Last night was one of the most stressful and anxious nights of my life, and after having had 3.5 hours of sleep, I now must go to a preschool parents’ observation day for my son followed by 2.5 hours of English teaching. But waiting until midnight and spending an hour registering, plus 30 minutes with my daughter getting up, plus over 30 minutes trying to get to sleep… it was all so worth it! Because I’m going to QuiltCon 2015!!! QuiltCon registering was so nerve-wracking, but I survived.
I now need to book flights to make it fully, officially happening, but that’s just awaiting my husband’s return to Japan, because I do not book flights well (ie. I once booked 3 tickets to Melbourne TWICE, instead of 3 return tickets…). But until then, let me share three really important things I learned from the QuiltCon registration last night!
1. Your Internet speed really does matter!
I have never been more grateful for Japan’s high-speed internet than I was last night. It was gut-wrenching watching my friends in Australia having to wait half an hour plus for any single page to load! Yes, it was slow for me too – those servers were working their asses off trying to deal with hundreds of people around the world trying to do the same thing at the same time. But should I be going to QuiltCon 2017 (assuming there is one!), I will definitely be finding the fastest internet I know, even if it means crashing at someone else’s place for the night!
2. The registration tutorials saved my butt.
The Modern Quilt Guild uploaded two videos – one showing how to register, and the other how to modify your registration. The biggest tip I learned was to grab your most important workshop first and head straight to check out to try and get it. Thankfully, my top 2 workshops were in the same section, so I could grab them and go directly to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect $200 pay to confirm my places. I then knew I needed to “modify” my registration, thank you tutorial video, as opposed to starting all over again, to try for my third workshop. And then head back in for the Moda Party, lectures, General Meeting, etc. Again, if I’m going to the as-yet-still-hypothetical QuiltCon 2017, I will most certainly be employing the same tactics.
3. Friends keep me sane.
I’m an (honorary) member of the Aussie QuiltCon Contingent group on Facebook, and last night, boy were they fabulous. We were all freaking out together, whinging together, celebrating together… and this morning, all feeling rather hungover from the adrenaline and lack of sleep. Not to mention celebrating on Instagram as we all compared classes and virtually squealling upon discovering who our classmates are.
Plus I’m actually rather introverted in “real life”, and so the idea of flying thousands of kilometres by myself to a conference with hundreds, if not thousands, of people is rather freaky! Even if I do know a huge bunch of you online, it’s still really daunting! But now I know some people who are not only going, but will be there in the classes with me. Or who want to meet me (and I them!). And my husband has also suggested a couple of ways to make sure I get out there and talk to scary strangers people. But still, if you’re going, and you see me standing on the edges pretending to look like I’m doing something, come poke me out of it and drag me into the fun!
And as for my schedule? Well I’m doing 420B Intro To Embroidery with Allison Glass, 410B Embroidery Finished Applique with Casey York, and 716 Playing With Sheer Fabrics – Silhouette Pillow with Yoshiko Jinzenji. Plus 12 lectures, the Moda Party, a couple of yoga for quilters sessions (although being at 7:45, I don’t know how many I’ll actually make!), the Gees Bend Keynote Address and the General Meeting.
SarahZ says
My pulse went up just reading about all that!!! Congrats on GOING! It makes my head swim to even think about a big, wonderful-people-packed event like that! Have so much fun! 🙂
Melissa says
Registration for something shouldn’t be so complicated that it requires tutorials.
ChristaQuilts says
Yay! I’m taking a bunch of lectures so hopefully we will bump into each other somewhere along the way!
Serena @ Sewgiving says
The kids should be old enough for me to slip away in 2017, right? … Can’t wait to hear about your adventures at Quiltcon 🙂
Michelle @ Squeek Crafts says
It sure was nerve wracking…one more thing..though I had fast internet speed at work where I registered…did you know Internet Explorer was not my friend…I downloaded firefox web browser and it worked and loaded and solved my issue with IE.
If I see you I will definitely give you a shout out 🙂
Jenelle says
I hope you have fun! After reading about everyone’s experiences with registration, I have to admit this whole process doesn’t seem like it was thought out very well. I’m actually pretty reluctant to even consider trying to attend one of these after hearing how disappointed so many folks were today. Anyways though, I am glad that you were able to get into the classes you wanted! The instructors sound amazing! 🙂
amy c says
See you at the Moda party!! I finally will get to meet you!!!
