I have a new Quilting "mommy" here on this board, as a newbie, and I am just tickled pink to get ideas, answers to my myriad of questions about quilting, and such. I have never been one to allow myself to " trust" easily, but for some reason, my new QM makes me feel welcome ( as YOU ALL DO ), and not stupid when I ask questions since she adopted me.
Who is YOUR quilting mentor ( mommy, lol ), and why is she/ he important to you?

My mother. She was a wonderful woman. She gardened, took care of six kids plus whomever we drug home, helped with the livestock and the farming, was the top Avon sales lady in Illinois and six surrounding states, quilted, sewed, and did all this through major health problems. Mom was blind in one eye, suffered numerous problems stemming from being severely malnurished as a child, was forced to leave home and be on her own at 11 yrs old and was a WWII widow by the time she was 16 1/2. She had Lupus, Arthritis, Collangens(sp?) disease, Raynods, and Fibromyalgia and still made some of the most beautiful quilts I've ever seen. She pieced and quilted all by hand. I have lots of questions answered by members of the board and I cherish all of you but my momma was and always will be my number 1 mentor.

My Mom did it for me also. I had rheumatic fever at age 8. At that time, bedrest and daily penicillin was the treatment. My Mom quit her teaching job to stay home with me. She kept me quiet by sitting by my bed and teaching me to handpiece. I made three complete tops that year and have them to this day. I still love the traditional patterns she taught me.

My friend Debra gave me a class on Memorial Day 2001. It was payment for finishing a cross stitched piece for her. I haven't stop since.

Rapture Ready,
Wow, through thick and thin, good and bad times, your mom sounds like she was a strong woman of character, as well as a strong woman who never let a minute stop on the clock. For all her struggles, she sounds like she accomplished all that she wanted to do, or needed to do - whether it was what was fun or not. You had to have been so blessed to know such a woman. Awesome story of seamless Love!

SheQuilts, your story sounds much like Rapture Ready's .. I so wish I had had someone teach me the importance of quilting, or basically anything that would stand the test of time. Thank you for sharing your story, too!

My Aunt Priscilla. She died in 2002 at the age of 92. She was Mennonite and had quilted her whole life. She never married and worked full-time in a factory to support herself. She took in people's quilt tops and handquilted them to make extra money. Though she retired at the age of 76, she still handquilted to supplement her Social Security and retirement.

I asked her one time how long it took her to quilt a quilt. She told me that when she was working full-time it took her 3 weeks to do a king-size...but after she retired it took her 6 weeks! ROFL

She was a hilarious person to be around and was still sharp as a tack, lived by herself, and even still drove up till the day she died.

RIP Aunt Priscilla! I know you are in heaven quilting right now!

She was probably the strongest in character, hard working, loving, caring, down to earth, level headed woman I've ever known and yes, my life was blessed by having her for a mother. Doubly blessed by having an equally wonderful father.
They were truly a matched set in the things that mattered, total opposites in looks. Mom had natural platinum blond hair (it finally started to darken after the twins were born) and light blue eyes, Dad had almost black hair with hazel eyes. She was statuesque --almost 6' tall. He was the same height with broad shoulders and narrow hips. They made a striking pair--she with an angular unique subtle beauty and him drop dead, spin your head around, handsome. But their greatest asset was their love for God, each other and their 6 kids.

My amazing mother-in-law taught me to sew in 2004. My own family does nothing crafty. We never had any quilts in our home. My mother-in-law sewed for her 4 kids, and has made several quilts. I am so thankful for her!

My mother-in-law sparked my interest in quilting. Even though she has been my ex-MIL for the past 10 years, she is still one of my best friends. She is a remarkable woman.