Trying to recap all that Sew South was is like trying to nail jelly to the wall. Like frantically trying to describe a dream as it floats away like a whisper before all the details are firmly cemented in my brain for an accurate retelling. The words well up in my chest but before they make it to my mouth my body defies me and renders me unable to speak.
From the first tentative glimpses at one another in the hotel lobby to the collective sigh of relief when we made it to We're Sew Creative and knew that we could totally hang with the 49 other fabric crazed ladies, Sew South created a community. Reading name tags hung from lanyards around necks and then putting a face to the name I've known so long online. Clinking glasses at dinner. Plugging in sewing machines and letting the fabric and thread fly. Hearing needles break besides just my own. Standing at the cutting tables. Or the irons. Or around a new friend's station as we talked about anything and everything. And feeling my soul fill up.
I made things. Learned new tricks. And am now finding a home for a truck load of new supplies, fabric, patterns, and finished goods from amazingly generous sponsors (Pellon, Dritz, Oliso, We're Sew Creative, Fabricworm, Ellison Lane Quilts, Westminster, Studio Cherie, While Baby Naps, Art Gallery, Fat Quarter Shop, GenQ, Windham Fabrics, Michael Miller Fabrics, Allison Glass, Brandy Lynn's, Spoonflower, Andover, The Warm Company, Coats & Clark, Aurifil, Downtown Tape, Kati Cupcake, Stash Books, Green Bee Design & Patterns, Oliver & S, Havel's Sewing, Pen and Paint, Moda, Martingale, Rachel Gresham Designs, The Intrepid Thread and Swatch Buddies) and friends.
But it's that feeling of community that I take with me everywhere I go now. It's intangible. Irreplaceable. Indescribable.
And unstoppable.
Sew South rocked it out of the park. Thank you to Jennifer for making it happen and the sponsors that provided supplies to make our workstations so efficient.
And thank you to each and every one of you beautiful souls that attended and shared so freely with me.
-dana
24 comments:
Dana - you said it so unbelievably eloquently! Thank you for this post and for giving us each a jar of your Sugar Scrub. I tried it for the first time this morning and LOVE IT.
Linda F.
Wipes tears from the eyes...miss you my friend.
Unstoppable. Amen!
So thankful to have left NC with so many soul-friends that I know will be a part of my life for a long time to come.
You were so generous with your words and with your hugs. Thank you for the sugar scrub, and I love that I can say my friend made this. Because you are just that. A new friend that feels like an old one.
So happy to connect with you. xo
Perfect words for a perfect weekend! I look forward to many sewing adventures with you and many others that I met over the weekend.
And a huge thank you for the body scrub! Smells delish and feels wonderful! My girls (and I) love it...I have to take it our of their shower this morning!!
Nicely said! It was great to see you Dana. It was a wonderful weekend.
sounds like a wonderful time was had by all. One of these days I will get to a big or even small quilting conference
It sounds like it was perfect - glad you enjoyed it. Too bad it was so far away from me.
You have such a wonderful way with words Dana. Your post is so eloquent indeed. It matches your beautiful soul and kind heart and I am so so glad you were there and part of the wonderful group that made up Sew South.
Miss you.
xo
I am beyond sad that I moved out of the South before this took place. Now I'm some kind of Connecticut Yankee or something. Looks like it was serious fun!
Beautifully said. Great pictures.
You have painted a time with words that made it come alive.
Sew very happy you had fun, learned things, made new friends. That's fabulous.
Ditto what Dana said...and Dana...thanks for saving me a seat on that wonderful ride!:)
Very cool! I think that is the first I have seen of your sewing room! Love that clutch in the last pic!!
Oh Dana! I love your write-up. I did a mini one because I think I need to process the weekend in pieces! I miss your smiling face and hope we all get together again soon!
It was so wonderful to meet you. I am so overwhelmed by my experience, I am not even sure how to start writing about it. Reading your words make me relive the experience and put a happy smile on my face.
It was such an awesome weekend! It was great to meet you in person and get to have dinner with you! Thank you sooo much for the sugar scrub- love it! It smells so heavenly that I want to eat it up. This is a lovely post- it was a wonderful weekend. Can't wait until next year!
Well said, my friend. I so appreciate how encouraging to everyone you are. What a blast we had! I just tried my sugar scrub for the first time tonight and I love it! Thanks again:)
So glad you had fun! So wish I could have been there. :-)
It was an amazing and wonderful weekend. I am so glad to have meet you and to now call you friend. Good luck in all your future endeavors.
I'm so happy to have connected with you this weekend. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Thankful to have a new friend, and I can't wait to catch up on what you have in the works!
Dana, I just loved meeting you and laughing with you all weekend. Can't wait for next year!
sounds so dreamy! someday I want to attend something like this and be inspired and inspiring all at the same time, just as you are :)
Sounds like such a fun time of sharing and creativity!
I'm going to have to quote you with "nail jello to the wall" - oh how I wish I would have been able to be part of such a wonderful time. Thanks for sharing.
I love you!
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