, it isn't an obligation.

I wonder if she tried to sell it as a going business or if someone might consider replacing it with a new shop...

Thanks for posting! My stippling is just ok so I am glad to know it may improve if I keep at it! Thanks for the encouragement!

Local QS are hard to find these days.

How is your injury doing?

Gwen

Stippling is HARD! You have to figure out where you're going and keeping balanced distances and shapes at the same time you're working on your hand and feet speeds.

I found echoing simple shapes like leaves and teardrops much easier. I did some stippling but I think I'd have to work on that a whole lot more to get attractive balanced areas.

Thanks for asking about the knee. It's not really so good. I just talked to a different orthopedic surgeon about roto rootering out the parts that still rub and keep my movement limited. NOT looking forward to another surgery but I hate not being able to go up or down stairs and I've put on 50 lbs since the break. =o