OT- when you were lonely

What lonely days?

My first real quilt was made in high school, entirely by hand, for my high school sweetheart's Aunt's first baby. It was a LeMoyne star. I'll never forget the look of awe on everyone's faces- because no one in that family had ever seen a quilt done by hand, let alone attempt one.

I set quilting aside though, and I learned to knit, embroider, sew my clothes, sew dolls, sew doll clothes, research historical doll clothes and people clothes, make garb, embroider garb, explored mead, wine and beer making, made cheese, paint, calligraphy and illumination, and still, somewhere in there, I still turned out the occassional quilt.

While I don't produce as much as one a year, because I don't sew for myself much, the love of design, the desire to talk about it, the social aspects of quilting- these all keep at the newsgroup to discuss it. It's yet another facet of my life that I enjoy, and always have.

-georg

Well, I don't think I was bored or lonely before I became a quilter, but I learned to sew and did do a lot of handwork...

I started sewing when I was in 6th grade. My piano teacher told my parents there were wasting their money on lessons, so they sent me to Mrs. Ray to learn how to sew instead. I used an old singer that had belonged to my grandfather. (An aside, my mother did not sew.) Mrs. Ray taught me to make clothing, including a beautiful pea green wool skirt and a lovely paisley dress, both of which I loved and felt wonderful in.

I loved going to Mrs. Ray's house after school. Before we started working she would give me a snack, ice cream - I was very thin then :-) I also loved going to fabric stores with her. The sewing lessons came to a halt, when we moved to California, but I had learned a lot. Besides clothing, I made a few rag dolls, and sewed stuff for them.

After we moved to California, I didn't sew through out Jr. High and High School. I went away to college, but quit after two years. Still didn't sew much, other than making a few pillows, etc. At some point I started doing a lot of embroidery - my hippie days. I also started making jewelry, doing lost wax casting, learning from my then boyfriend.

Eventually, I became a street vendor, and earned enough money selling jewelry to survive. During this period, I was still doing a lot of embroidery. I asked my dad if he would buy me a sewing machine for one of my birthdays, and started sewing clothing again...and soon enough started quilting...

lisae

MakeDoMom wrote:

Back after my first go at university, when I was working 40+ hours a week and still not able to afford rent (a room in a house) and groceries... much less any education... I read voraciously. I read all the books we read for university, but more slowly and intently. This is when i read most of my Russian literature (I had got an A in the class, but we read selections from most of the books of short stories, not the entire book). I just read and read and loved having a quiet evening in. Sasha was a wee white kitten then, absolutely full of energy and mad as a hatter. She'd zoom around the room or hide in the closet, etc. When I would go to bed and read for a while, she'd sneak up and attack the book or my feet or some other nutty thing. Special bonding/attacking time for us. Fond memories. I would have loved to be able to do patchwork and quilting then, but I don't regret all those precious hours I spent reading. It was a relief to be off my feet for a while, and in a warm and dry building.

-- Jo in Scotland

In article , MakeDoMom writes

Get really good at certain computer games. Because that's a really productive way to spend your time ;-). Quilting is more fun anyway, and you get a quilt out of it. The only drawback is it costs more.

I used to love Tetris, and had to fight my ds for playing time. When I was visiting my friend, I discovered her daughter had it on her computer. I played several games, then had to decide that I wouldn't play it any more...after all, a good guest doesn't spend their time glued to the computer screen :-)

lisae

Mel Rimmer wrote:

Sewed, partied with friends, read, hung out with friends, played computer games, visited with friends, and sewed some more.........not much I really liked to do, I suppose....oh, sometimes, windows shopped as I wasn't very good at watching my spending

L

MakeDoMom wrote:

Thanks--maybe I will post a pic of for you later :) I think I saved a copy of it on my hard drive at home (I am at work now)

-- Kathy in CA Quilting Stuff:

I travelled, went to the theater, opera, ballet, concerts, etc., had fun with friends, went to and finished college and grad school, and worked full time. Good thing - can't afford to do that now, nor do I live in an area where the culture is more than what you find in yogurt!

I still wondered when the right guy would come along, but when I decided that if he didn't, I'd live, I met him. Figures, eh?

Ronnie

Alone does not necessarily equal lonely---or bored (which also has nothing to do with whether yer alone or not). I never met "Mr Right"---but I wasn't looking for him either. Did lotsa reading (still do), folk-singing (still do), calligraphy (not much any more), general goofing off (most excellent skill I've got---still use it daily )

-- Jean S

Was I ever not a quilter? Hmmmmmm... what did I do....I read...and did other crafts...and since I dont mind being alone, and dont equate it with loneliness it wasnt a problem! Only after my sis died did I feel lonely and then thank god .. there was RCTQ!!! thanks for delurking! Diana

When was the last time you looked at your toes? REally looked at them? Notice their shape... feel between them. Examine the space between the toe and the nail on all of them. check your cuticles. Look at the calluses on all of the surfaces. Take your time. Check your tickle reflexes on all of your foot area. Check for swelling and any other area for blemishes. Ponder the nature of feet and how you walk. Ponder your shoes and why you pick those shoes.

If you did it right, you just goofed off for a good 15 minutes.

-georg

I did a lot of counted cross stitch. Then I bought a sewing machine and learned how to make clothes, then quilts, and its snowballed.

Now,( because I don't have enough time or enough hobbies ;-) ) I'm learning to knit. More stash I guess.

Maureen

MakeDoMom wrote:

I was a single mom for a long time. I may have been alone (with a 3 and 5 year old, not for long!), but I was never lonely. I joined a bicycle club and rode 25 and 50 mile rides once or twice per month. I rode at least 5 or

10 miles per night once the kids got older. It was a great way to meet people, exercise, and spend time in the outdoors. The kids biked with me on many ocassions too. I hope to make a tee shirt quilt with all of tees from my biking events one of these days.

Golly! It's so long ago I can hardly remember. Must have had a life of some sort -I had a degree and 2 babies before I started. Sewing pretty constantly since age 6, but it started with non-quilt items. Roberta in D

I must have boring feet. Ive done this and it only takes up five, 7 minutes if I trim the nails and file. Perhaps Im not giving it the dedication it deserves. Thanks for the pointers! Diana