There’s something special about being invited to teach a quilting workshop, but being invited back for a second visit? That makes my heart extra happy 😊
I recently returned from a week of teaching in St-Pierre-et-Miquelon, where I had the pleasure of reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new quilty friends, and spending several days surrounded by fabric, creativity, and lots of laughter.
And, naturally, the trip came with a few unexpected adventures. Including arriving without my luggage. Bleurgh!
But as it turns out, what could have been a frustrating start ended up being one of the loveliest parts of my visit.
Let me fill you in!
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When Travel Plans Go Sideways
If you’ve ever travelled for a quilting workshop, you know just how much preparation goes into getting everything ready. There are quilts to pack, supplies to organize, and all those little details to think through before heading out the door.
Well, despite all that planning, sometimes the travel gods have other ideas. Ha!
My flight from Montreal to Halifax was delayed, leaving me with a rather tight connection to St-Pierre. When I arrived in Halifax, an Air St-Pierre representative met me at the gate with some good news and some not-so-good news.
I would make my connecting flight. Yay!
My luggage, however, would not. Bleurgh.
And since the next flight wasn’t until Monday, I was looking at spending the first few days without my belongings.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way!
Thankfully, I’d had the foresight to pack an extra pair of undies and socks in my carry-on, along with a little travel packet of Soak laundry soap.
And can I just say, that little packet has earned its place in my travel essentials! Ha!
It actually saved the day once before at QuiltCon in Atlanta when a quilty friend accidentally dropped her BBQ sauce-covered knife into the pocket of my quilted coat. 😳
Who knew a little packet of soap could come in so handy?!
So, there’s your friendly reminder to tuck some laundry soap into your travel bag. You never know when a little washing adventure might pop up! 😉
My Host to the Rescue!
Not exactly how I’d envisioned kicking off my teaching week!
But here’s where things took a lovely turn.
My wonderful host invited me to stay with her and even lent me clothes to get me through the weekend. What started as a travel mishap turned into an unexpected opportunity to spend more time together, sharing stories and getting to know one another.
And there was an added bonus.
Her cat decided I made a pretty good sleeping companion and curled up with me every night. 🥹
After losing Pips earlier this year, having a furry friend snuggled beside me again was such a comforting little gift. One I hadn’t realized just how much I’d appreciate.
Sometimes the unexpected moments turn into the sweetest memories, don’t they?
Quilted Coats & Creative Expression
With the luggage adventure sorted (well, sort of!), it was time to dive into our first project of the week: quilted coats!
One of my favourite things about teaching is seeing how everyone brings their own creative flair to a project.
Even when we’re all working from the same starting point, the results are always wonderfully different.
And these quilted coats were no exception!
From the fabric combinations to the patchwork designs, it was such a treat seeing everyone’s individual style shine through.
I love those moments when someone starts to see their vision coming together. When the individual pieces start looking like an actual garment, and the excitement builds as they realize they’re creating something they can wear.
Of course, there were plenty of tips and tricks shared along the way. Pressing suggestions, little sewing adjustments, problem-solving, and lots of encouragement. You know, all those little things that help make the creative process that much more enjoyable.
Some of the ladies are still putting the finishing touches on their coats, and I can’t wait to see their completed projects!
There’s something pretty special about watching a stack of fabric transform into a one-of-a-kind handmade wardrobe piece.
A Little French Hospitality
Now, I can’t talk about teaching in St-Pierre without mentioning the food. Ha!
One of the unexpected pleasures of teaching here is just how much everyone goes out of their way to share their local favourites.
Homemade goodies? Check.
Delicious treats from the local bakery? You bet!
And, naturally, a little French wine made an appearance too. 😉
The ladies were incredibly generous, bringing in all sorts of yummy things for me to try.
But beyond the delicious food, what I especially love are the shared lunches.
It’s a chance to step away from our sewing machines, relax, and just chat.
We get to know one another beyond our shared love of quilting. Stories are exchanged, laughter is shared, and before you know it, those familiar workshop faces start feeling like old friends.
It’s one of those parts of teaching that doesn’t always get talked about, but it’s something I genuinely treasure.
Winter Stars & My Youngest Student Yet!
After several days of quilted coat making, we switched gears and turned our attention to the Winter Star quilt.
This workshop brought a mix of familiar faces and new participants, including someone who now holds the title of my youngest student ever!
At just shy of eight years old, this little quilter was joining in on the fun alongside the adults.
I’ll admit, I was a little nervous about the rotary cutter situation. Those blades are sharp, and I wanted to make sure she was comfortable and safe while learning.
We eventually decided I’d take care of the cutting and trimming, leaving her free to focus on the sewing and pressing.
And can I just say how impressed I was?!
I spent much of the last day working alongside her, and her ability to concentrate, follow instructions, and keep up with the pace of the workshop was amazing.
But the part that had me smiling the most?
She discovered that her favourite part of quilting was pressing!
Ha!
I’m not kidding. She kept asking when she’d get to press again. 😂
Of all the things I thought might capture her attention, I wasn’t expecting the iron to be the star of the show!
It was such a lovely reminder that everyone finds joy in different parts of the creative process.
And how wonderful is it to see a new generation discovering the fun of quilting?!
It’s the People Who Make It Special
As much as I love sharing techniques, helping quilters build their skills, and seeing their projects come together, it’s the people who make these experiences so memorable.
There’s something about spending several days creating together that brings everyone closer.
By the end of the week, we’d shared plenty of laughs, tackled a few sewing challenges, celebrated creative wins, and enjoyed more than our fair share of delicious treats.
Our final evening was spent gathered together over a glass of wine, chatting and enjoying one another’s company.
It was such a lovely way to wrap up the week.
And after lots of hugs and goodbyes, there were already jokes about inviting me back for a third visit.
Ha!
I’ll take that as a sign of a successful workshop. 😉
Keep the Quilty Adventures Going:
Love seeing how quilting brings creativity, learning, and friendship together? Here are a few more behind-the-scenes stories, quilted coat adventures, and creative projects to keep those quilty ideas flowing!
Until Next Time, St-Pierre!
I came home feeling incredibly grateful.
Grateful for the invitation to return, for the generosity and kindness I experienced, for the creative energy everyone brought to the workshops, and for the friendships that continue to grow through our shared love of quilting.
Even the missing luggage turned into a happy memory!
If there’s one thing these teaching adventures continue to remind me, it’s that quilting is about so much more than fabric and stitches.
It’s about the people we meet, the skills we share, the encouragement we give one another, and the connections we make along the way.
And that’s something I never take for granted.
A big thank you to everyone who made this visit so special. You’ve given me another collection of happy memories to tuck away.
Until next time!
xo
Shannon
Bring a Little Quilty Fun to Your Guild!
Curious about hosting a quilting workshop, lecture, or trunk show? I offer both virtual and in-person sessions, with topics ranging from quilted coats and curved piecing to colour play, creative practice, and more!
Interested in bringing some quilty fun to your guild? Explore my teaching offerings and get in touch to chat about what we could create together!
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Fun to see all those familiar faces. It looks like it was a stunning workshop!! On my first trip there, my airplane turned around 3 hours over the ocean and headed back to Paris. I thought I would miss the connection, but they waited for everyone on the airplane to arrive (and our bags, gratefully). It’s always fun traveling for work!
OMGeee, I would have freaked out about turning back after 3 hrs in the air – ha! Happy to hear you made it safe and sound (and with your bags, too!)