Quiltingboard Forums - Howdy from Houston!

Hi! My name is Jamie, and I am just now getting back into quilting after a long hiatus while my children were growing up. (I had no space!!) I have been doing a lot of counted cross stitch during that time and, after filling my walls with reproductions of antique samplers I have stitched, I decided I wanted to reproduce an antique quilt to go with them!

I went looking at new quilt books, planning to do a nice, quick, easy, strip-pieced red-and-White Irish chain (I have a collection of red & white samplers).

Of course, instead I found the new book, "An Abundant Life" it is an adaptation of the Bird of paradise quilt In the Museum Of American Folk Art! I am in LOVE!

Oh, and to make shipping worthwhile, I also ordered the Mary Simon pattern from the DAR Museum-- 25 elaborate Baltimore Album blocks!

I guess it's a good thing I enjoy handwork! (I learned hand appliqué from a protege of Elly Sienkiwicz ages ago.)

When I am not biting off more than I can chew in my needlework obsessions (I still have scads of cross stitch WIPs and stash I plan to finIsh), I am a history professor, 28 years married to my best buddy, with a son, 27, and daughters 24, and 19.

I am looking forward to making new friends here. Is anyone else a hand appliqué fanatic or interested in a leisurely SAL?