Re: Time for another Roll Call?

Butterfly, taking time enuf from flitting from place to place to reply. (40 moves in 33 years, then we moved here 3.5 years ago) Been quilting since I was 5, sewing since I was in 4-H (7-ish), and doing all other needlework except tatting for as long as I could hold a needle. (Hey, if MY BIG sisters can do it, so can I. and I have been doing so since) Paying jobs included: being a florist (first love), working in an all-around fabric shop(second love), and then a Printer's Devil (it helped kids thru HS) until we moved, again, and I popped two discs in my neck. Now, I'm happy to be able to do any sewing or quilting, and now some crocheting and very little knitting. Haven't sewn on a button in 15 years--don't have the hand strength. These last 3 years have seen great strides in my ability to start to do things that I NEVER EVER thougth I'd be able to do again. Thanks to all the prayers, good wishes, and great vibes from my 'family-on-line'

Butterfly (haven't been on much as I just had the right lower back, entire sacroliac joint, RKO done.....it'll be 4/6 weeks before I know if it worked)

LOL. That explains it -- I was completely puzzled.

Hi, I'm Amy.~~~~waving to all~~~~ Living large in Central New York. Single mom of 2. DS is 27 and engaged to a wonderful gal. They live near Los Angeles. My DD, 21, lives at home with me. She's my light and laughter. I've been quilting, sewing, needlepoint and embroidering since I was a wee-gal of 9 or 10. My dear Granny taught us girls to quilt. She was the best. I own my own home and have been at the same job for 16+ yrs. in healthcare (office mgr). I do sew on a button now and then, and even have done wedding garments in the past, but no more. Too demanding. Other than this post, I am notorious for not capitalizing any letters and use waaayyy too many !!!!!!!'s. My dear QI, Crikit, passed over the Rainbow Bridge last October. I miss her dearly. She was the best dog a girl could have. I love horses, but don't own one, and gardening. I am planting new grape vines this year, see what happens with that. My UFO's are too numerous to mention the total, but, I have started to finish a few, my goal is to finish most of them by year's end. Yes, I am an optimist!

Next??

amy in CNY

Thanks, Amy. I've wondered a long time where CNY might be. And as to the grape vines, our neighbor has trained his to grow waaaay up high. It seems the wascally wabbits are wine-o's. Polly

"amy in CNY" Hi, I'm Amy.~~~~waving to all~~~~ Living large in Central New York.

Ohhhhhhhh, it's a PLA-A-A-ACE. Here all this time I thought it meant Chocolate's Naked Yearnings. Well, I'm glad that's all cleared up.

Val

I've lived in NH my whole life, never more than a few miles from the hospital where I was born. Married for 39 years to a guy who was born in the same hospital, and other than when he was in the Air Force, also has never lived more than a few miles from the same hospital. Obviously we're not world travelers.

I was a stay at home mom/daycare provider for many years. Our son is now 31 and is singing professionally. He has a degree in environmental conservation and for a time was the Director of Naturalists for the NH Audubon Society, but unfortunately a budget cut forced him to look for something else. He seems to like singing a lot. He sings with an Irish band and plays the bodran. He is completely opposite his dad and me as he's lived all over the country while he traveled with the Renaissance Faires for many years.

I've been the director of our local food pantry for almost 20 years. I'm ready to retire, but no one wants my job. If I quit, the pantry closes. How's that for pressure?

I've been quilting for 7 or 8 years, started on a dare and kept going. I've finished around 70 quilts so far, all but a few were for charity.

Three QIs, Ginger and Wolfy are Schnoodles (Schnauzer/Poodle) and one cat.

Denise

Val, you're just a sight, you know that? Polly

I'm a Canadian snowbird, who winters in Central Florida. DH was in the Canadian Air Force for 34 years. He enjoys gardening, maintaining his garden railway in Florida, working on his N-scale railway in Kingston, and chasing the elusive golf ball around the course. He is very handy, so helps out friends and neighbours with small and large projects. He is also an awesome guitar player!

I started sewing clothes for my self in grade 6, with my Mother teaching me most of the needle arts. I worked as a dressmaker/ tailor during most of our postings, also doing custom drapery for a while.

We celebrated our 40th anniversary last fall. DS1 is married to a great DIL (no kids). DS2 is on disability, and is currently living with us. He has being working as a volunteer with the local Heart and Stroke office, as a way to gradually get back into the work force. We don't have any QI's - too much travel. We do puppy and dog-sit for friends and neighbours from time to time.

