Time for another Roll Call?

Good idea, Sally!

I'm American, marriewd to a German, living near Munich. 2 grown daughters. Quilting for 30+ years. If you want to see some of my stuff:

Roberta in D

"Sally Swindells" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news: snipped-for-privacy@bt.com...

I'm Liz, married 16 years, with a 12-year-old daughter who is going to a *dance* on Friday. Seems to me I was just making little-girl dresses. That's why I started quilting. I've only been able to sew Halloween costumes for the past few years.

We live in the Boston suburbs, and have a cottage near a lake in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, where the skiing is fabulous now, and the kayaking is glorious in the other season.

I was a process chemist in my previous life (made drugs in 1000-gallon reactors) and get to be home now. I sing soprano in two choral groups. If you want to know anything about epilepsy and brain surgery, I've BTDT. The tumor was benign and I no longer have seizures.

I love optical illusions, and find paper piecing the best way to accomplish them. I've made several quilts from blue jeans, backed with polarfleece. Right now my design wall is covered with log cabin blocks. It's been a while since I've updated my webshots. Where's that round tuit?!? There's also a tutorial on making the coil bowls.

QIs are Midnight, a black Lab, and Jethro, a Lab/chow mix, who is often mistaken for her sibling. Oh yes, chocolate! I keep a large bag of the dark chocolate M&Ms in my sewing room. Liz

John

On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:29:51 -0600, Sally Swindells wrote (in article ):

Well here's mine:

Living in Springfield IL and work for the State. Living with DBF in apartment building he owns (but thinking of buying a house either to live in or as a rental property)

Two feline QIs, Maggie Belle and Katie Mae. Learned to embroider when I was about 10 (rarely do anymore, but have some WIPs). Sewing for about 11 years, quilting for about 9 and still consider myself a beginner. Because I don't have enough hobbies have also taken up knitting and rubber stamping. Pictures of my quilts at

Love chocolate--all kinds!

maureen

I'm a retired elementary school teacher, living in the foothills of NW GA with my QI (feline,) Gray Soufflé. I have two grown children, neither nearby, and three grandchildren. I moved into a new house shortly after retiring and I love my house and the community it's in

-- lots of trees, wildlife (like deer, raccoons, possums, and the occasional bear,) and a beautiful lake that's pretty and clean and can be used for swimming, boating, and fishing. We have fitness classes here and I do two fitness Yoga classes and two lo-impact cardio-strength classes a week. When the weather is nice, I play tennis, but I'm a beginner and I don't think I'm destined to get very good at it. I have a hydrobike that I love to ride on the lake (picture an upright exercise bike on pontoons.)

The best way to learn more, if you're interested, is to go to my website in my signature.

Carole D. - Retired and loving it in the foothills of NW Georgia

My quilts, crafts, QIs, and more -

Ok, I'm from Western Australia, born in Tasmania. 54 years young. Work for Public Trustee in Trust Management, Have been quilting for 10 years or so. Separated with 3 great DD's and one DGS. I have a SO who is in the energy industry and although he may not understand all my interests, supports me regardless. Sadly my QI used the last of his nine lives yesterday, but at 17+ I could not selfishly keep him with me any longer. I mostly sew QS quilts for my family and friends. Am currently working on a wine coloured/grape themed quilt for my bed. Also some wearable quilted clothing. I LOVE dark chocolate and red wine. Anyone in the West of Australia is more than welcome to drop in and visit.

Heather in West Oz

Name: Lia or Julia (but not Julie, who is someone else altogether).

Household: One boyfriend and resident computer wizard, Jim. One dog, Cubbe.

Sewing machine: Pfaff 6122, the best machine I could buy with NO computer capabilities. Her name is Sister.

Quilt interests: Lucky in that adore both traditional quilt designs and wild wooly art fabric art pieces.

Secret ambitions: Success in art quilt world and writing.

Favorite curse word: Applique/ Hand Work.

Employment: None at the moment.

Education: Tons. Majors in anthropology and English, cooking school, Masters in Library Science.

Favorite color: Green, especially swampy greens, the olives and dark yellow-greens.

Least favorite colors: Bright pinks and blues.

Stash: Huge. No need to add to it.

New Year's Resolution: Complete projects without adding to stash.

Myers Briggs: INTJ.

Chocolate: Lindt Grand Marnier.

Pet peeve: apostrophes in possessive its.

Currently reading: _The Peabody Sisters_, by Megan Marshall. Non-fiction, scholarly, but really interesting.

Ghostly quality: I disappear regularly from rctq but am generally available through email.

