{amylouwho} sewing summit - where to begin?

I'm still recovering from my whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City for the Sewing Summit last weekend!  I have been reading everyone's recap posts and reliving every lovely minute.  It's a little daunting trying to write my own, but I'm going to go for it.
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I have to say, it was a little surreal. I walked into the opening meet and greet on Friday afternoon and thought, who are all of these people!?

I only recognized the handful of them that I already know.  But then, as I went around and introduced myself I found most conversations went like this:

me: Hi! I'm Amy, there's like 20 Amy's here.
person: Hi! I'm so-and-so.
blank stare.
me:  what's your blog name?
person:  suchandsuch.com
me: Oh my gosh! I know YOU!
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It was really fun to put real faces with the very real friendships I've made through this wonderful blogging and sewing community.  As Amy and Erin said that night,

their vision for this weekend was to bring together everyone's online sewing friends so we could sew and chat and visit and laugh and be together in person!  It was a success!
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I loved the classes I took and walked away with new ideas and techniques but mostly INSPIRED to get back on my machine and do things that I have been putting off for fear of messing them up. 

I took Dana 's social media and blogging class - I loved her message.  (another Amy on the left, Dana on the right - how did I miss a picture of the two of us!?)

Blog what you love, be real and it's not a numbers game.  I totally believe that.
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Vanessa shared great tips on getting beautiful photos. (And she made that adorable skirt!)

And how to lose inches off your thighs in full body poses.  If I could explain it to you here I would.  Trust me, it was hilarious! and worked! And if you don't know V. she is hilarious!

We all loved Leigh's hand-pieced hexi quilt.
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I had to take a nap after lunch I was so tired from the 2 hour time difference AND staying up late.  It was just long enough to make it back down for my afternoon classes.
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Susan had us make some little zipper pouches which came in really handy on the way home.

I used the purple one for my phone and iPod (they didn't get lost!) and the blue one housed babylouwho's snacks for the long day on the plane.
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Amanda, aka Ms. McPorkchop, was inspiring and charming and funny and made me want to make a gazillion mini quilts!

At the beginning of the weekend I was telling people that I liked to quilt but had a hard time finishing them. 

After her class I realized that little quilts are still quilts! And often you can finish them in a couple of hours! How awesome is that?  I have a few ideas brewing already.
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Saturday night we spent in the sewing room.

It was full of humming machines, happy chatter and laughter! Just what the doctor ordered.

I finished my bee blocks for Rachel who was there! I didn't have to go to the post office, just walked over and handed them to her. Perfect.

And I really liked how they turned out! 

Amy worked on and finished this gorgeous top.

To be honest, I didn't get a lot of sewing done because I was having so much fun just visiting with everyone! I'm telling you, sewing with friends is the best!

I'm afraid of overwhelming you with too many pictures, so we'll stop here for today. I'll be sure to share more.  I took 2 other classes and acquired a lot more fabric!  Sew & Tell is happening tomorrow - See you then!