My mother tried to interest me in quilting, but pre rotary cutters etc., I found it too frustrating. I thanked her for teaching me, but said I'd never quilt again.I had the TV on many years ago, watching PBS and saw the first Quilt in a Day program. Started quilting, and haven't looked back since.

I make quilts for my guild's community quilt program, and I am in charge of the quilting group when I'm in Florida over the winter. I love to embroidery, cross-stitch, etc., but the majority of my time is spent quilting. I love all aspects of quilting, from the shopping (my huge stash can prove that!), to sending it on its way to have a happy life with someone!

I love to cook and bake, and anything chocolate is in danger when I am around!

Where in Central Florida? DH and I are in Zephyrhills, just north of Lakeland.

I'm Canadian, living in Montreal right now but have moved around the eastern part of the country a lot. Married, two kids, and three QIs of the feline persuasion. Passed the 50yr mark - the number still seems to high - I'm can't be all grown up yet! I'm still working so not as much time for quilts as I would like. My first quilt was many years ago as a teenager - just scrap squares sewn together so I could have a quilt for my dorm room. Then, after a long dry spell, I got started again after picking up a quilt book in a used book store. That was my intro to chain piecing - I thought it such a revolutionary idea at the time LOL. Then I got books out of the library and started making bed quilts. And baby quilts. Joined a guild to meet other quilters. Then started getting interested in art quilts and wall hangings. I have too many ideas to ever do them all but it sure is fun to turn them over in my mind. And it sure is fun to see what everyone else creates. I'm glad I found this newsgroup. :) Allison

Well, I guess it's my turn - I don't know if I've every actually answered a roll call in the past, although I've been reading RCTQ since about 1994, I think.

I've spent most of my life right here in beautiful (well, today it's beautiful) Eastern Iowa, except for a couple of years in New Mexico and about eight in the Phoenix area. My DH of 30 years is retired military - in fact, he's retired from everything. He tells everyone that's why I'm still working - so he can continue to live the life to which he's become accustomed. We do need to talk about that! I work for a market research firm (they gave me some fancy title, but I can never remember what it is), which is occupying more of my time than I'd like right now. As with many companies, we've had to make cuts in the number of employees on staff, and those of us who are lucky enough to have a job after the cuts are responsible for keeping up with the work that still has to be done. I've been training staff to take on the new responsibilities, and I'm finally starting to see some progress and hopefully not so much overtime.

But enough about that. Let's see, I have three step-children and three step-grandchildren. We have a blended family in more ways than one. Back in

As for QIs, we currently have two of the feline variety - Spookie is almost entirely black and is about 2-1/2 years old; Rowdy is about a year and going through his terrible twos! Both were named by the Humane Society, and not being particularly imaginative, plus the fact that we got Spookie during Halloween week, we left the names as they were. That may have been a mistake - Rowdy definitely lives up to his!

I started quilting shortly after we were married (I did all the other needlearts Grandma taught me - knitting, cross-stitch, crochet, embroidery, but they all went by the wayside once I started quilting). The first several quilts I made were both hand pieced and hand quilted. Eventually I became a machine piecer, but swore I'd NEVER machine quilt. I should know never to say never. Not only did I start machine quilting, we invested in a longarm so I could really get quilts done quickly. Due to my "real" job, they don't get done quickly like I had planned, but someday they will!

I prefer traditional patterns - I have a hard time thinking outside the box sometimes, so art quilts are beyond my realm of thinking. I do love applique, but have done very little of it. I figure my retirement years will be a good time for that kind of work.

I don't remember who started this thread, but I'm glad they did. I do enjoy reading about everyone's lives and how they came to be where they are in today's quilting world. Most days this is my only contact with quilters, and even though I generally read more than I post, I feel like I know so many of you almost as well as my own family!

I am NE of you. Close to Leesburg, about an hour and a few minutes away. Barbara in Central FL & SC

After reading all the other responses, my life seems quite dull....but it makes me happy! My husband and I retired 4 1/2 years ago and moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania to be closer to our sons and grandsons. I had just learned to quilt, although I had sewn for a long, long time. At one time I had even worked as an Asst. Mgr. of a fabric/craft shop for about 9 years, making model garments, wall displays, etc. But when a nice lady, now one of my best friends, offered to teach me quilting, things definitely changed!! Her husband told my husband "things will never be the same", and they haven't. I belong to a Guild and participate in casual quilting get-togethers with several friends.

