EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2025

 It is hard to describe the Empty Spools Seminar experience to those who have never been there. For 40 years quilters have gathered at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove CA to attend one of 5 seminars. Each session lasts 5 and a half days, and each student is with the same teacher for all of those days.

First, I will just show photos of this magical place. This is my second year teaching there and it is such an incredible experience--for both students and teachers:

My bedroom with the class quilt: Two For One

The view of "my tree"

Deer are just some of the wildlife we see here every day

Power breakfast to keep me going all day

The ocean soothes my soul--I arrived a day early so got to enjoy walking the beach trails in the daylight

The landscape is wild and craggy, unlike beaches I am more familiar with

Many of the buildings are historic--the place was begun in 1913 as a YWCA camp. These steps lead to Merrill Hall and show some of the amazing stone work around the campus

"My Tree" from the outside

The Pacific Ocean ahead

A CA State beach, the property is well-maintained. I enjoyed the educational signs

My daily walk starts at 5:30 am, it's dark. I use a flashlight and feel like I have the place to myself

 Sunrise on the way

I love the ocean, sand, waves, everything about the beach

As if the PLACE isn't wonderful enough, the chance to spend almost a week with truly great students and other well-known teachers makes this truly a very special experience:

Merrill Hall. The Cotton Patch sets up a small store for the week. Evening events are held here. And my classroom was in this main room--a wonderful place to teach

My students were the best! They worked hard and learned a lot. Two of them were in my Full Circle class last year and one took a class with me in Houston last Fall. Another one follows my blog regularly. All four of them are ready to register for my class next year, when Registration opens April 26, 2025 at 10 am PST. 

Work from all my students on the wall--it could be a full quilt!

The last afternoon is "Walk Around" when all other classes are invited to tour each of the other 9 classrooms to see what's been happening. My students filled their design boards to show their work.

Happy students, wonderful blocks, amazing weather! And the Pacific Ocean in the background is included in the price of the Seminar--no extra charge!

Many students come to Empty Spools Seminars every year, they wouldn't miss it. Lifelong friendships are formed. And the opportunity to study with one teacher over an extended time is very beneficial. I was very happy to see several students from my class last year, Full Circle, around the campus. A couple of them hope to take my class next year. 

Teachers at Empty Spools also love the experience. On the one evening there is no program the teachers traditionally go out to dinner at Fish Wife, a local seafood house we can walk to:

Jennifer Sampou, Maria Shell, me, Andrea Brokenshire, Phyllis Lewis, Sandra Mollon, Linda Neal, Judy Coates Perez and Judy's husband, Phil. Missing was Sue Heinz and David Owen Hastings. It was Andrea's birthday, another good reason to celebrate.

This year I had the most amazing thing happen on Day 1:

Linda Herrera and me

The flowers and the card 

As I was preparing my classroom, this lovely woman walked up to me and said "You don't know me but I feel like I really know you." She told me how much she enjoys the Block of the Month quilts from The Quilt Show with Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims. She has completed several of them, won awards for them, and even got her quilt juried in to International Quilt Festival in Houston last year. She presented me with beautiful flowers and a special card. Her kind words in the card expressed her appreciation for my help with my blogs and LIVE videos throughout the years. She was not a student this session, she drove 30 miles to meet me when she heard me say on the previous LIVE that I would be there.  I was gob-smacked! It is this INTANGIBLE thing that keeps me going as a quilter and teacher. The chance to share what I have learned with those who want to know it too. This one thing made my entire year! Thank you, Linda!

Another great thing that happens is when last year's students "Show and Share" their completed work:

Mollie Gilliam's FULL CIRCLE

Anne Flanigan's FULL CIRCLE

I was thrilled to see their amazing work. This is a very challenging project that takes a lot of time. Wonderful job, you two!

OH MY STARS--my 2026 class. Five days will make you very confident in precision piecing, Y-seams or how to avoid those if you want to and give you a chance to learn everything I know--or close. 

    

The quilt from the pattern

My version 97" square

Oh My SMALL Stars, a sample that is easy to carry when I travel 

Find all the information you need about the 2026 Empty Spools Seminars here: EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINARS 2026. I am in Session 5--late April to early May--the weather will be perfect!

Many of the classes fill very quickly so I encourage you to be ready to register as soon as you can. This is an experience unlike any other for  those who want to learn, share their passion for our artform, and add lifelong skills to their toolbox. I hope to see you there. 

Let's quilt.

Barbara