Hi, Welcome to my new Group! I ask that you stop here and introduce yourself - although you may already have introduced yourself in other areas on QCA, I am asking that you introduce yourself here... please no discussions here - if you want to welcome someone go over to General Chit Chat and have the discussion there... Please start at the beginning of any thread so that you know what is happening in that thread so you don't have to ask questions that might have been answered prior to the last page. Thank you all in Advance for helping! Remember - the Introduction here is to make it easier for members of the Christmas All Year Long Group - Our goal here is to keep the Christmas Spirit in each and every one of us every day of the year!
I am Althea - friends here at QCA call me Thea... I am 58 years old and married - been married for 23 years. I have one wonderful son - 2 wonderful grand kids and 1 new grand son on the way.
I have been sewing all my life! I have been actively quilting for about 25 years. I know how to knit, crochet, embroider, tat, cook, bake and garden. I love - absolutely love creativity.
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I believe that if the Lord is in our lives that we can do anything. No matter what trials we have in life that the Lord will assist us and make it possible for us to make it through them with a smile.
I started this group - called Christmas all Year Long to create that wonderful spirit that we have during the Christmas season. That wonderful giving spirit that we all partake in.
I would like to make Christmas 2013 easier for all of us and less stressful and to do that I am going to - with all of your help - come up with gift ideas that are HOMEMADE - to make these gifts through out the year so that when Thanksgiving comes around we are all ready for Christmas and don't have the stress of worrying about anything...
So without further ado... I am going to get going with the first project for 2013...
PS: If you have ideas for a project for 2013, please contact me... I have a tentative calendar for this year with projects penciled in - and since I know I can not do them all by myself - will pencil yours in - it might be one I have scheduled and I can put your name down next to it for you to do that month - or it might not be on my list at all and i can add it on to one of the months. There is no reason why we can't have more then 1 project each month - or different ways to do a project from different members... what I do want though is to keep this simple and organized.
The group for now has been set up so that only I can start a thread - but that is to just keep it organized... so just contact me with your ideas and we will go from there...
Merry Christmas 2013... it is going to be a great one!
Hi, I'm Jean from Lexington, SC. I am 61 years old, married for 8 years. I have a son and daughter who have provided me with 5 beautiful grandchildren in the last 5 years!!! (It took them awhile, but then ..... Wow!!) I also have 2 wonderful stepdaughters with an additional 2 grandsons. Life is hectic at the holidays. I am still working for the State of SC as a budget analyst. Only have 7 more months before retirement. I look forward to it, but will surely miss my work. I have been in that office for the last 26 years. It's like my other home, but look at the time I will have to sew.
I just started seriously quilting last January, though I have been sewing since grade school, clothes, costumes and crafts. Grammy (Me) makes the children's Halloween costumes each year. As my 4 year old grandson says" Grammy can do anything". (Gotta love him!) I have participated in 3 mystery quilts on QCA. They are so much fun, makes me get out of my comfort zone for awhile.
This summer I will be attending a retreat with Bonnie Hunter. My first one! So excited.
I am so excited to see this group get started. Look forward to the coming months. Last year was my first SS and I was totally blown away by the gifts. It was so much fun to shop for my SS too.
Hi from Agnes, a neighbor to the north. I live in Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba. I lost my husband of 44 years to pancreatic cancer in Sept. I have two sons and one grandson. I am 68. learned to stitch and sew at a very young age, tried and developed many hobbies over the years but since seriously discovering quilting 20 years ago that has become and remained my creative outlet. It is also very much my sanity saver and the relaxant I need. It's not cheaper than medication but a lot more fun and fulfilling so as long as I physically can it will remain so. I have gifted many quilts to family and friends but my focus is now slowly changing to smaller articles that I can donate to the Cancer Care gift nook. My interest in knitting has rekindled but I keep that simple, dishcloths and key hole scarves primarily. I enjoy baking and cooking but for one and trying to control weight that has become very simple. I used to love my flower gardens but living in the concrete jungle that is no longer an option. Except for the past four years lived on a farm, small villages and towns so I am a country girl at heart. I really enjoy working with vibrant colors and batiks. In the quilt making process the design part and seeing it come together is my favorite part.
