Our Story
My quilting experience started in February 2011 when I retired from nursing, I was receiving my first chemo treatments, and my husband George was off to Afghanistan. I decided to purchase an old Viking sewing machine from a friend. I quickly took a trip to Kelly Ann’s Quilt Shop to purchase a pattern and I made my first king-sized block quilt. From then on, I was hooked! Completing that first quilt, shown to the right, I felt I just had to take a Dear Jane class at Kelly Ann’s which became a two-year undertaking. When I finished that project, shown below, in the class, I gave it to my son. I visit the quilt from time to time (and my son too). Quilting has truly been one of the many blessings in my life.
For Christmas of 2012, I made nine jelly roll quilts, one for each of my grandchildren. Each was quilted using "stitch in the ditch", a machine quilting technique that involves quilting in the seam line. After that, I decided it was time to join the Fauquier County Quilters Guild. I attended some classes, learned what a quilting retreat was all about, and along the way made lifelong friends. I've made several memory quilts thus far, each made from a loved one’s clothing. I can’t say they were perfect quilts but the recipients were more than pleased.
Creating Special Memories
My next undertaking was for the friend who sold me her old Viking. I planned, catered, and made the decorations for her wedding. She had chosen a country theme wedding, so with keys in hand, I drove out to Kelly Ann’s again and purchased material for table decorations. After the wedding, all the decorations were collected and are now a very pretty red, white, and blue quilt. Shown on the right.
Collecting fabric from special occasions, or clothing from a loved one can be a great way to remember the event or loved one by turning the fabric into a beautiful keepsake quilt.
One of my endeavors had been to make quilts for hospice patients, and that has been extremely rewarding! Phyllis Zwirko is a very talented quilter but sadly is a Hospice patient. She had pieced together a quilt but was unable to back and finish it on her own. Finishing that quilt for her brought great joy to both of us and here's the photo to prove it!
I purchased my first long arm, a Gammill Vision 2.0 free motion, in 2016, and in 2018 I was able to purchase a Statler Gammill, which is computerized (and amazing). When I am asked where I buy material, I always say any place that sells it! All of the representatives of the quilt shops I frequent have been polite, courteous, helpful and willing to teach. I have to include Jo Ann’s in Warrenton and Culpeper. Even though they are not considered quilt shops they are always willing to help in any way they can.
Our first two years in business, we took classes from Mary Naysa, a master quilter. Mary continues to mentor us and I am happy to say she has become a friend. Among the many blessings quilting has brought me, one I am most happy about is that my husband George has also fallen in love with longarming! He does 90% of my cutting and took longarm lessons as well. George and I have quilted at least 25 free quilts for practice and several for ourselves. The quilts look great and learning is an ongoing experience. We spend many hours in our quilting room planning, cutting, sewing, and using the longarm. This time together has made a positive impact on our lives and marriage.
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