I thought that I would share with you the wonderful day I had recently when I got to meet Karen McTavish and view her trunk show! She is such a fun person, like someone I would have hung out with in high school! Her story is awesome and quite unique, at least in how she was introduced to long arm quilting...which in a nutshell was that her mom bought her a long arm, and wanted her to move closer to home to raise her family. Her mom told her she could make a living doing LA quilting, and Karen did, but only after a long learning curve and her own inventivness! And now...the rest is history. So here are some pictures. I asked her if I could post them, and she gave me permission.

That is so cool! You're right, her work is awesome. And OMG, I can't believe anyone would want that border taken off!! Too darned right she should keep it!!! (Shaking my head in disbelief!)

Thanks for sharing!

wow beautiful....why in the world would anyone want the border taken off that quilt...its beautiful

Yea, it was some relative...that thought it was too much, or something crazy like that. She dyed that fabric and it was just beautiful. There are some things you just cant begin to explain....but she was right to keep it, in my opinion!

Wowzer! Exquisite work! Thanks for sharing. Didn't know about this quilt artist.

I agree whole heartedly. no wonder she kept it.

They are lovely, great work!

Oh, you must have went when she was in Grand Island. What fun!

I can't imagine either!

Thank you for sharing. The quilts are beautiful!!!!

I think she is wonderful, and so much fun! She is so nice to meet, just love her work!

I would LOVE to do a workshop with her!!!! She is awesome!

WOW I would have loved to be there with you that day... would love to meet her and hear her story. Thank you for sharing.

Karen is such a special person. She is a great teacher and such a nice lady. Good for you for getting to see her trunk show

great pics-she is a hoot and very talented

thank you so much for showing us the pictures and your experience meeting her. type in McTavishing and a free site that tells a little about her comes up and shows some of her technique. I have been looking at it for sometime. It looks so interesting and fun and lucky you got to meet her! I cannot imagine sending that quilt back. It is just beautiful and the work that went into making it. wow.

If that person was to EVER get anything again - and that is doubtful - it would be a simple single cloth with a purchased/computer pantograph that was used for practice. THE NERVE!!!!!!!

Glad she kept it. JUST goes to show us all that no matter how amazing our work is there are people who will NEVER appreciate it.

I think that would have been a wonderful time. I must watch and see when she is available around here.

My friend "the batty lady" learned from Karen and teaches her trapunto method. It's amazing.

What beautiful work! Even the pros have unappreciative friends/family.

Absolutely agree!

Ditto. Those ungrateful wretches!

I totally agree!!!!

I have watched youtube vidieos of her I think she is a wonderful person and I would love to have her tattoo!

Funny... I just watched her on Utube last week. She is incerdible. Her work is lovely. Thanks so much for sharing your time with her! :thumbup: :-D

Wow, how beautiful!

She is an amazing person AND from Iowa...we Iowans are very proud of her. She has give classes at quilt shows aroung Iowa. I love her technique. Have a tendency to do it ....

Old swimmer, thank you so much for this topic. I had been struggling on whether or not I should take a workshop with her at the MQX show in Rhode Island next month. She has definitely been one of my "fantasy" instructors. I have never taken a class with anyone that is truly famous. Your post was the final "pro" I needed in my list of pros and cons and I just registered to take her class that will certify me to be an instructor in McTavishing. Woo Hoo, I am so excited.

She does such fantastic work! Glad you got to see her!

Lovely!!

Beautiful work. What an artist she is.

OMG, that must have been a treat to listen to her.

Yes, me too!! Hard to believe but I guess nothing shocks me anymore!

Wow how lucky you were to do that workshop.. Thanks for sharing your pictures.

They are all so very beautiful.

Beautiful work!!!

thats awesome that you got to meet her. She is amazing, wish she would come hang out at my house for just one day :) and ...I agree with everyone else on the quilt with the gorgeous border. It was meant to be the way she made it.

I did go when she was in GI...I missed my chance earlier when she was in Kearney, so I made sure I went to this one. She did classes also, but I have never done any long arm quilting, so it was probabally not for me...yet.... maybe some day!

Wow! I am excited for you! She is just funny and genuine and has a crazy-fun personality....although I saw her be very focused and serious about her work when she was doing some demos. I dont think you will be disappointed or feel out of place at all! Have fun and tell us all about it when you are done...and have someone take your picture!

I have taken a class from her and won her class sampler. I was tatally siked..

What wonderful work. I don't blame her I would have kept the quilt. It had a beautiful boarder. What a great day you had.