I'm enjoying reading some of the posts here - my goodness how times have changed since I 1st quilted!
At 77 years old, I'm blessed to have 2 living children, 4 grandchildren, 9 great grandkids & 3 great-great grandkids that all live within about 15 miles of me.
I was introduced to quilting late in life & fell in love w/it, being able to pursue my passion for a few years until circumstances changed in my life & I was unable to do it for several years. Now I am in a place that I have been able to put up my quilt frame to try to get a few tops quilted that I had made several years ago. (Just hope the arthritis in my ole hands doesn’t object too much).
Long-arm quilting had not been introduced to home quilters when I quilted, but even if I could have had one, I don't think it would provide the peace & serenity that sitting at a frame & hand-quilting stitch by stitch always gave me. I’ve “worked out” a lot of concerns during quite times of quilting. My kids say my quilts are all "stitched w/love".
My 1st frame was a BIG square one that took up a whole room & rolled in from both sides (giving room for several friends to spend the afternoon & visit while we quilted) Now I do have a frame that only takes up about 3 ft. x the width of the quilt, rolling under as I finish the width.
I’ve also quilted w/friends on a square frame that hung from the ceiling & lowered to work on. That was a challenge, since it could “sway” w/movement from the ladies working around it. Happy memories.
During the time I was able to be active in quilting, I was president of a local quilt guild several years & went to many state wide shows winning quite a few ribbons. Being able to go to the Intl. Quilt Show in Houston a few times was a highlight of my quilting years. I was fortunate once to win a 2nd place there in the white on white division (design completely done w/quilting on a solid piece of muslin)
May all you stitches be small ones, filled w/much love. :)