--Lia

I'm a retired software engineer, married 40 years, mother of 2, grandmother of 4, no QIs. I've lived in Minnesota most of my life (except for a few years across the border in Wisconsin). I learned to sew on my mother's treadle machine when I was in grade school. I did a lot of garment sewing -- everything from lingerie to my wedding dress to blue jeans. In 1973, my son was going from the crib to a big bed so that the baby we were expecting could have the crib. I used a lot of corduroy scraps left over from garment sewing to make a quilt for his new bed. I backed it with a sheet and tied it with yarn. That quilt was on his bed until he got married. That was my first quilt, and I've been at it off and on ever since, especially the last 10 years or so. I do mostly traditional-type patchwork and some hand applique. I machine quilt most of my stuff, but also do some hand quilting. My main sewing machine has always been an Elna, ever since my parents gave me one when I graduated from college. I belong to the local guild and edit their monthly newsletter. There are photos of some of my stuff on my web site

Julia in MN

----------- This message has been scanned for viruses by Norton Anti-Virus

I got an email that there was a roll call so thought I would drop by.

I am 50plus, not married, 3 official QI cats (see sig block and Webshots) and a variable number of wannabes, and I'm retired for health reasons after 20+ years in the Aussie Air Force (RAAF). I live in a rural area in the SE corner of Australia in the beautiful State of Victoria.

I started my first quilt over 30 years ago and it is still here in a box - unfinished. Back then we had no dedicated quilt shops. When I saw a cushion made from a single oversized Cathedral Window block I was convinced that I could make a quilt from similar smaller blocks. So I sailed off in my ignorance and bought miles of poly-cotton fabric (all I could get at the time) and proceeded to scissor-cut it into squares that made tiny CW blocks that were to be assembled into an ENORMOUS quilt (floor length on a QS bed). Just to add to the nightmare I decided to make the inserts into tiny padded pillows (stuffed with poly stuffing of course), and the main fabric was navy blue (impossible to sew at night), all stitched with poly thread.

The box that holds that quilt is labelled "Ignorance is Bliss", and I carried it around Australia with me through over 2 doz moves. It should have taught me to look before I leap when planning new projects - but it didn't lol. I have almost enough made that if I turn it on its side it will make a very long skinny bed topper for a single bed. I will probably never finish it but I just cannot bring myself to part with it either.

The truly scary part is that I now teach quilting (well - quilt making and applique, I don't quilt much myself) and I always show newbies my "Ignorance" quilt rofl.

Just for the record, I don't eat chocolate and I don't drink coffee. But I will barter Cherry Ripes, Crunchies and Tim Tams for fabric (just kidding - I have more fabric than I can use in five lifetimes but I am always willing to intro "foreigners" to our Aussie delicacies).

I don't post much and read only sporadically now. I get only a portion of posts through my ISP, and I have eyesight problems. But this group has brought me many laughs and much valuable info over the last couple of years.

Welcome to all the newcomers and "Hi!" to "old" friends.

I'll add to the roll call.

My first name is Kathy. I sign as Ms P though. It's short for Ms Peacock of Clue fame. When I played Clue with the middle granddaughter she always had to be Ms Scarlett because she plays first. And I'm just not Mrs White.

I have two grown up sons, 3 granddaughters, 1 grandson and 1 daughter in law. My second hubby and I are staff to two cats.

I started sewing when I was just a kid making doll clothes. After I got married the first time my mom gave me her old machine and I made the kids and myself clothes. I made my first quilt top when I was 23 and finished it

20 years later. I didn't make any other quilts in that 20 years. After I finished that quilt I discovered rotary cutters and chain piecing and took off from there. I've made several bed size quilts, and a whole bunch of wall hangings and table runners since then. I always have several projects going at once.

Right now I'm cutting squares from scraps for a twin size quilt, planning and buying fabric for another twin size quilt, making the applique blocks for 5 wall hangings for the grandkids plus one of their cousins on the other side. I'm doing the block of the month at the LQS and my guild is doing a wall hanging of the month this year. The January and February wall hangings are done and in my webshots.

Right now is my short quilting time of the year since I'm a tax lady. But it pays for my fabric habit and at least a couple of retreats later in the year.

Guess it about my turn. I'm Pati, in Phoenix,AZ. Married to DH Rick for 27 years, second marriage for both of us. No kids. Several feline QIs, Cloud is the oldest, female dark tiger. Silver, another female (silver/grey tiger/tabby) who moved in. She actually "belongs" to the people across the street, but has decided that she lives here and I am her person. She is soon to visit the vet to be "copy protected". Two of her kittens have stayed with us, Scamper (male, looks like his mother) who lost the tip of his tail when he was a baby and his sister, Scurry (a dark ticked tabby)who will always be a small cat. Then there is Groucho, the tuxedo cat, with a black mustache and "goatee". He also just moved in. (I am allergic to cats, we weren't going to have any more but they came and DH is a softy that evidently cannot exist without cats around. sigh)

