Quilt Guild Firsts

Tonight was our monthly meeting for the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters.  Being the program chair can be a bit hectic.  I'm busy trying to fill workshops, answer lots of questions, taking checks, and welcoming the speaker for the night -- phew!

Cynthia Gentit was our speaker tonight.  I had all sorts of witty things I was going to say to introduce this organizing guru.  Rushing up to the podium from the back of the room, I think I left all my thoughts at the back table too!  I had intended to talk about how Cynthia had been on an episode of Hoarders, she being the professional helping the messy person.  Forgot.  I was going to tell everyone the story of me organizing my sock drawer last year and getting rid of dozens and dozens of pairs of socks.  Forgot.  I felt so scattered that I hope I didn't sound like an idiot.

Cynthia's program was great and she had wonderful giveaways for member as well as handouts, which I think she may have run out of before everyone got one, so there must have been over 100 people there.  She was the first person to speak at our guild about organizing your crafting space and she had a lot of super tips.

The other first for me was, when speaking to someone I didn't know, I actually paused and said "I'm sorry I don't know your name", and introduced myself.  I'm sure that doesn't seem like such a big deal but it was for me.  I'm actually kind of shy and I usually just make small talk with someone I don't know, kind of pretending that I do and then move on to the next conversation.  But I liked this gal and I wanted her to know she mattered.  Sometimes new members don't feel a connection with the guild and then they just stop coming.  But Jenny had shown a really intriguing quilt at Show n Tell and I could tell I wanted to get to know her better.  You have to nurture new quilters.  I know.  I was one once, many moons ago, and if not for Betty and Marilyn and Heather and Debby, I probably would have abandoned that craft.  So glad I didn't!