And The Winner Is...

Krystal, Kelly and Debbie - all three winners of the Avonport award

Debbie Bliemel was the winner of the 2013 Avonport Award, a scholarship for a young (under 40) quilter. The award was made possible thanks to the generosity of Faye Brown who owns Avonport Discount Fabrics. Debbie was the thrid winner of this scholarship (an all expense paid scholarship for the Retreat). Her isher report - she did have a good time and learned a lot. Thanks Debbie! 

 Debbie shares her quilt at our Show and tell evening.        

  My first impression of Pictou Lodge was one of relief. After getting quite lost (and almost taking the ferry to PEI), the main building of the resort as it loomed up out of the heavy fog was a very welcome sight. Even if I was running horribly late. As I coasted down the long driveway to the main building, I sternly told myself to calm down. There was nothing to be nervous about. Although Krystal was the only person that I knew who would be at the Retreat, I reminded myself that everyone in attendance would be there to make something wonderful. And if there’s one thing that I’ve always known, those who make things are the best kind of people. 

            Dodging fat raindrops as I scrambled to get registered, find my bearings, drop my things off in the classroom and make my way over to my assigned room, I opened the door to see the very welcome sight of Krystal holding a large bottle of white wine. She cheerfully introduced me to my other roommate, Kelly. I smiled at Kelly as she gave off an aura of sweetness that I couldn’t help but like immediately. After we all decided that I would (happily) take the fold-out bed, they sat me down, serious looks on their faces.

            “Ok, now that you’ve won the scholarship, you have certain responsibilities,” said Krystal. Kelly nodded solemnly beside her. From a bag on the floor, Krystal pulled out a faded and tattered pattern for a quilted jacket. Clearly a pattern from the 80s, it had shoulder pads that were so poofy they nearly reached the model’s earlobes.

            “Okay?” I said, warily. There had been nothing about this in the brochure.

            “You’re going to have to make one of these while you’re here.”

            “Whut?” My eyes flicked between the two of them. The panic started to come back a little and I started to mentally catalogue the fabrics that I’d brought. Nothing I’d brought was half-way suitable for making a quilted jacket.

            Kelly started to giggle at the horror on my face, and it wasn’t long before we were all laughing. The knot of tension that had lodged itself in my gut slowly dissipated and I could feel my shoulders relaxing.

            “Oh, you guys are such jerks. You really had me for a minute there.”

            Krystal grinned and checked her watch. “Oh hey, we should get over to the main lodge. We’re late for happy hour.” 

            ***

            After that introduction to the retreat, there was nothing that could faze me. Dinner was decadent and delicious, much enhanced by the oft-fascinating conversation of my tablemates. The service was absolutely wonderful, as evidenced by the Irish coffees that appeared at my elbow on a regular basis throughout the night. (Thanks!)

            As everyone crowded into the auction room that night, I admit that I was rather eager to bid. Some of the beautiful sari silks were definitely going to come home with me. I was already mentally waving goodbye to my cash when a wonderful quilted jacket came up for bids. My jaw dropped, my eyes met Krystal’s and I started grinning wide enough to bust my face open. It would be mine. For I had plans for it. Big plans. Despite a frenzy of flurried bidding from all corners, I emerged triumphant, having won the jacket. And as Kelly, Krystal and I walked back to our room, I informed them that it would from this point forward be the “Avonport Scholarship Jacket”. All future winners would be required to wear it to breakfast, each and every morning. An initiation rite. I went to sleep that night happily listening to the sound of the surf roaring just outside my window.

            The next morning, I gulped down a hurried breakfast, cheered Kelley as she paraded around in the jacket and finally scrambled over to the classroom. After a lingering wander through the temporary store set up by Mira Stitch ‘N Post, I was ready to start my class with the lovely Cheryl Arkison.

            As it was my first formal quilting class, I was eagerly anticipating learning some new techniques, maybe some nifty tricks. What I was not expecting was to have my eyes opened to the quiet beauty of low-volume quilting. My instincts have always guided me towards bright jewel tones, but after looking at several of Cheryl’s quilts, I came to realise that quilts that are easy on the eyes can be just as beautiful.

Debbie and Krystal at work.   

Thinking back, I think that my favourite part of the class was watching everyone start to loosen up as they became more playful. There were many ladies who I suspect were more accustomed to formal and traditional quilting, and it was an absolute joy watching them explore and enjoy a looser approach to putting thread to fabric.  Myself, I think that I was the most excited about learning how to work with freezer paper to make a ‘window’ block. It’s definitely a technique that I plan on using in one of my future quilts.

            I certainly learned a lot over the next few days of the retreat, as much from my fellow classmates as from Ms. Arkison. Ruth, I can’t tell you how excited my local Bee was when I showed them how to make bias tape using just two pins and an ironing board.

            The evening activities were so much fun, providing a very welcome break from being hunched over my machine. From the fascinator challenge to the show and tell, each night had something to really look forward to. Of course, that didn’t stop me from returning to the classroom each night – the freedom to sew late into the night was too hard to resist. Having the time to allow myself to abandon all else and just sew was an absolute luxury, one that I plan on repeating at the next Retreat.

            Yeah, you heard me. I’ll definitely be coming to the next one. Wild horses couldn`t keep me away. After all, I have a jacket to pass along to the next winner of the Avonport Award for a Young Quilter.

            Thank you all so much for making my first Retreat experience so incredible!

Comments

[Cheryl Arkison]

It was such a blast to drink scotch with Debbie, and sew late into the night with her. I do hope to see her at the next retreat as well!