Festival Faculty Fun

Since 1999 I have had the fun job of Faculty Check-in at International Quilt Festival in Houston.  Starting at 1:00 today, more than 130 quilt teachers from around the world will begin to arrive to present classes to more than 5000 students, also from around the world.

While being a traveling quilt teacher may sound like a glamorous gig, it's hard work, travel is not as fun as it once was, and they are away from home for longer than you might want to be.  They ship boxes of supplies weeks in advance and worry they will arrive on time. The boxes arrive but still there is the worry until I am able to point them out in the office, sorted alphabetically.

We try our best to take good care of our faculty because happy teachers make for happy students.  And, after all, it's the students we do this for.  As a quilt teacher myself, I know the joy of seeing the light bulb come on for a student who has mastered a new skill or improved on basic skills or found a completely new way of being a quiltmaker.  A great teacher makes it look easy, and we have great teachers.

Some of them have become personal friends, some are Facebook Friends, and some are friends I haven't met yet.  Each will be greeted by name, and met with a warm smile, a packet of paperwork, and a goodie bag with gifts they are sure to love.  AND the by now infamous RED totebag I will be thrilled to put in each of  their hands.

For the next 4 days I will rarely leave my desk, but come on, dear Faculty, I'm ready for you!

I love my job!

Barbara