Well, I certainly didn't mean for this to turn into an Aunt Becky advertisement or a LQS bash or a machine-quilting bash.
I'll be honest, I had an idea in my head about what machine quilting is... and I didn't think it was much of an art. Push a button and it quilts itself? But that was before I joined this forum and realized that it's not just "set it and forget it". So I looked around the internet and found some amazing examples of machine quilting!! We all have our preferences, and that’s why they offer chocolate and vanilla ice cream.
The ladies at the quilt store were perfectly nice to me and I’m not complaining about that store-or any store for that matter! They didn’t have what I wanted, and I still have to wait on it to come in the mail. Life goes on! I wrongly assumed that they would carry something that AC Moore, Michaels, Joanne’s, and Hobby Lobby didn’t carry either. I wasn’t impressed by the store, but that doesn’t mean that they are bad and I’m sorry if my venting came off that way.

I haven't read this entire thread so i hope i'm not repeating someone else. I have Aunt Becky's thimble and also the lap hoop and I love them both. I do understand what you mean when you say you have difficulty finding LQS's who cater our handquilting needs. I love quilt stores but mostly leave empty handed.... No needles, or good thimbles, or threads, or rubber fingers etc. SO... i make a day trip to Amish country (for me that's Shipshewana Indiana) ever so often and load up! I love to shop in the Amish stores, right alongside them. :-D They understand handquilting needs!
Melody

Wanted to add that I got my Aunt Beckys today in the mail. It's a bit skimpier than I imagined :) And I went into another shop today, just to see... I needed machine needles... "Do you carry an Aunt Becky?"
He at least knew what I was talking about, but he doesn't carry anything for hand quilting. Strike Two!

Hi Ashley,
I started quilt making in the late 80's when hand quilting was a lot more popular than it seems to be now.
I haven't used that Aunt Becky thing- let me know how you like it.
I also find it very relaxing :)
Sue

I just ordered Aunt Becky today from connecting threads...it is on it's way....I do hope I like it. :)

Ashley - I know all too well the frustration of not being able to find YLI hand quilting thread, or a good selection of stencils to mark my quilt. I am thankful that I got a great frame about 10 yrs ago that doesn't take up a lot of space.

I spend every evening quilting when I come home from work...can't imagine doing anything else!

I'm going to post this in pictures, too...

I do think before looks better....good job.. :thumbup:

I agree. I'm not comfortable using her yet!

When I was growing up (which was a while ago) all we ever did was hand quilting. They didn't have long arm quilting back then. They didn't even "stitch in the ditch". The quilt was either tied or it was "properly quilted". I sure wish I'd had an Aunt Becky's finger saver then! I used to use a thimble and push the needle through with my thumb. (I was a child, and then a teen. The thimble fit on my thumb.) My Mother and Great Grandmother, who taught me how to quilt, made leather thimbles for her own thumbs. I thought it was relaxing, but sometimes boring. I liked it better when we had "quilting bees" and there was a whole lot of women working on the same quilt. It was a badge of honor to be a child and be allowed to work the quilt with the women.

A few years ago, my husband and I were visiting friends, and were planning to go out for dinner. The gentleman from the other couple went to put on his evening shirt, and found that a seam had come apart. I said: "No, problem, I can fix that right up for you." They didn't have a sewing machine, but they did have needle and thread. So I stitched the seam shut. I remember him looking at it in awe. "Where did you learn to sew such perfect straight, perfectly equal, little stitches?" he asked. Well, then my secret was out!

Now that I'm retired from a grueling career, and routine 60-70 hour weeks, I am back to quilting. I don't know how to LAQ. I do want to learn, and am learning. But it's amazing how easy it is for me to pick up a needle and thread and quilt away on some small project I'm making while Hubby watches TV (I don't watch, but he enjoys it, and I enjoy being with him). However, I've been told, by my nieces and nephews, and now grandnieces and grandnephews, (and they are such experts on what is in fashion) that hand quilting is "old fashioned", so if I send them something, they want it machine quilted. However, my sisters and brothers do not see it this way, and welcome all hand quilting.

As soon as I finish this post, I'm going to order one of the finger protectors from Connecting Threads (one of my most favorite stores -- love, love, love their fabric clearance section -- great fabric for great prices).

You aren't the only one who still likes to hand quilt. We're still out here!