Introducing: Cathy!

Hi y'all!  I'm sorry I'm so late in posting my introduction!  I went on vacation at the end of July (a fabulous shop hop road trip) and still haven't caught up on my blogging.  I blog over at A Quilting Chick. 

Let's see....I'm a single mom of three fantastic kids, the boys being 24 and 22 and my lovely daughter will be 18 in TWO DAYS!  It just doesn't seem possible!  I'm from San Antonio, Texas.  I learned to sew in middle school when my mom forced me to take home ec.  My mom does not sew but she loves to buy fabric so it works for me.  She buys, I sew!  I'm a self-taught quilter and have been at it for about 15 years now.

What else?  I lean more toward traditional quilting with a modern twist.  I love scrap quilts but they need to be color-coordinated.  I help test mystery quilts for Persimmon Quilts who hosts them to benefit the Quilts of Valor Program.  You can see a bit more about my quilts and style on my post for the Around the World Blog Hop here.

Oh!  I'll be pulling a lot of my fabrics for these blocks from my stash of Chance of Flowers.  Here's a snapshot of the line:

I guess that's it!  If you want to know more, please feel free to ask.  Thanks for having me and I can't wait to jump in!

Introduction from Marilyn

I have been a quilter since 1986 but this is the first time I am doing a project like this. I plan on doing at least 2 per month. I certainly don't want to turn this into another UFO project.

Marilyn

Hello from Sandi

I am 65 years old...young...not old

Retired Practical Nurse who now cares for my 85 year old mother-in-law who has dementia.  Sooo I guess I am not really retired!

New quilter and I am happy that you have included me.

Off to Blogger and see what I have been missing!

Sandi​

Hello from Paula

Ok. My name is Paula Cox. I live in Orange Park Florida which is just South of Jacksonville or a few hours North of Disney. I have been quilting for about 14 years. I have a daughter and 5 year old grandson in Louisianna. A son and 1 year old granddaughter in Panama City. And last but not least, a 16 year old grandson that lives with me. I love to sew and meet new sewing friends.

Phyllis

Hi everyone,

Wow, how does she do it?  So many sewers from all over the world.  I am honored and thrilled to be a part of  so many talented friends and strangers who are about to become my friends.  

Besides sewing (quilting being tops) I love reading-to learn, 4-wheeling, horse riding, camping, gardening, cleaning (yes, that is cleaning) genealogy, walking, hiking and biking, music (real music that uplifts and is not too loud-not the rappy, hard rock that some call music) which includes singing, playing the piano and organ. Especially I am fond of being with and visiting with my husband and children and grandchildren.  They are such a blessing! We have 6 sons and as of date 18 grandchildren.  

I live just about four miles from Deanna.  I have lived in Utah all of my life and love it.  I have also traveled some and think the world in general speaks for our Creator's brilliance and love for us.  I am grateful for all of the opportunities, talents, health, home, freedoms and family that He has given to me personally.  But mostly I have grateful for a loving, patient Savior who has atoned for each and every one of us.  My most precious blessing and gift is my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  

This is my first time doing a swap quilt so I am a little nervous.  But I can't wait to get started! Hope I don't disappoint anyone.  

Love you all, 

Phyllis

Introduction from Carol

I am an interior designer owning my own business for 30 years. 4 years ago I took a beginning quilt class and the rest is history.  I seek daily inspiration from a variety of quilting blogs.  As I move to retirement, I want to expand my quilting horizons.  My experience as a designer, putting a variety of prints and fabrics and colors together has really aided my quilt fabric selections.  

I love scrappy quilts and am a fan of Bonnie Hunter. I am sew looking forward to creating a sewing quilt.  Probably lap size.  I made Lori Holts row quilt a few yrs back and loved it.  Looking forward to the process.

I was an avid seamstress through my teens and young adulthood.  When I purchased my business, my sewing ceased but my knowledge aided me in designing beautiful things for my clients.  

Carol stearns

Introduction from Cheryl

Hi I'm Cheryl from Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting.  I'm a misplaced Texan, living in Illinois.  I am married (27 years later this month) and have 2 sons, one living in Alaska.  I've been quilting since 2001, and started teaching beginning quilting at my church this year.  I also collect, and USE vintage sewing machines.  I have 5 treadles, and WAY too many other machines.  I'm not allowed to count how many, or else hubby says I can't collect any more machines.