I have three sons. Two were born in Italy when we lived there. The third was born in Germany. My husband worked for the US Air Force. One son is married with two boys, who live within walking distance, one who is getting married May 23rd, and one is single and working in NYC. We are dedicated Penn State football fans and attend all the home games. I love yoga and attend classes at least twice a week. Also, I work for my DIL who writes children's books. I help her with the packing and shipping, and recently started illustrating some of the books that will come out this year. My husband and I bowl in a league once a week and are the tour directors for our Seniors group. (Next week we'll be on a bus tour of Niagara Falls and Toronto). Throw in a little babysitting, some house cleaning, laundry, and cooking, and I keep pretty busy!

LOL!!! you gals. that's ok, i thought Denise was in NowHere'sville, until i remembered New Hampshire is only one state away from me! but i do have naked chocolate yearnings......

....sorry, too much info on that one...............

amy in CNY

"i'm so far behind i think i'm first..."

I was wondering the same thing Sandy. I kept looking at the email addy & the signature, till my eyes crossed & I said - okay - I give up!

Pauline Northern California

I mostly lurk nowdays, but here's my story:

Born in Clearwater, Florida; grew up in Cory, Indiana; lived in Williams, Arizona for 4 years and have lived in Idaho since 1974.

Started sewing at the age of nine in 4-H. No one that I knew as a kid quilted. My grandmother made comforters. Ugly thick things - I have no recollection of what she used for batting, nor where she got the ugly scraps of fabric she used to make them, but they WERE warm!

Sewed clothing only until I made my first quilt for my first granddaughter who will be 27 in September. Have made many, many quilts since then. Mostly make Project Linus blankets now, except for the occasional quilt for a new great-grandchild. I still haven't finished the quilt I started for my granddaughter who graduated from Texas State University last August because I hate the fabric she picked out. Just can't get motivated to get going on it. I'm the coordinator for our local Project Linus chapter so that keeps me pretty busy.

I have 3 kids, 12 grandkids, 2 step grandkids, 1 great-grandson, 1 step great-granddaughter who was born 5 weeks early and spent a couple weeks in the NICU before she could go home. Although, my DH is there step dad/grandpa the grandkids all consider him their "real" grandpa!

QI's - one dog Sandy who is approx 16 yeats old & who knows how many cats - we live on a farm - cats come and go! Two that mostly live in the house, one that moves inside in the winter. The rest are outside cats.

We both retired in 1999 and took two "big" trips after retiring - 5 week trip in 1999 to Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (went to the Houston Quilt Show that year) and a 45 day trip to Alaska in 2001. That was my dream trip - I've wanted to drive the Alaskan Highway and see Alaska since I was a teenager - and that was a lot of years ago!

My DH and I used to camp a lot and have been going to the Sun Valley Jazz Jamboree every fall for the past nine years. He is dealing with severe health problems now - has great difficulty in swallowing (can only eat things like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc.) and has completely lost his ability to speak - we communicate by him writing notes. He also is getting weaker and wobbly on his feet - starts physical therapy for that next week. So, looks like our traveling days are probably over. He has an appointment at the University of Utah Medical Center for diagnostic tests in June since our local doctors haven't been able to come up with a definitive diagnosis.

Donna in SW Idaho

Oh dear, Donna. I hope you and your DH get some answers about his health problems! That's got to be incredibly stressful.

Michelle in NV

Donna, my prayers and warm thoughts are with you and your DH & family. Sure hope the doctors figure what is wrong with him and then decide on what it will take to cure him. Barbara in SC

My Turn! I really mostly lurk and read every day and post very occassionally, but I've been a member here for about 7 years.

My DH and I have been married for just about 32 years, live in a small town in central Alberta. I've been a legal secretary for 31 years and DH is a farmer. We are both in the process of retiring from our jobs. We have 2 sons, 30 and 28. The 28 year old is married and he and his wife are expecting their first child so I will be a Grandmother this fall so I am very excited about that.

I have been sewing since I was a child, but quilting for over 20 years. During the winter months I also bartend from 1-3 nights a week depending on the facilities schedule. The wages and tips I earn from this job are what I call my "mad money" which I spoil myself with. Last winter I bought myself a mid-arm sewing machine and a quilting frame. So last summer I made a lot of lap quilts to practise on. And this winter, by word of mouth, I have gone into the custom machine quilting business. Since November I have been averaging about 4 quilts a month which is about right for how busy I want to be. Oh yes, I also have another job. I call bingo 1 night a week, which I have been doing for about 15 years. More "mad money"!!

I no longer have a QI as I had to put my cat of 17 years down a few years ago. We won't be getting another QI as we have hopes of doing more travelling....Alaska Cruise in June for starters this summer!!!

Ann