I learned to quilt about 20 years ago, when my kids were young. I took some classes at the LQS taught by a woman named Gerlinde Andersen...not sure where she is today, but she was very creative and artistic. While she taught the fundamentals, she also shared her creativity with us. I was very excited to have my first hand quilted wall hanging on display at the LQS for months and yes, I still have it.
My favorite quilts are the artsy/unusual patterns like the OBW, French braid, bargellos...and I love purples, fuschias, greens and blues, so a lot of my fabric is on those colors ...
I only have a few quilts since most of them have been gifts.
No antique quilts, don't enter shows, not in a guild.I try to talk all my friends into quilting, but find it easier to make quilters my friends!
I took a break for about 10 years to go to school and raise my kids and now I am back at quilting while starting over again with a foster child that is 3 years old. Makes it a little tough to find time to sew since I also work full time. So I have substituted machine time for QB time :)
And I quilt because I love the patterns and designs that we make when we 're-arrange' fabric. I love the feel of 100% cotton and the adventure of finding the right fabric. The concentration needed to match seams and plan color schemes takes me away from the worries and tasks that time up most of my days. The satisfaction I get from creating a work of art, and the pleasure of giving it to someone I love, or donating it to a worthy cause.

Who taught you how to quilt?
-- I taught myself the basics which was enough for pillows, but I went to a sampler class to get a better idea. Both of my grandmothers were crafters and I think I am genetically predisposed.

What pattern was the first quilt you made?
-- a sampler, but that is not finished - just a top. The first one I finished was a floral in white and lavender for my brother's wedding and then a log cabin in black and white for my sister (same year)

Do you still have your 1st quilt?
-- nope, it was gifted and is still in use.

Which of your quilts is your favorite and why?
--my "Nightmare on Elm Street" quilt is my cuddle quilt. It is washed so often that it's starting to get that silky-shiny look in spots. It's an uneven 9-patch with alternating hour-glass (or something like that) done in all fall colors. The nasty b-tch at he LQS told me that all those colors would be awful (hence the name).

What do you do with the quilts you make?
--mostly I talk of making quilts because I spend my time here, chatting. lol THe others are primarily gifts. DH has one, and one sort of had an accident and got to stay by default.

What is the oldest quilt in your collection?
-- A wall hanging my MIL's grandmother made. It may be from the 40s?

Do you belong to a guild, or attend workshops?
--not currently. I may go back next year. Right now, this QB is guild enough. But I try to take in some workshops at the LQS.

Have you ever entered a quilt in a quilt-show or fair?
--Nope. Not good enough. And when I get good enough, I still won't. Too many quilt police out there in the real world.

Have you encouraged others to try quilting?
--Any chance I get. Not sure how successful.

Why do you quilt?
It keeps me out of bars. lol
Actually, it fulfills the creative need. Love to touch the fabric and ogle the colors. It's my religion.

If you enter a quilt in a competition that some one else had a part in making you just add their name to your quilt saying what they did such as....machine quilting done by Jane Doe.

Who taught you how to quilt?
.....I did

What pattern was the first quilt you made?
.....Broken Dishes

Do you still have your 1st quilt?
.....Yes

Which of your quilts is your favorite and why?
....."Sampler Magic" because it's not finished yet

What do you do with the quilts you make?
.....Keep them, hang on walls

What is the oldest quilt in your collection?
.....A red and white sampler of machine embroidery redwork squares

Do you belong to a guild, or attend workshops?
.....On and off. Mostly not.

Have you ever entered a quilt in a quilt-show or fair?
.....No

Have you encouraged others to try quilting?
.....Yes

Why do you quilt?
.....It's just in me.
.

1-I'm strictly self taught. I've never had any kind of sewing or quilting classes. 2- 4 & 9 patch 3-no, it was a seasonal quilt (Christmas) and I had it for 5 years and it never saw my bed, so I gave it as a Christmas present for a friend of mine that decorates her house seasonally. 4-no favorites 5-most my quilts have been lap sized, tied and donated to charities. 6- about 5 years 7-no 8-no, have thought about it 9- all the time 10- I like to sew and quilt

Who taught you how to quilt? Self taught from the Singer Quilting by Machine book for a start.....

What pattern was the first quilt you made? I made a scrappy quilt from garment fabrics with old blanket in the middle and flannel sheet on the back. It was UGLY! Then I made a real sampler quilt from the Singer book.

Do you still have your 1st quilt? No, but my mother still has the second sampler

Which of your quilts is your favorite and why? Eye of the Beholder, I love a quilt that makes you look at it twice and see something else.

What do you do with the quilts you make? Give away for the most part. I have sold two

What is the oldest quilt in your collection? I have a Road to Oklahoma Quilt that is just 14 years old.

Do you belong to a guild, or attend workshops? Yes and yes

Have you ever entered a quilt in a quilt-show or fair? yes in a show and sale, I was in the sale part

Have you encouraged others to try quilting? Oh yes

Why do you quilt? good therapy & there is something about creating a quilt that nothing else comes close to.

Ooh! This thread is fun!!!

Who taught you how to quilt? I played around with quilting with my grandmother, but to use the modern tools and such I used one of the Leisure Arts "Teach Yourself to Quilt" books.

What pattern was the first quilt you made? It was a sampler so I could learn all the techniques.

Do you still have your 1st quilt? Yes, hanging in my family room. (See picture below! :-D My son, Sam, was hamming it up for our first day of school!)

Which of your quilts is your favorite and why? The Mountain Laurel Sampler I am currently trying to finish hand quilting! It's reds and browns and blacks and all the different blocks inspire me!

What do you do with the quilts you make? Pile 'em up to give away when I die!!! LOL!

What is the oldest quilt in your collection? I have a quilt top with fabrics in it that we've dated to the 1830's. I have another completed quilt that is from around the 1880's.

Do you belong to a guild, or attend workshops? Yes and yes

Have you ever entered a quilt in a quilt-show or fair? yes in some local shows. I won "Best Hand Quilted" in my town in 2007! :-) (detail, below! :-D)

Have you encouraged others to try quilting? Oh yes. I'm kinda insane about it. "Oh! Let me show you.....!!!!!"

Why do you quilt? It blesses the artist in me and soothes my soul! Therapy, indeed!

Blessings,
Mary Lou

Who taught you how to quilt?
I did.

What pattern was the first quilt you made?
A double Irish chain. From templates and cut out with scissors.

Do you still have your 1st quilt?
Yup, it's on the back of hubby's chair.


Which of your quilts is your favorite and why?
I don't think I have a favorite.

What do you do with the quilts you make?
Give them away, hang them on walls, put them on beds.

What is the oldest quilt in your collection?
I have a baby quilt that was made for my mother.

Do you belong to a guild, or attend workshops?
I belong to 3 guilds and I've attended a few workshops.


Have you ever entered a quilt in a quilt-show or fair?
I've entered in the county fair several years and the state fair a couple of times. I've taken home every thing from white third place ribbons to grand champion ribbons.

Have you encouraged others to try quilting?
Sometimes.

Why do you quilt?
Because there are no collar points or set in sleeves.

Becuase I love color, design, and creating something that will hopefully make someone happy.

Too Much Fabric,

I love your quilts!