I have participated in many block exchanges, but, I've never done a mystery quilt before.  I need to SEE what I'm making, not just follow directions.  This mystery lets me SEE what we are making.

I sew lots of charity quilts and tops.  Mainly for Quilts of Valor.  I'm just learning machine quilting (straight line, not free motion) and have hand quilted most of my quilts in the past (love it, but, it takes way too long to get anything finished). 

Introduction from Cindy

My introduction,

Hi, My name is Cindy, and I've been quilting for 3 years. During that time, I've gone from working 2 jobs, to being unable to work at all due to health issues. To keep myself busy, and my mind off my disability, I've thrown myself into quilting full time plus. I've gone from a beginner quilter who needed to learn how to sew a straight line, to an advanced quilter(according to my beginning quilt instructor, and others who have seen my progression), to an advanced quilter. I love to do any kind of piecing, from traditional blocks to modern, applique to paper pieced, basically anything that crosses my path I will try. I have even undertaken quilting my finished tops on my home machine. I am making samples for a local quilting shop, and I have also started testing patterns for bloggers. 

I really sound like I'm bragging, and I'm sorry. Unfortunately, a lot of my self-esteem is tied up in quilting right now, and my doctors are saying I probably won't be able to hold a regular job down any more. My biggest compliment came from my 25 and 26 year old sons this weekend. We are moving my quilting room upstairs, and I was trying to figure out how to get everything into the one bedroom. My son's want me to put my sewing table and machine in the living room. Why? Why would they want all that mess in the living room? They complained because I was sewing at the kitchen table this summer, so why the living room? The answer, they like me being in the same room when they come over so we can spend time together, and they are both really proud about how hard I have been working to overcome the curve ball I've been thrown in life, and are proud at how well I quilt now. My sons are proud of me! I  would never have thought to see the day.

Hello from Edith

Hi, my name is Edi (Edith). I have been a blogger for just a little over a year. Honestly, I can't remember how I got started but I did get lots of encouragement from a good friend Down Under, that I met while reading different blogs that I found on Pinterest. 

I'm a stay-at-home mom and homemaker. I share my home with my husband of almost 15 years, my 13 year old son (we adopted when he was 5 after 2 years of foster care), 4 dogs, 4 birds, a bala shark and 2 hermit crabs. Over my working career, I have been data entry, retail management, shipping and receiving and a legal secretary. I worked from home for five years while adjusting to being a stay-at-home parent. I volunteered as a tutor while my son was in elementary school. I volunteer as a Sunday School teacher and craft department for Vacation Bible School at my church.

I learned to sew in junior high. My mom taught me embroidery. My best friend of 40+ years is one of my strongest supporters in the quilt world. Along with sewing, quilting and embroidery, I crochet, cook, garden and am an avid reader. My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, Fern Michaels and Nicholas Sparks. 

I'm looking forward to this my first swap. Sharing, making new friends and learning lots.  Thank you.

JO from ButterZ

I started my blog just over a year ago. The name ButterZ was chosen as a reminder of my son. ButterZ was his nick name. The quilting community has helped me so much to get through every day.
I enjoy patchwork and quilting. I find myself doing some everyday.
I seem to make a heap of things to give away but like to try different things. So I am really looking forward to this swap. I am not sure if I will do a row by row or just a few blocks. It just depends on how much time I work on them..
Thanks for letting me join in and hope to read a lot more about everyone's journey.
Come on 1st September.

Daryl

Hello I am Daryl and I blog at Patchouli Moon Studio. I have been blogging since 2008 and quilting since the 1970's when I did it all by hand. I am married to my best friend and we just celebrated our 34th anniversary about a week and a half ago. I have a daughter and a son and one grandson. I live in New Mexico where right now it's chile roasting season and the yummy scent of chile roasting is in the air wherever you go. October will bring 100's of hot air balloons flying in the skies of Albuquerque with the annual International Balloon Fiesta. The posting today on my blog shows 4 small hot air balloon quilts that I just made. (I also blog at another blog where I post the show and tell from other women from the groups I belong to: Daryl's Fiber Arts Blog).
Looking forward to making the blocks and enjoying the swap part too.

Close-up of balloons made with watercolors and quilted.

Moira

Hi everyone!