Jean Agnes and Melody - thank you so much for sharing - although I have known some of you for a couple years now it is fun to read about you again and to learn just a little more. I hope you enjoy our Christmas Group - I have high hopes for it. I finished my pictoral tutorial on the pillowcases today and have it posted now. Let me know if it makes sense or if I need to clarify any of the steps. And if you have any ideas for a tutorial - let me know and I will start a thread for you. Right now I am the only one that can start threads so that we can keep the group pretty simple. Let me know anything and everything that you want! I will try and make it happen if I can...
Hi. I am Denise. My husband of 29 years and I live in Sebastian, FL. I am 58 years old and we have one son (19) who is in college about one hour away. I started quilting in 1990 on a treadle machine given to us by my in-laws. I didn't know a thing about sewing. I made a small quilt in a class and have been hooked ever since. My son still loves that quilt and usually wants everyone I make. Currently, I have been making baby quilts since 3 neices have had 4 babies in 2.5 years. I am behind on those. I work full-time so I do not get a lot accomplished in the quilting area. Now I have to clean my sewing area before I can continue with the current baby quilt. I love all fabric and love scrap quilts. I also knit, crochet, and cross stitch. We have one dog, two cats, and one Leopard Gecko.
Thank you, Denise
Hello, I am Jan, 54 years old, married for 36 years. I have 3 adult children and 2 granddaughters. I started sewing in grade school, and have done garment construction on and off all my life. I also knit, crochet, make costumes for the kids and grands, do some cake decorating. I cook when I have to and can do so well. I liked to bake until I was diagnosed with Celiac disease about 6 years ago and find it difficult to work with all the gluten free flours. My mother and grandmother each quilted so I started young. I did not quilt much from the early 80's until about the last 5 years. Not much time while the children were busy being children and involved in children type things.
I love new things and like to have a timetable, but am not good and making myself stick to it so I love the idea of "one for everybody" every couple of months. I absolutely love to give the presents and see the lights of appreciation in the personal touch gifts we as quilters seem to like to give.
hopefully I can even figure out how to take the pics and get them on the site.
Jan in Rochester, NY
Hi im Frances,
I live in Buckinghamshire in England about 30 miles from London. Im divorced no kids (so i get to spend all my money on fabric). I live with my Dad who is truly wonderful and i am so lucky to have him and i appreciate him even more since my Mum died in November i still have troubled days where i miss her so much, but i find the busier i am the less time i have to think.
I am trying hard this year to make lots of gifts since last year i made nothing not even Christmas cards normally i make about 40 last year i only made about 7, and the good thing is im starting part time hours from the first of February which means i have more time to quilt.
lots of love
Francesxx
Hi,
I am Kelli. I live in Oklahoma just outside of Oklahoma City. I am 39 and have been married for going on 11 years. I have 2 adult sons, and 3 stepchildren whom I don't know very well but who live in my heart all the same. I also have 1 granddaughter from one of my stepchildren. I have been quilting and sewing for 2 years and am completely addicted. I work full time but, the job I do allows me to be online most of the day. I use that time to research quilting and sewing or to do a hand project.
My goal this year is to give as many handmade gifts as possible so, this group is perfect!
Kelli
Hi everyone, I'm Mimi. I'm going to be 61 in a month and have been sewing what seems like my entire life. My mother was a great sewer and crafter, owning a small shop with friends where they sold lots of their products. I guess I inherited my love of needlecraft from her. My DH and I will celebrate our 40th anniversary this June. I live in the northwestern suburbs of Philadelphia close to the NE extension of the PA turnpike. I teach English as a Second Language full time to elementary aged children. I have also been a classroom teacher in both kindergarten and sixth grade. At the end of this year I will have taught for more than 20 years. We have two children who are now both grown and married. Our daughter has blessed us with two granddaughters aged 6 and 2. Our son is still in the honeymoon stage of his marriage, although he has adopted a shelter lab mix puppy. I guess that counts as a "kid." I also like to tend our flower gardens, knit, crochet, embroider, and do crewel work as well as counted cross stitch, although the holes in the material have gotten harder to see. This is my first Secret Santa group and look forward to all the new things I'll be learning and for once being ready for Christmas when it arrives this December. Thanks Thea for running the group. It's going to be great.
