Hi, my name is Rexene and I joined the site a couple of weeks ago and am just getting around to introducing myself.

I live in Richland, MI on 13 acres with my husband, Phil. We have two grown children, Colin and Corryn. Growing up, our kids represented every animal barn, except for goats, at the local county fair through 4-H. We are now down to two horses, one cat and one dog.

Since I found this site, I have already learned many things and discovered several beautiful quilts I want to make. Since none of my friends quilt, it is very interesting and enjoyable to hear what all of you are doing and the challenges you come up against. There are many very talented quilters participating!

My first quilting experience was about 30 years ago, when I took a class and made a sampler quilt top all by hand, including all of the borders. Moving ahead many years; when I found out I was losing my job/retiring in 2008, I started taking machine quilting classes. During the first class I made two log cabin quilt tops. I took several other classes and made three or four more quilt tops. None of these are quilted, except for one log cabin, which I had quilted and gave to my daughter for Christmas, 2008. Currently I am making a log cabin quilt in light blue and aqua for my son.

My retirement gift to myself was an HQ16 long arm quilting machine. This was set up and a demo given in August 2008. I did some practicing for about a week. The following week I had surgery for cancer and went through chemo and radiation treatments. I still haven't done any actual quilting on quilt tops because I'm afraid I'm going to make a big mess and ruin the tops. Any suggestions on how to get started on actually quilting a project?

Welcome to the board from Southern California.
I can't help you with starting on a mid/long arm, I am still dreaming about owning one someday.
I suggest practicing on some scrap first, you don't want to have to unstitch!!

Hello and welcome from Ontario. I am envious of your machine but as Gayle said make yourself some practice quilt sandwichs and just jump in. We have all had our issues with quilting but improvement only comes with patience and practise

Practice, practice, practice....before long you'll be a pro!

Hello and welcome from SW Iowa. Glad to have you here.

No sugesstions but a warm welcome from NY. Hope you are back to good health to stay!

I see my oncologist every three months and so far, so good!

For give me for any mistakes im new from zrizona.

oh for petes sake it arizona

Hi and welcome from Oklahoma.

Just go for it! You'll probably do better than you think. Practice on quilt sandwiches first. You can do it!!

Welcome from Texas! It's practice that makes perfect with any skill. Go for it!

Hi and welcome from the sunny state of Florida!

Welcome from Pine Grove, CA.

I can't give any advice on the long arm but I imagine it just takes lots of practice. (you can give me advice when I get mine.....lol)

Try making some small lap quilts and then donate them to a charity.

Welcome from North Carolina.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! I know I just need to get up the nerve and start practicing and just do it! lol

Welcome from Illinois

[img]http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/s...um/welcome.gif[/img]
So happy that you joined us :D:D:D

Make a couple of big sandwiches to practice on...then bind them and use them for utility quilts :D:D:D

Good idea. I'll try that, even if my dog ends up with them! lol

Hi Rexene, and Welcome from an almost neighbor!! I'm in Otsego, just a hop from you!
Diana :):)

Wow, we should get together sometime!

Yeap! :)

Welcome from Centennial, Colorado.