Susie says
Wow! It all seems so complicated. I don’t really know anything about Quiltcon. Sounds intriguing.
Alice says
Whouhou!! So exciting! Well done you. Just for you to feel better: my husband does that too with tickets. He booked tickets from London to France and we needed from France to London. We realised it once at the airport! We ended up taking the overnight boat! Argh!
Ros says
I’m with Melissa on this one – it shouldn’t be so hard that you need tutorials! But that aside, how exciting! Can’t wait to hear about all your adventures!
Alyce says
No no, it’s not hard, the videos are just to walk you through the process so you know what to expect and how to best use the system to help you to do it all as fast as possible!
Cat says
Great post, I so agree Alyce! My internet connection is dodgy and slow at the best of times – and while the connection didn’t drop out at all during the registration process (thank goodness!) – each time I clicked ‘next’, the page took 3-4-5 minutes to load. It took me nearly the full 20 minutes to get through for my first choice, and in that time – of course – my Gee’s Bend class booked out (it had over 20 places when I started!). The AMH class was already full – but who knows – with wait listing I could be in. For 2017 (yes, I’ve already decided I want to go!) I am definitely going to be somewhere with a high-speed internet to register.
And I watched the MQG You Tube tutorials three times – definitely worth it!
I’m flying from Brisbane by myself – first time by myself on an o/s flight! – so I can’t wait to be in Austin and meeting up with all the gorgeous friends from instagram, blogs and the Aussies in Austin FB page! It’s going to be an awesome experience. I’m going to a full day Penny Layman class – wahoo! – a bunch of fantastic lectures (including Heather Ross!), the Moda Party, Gee’s Bend Keynote and the MQG General Session. My volunteering hours have been drastically cut down, but I’m cramming as much into those four days as I can. We can all sleep on the plane-ride home! Sleep well tonight! Cat x
Taryn @ from Pixels to Patchwork says
Awesome tips! Registration was such an intense, heart-beating-out-of-the-chest experience! The process itself was fairly straight forward, but you are right; knowing in advance that schedules could be modified made a *massive* difference! I also had my browser’s autofill settings ready with my personal and payment information, which saved a little bit of time.
I hope I see you there!
Lisa Lisa says
I’ll be there! But we’re not in any of the same classes :/ Oh well, maybe I’ll see you at the Moda Party! Not sure how I’m going to deal with having to wait several months before this actually happens. My husband is going to get SO tired of hearing about QuiltCon, and then he’ll have to hear even more when I return!
Hilary says
Everyone seemed to have issues with registration. I know several people who are bummed they didn’t get the workshops they wanted. Thankfully I’m only doing lectures and didn’t have to worry too much!
Robin says
Alyce: I have been reading your blog for a few months and truly enjoy you work and your enthusiasm. I am so glad for you and look forward to hearing all about it. Having two daughters about your age all I can say is not to worry about being a little quiet in the beginning. Embrace every minute of your “Grand Adventure”. That’s what is’t all about, new experiences, new friends.
Mara says
I had no idea it was so difficult to get in? Amazing AND Have Fun!
Gretchen says
I randomly found this post googling Moda Party Quiltcon to figure out what happened at it last time. I’m in 420B too. I’m going to find you on instagram (I’m gretchens42). It would be fun to know someone else in the class.
I was on work internet, so it was fast-ish, but still took forever. I was expecting to be done in a few minutes and it took 45, though I went through 3 modifications. I’m also in Line it Up with Lisa Sipes Saturday morning, Emphasis with Carol Friedlander, and Little Changes, Big Variety with Angela Walters.
Karrie Smith says
Awesome that you got what you want! Maybe by 2017, I’ll be able to make it too! I’m quiet also, so if we both go you can show me what it’s all about!!
Michele says
I felt like the tutorials were a huge help for a first-timer like me. I was thrilled to get into two workshops that I am really looking forward to and some great volunteer opportunities. I’m a bit of an introvert myself so perhaps we can be adventurous together!
Mina says
Congrats on getting your workshops. I am super introverted too, so if your standing on the edge I’ll be there too 🙂
Esther says
Congratulations!!! Oh my how exiting!!!
I can not make it this time… Maybe in 2017???