My name is Moira and I'm currently living here in NE Indiana in Fort Wayne.    I'm in my third, or is it fourth incarnation and am now working as a high school engineering teacher at a small rural school just north of Fort Wayne..   I have 8th-12th grades and enjoy all of them....well most of the time at any rate.....lol.    I finished a Master's degree in Tech Ed at Purdue University through a career change program.   And this year is the last year  that I have to work in a rural school for the program I went through.   Have now been back to school for 4 wks, and time has gotten more limited for sewing again.

I'm single and live alone so I can quilt whenever I want.....well I should when I'm not at school teaching or at the part-time job.

I've been quilting for over 40 yrs now and 95% of the time I make my own designs.   I am also a active quilt designer and have been blessed to have several blocks published in the QuiltMakers 100 Blocks magazines over the last several years, and one full quilt pattern as a result of that.   I currently have one pattern designed that I need to get a sample made up so that I know it works before submitting for publication consideration.

I'm also in the midst of hosting a block of the month this year on my blog - http://quiltedsna/il.blogspot.com/. I post msgs with links to the blocks on the blog.    Am also currently working to put a Block Robin together that has been sitting as a UFO for 3+ yrs now.

For this one, I'm the one that will not be working it as a row quilt.   I know I won't have enough time to do the full thing so I'll be swapping a block or two and then plan on putting everything together in a way similar to what I'm doing with my current project (can be seen on my blog).  =)   And in case you ever wondered, I don't tend to march to the same drummer as most people.   lol....

Susan and I have known each other for a lot of year now, and been in a lot of swaps together.   We tend to get each other to follow us down lots of different 'rabbit trails' as we find different project.  =)   I did participate in the last mystery that Deana  ran here, and still have the two quilt tops that resulted from it - both unquilted as of now.

Vickie

I have been quilting for 14 years but have tied quilts for many many more than that and have sewn since I was about 8 years old.  I have really enjoyed the piecing process and love doing long arm quilting.  I will be buying my first longarm in a few months but I've used them for about 5 years to quilt my own and friends quilts.  I love the way the sewing room has a calming, everything is right with the world effect on me.  We moved into our new home about 1 1/2 years ago and (lucky me) it has a mother in law suite out back which is now my sewing cottage.  I blog over at www.acreativenotion.blogspot.com but have been a slacker all summer long.  I'm married to my best friend and have 5 grown kids, 3 have 3 children each.  So I have 9 beautiful grand kids, only 2 are boys.   I currently have 3 grands living with me ages 8,7 and 3.  They keep me busy and unfortunately out of the sewing room for now. 

I am a registered nurse and do home care and hospice which I love doing.  I'm hoping to be able to retire soon and start my own business.

 I am excited to start this fun swap and have done many swaps in the past, the flower and sewing theme are right up my alley.  I live close enough to the store in Ephriam Utah to just run over there tomorrow and get some fabric.  Can't wait to get to know you all.  Vickie

Janice

I have been quilting since 2009 when I jumped in with both feet.  I usually start a quilt with a general design concept but let it develop and evolve as I go.  Most of my quilts usually snuggle on beds in cottages around mountains and lakes in Cananda.  I find they are the perfect thank you gift.  

I love scrap quilts, and embrace paper piecing.  My appreciation has yet to include Civil War or muddy colours - I purchase Kona white by the bolt.  While I love calm and cool, I also love vibrant reds, oranges and yellows.  My last quilt was #Hashtags which I love for its cool blues and pale greens, and lots of white.  It can be seen on my Flickr site - Tell Tale Threads.  

International swaps and QALs have broadened my horizons and pushed my bounderies, so I am looking forward to the Mystery Row Swap.

Hello from Marianne

I am a 40yr old expat Australian living in Denver Colorado. Sewing has been a hobby of mine on and off since high school textiles and design classes however I’ve only been quilting 2 years. My delightful dogs Ebony and Henry are my constant companions in the sewing room. I have a wonderful husband who indulges my many obsessions and three sons that have all left home. I am a substitute teacher and the work is sporadic, so I have a LOT of time to sew, I like quick projects and am currently enjoying bright colored fabrics the most.

