The countdown has begun for the software classes being offered in Mt. Juliet! I am almost ready, finding I have a lot of editing to do on the hand outs, thanks to a few good friends I am able to have them proofed and ready. I am such a lucky person to have such good and willing friends! I have to dig throug my collections and find some nice things for a trunk show, but I suppose that will be next week before I start on that. No need to pack everything and have it wrinkle up before I get there with it! I am totally excited about this class!!!
The Wedding gown makeover has come to a standstill while I am busy editing but hopefully I will have more to report on that next time! I have such great ideas for it, I just can’t wait to get back to working on the little dress that is on the table in pieces! Hopefully someday I will have another little girl that will be able to wear this little dress!
Dwight and I spent last week end in Pigeon Forge, TN at the Tennessee State Square Dance Convention. There were hundreds of people there but the two I wanted to see most were my son and daughter in law! They are taking square dance lessons again and learning how much fun dancing can be. They drove from Richmond, VA to come down to visit and dance with us. We had a great time and all four of us registered for next year’s convention!
I presented the sewing clinic sponsored by the convention. Did you know you can talk for an hour about gathering fabric? At least I can and did. the amazing part is that people were really interested. I had a whopping 47 people in the class the most I have ever had at one of these! It was totally awesome. I have been getting e-mail feedback from it since late Sunday. Everyone seemed to enjoy it and learned a lot, several even said it was “the best square dance sewing clinic that they had ever attended!”… gosh.. makes my head swell. So my mind is already racing about what I can do at next year’s convention!
I ask for clubs around the state to donate door prizes for the clinic and I had 8 total.. You would not believe what huge and luxurious baskets these clubs put together, each was a feast for the eyes, the lucky people that received them were amazed at how nice they were. Square dancers are such fun and giving people. I am proud to be associated with them! If you have never square danced, since your 4th grade PE class you should seek out a club and give it a try. One caller said it is one of the best kept secrets around, and we tell everyone about it. You meet people from all over the world and have a great time with them, form lasting friendships and become an extended family at times.
Dwight and I have been dancing for 15 years and still enjoy it. We have traveled to 14 National conventions that are held around the US. Always different area, different people, we have danced with people from every state in the US, Canada, Germany, England, Australia, and Saudi Arabia just to name a few. One of the most fun conventions we attended was in Birmingham, AL. There were 24 THOUSAND… that is right 24 thousand people at that dance!! all ages from all places.. can you imagine that number of people all enjoying one activity… together!!! Our picture was featured in SMITHSONIAN magazine centerfold that year. We were dancing in the large arena in the convention center in Birmingham, when we had decided we had danced as long as we possibly could, we tried to leave. We would walk a few feet and a new group would need a couple to finish out their square, so we would stop and dance, then move on. It took us 30 minutes to move from the middle of the arena floor to the door, dancing our way out. It was totally awesome.
Many people say that square dancing is on it’s way down, many of the dancers are older and no longer able to dance, the numbers have dropped but the enthusiasm hasn’t. There are a number of newer and younger dancers out there, young callers and leaders. Regardless of age it is something that is good for you and fun too. If you have been thinking about it, STOP.. and just come join us soon!!! and as we dancers say..
Yellowrock (hugs) until we see you across the square
Kathy