Hey y'all, I am Bev from Tennessee and have been a member here for less than a year. I am 63 years young, married for 43 years and have 2 grown Sons but no Grandchildren. I have always loved looking at quilts but finally decided to make one myself right before joining QCA. My first quilt was made using the Yellow Brick Road pattern and I even hand quilted it myself. For someone who did not like sewing in HS, this is an accomplishment. I now have 4 completed small quilts and more projects planned than I will ever finish but it hasn't stopped me from buying more material although I have tapered off a little since my goal is to finish quilts I have already planned. I have learned so much from all of you and want to say thanks for being such a great group. Thea, thanks so much for starting this group. I am looking forward to making Christmas projects for this years SS.
Happy Quilting
Bev
from TN
Hi y'all, I'm Barbara, I'm a resident of Missouri ,but was born and raised in Indiana, I'm going to be 61 next week ,I'm a widow of two years and I have my son living with me now who is a disabled Vet ,with PTSD. I have been sewing since I was about 10 , but got into quilting about 5 years ago now . I live in a very old farm house which is now in town, My late DH and I did a lot of remodeling when we bought it. I have a great dog named Angel who is a Akita /collie mix ,thank goodness she got the collie disposition . I also enjoy reading and usually read about 2 books weekly . I'm in love with Mark Harmon and wish I was his wife ..LOL My best friend is Thea and she and I sew together just about everyday ,thanks to Skype and I'll be going to see her in OK here in the next day or two. I love CW quilts and 30's repo fabric and I love to make teapots . have even started collecting them .I'm a very active member of QCA and I run several of the groups on here. I'm a very bad typist and often get my letters backwards,so be kind with me LOL .I also host two quilting retreat during the year and wish I could do more .. I love this site and will probably be a lifer ... Barbara
EAT!! SLEEP !! QUILT!!
Hi Everyone,
I'm Melissa. I'm 57 years young. I live in a very small mountain town in northern California. Our little town is about 900 hundred strong. It is in the Sierra mountains and I love it here. The closest LQS is about 45 minutes drive away. Well so is everything else. I am married to my first husband. We were divorced for 10 years and have been together again for 22 years. We have 3 grown children. No grandchildren. I think my youngest is my best hope for any grandchildren.
I am disabled due to COPD and heart problems. I was very ill with my heart and lung problems. I barely could even get out of bed. I was in and out of the hospital. Well one day I decided I was not going to die and decided to start walking. I could only make it about 50 yards the first time. I have since had lap band surgery and lost about 85 pounds. I walk all the time now and am off all my heart meds and off my oxygen. I still have my good days and my bad days though,
I've been quilting for about 2 years. I've been sewing since I was a young girl. I have a home based sewing business and alterations. I love to sew. It relieves stress and relaxes me. My DH calls it my therapy. My DH built a big cutting table for me and I love it. I have a Bernina and a Elna overlock. I don't think I have too much fabric. I have always collected fabric and I don't foresee stopping any time soon. I crochet but have never gotten the hang of knitting. I also do a little tole painting. My sister always has projects for me. My mother also taught my sister and I how to decorate cakes. I always come back to sewing and have become addicted to quilting . I love the way it just unfolds as you piece at every step. I love, love, love quilting. I hope someday to go on a retreat and meet some of you in person. I have to say, I love QCA. I'm with Barbara, I will probably be a lifer.
I'm so happy to be a part of this.
Georgetown, CA I'd Rather Be Quilting
Thank you all for letting us in your lives. It makes me feel a little closer to you all.
Hi, I am going to turn 52 in a couple of months. Live in Central Missouri. Have a son and a daughter and a stepson and stepdaughter. They are all grown and married, also have a total of 4 grandchildren. Lost my mother in Oct 2011 to cancer, then lost my husband Nov 2011 to cancer. Work full time. Quilting is my theraphy. Love making homemade gifts for my family and friends. I have a Jack Russell terrier, named Tassie. She keeps me company and I get my exercise by walking her a couple of times a day. Looking forward to this group and getting to know everyone.