Born in Tucson,AZ. Lived in California for a few years as a child (except for summers back in Tucson or traveling. Parents were both teachers.) Lived in Cottonwood,AZ for 2 years before we moved back to Tucson in time for me to start junior high. I started sewing in Junior High. One year of high school Home Ec. and started making a lot of me own clothes. Actually won the "Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow" contest at my school my senior year. Started college as a biology/psychology double major, pre-med student. Changed to the School of Home Ec. after 2 years. Graduated in Clothing and Textiles, worked on my Master's then ended up moving to Phoenix after separating from my husband. Couldn't manage to get to Tucson once a week to finish my thesis so the Master's is incomplete. :(

Got my secondary certification in Home Ec, math and science. Did my student teaching in math, because "there are no jobs in Home Ec." then got a job teaching Home Ec. in a south Phoenix K-8 school. Did that for about 6 and a half years. Started working at a House of Fabrics and ended up there full time, as assistant manager. Went through the transition to Jo-Ann's and that is when I started really quilting. I had taken a beginning quilting class, all hand work, cutting templates out with sandpaper on the back, drawing the lines and so on. But now I started taking a few machine piecing classes. And got hooked big time. Now I teach at one of the local quilt shops. And will teach almost anywhere. Love to teach when people want to learn. Am trying to start a pattern company, and hope to get DH to get my website up soon......... sigh.

Love bright colors, and reproduction fabrics and most colors. (Hate pink, but use it when it is needed.) In general I love fabric. And have stash to prove it. Sew on a Husqvarna/Viking #1 most of the time, also have a Viking Rose, with embroidery module, 2 sergers and a Singer 66 in a table. DH, Rick, not only supports my habit he has been known to bring me fabric when he travels. Oh, Rick is a writer/author. He is good at it, but there are times the money just doesn't come in and markets dry up. Right now things are going fairly well, and we hope it continues this way for a few more years until he can start to collect Social Security. He also does jewelry work and some woodworking. We both collect books. (There are probably 20,000 books in the house, even with Rick culling and getting rid of a lot of them.

This has gotten way too long.... so any questions, please ask.

Pati, > As Cornwoman wrote 'Now I want to

I live in So. Fla which is greatl I am looking for a job and may have found one at cVS pharmacy. I have been sewing forever - starting out making clothes, then crafts, curtains, baby stuff and finally quilts.

OMG! Pati, I also won The Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award in my senior year! That was 1968 in Flagstaff..... Did you turn out to be a great homemaker? If you saw my house right now you'd know that *I* certainly didn't! LOL

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Howdy!

I'm 45 (how did THAT happen?!) next month, married to DH-computer-guru

14 years. Not blessed with kids, but our god-daughter is wonderful. One mouthy tortie QI, Mir Cat. We live in College Station, TX--home of the Fightin' Texas Aggies.

I'm a botanist with pollen allergies. I like to cook, write, draw, embroider, read, and mess about in the garden. Love chocolate but can't eat it. Going-on-5-year cancer survivor.

I machine piece on a 1959 Singer and hand quilt. Designing is the best part of the quilting process--color! yum! I have more fabric than any one person ought to have, but most of it has a Destiny. I aspire to applique goddesshood but have far to go...

Y'all come visit, Monique in TX

I won in 1968 at Tucson High. And if you saw my house you wouldn't even have to ask.

Pati, > OMG! Pati, I also won The Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow award in my

Guess I'll go next.

My name is Sandy (57 years old), happily married for 26 years and living in NE PA. Our daughter is currently in her 2nd year of college. My mom and my DH's dad live with us, as both are getting up in years and can no longer live alone. I've been sewing since I was a little girl, making doll clothes. I love most crafts, although quilting and counted cross stitch are currently at the top of the list. I just started quilting last year, and love quilting by hand. Dh bought me a Janome 6600P for Christmas , which I am loving to death! I also have a Kenmore (20+ years old) plus a Singer and a Brother. I also have a serger, tho I haven't used it in a while.

I recently set up my own sewing/quilting space with lots of windows to enjoy the beautiful outdoors. We have 5 QI's, 3 Maine Coon cats, Kibbbles and Bits (12 year old bro and sis) and Daisy, the terrorist of the group who is 2 and may not live to see 3. 8-))) Kibbles is currently sleeping on my Janome, Bits is sleeping on a denim quilt I recently finished for DD, and Daisy is lying on my "to be quilted" day bed cover, currently on the quilt rack. Besides the cats we have Comet, an 8 year old, very sweet Golden Retriever, and KoKo, an affectionate 8 year old Husky/shepherd rescue.

I will post pics of quilting projects plus my sewing room, as soon as I figure out how. I am a certified chocoholic, with chocolate (darker the better) hidden in my computer desk and sewing desk. Mostly from my FIL, who is diabetic and doesn't care. He'll steal any treat he can find! Since his eyesight is failing and he needs a walker to get around, he hasn't been able to find my stash.

