Roseysue

Hi Sherry,
Thanks for your story, I am going to enjoy reading it when I can give it a special uninterrupted time ( looks like a book!)
Wow! this is becoming such a unique experience. I feel as if I am building new friendships more meaningful than any other.

I guess this is a good a time as ever, so here goes:

I have speant much of my life in one kind of transition after another which doesn't lend itself very well to developing or maintaining any close relationships, so here I am at age 64 with 4 children and 12 grandchildren to show for my efforts. That is quite an accomplishment considering all the twist and turns the kids and I took during the 60's,70's and 80's.

I was born in Phila, Pa. in 1946, moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. when I was 6 months old, Then the year I was to enter Jr.Hi, we moved back to Phila. After HighSchool, I took a stab at college in NY for one year and ended up married and living in Ossining, NY.
In the next 4 years, I had 3 children, and then 5 years later another one ( a son at home (planned). When my children were young, I was involved with teaching childbirth, specifically homebirth, a La Leche leader (breastfeeding counseling)
and also counseling in mothering -following one's instincts) I never worked when my children were small. I never was trained formally for anything.

Then after 13 years of a very hostile abusive marriage, my children and I 'fled' to Buena Park CA. to seek safety. We settled here in 1978, the kids adjusted well, I remarried in 1981 and have lived in Buena Park ever since.

For a number of years I worked as an accoountant for a number of different corporations - I was self taught. Then in 1994, I had to retire - job was too stressful. My family has always been very active in our church activities from the time since I was a child. I must say that there have been many times that God has been very close to us, protecting us.
I have been sewing since I was a child. I made many of my own clothes and then my children's clothes and then for a period of five years (2000-2005)many clothes for my grandchildren.
I knitted sweaters, etc. for my children. I am crocheting now. In the process of doing two afgans for two granddaughters in Oklahoma. (Good activity when I'm out and can't get to a sewing machine)
I did quite of embroidery over the years - cross-stitch, crewel, long-stitch, counted cross-stitch.
I've done a bit of scrapbooking ( have many more years to catch up on) but I do have a number of albums completed to show for it.
I have all the cardmaking and stamping supplies to run a class and have done quite a bit of that and plan to do more in the future.
I was a florist out of my garage for 10 years (loved, loved, loved that) and when we lived in a house we had a garden of over 600 rose bushes. Used in our business, showed them in rose shows, was a consulting rosarian and rose judge.
I now live in a manufactured mobile home park and have every inch around planted with roses as well as other plants and flowers that I really enjoy. I also have a lot of plants and flowers in containers. In the spring, I will take some pictures for all of you. I had back surgery in Sept, so I have had to have some one to help me out there - off limits right now. I love giving and sharing of my garden - gives me such joy.
My sister(she lives in Charleston, WVA) introduced me to quilting 10 years ago, and the rest is history.

I was bitten by the bug and from 2000 to 2006, I made more than 20 quilts, mostly for family members.
2006 till this Sept, I was kind of off not doing much - life changes happened again. I started up again, joined our guild, found Quilting Board, started finding others locally who loved to quilt and have developed a nice circle on- line and in person.
It really feels good. I made my first quilt since my sabbitical this Christmas with chirismas fabrics,(I've been taking a weekly class - the pattern was from that) ( I loaned it to a day center for disadvantaged adults during Christmas to dress-up their eating area,) I will post that after I finish this. I have made other things during this time, some of which you have seen.
I am enjoying becoming a part of the SP and some swaps and purchased an Accuquilt GO in October and then the BABY GO in November, which has revolutionized my quilting experience.
I think I have shared some of that with you. How much faster and more precise it is when using the cutter.

I am in a Yahoo group for Accuquilters which is very informative - pick up a lot of tips, etc there. Also joined the 'pinsand needles' group ( they sell the accuauilt dies and cutters for 35% off)

I had a small stash when I took that time off, but I am building it up so I can feel it is to die for!

I guess that's about all. It may sound like a lot of stuff, but remember it is over 64 years and I left out a lot of the kntty gritty details which would be boring. (Ha!)
Well it's getting late, so I'm saying nite for now. See ya'll in the AM. Your Quilting Buddy Sue