Isn't Thimblelady Way the painfree hand quilting technique?! No. Thimblelady Way here is Thimblelady's Way (principle) of sharing.
Thimblelady is not just a technique or methods of teaching. Over the current difficult time, I have been given many kind sights of how teaching is conducted in the West from "leaving an ingredient out" to give minimum information for maximum financial gain.
It turned out that I have taught all these years "the Asian Way" in "a Western environment". In Asia, teaching is not commercial. Teachers are obliged to enlighten and the universal appreciation of none-competition against teachers last long after a relation of teacher/sutdent ended. In the open Western market place, it seems sharing unreservedly is very much of a silly even a suicidal act as "learning" is a product and students are customers. Teach all is selling your job short. It is up to individual teacher/seller to protect his or her own rice bowl! Students are accusomed to bargain for knowledge as a customer while teachers are expected to maximize financial value out of minimum give away in a free market. Of course, giving bonus to customers is a good PR job...
I am not a "trained" teacher by profession. I have taught from the bottom of my heart! I feel guilty to withhold information. I take pride for knowing better... Born with an inventive mind, with a gift for handy work, I have enjoyed sharing what I discovered, particularly the non-traditional way! Friends who know me better say I think differently. Friends watching me "eyeballing" everything without patterns and templates agree. Some suggest Thimblelady should teach eyeballing as a method.
This is my situation where East and West meets. Change to teach the Western Way? You have to change me all together - you wouldn't want it would you?!
So, we have to invent our Way out. Thimblelady's Way can only work with Friends! Friends is an alliance of the willing for true sharing! I can't think up a better way.
What at heart of Thimblelady Friends is:
1. Keep sharing true by protecting teaching from Communist rip-off in the name of "sharing";
2. Value knowledge and protect innovation through fair trading;
3. Minimize the cost of sharing by improve efficiency and working together instead of competing against each other.
Think inventively! Make Friends work better to benefit all Friends in our Thimblelady Way if you, too, believe that there must be a better WAY!