Marianne

Betty

Quilting is my hobby.  I enjoy it very much.  I make quilts for family members and for friends.  I belong to a local quilt group of friends and we make quilts for local charities.  Most of the time we make baby quilts and lap quilts.  I really am a scrap lover and don't like to waste any fabric.
I am looking forward to participating in this Row quilt.  I like the theme and the name she has chosen for the quilt.   We are to chose fabrics similar to the ones that have been shown.  They don't have to be the exact same fabrics.  Am I understanding correctly?

By the way.  I live in Oregon.

Ann

Hi everyone,
My name is Ann, and I have been quilting my whole life, with spurts of more activity at specific times. I am a first cousin to Deana's mother (Lyn) and sister to Marie. We have been quilting as a family for a number of years. We are "The Daughters of Dorinda" or more accurately granddaughters several generations removed.
I am a retired nurse and now my vocation is Grandma. I tend 2 - 5 grandchildren while their Mom's work. With school back in session, I have only 2 preschoolers during the day. I have 13 grandchildren and I have made each of them a baby quilt when they were born, and have a goal of making them each a quilt for High School Graduation. Currently that has happened as there are only 2 who have graduated. Currently I have the tops done for the next 4, (who are teenagers). My Current project is a baby quilt for my first great grandchild. I don't have any blocks put together yet, but am doing a pinwheel quilt in blues (for a boy, of course).
I am excited to be doing a group project again. I love row quilts and look forward to joining all of you in this adventure.

Felicity

I am so excited to be apart of this quilt experience. I am a very blessed mother of three gorgous boys. Brody, Payson, and Trey are my life. My husband Kit is my knight in shining armor. Quilting was introduced to me by my Mother-in-law Lyn and my Sister-in-law Deana, and well lets just say its one of my passions and is also very addicting.
Lets get sewing! Horrah for Quilting!

Hello from Deana

Hi everyone!  I want to start by thanking all of you for joining in on this adventure.  It is gutsy to agree to make a quilt when you don't even know what it will look like.  Honestly, I don't exactly know either because I am designing one month at a time.

The quilting me:
I have been quilting for 20+ years, designing for about 15, and blogging for about 10.  I love to design and create.  I like to try any and all techniques because I love to learn. I love quilters because they are the kindest people EVER!  My dream job would be to get back into teaching quilting techniques.  Perhaps some day.  I love all fabric colors and generally favor autumn colors, but lately I am into brighter things.  I love quilts with LOTS of different fabrics in them and color coordinated scrappy ones.

The teacher me:
I am a secondary teacher who has been helping adults earn their GED or high school diploma for over 10 years.  I began my real love, teaching at the junior high, just two years ago.  I just LOVE teens.  I teach computer technology which is a class that teens like, so it makes my job easier.

The real me:
I am married to my sweetheart of 23 years and have 3 wonderful children.  My eldest daughter is serving a church mission in Russia, my second daughter is at college, and my son is a junior in high school.  Oh yeah, and I am pretty short - 5 ft tall.

Susan: Desertsky Quilting

Here's my introduction post. I'm not shy! I did participate in the 2011 Mystery and loved it, though I wasn't able to finish everything. I have a wall hanging I like very much, though - or I have the top and need to quilt it! For the most part, I'm a scrappy quilter, so I suspect that blocks I make for me will be made from my scrap bins - yes, that's bins, plural! I will bite the bullet and buy actual fabric in the colors required for swap blocks, though!
Here's an example of my scrappy nature:

If you want to know personal stuff, I'm a retired elementary teacher, a widow, and mother of two grown sons who are still brats. I'm not a grandmother, but there are a lot of children in my life because many of my friends are half my age. I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and gospel activities, quilting and reading take up most of my time, with sleeping and eating running toward the front, as well.
If you want to know quilt stuff, I'm a scrap quilter. I rarely buy fabric just for a specific project. Most of my quilt tops go to American Hero Quilts. I don't make clothes or pillows and rarely anything for the table, just quilts of varying sizes. I'm a traditionalist, though I like some modern things, as you can see from my string quilt, which was a pattern idea from Wedding Dress Blue. Here's another of my quilts, made for a friend.

I'm really looking forward to this new swap/challenge/mystery! Deanna is so creative and I love her work. I'm looking forward to getting to know each of you, though I already know a couple of you from the past, and Moira from long-time friendship.
One last quilt, from one of Moira's BOM designs, this one in my favorite colors: