So I had a great night last night.  If you remember in my previous post I was looking forward to a night out with my friend Patty, she is a huge fan of Ricky Tims, and although I wasn’t able to make it to his Super Seminar she encouraged me to go to his concert.

Here’s how the evening started:

Karl asked me who Ricky Tims was, and I replied “A quilter.”

Karl said, “But he has a concert?”
I said, “Yes he sings apparently, and plays the piano, I’m not really sure.”
Karl, “So he’s the Elton John of the quilting world?”

And that is how we began the evening.  So in short Ricky didn’t sing, but he does play the piano beautifully.  The thing I really enjoyed were his stories.  Ricky is from the south, and boy can he spin a tale.  Entertaining and humorous, with a huge personality and southern charm, the night flew by.

www.rickytims.com

One of Ricky’s focuses, is telling his story.  Where he came from, how he got to where he is, and why there are details in your life that sometimes seems so small, that can make all of the difference.  How tragedy in one generation’s life, can be the moment that makes all the difference in the next generation’s life, which he referred to as connecting the dots.

It was interesting to hear, how the kindness from a woman in a shop picking out fabric, could lead him to be a nationally known quilter.  You never know when that one moment you chose to smile, say hello, compliment someone on their work, etc.  Could take that person down a new and wonderful path, because you encouraged them, or validated them in some way.

The owner of my LQS  Jill was there, she generously gifted me the tickets (THANK YOU!).  She pulled Karl and I aside at the end and we had a wonderful chat with her, Henry (her husband) and Ricky.  Trading stories about our own personal lives, struggles that brought a family closer together, a time when a family member came around and overcame a prejudice, etc.

It was a great way to end the evening.  And gives me another quilt person who inspires you to think outside of the box.

Ricky Tims – Dad’s Lonestar

P.S.  I was really enamored by this quilt.  So I believe it’s going on my “to do” list.  And like Ricky said, these quilts aren’t hard, I didn’t say their were QUICK.  But they aren’t hard.

Which is a good thing considering I look at this and and REALLY intimidates me….but you only live once, so might as well give it a whirl!

He also has 10 person retreats in Colorado….(Patty I think we should start saving now and go in 2016??)  You can find out more about Ricky, his flavor of quilting, and all of his really beautiful hand dyed fabric at http://www.rickytims.com/