Jan, hope and pray that all goes well with your FIL.
Advanced techniques are just doing different things. The lesson this month was using specialty needles and fabrics. I sewed with a twin, a sharp, a wing and a leather needle on some cotton sateen, satin, silk and leather scraps. I was surprised at how many people have never tried these things. We had 9 people show in spite of having freezing rain and a harsh wind. Our chapter's theme this year (2008) is "Beyond the Basics".
Marty

Brighten each corner where you are ... smile!