Instructor Bio: | I made my first quilt for my daughter back in 1964 from blocks that her grandmother had appliqued animal onto back in 1944. At the time, I had no idea how to put a binding around the layers, so I made a pillowcase and stuffed in the batting, then slip stitched the end and yarn tied the top. When my son was born, we did a second quilt, this time I had to help with the blocks. I learned to hate the buttonhole stitch, it certainly was not my ?thing?. My Mother needed my help to finish the blocks as she had been diagnosed with cancer. She made three additional sets for my brother and sister?s future children. By the time I completed these for my nieces and nephews, I knew how to do a binding. They were cherished quilts since Grandmother was gone but had left her legacy and started me on my quilting journey.
With a young family there was not a lot of extra time for what would be come my passion. Eventually I was able to take some quilting classes and joined a quilting group in Ventura, California. We hand quilted on each other?s quilts. Every two years or so, we would each have a wonderful quilt. Plus, all the hours of sharing while quilting was a real bonus. I still belong to this group and after 20 + years, we are like family and still get together every Tuesday morning.
Years later, after my family was grown, I was able to start taking classes. I have explored many genres of the quilting world. My latest has been silk painting classes with Andrea Brokenshire.
In 1994, my husband, Ralph and I decided to retire to Canada. Ralph had moved to California and wished to get back to his roots, albeit only for the summer, as he disliked the snow and cold of the northern winters. Having never lived in the area, I was determined to meet new friends. I joined a very active guild, the Thousand Island Guild in Brockville, Ontario. I met lots of remarkable quilters and teachers in this group.
About 5 years ago and maybe close to 200 quits and wall hangings later, I began to teach. Most of my quilts become teaching aids. Like many quilt enthusiasts, I look for new, innovative and different types of projects. Teaching has helped me become a better quilter and I am always learning something from my students. Every quilter has something to share.
I enjoy the rural fairs; especially in South Mountain and Spencerville that keep the home craft displays of days gone by with women?s endeavours to keep their homes both warm and inviting. I have won many ribbons over the years from both of these Fair Boards. I have also had entries juried into ?Road to California?, an Ontario, California quilt show. I have not won any ribbons, but enjoyed seeing my quilts hanging along side hundreds of other entries and am proud I was accepted to this venue. Each winter, I return to Southern California to enjoy a warm winter while searching for new quilting endeavours to learn and teach . Quilting is my life and passion
Over 25 + years, I have lost count of how many quilts and wall hangings that I have made - well over 300! We no longer had a home in Canada and with the COVID years, we were unable to travel home. In 2022, we made a motorhome trip across Canada; which was my husband, Ralph?s final trip. Coming home this summer and being able to teach the spicy table runner will be a joy for me.
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