Hi everyone,
My name is Mary Ann and I am embarrassed to admit that I've already been scoping out your website and have sent a few messages already, so I think now would be a good time to introduce myself -- better late than never. This is my favorite month. Halloween is my birthday and, to me, Halloween starts off all of the family holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Boxing Day, etc. I made my first quilt in 1974/75, a king-sized quilt that went to the floor. It was tied and I was hooked. Made another king-sized quilt from all of my old clothes and anything else I could find. Back then cotton wasn't the only thing you used in a quilt. To make sure that the quilt would stay together without falling apart, I top-stitched every seam with one of my Viking sewing machine's fancy stitches. Here it is 35 years later and the quilt stitches are still with us - however, the squares themselves have worn out. I guess you can't have everything. I took about a ten-year sabbatical from quilting doing crafts in the meantime and selling plants at plant parties. Then in 1988, I met a lady at work that introduced me to a quilt guild. That's when my quilting world exploded. There were talented speakers, new friends, classes and I was in quilt heaven. My addiction to fabric began shortly after that. I took a class on "Storm at Sea" and since it is a pretty scrappy quilt (that was the way the teacher was teaching it) and I didn't have much in the way of cotton fabrics, I had to go out and buy some. Little did I know that that would be my main preoccupation for the next 22 years. All told, I think I spent over $200 in fabric (remember this is 1988) and gave up on the quilt because none of my seams matched, triangle points were cut off, my blocks could not/would not come together and the teacher finally lost patience with me and I with myself. Truth be told, I was still sewing with a 5/8" seam allowance. Well that project is around somewhere just to remind me of where I started. Every once in a while I come across it and smile. It is good to keep your first projects because they let you see just how far you have come in the time you have been quilting. I've grown as a quilter and have learned many techniques. In the San Francisco area that I come from we are blessed with many talented quilters, some known internationally, who are willing to give their time and share their knowledge about quilting. If you have a quilt guild in your area, I would highly recommend that you join. The commeraderie and group knowledge is priceless. Well, enough about me. I just want to say that the few weeks that I have been checking out this site have been so much fun. The people here are friendly, funny and talented. There is something going on all the time and I feel like I have found a new home. Thank you. Mary Ann |
Welcome from Virginia
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Welcome!
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Welcome Mary Ann, from No. California. This quilt board is a fun place to be!
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Nancy, what an adorable avatar picture. You are both too cute.
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Welcome Mary Ann. I have my first quilt and it, too, is made with any kind of fabric I had: cotton, denim, polyester (this was 1979), voile, suede, you name it. I use it as a reminder of my quilting journey. Glad you took the time to tell us about yourself.
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Hello & welcome from Michigan! This is also my most favorite time of year! I am big on Halloween,I look forwards to it all year long.
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Welcome from Oklahoma!
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Welcome from Oklahoma! :lol: My DH's birthday is also Halloween. It's his favorite holiday.
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Welcome to the board from Southern California!!!!
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Hello and Welcome MaryAnn from Minnesota!
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Welcome to the Quilting Board. I like your idea of hanging on to an early project. It's nice to see that progress is being made as each project gets a little better than the one before.
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Hello and welcome from Ontario, Canada.
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Welcome from southeast PA!
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Welcome from Louisiana. I grew up in Hayward and miss the Bay Area's weather. Happy Quilting!
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Welcome from NE Indiana :thumbup:
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Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here.
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Hi and welcome from northern California!
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Hello and Welcome to the board :D:D:D
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Hello, and welcome from Idaho!
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Welcome from Arkansas!
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Welcome from Michigan!
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Nice to meet you from Illinois. Fall Lover here too!
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Welcome from Missouri.
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Welcome from Arizona!
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Hello and welcome from Boston, Ma
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I lurked for a while too! We're glad you joined.
My Dad is a Halloween baby too, and he was the one who had t he honor of taking trick or treating. Even though it embarrassed him, we couldn't help ourselves; after we got our treats, we had to tell everyone it was our Dad's birthday too. Often he got his own treat. |
Welcome from Iowa. Betty Lee
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Hi Mary Ann! Welcome from North Carolina!
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Welcome from Kentucky!
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Welcome from Missouri. I think we all lurked a bit before joining.Happy Birthday from a transplanted san franciscan. Moved here in 1980. Have fun quilting and enjoy the site and many friends on here. Mary
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Welcome to the board, and I would venture to say most of us started out lurking in the background, but we got lured in by the sincere warmth, helpful support and lots of laughs. Believe me, I looked around and there isn't another board out there that can compare to this one.
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Hello and welcome from Ontario.
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