I love your name, Charae! When my sisters and I were born, my mom asked my dad what we should be named and he said "You give them a name, or I'll give them a number." So my mom did the naming. And since we were blessed with an unpronouncable last name, at least in the US (Rehak -- pronounced "Ray-Hawk"), she decided to give us first names that could be easily spelled and pronounced: Susan, Linda and Nancy (and Stephen, who ended up not surviving). I have friends who I've known for over 20 years who still can't remember how to pronounce my last name!

Nancy

I agree, Charae your name is a perfect belly-dancer's name.

Belly dancing huh? I think you two win! I actually bought one of those "teach yourself at home" tapes for belly dancing. But I couldn't get it. By body just won't move that way. I thought it would be a fun way to exercise.
And Charae, there is nothing wrong with your name that I can tell and I think your teacher was rude.

Well -- wouldn't we have been a fun pair [ insert mental picture here! ]. Nope on the finger cymbals, but I could probably scrounge up a slave bracelet or hip scarf.

And, I love your name! It sounds so free and very belly-dancer cool.

Wish I had known you in '76, JoJo! You would have been my idol! In '76 I was in belly dancing classes at the YWCA in Chicago, "firmly" (L0L) convinced that learning to belly roll would give me a nice flat stomach. I didn't understand the difference between strengthening and toning back then, but I did learn how to do belly rolls! My teacher called me "Shaharazade"--not because of my dance accomplishments, but because she really disliked my name. After all these years I still know exactly where my finger cymbals are, do you??

Okay, I give in and have to play a little as well.

1976 semi-finalist South-High Belly-Dancing Tournament. No – I do not still have the outfit and even if I did, it would come even close to covering my thigh now! I was all of 95 pounds soaking wet back then.

First job was working in a manufacturing facility sewing garments for piecework. I was the youngest on the line which lent perfectly to being severely taunted by the older women. Of course being a teenager and extremely naive didn't help at all because I believed everything they told me, which caused quite a few loud belly laughs on many occasions. I know they loved me because they always had a big smile every time they saw me.

Accounting, secretarial, and account rep took over a major chunk of my working life. I left the corporate world and started my embroidery business 8 years ago. Now I get to be an accountant, secretary, account rep, seamstress, and occasionally I may even dance a little (only when I’m by myself however).

And last but not least, I’m a quilt maker, wife, and mom to one small Dilly dog.

Hello Rita and Lois!

Nice to see my face too. Took a while to do but with help from Wendy and Bob here I am!

You bet Lois, lots more quilting with retirement.

Barb

So nice seeing your face. Will more quilting come with retirement? As I am spending less time working, it feels as if quilting is my new career.

Hi there Barb, nice to see you!

Thanks Wendy!

Barb

Go to user control panel on top left , then profile then edit avatar and then you can upload your picture

Neat idea Margo - what a fun thread!

Loved fiber and fiber arts for as long as I can remember. Learned to sew on my Mother's converted treadle sewing machine. Took Home EC classes in Jr/Sr High and took some fashion design/pattern design classes in college. Enjoyed making clothing for myself and our three children, designing square dance costumes, prom dresses and even shirts for my husband. Caught the quilting bug in the mid 90's.

DH and I spent our beginning years in and around Anchorage Alaska. Returning to the Seattle area before our oldest DD was born. We lived in and around Seattle until moving to Southern California in 1999.

I was a stay at home Mom while our children were young, working PT as they got a little older then FT as the youngest started Jr High. I've been an Admin Assistant the past 30 years, I plan to retire for the second time this Fall.

BarbCA

I do have one question - how do I add a profile picture?

loise98 wrote:
world "piecing"?????!!!!!!

anne1 wrote:
Perhaps we'd see world peace.