Well, I think I've gabbed enough! I mostly read the newsgroup, but when I start gabbing, I can't stop! I love reading about everyone and everything quilty. Have a great day stitching, with no ripping!

I am known as Leslie & The Furbabies in MO. I'm 57 y.o. (female with a 'unisex' name!), on disability for severe arthritis and currently separated from my hubby- we are trying to be friends but that's a very up and down thing..... :-/ I still haven't forgiven him for getting me smoking again when I'd been smoke-free for thirteen years. I'm gonna try quitting again- real soon- as soon as my crazy life settles down a bit. I *hope* it settles down a bit.....

My darling Missy girl is in the very last stage of terminal cancer and my heart is truly breaking. She's been my love, constant companion and best friend for 13 years- a beautiful big, and big-hearted, Golden Retriever. Simon is 6 y.o. a Golden/Chow cross- He's big and muscular and Pat on her hill thinks he looks ferocious but he's a darling snuggle bug. When I first adopted Simon, every night when I laid down in bed he'd flop on top of me and roll! I discussed it with my dog trainer and she decided he was so passionately in love with me that he wanted to have his scent all over himself! Daisy is a sweet, shy German Shepherd/Basenji (4 y.o.) cross who both yodels and barks! She's like a mountain goat- she can walk the narrow back of my sofa and will pace back and forth up there if she's worried about something- she's very sensitive to my moods. Hoover is a darling, laid back, very handsome Golden- 2 y.o.- and is my devoted snuggle bug lap dog baby. He's ready to step into the hole in my heart when Missy has to leave me. My kitty Buttercup was found dead last week, so I am without feline companionship right now. All my darling HairyButt Gang are rescues and I am a *fiend* for surgical altering to prevent unwanted litters!

I fell into quilting kicking and screaming! Back in 1988 I lived in a very small Ozark community (having just moved here from Flagstaff, AZ) and the volunteer fire dept. was making a raffle quilt. I said that I would donate money instead- that I did NOT know how to quilt and did NOT want to learn- altho I'd been self-taught sewing since I was about 7 y.o. They begged, pleaded and then insisted I make a block. It was an embroidery called Chicken Scratch which looks like lace on gingham. I made a block and turned it in. Then they insisted that I hand quilt it. No! I'll donate money instead. Nope, they 'made' me quilt it. I ended up embroidering and hand-quilting two blocks for the raffle quilt. That was the beginning of my quilting adventure and I'm still at it!

I fell into teaching quilting almost the same way. I was in a local fabric store (not a quilt shop) and grumbled that they'd run out of 'my' fabric and how was I going to finish my quilt. The lady helping me happened to be the store owner and she asked me if I'd teach some quilting classes. No! I don't teach and I don't want to start! Well, I taught there for almost 8 years until the store closed. I tried teaching at my home, but we lived way out in the country and it didn't work out.

I went in my sewing machine store this past Sat. and got talked in to teaching some classes there. So, after a ten year break it looks like I'm going to be teaching again. I'm pretty good friends with them- I always strongly suggested my students get their sm cleaned and serviced before their class. Many, many of them ended up buying a new machine at some point during their class! Since I have severe arthritis (and several other ickies) I do strictly machine work, altho I do teach hand work, and I trade my sm every three years. My dealer gives three years free servicing with each machine I buy, so that seems like a good time to trade! I am currently quilting on a Janome 6600- which I LOVE!- and own a Janome Jem, a 1950 Singer 15-91 and a Singer model 66 red eye treadle from 1932.

I am fascinated with artsy-fartsy type quilts and am going to try really hard to develop my skills in that direction. I make bed quilts for my bed, but with all those big hairy dogs sleeping with me, the quilts require a lot of laundering. They wear out in a couple of years, so I make simple quick pieced bed quilts. I have given away nearly every quilt I've made- my two very precious Hug Quilts from the members of RCTQ are my treasures and they are with me for the long haul and kept carefully and safely from my doggies! I hand-dye a lot of fabric and my thread and fabric stashes are humongous!

Some of the best friends I've ever had are here at rctq and I'm so grateful for the 13 years I've been here- all I've learned, all I've shared and all we've been thru together with happy dances and prayers and recipes and debates/opinions and ......

Oops! Guess I went a bit overboard here... LOL

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

Just curious... do you remember your final essay question? Mine was what would you do if you had two children with one who excelled at everything they did and the other who didn't do nearly as well (not exactly those words). That question became the 'real thing' for me with my two sons- but not to that degree. That question in the contest has always stuck in my mind- going on 40 years now. OMG, Pati, FORTY years!!!

Leslie, Missy & The Furbabies in MO.