I’ve been lurking here for a while, and decided to come out of hiding. This board is great! I live in Ottawa, Ontario and work for the Canadian government. I have two kids, one is away at university and one is in grade 12. I have an awesome Shetland Sheepdog named Jack who is the only man who is happy to see me when I come home from work. :-)

I learned how to sew when I was 8 and have done cross-stitch, needlepoint and basic sewing since then. I’ve wanted to learn to quilt my whole life (seriously – I’ve been saving fabric scraps since I was about 14 – I’m 44 now) but only got around to taking an intro course two years ago. I’ve made several since then – attached are a few examples. I absolutely love it but I’m not very competent yet. I want to learn to appliqué and FMQ. Someday I’d like to learn how to long arm quilt too. I think the stitching on top is what makes the overall look – it really adds a lot of dimension and beauty. I’ve been practicing FMQ but it looks like crap. I tried to get into a class at a local quilt store but it was full, so hopefully they will have room in January. I think I may have finally mastered stitching on the seam lines without wandering off too much.

In the meantime, I practice by making baby quilts and giving them to anyone at my office who is having a baby. People can’t believe it, and I always feel bad because I don’t think they are all that great. I’ll try and attach some pictures of a few that I have made. I’m looking forward to learning more from this group!

Canada Kate said: Wishing I Could Quit Work and Quilt Full Time!

Ditto! Love the black, white and red.

Welcome aboard from Northern California!

Hi, I'm from Ottawa, too and just signed up today. Small world but a good thing.

Sailorwoman

Welcome from Oregon. Your quilt tops are lovely. I am a fairly new quilter to and love the peicing but not the quilting part so much. These wonderful people here will help you out a lot if you have questions.
Tammy

your quilts are all lovely!
and remember-we are all our own worst critics---when we show a quilt to someone else- they do not see any mistakes- they have no idea it is not exactly what you intended it to be- only you know that (unless you point out the errors and tell on yourself) no one knows they are mistakes---so don't worry about it :)
glad you finally jumped in here and let us see some of your quilts!
many of us wish (and dream) of the day we can retire and quilt all the time :)

Welcome from Michigan.:) Nice Quilts!

Welcome from Alabama. All your quilts are lovely. Great job.

welcome from va your quilts are beautiful

Welcome from the beautiful Carson Valley...just below Lake Tahoe! Love your quilts!

Thanks you so much for the encouragement (and everyone else who has welcomed me, too!). You are right that we know where the mistakes are! I saw a post/picture on here earlier today of someone who had entered her quilt in a county fair and won for best machine quilted entry and it was *gorgeous*. The designs on the top were to die for. When I can do that, I will be satisfied! (That's probably asking for a lot, eh?!)

Hello and welcome from northern California! Your quilts are beautiful, thank you for sharing.

Welcome from Washington State! Your quilts are beautiful! I, too, would love to quit work to quilt. Someday......

Hi from Ohio! Love your quilts!

Very pretty quilts, Welcome from Oklahoma!

Welcome to you and the beautiful quilts you have made. As a person who is now retired I have to mention that though working life is over...many every day things take great hunks of crafting time from your day.:):)
Cheerio Shirley, Queensland,australia

Greetings from New Hampshire
Like all your quilts - particularly the latest

Your quilts are beautiful. Welcome from MO.

You rquilts are awesome. Welcome!

welcome, from florida. i think your quilts are great. your practice is definitely paying off. and when your able to retire...your skill level will be there. i'm at the beginning stage of quilting and not old enough to retire yet...but someday. :D

Welcome!!
from another Ontarian ... only about 6 hrs away! :)

Hi and welcome from Connecticut. I think that your quilts are lovely and I am glad that you decided to join the board. It's an awesome place to be!

Yeah, I started learning to quilt in 1986 where I worked. I was hostess of an antebellum home located on the Natchez Trace. I didn't start my own quilting until 30 years later even though I got quilting books, Georgia Bonesteal (sp?)and and others. I wish I had started much sooner, though. There is so much to learn. I love it though. I love the small stitches of the handquilting, and I especially love the colors. The whole design is made by the color combinations, I think...

Welcome from Michigan. Looks like you'll fit right in. Lovely quilts.

And i especially love the black, white, and red quilt. Lovely!

Hi and welcome to the board from Iowa. Your quilts are wonderful gifts and I am sure the recipients treasure them.

Hi there and welcome from Arizona! Your quilt are great!

Welcome and your quilts are lovely.

Welcome aboard

Beautiful work! Welcome from Long Island, NY :mrgreen:

Welcome to the board from Southern California!
Beautiful work!! thanks for sharing your quilts with us!

Very nice

Hello, and welcome from Michigan--Thanks for sharing your beautiful work!

Welcome from Whitby Ontario! I wish my first quilts were as good as yours are!
If you are ever near me come and play on my Longarm machine and practise FMQ!

Welcome from Adrian, MI

hi from Southern California....i am retired and i promise myself that at least two days a week will be nothing but quilting !!!!! and it works... stuff i have to leave the house for is schedualed for tuesday or thursday and on wednesday i spend the entire day at the LQS with a group of like minded individuals and we work on group and individual projects soooooooooooo the "moral" of the story is, you can do this....prepare for retirement with a great stash, good thread and needles and the thing i forgot , batting, ran out after the first two years.

Welcome from Iowa. You do beautiful work.

Howdy and welcome aboard from the desert of Nevada. You did a wonderful job on your quilts and you keep trying new things and you will also have a quilt that is what you consider "gorgeous". :lol:

Kate, your quilts are beautiful!! I'd be proud to display any one of them!!
Welcome from Long Island, NY

feel your pain - I'm right there with you!!

You are doing great to be working and yet turning out such beautiful work. I am retired, but where does the time go? It seems I got more done when I worked outside the home.