karma à la clematis {and an announcement!}

It's funny how life falls into place sometimes.  (Or, how my over-analytical mind sorts separate life happenings into single story lines.)  Either way, after reading the following events, I hope the inspiration for this four-ring DWR—pieced from clematis-colored Oakshotts and coordinating leftover liberty arcs—will be clear.

About a month ago, on December 5—four days after posting my equality-inspired DWR on December 1—I received an email from a past guild president in California; she was wondering whether I spoke or taught at guilds.  I was honest, letting her know that I'd only been "seriously" quilting and blogging about a year, that I was still finding my footing in our lovely community, and that it was something I'd love to do.  I was cautiously optimistic, but didn't expect to hear much—if anything—for a while.

The semiannual SMS giveaway week quickly followed four days after that note (it rolled out on December 9).  As many of you know, I offered some oceanic Oakshotts (and Aurifil) as part of the fun.  Four days later, Mr. Oakshott generously shared some holiday cheer via a few fabrics he knew I had my eye on (I'd inquired about shipping rates for the Clematis color wrap, which I'd regrettably excluded from an earlier order).

The title of his December 13 email announcing the incoming parcel?  "Karma."

So imagine my surprise when—you guessed it, four days after "Karma" hit my inbox—an email with the subject line, "READY TO COME TO CALIFORNIA?" showed up on December 17.

In reply, I wanted to say "Where do I sign?!" but, being the over-analytical attorney that I am (it's true!), I decided to get some details first.  Two paths, same result :o)

And so I give you karma à la clematis,

the class sample I just shipped off to the Beach Cities Quilters Guild, where I'll be speaking on February 13 and teaching a two-day workshop for my double (diamond) wedding ring design on February 14 and 15.

Thank you, Michael and Jean, for setting the wheels in motion for a host of independent interactions, separated by four-day increments yet inextricably interlinked, both in my mind, and (now) in this design.

One ring pays homage to the liberty+oakshott creation that arguably triggered it all.

I know California's massive (or so Anne tells me), and that many of you think I'm nuts anyway, but I'd love to see/meet/work with you if you're local to southern Orange County* :) I'm stepping in last-minute for a very talented quilter who had to reschedule for personal reasons, so sign-ups haven't even started (I'm under the impression they open on Thursday, January 9 at the guild's regular meeting, but see their newsletter for more details).

*I only wish I were local:  Sarah Fielke, Cheryl Arkison, Kathy Doughty, and Jacquie Gering are all on this guild's upcoming speaker list(!)  One day, Indiana.  One day :)  In the meantime, we'll just enjoy our snow days...

Cheers to an adventuresome 2014.  Perhaps I'll be seeing you soon!

Sarah

linking up to crazy mom quilts