Empty Spools Seminars, aka Asilomar Quilt Retreat

This year was the 26th year for the Empty Spools Seminars in Monterey, California, at the Asilomar Conference Grounds.  I recall when these seminars first started and how quilting friends encouraged me to join them, but I was never able to atttend.  Work, life, and a fear I wasn't good enough always seemed to be my excuse to not go.  But, over the 26 years that I sat back and watched my friends go, I must admit I saw the skill of my friends improve where mine stayed were stagnant, even though I attended local quilting classes.

Awhile back, I began researching to see if an average quilter, like myself, could become a decent free-motion quilter, with a year of practice and taking classes.  This research took me to pursue a stretch goal whereby I signed up with a class taught by the very talented Diane Gaudynski.  And this is how I came to attend my first Empty Spools Seminar, which I want to share insights with you today.

The Empty Spools Seminar is sponsored byGayle Wells and Suzanne Cox where they hold five different five day sessions of quilting seminars, all taught by world class quilting and/or fibre arts instructors.  Quilters from around the world come to attend these delightful seminars, where you have the same instructor for the entire five days.

The Asilomar Conference Grounds is a beautiful setting, within a California State Park located on the beach, in Monterey, California.

The conference rooms and hotel rooms are located throughout the property and are a modern rustic (e.g. no tv, wifi, coffee maker, microwave or refrigerator in the room), but they do have fireplaces.  Many guests, including myself, are able to see Deer from your hotel room (as well as when you walk around the grounds).  To my delight I saw Deer and little fawns.

Meals are served in a large dining hall, and the price is included in your conference fees.

Most evenings there is a presentation by various instructors, in the Merrill Hall, where you can learn more about the different teachers and their workshops. 

On the last full day of the conference, there is an optional "walk about" where every classroom has an Open House and you can  visit the other classrooms to meet the talented teachers and see what their students have created. 

I enjoyed visiting all of the classrooms in my "walk about".  I wish I could share photos of each class, but as I forgot to pack my camera battery recharger my ability to share photos are limited.  Fortunately, I did have a Flip video camera and captured a few images from my videos to share.  I may share a video after I have time to do some editing.  So, for now, I hope you understand why I'm not sharing photos from all of the talented teachers that were at this conference.

It was fun to see Hollis Chatelain's work, along with her students on using dye-paint to bring your quilt images to life.

I was inspired by the work of Lenore Crawford and her talented students who focused on techniques for fusing and fabric painting to make Impressionist Fabric Art.

There is a small quilt store setup for purchases during the seminar.    And, in the afternoons there is a free shuttle where you can visit Back Porch Fabrics quilt shop in downtown Monterey, which is a lovely shop that currently has a delightful quilt exhibit on display with a "Lighthouse" theme.

Asilomar concept began as a tent city about 1897, as a Young Woman's Christian Association (YWCA).  As I walked the beautiful grounds,  I could not help but think about all the people that had come here before me, for various retreats, as well as all of the quilters that have attended the 26 years of Empty Spools Seminars.  I estimate that there are probably ~20,000+ quilters that have attended one or more seminars, over the years, which I find amazing. 

I found my experience to be wonderful.  It was refreshing, demanding, inspirational and yet reinforcing of how our world of quilting is so wonderful.  My fellow students were all very talented, but also friendly and fun to spend the week with.  I hope that if you have not yet had the opportunity to attend an Empty Spools Seminar, that you will someday get to attend one.

The schedule for the 2012 Empty Spools Seminar is now available.  I had a chance to meet with Cindy Needham and also with Sandra Leicher, who both will be teaching next year.  Cindy will be taking her lucky students on a "stepping stones" journey while she provides them with  solid machine quilting skills and techniques, along with guidance on free-motion quilting designs and techniques.  And Sandra will be teaching  applique' techniques using a beautiful floral and bird motif.  Plus, Sandra's class project is also part of an optional BOM program she offers, so students can easily incorporate this lovely design into a quilt completely designed by Sandra.
In addition to Cindy and Sandra, there will be an additional 50+ talented teachers.  Pearl P. Pereira, Wendy Mathson and Jan Krentz are all very talented teachers from Southern California that will also be teaching at Asilomar in 2012.

Are you curious about my class with Diane Gaudynski?  It was absolutely fantastic.  I'll be sharing insights about it in the near future, as well as more insights about some of the other wonderful teachers too!

http://www.emptyspoolsseminars.com

For a full brochure, mail to:
Empty Spools Seminars
5306 Springridge Court
Fairfield, CA 94534-4005

For those that get to go to an Empty Spools Seminar at Asilomar, for the first time in the future, here are a few recommendations that you may want to consider: 1) bring an umbrella and/or raincoat, 2) if you like coffee or tea, consider bringing a thermal coffee mug, 3) bring a flashlight to walk around the park grounds, in the evening, and 4) bring extra lighting for your sewing area. 

If you have been to any of the Empty Spools quilting seminar previously, and have additional recommendations for those attending for the first time, or considering to attend this seminar, please leave a comment to share.