My HST's arrived yesterday!!! They are gorgeous!!!!

I want to take this opportunity to thank Peggy Bass for making my triangles for this exchange. After I signed up I broke my wrist and had to have surgery on it and was unable to make them. Peggy found out and volunteered to make them for me (for this and the other SOTTT exchange). I was just so amazed that someone I had never met would do this. Thanks Peggy. I can't wait to put the HST's into a quilt as soon as I can sew again.

I also had not been reading the Forum lately and when I went on today as saw that Ricky's HST would be loose in the package I could have kicked myself. I didn't check for anything loose and the garbage went out this morning. Then I started looking back at the posts from last week and I saw my name on the list of people Ritzy needed a SASE from in order to get Ricky's HST to them. What a relief. Someone is really watching out for me.

Teresa in Orlando
tbrown0307
who may try to sew without letting the doctor know

The envelope of treasures has arrived!
I couldn't wait to get them all pressed open...wow! What a terrific collection!
Have about 30% with paper removed & bunny ears cut off. As I pick up each one I think, this one is
my favorite, but then there's the next one & oh, that one is my favorite!
Reminds me of taking our grandson, then 3 yrs. old, to see fireworks. He loved them. And kept saying
that each one was his favorite & he loved "the colorful ones."
So, thank you, thank you for the colorful ones!
I'm in the SOTTT exchange as well & will probably need a Valium or whatever when they arrive!
And last, but not least, many warm hugs of appreciation to Ritzy & Co. for all their efforts.
x 10 million!

Hi all,
This has been a wonderfully fun exchange (I'm participating in 3, and already received my batik HSTs). I am married to a retired Air Force man, and we'll celebrate our 28th anniversary this year. I am transplanted from Alabama; we now live in Papillion, NE. We have 4 sons, 2 granddaughters, and 2 daughters-in-law. I do long-arm quilting for hire and my most recent work can be seen at Appleberry Quilts on Facebook. I LOVE every aspect of quilting except hand-work (because of joint pain) and binding (of any kind), but my favorite parts are learning more (experimenting with various elements of quilt-making) and making blocks. However, I would define myself as a traditional quilter. I am a UFO-aholic as well as a fabric-aholic and a thread-aholic. I enjoy playing with 'scraps,' too, and find it especially difficult to toss even the smallest pieces of batik fabric, so I guess I'm a scrap-aholic, too! While I get customers' quilts done on time, mine seem to continue to pile up! When I am not sewing or quilting, I enjoy gardening, taking short motorcycle trips with my hubby, and playing with my granddaughters. I am also involved in my church, helping on the social committee and teaching AWANA Cubbies. Oh, I go by my real name - Dwynette

Hi! I am Judy Austin. I grew up dirt poor in a steel town in western Pennsylvania. Growing up, I dressed in old clothes from a box in the back of the church that folks didn't want any more. That turned out to be a blessing, because it gave me a strong desire to sew, so I could get some clothes that were not from that box. In 7th grade, I learned to use a sewing machine; we made aprons. In the 8th grade, the teacher let us sew any pattern we wanted. I picked a suit with a lined jacket and a box-pleated skirt, and the teacher actually let me make it! I have loved sewing ever since.
I earned a degree in Home Economics, where I learned tailoring, etc. I got married, and have 3 wonderful children and 2 grandchildren. I was a stay-at-home mom for many years, until my husband left. Because I was in a wheel-chair at the time, I went back to school and got a degree in Accounting, which was work I could do sitting down. I work in Student Accounts at a university.
I got married again to a great guy, who said, "Quilting would be a good hobby for you." I would reply," ...Maybe when I retire." Then one say I was watching Simply Quilts, and saw Ricky Tims demonstrate a convergence quilt. I said, " I can't wait until I retire! I want to do that NOW!" I recalled seeing Ricky Tims book at JoAnn's. I rushed right out and bought it that same day, and I have been hooked on quilting ever since! Quilting is so important to me. At the end of a hard day at work with lots of problems, I go home to my sewing room, put an audio book into the CD player and sit down and quilt. It helps keeps me sane! I mostly make quilts which I have given away, and don't have pictures of them, but I will try to remember to start taking pictures of them from now on. Thank you Alex Anderson and Rick Tims and the rest of you wonderful people!!!

Hi. It is so good to get to read bios of all of you and to know you a little better. My name is Deborah (aka Debbie) and I joined TQS right after I stumbled across it on the web. It is a wonderful place and I visit daily. I appreciate all the information and advice we share here. I was born and raised on a farm in Alberta and now I live in a small town about an hour from Calgary. I love the prairies but also appreciate the anchor of the Rocky Mountains that are visible to the west. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 30 1/2 years and we have four daughters, one son in law and one precious granddaughter. Family means so much to me! I was a stay-at-home wife and mother for 12 years until my husband's chronic illness prohibited him from working so I started working again. I work as an Administrative Assistant. I learned to quilt from my grandmothers and my mother but only made a few quilts until 2005 when I took a quilt class at our local quilt shop and finally found a hobby I was passionate about. I am a traditional quilter although I am usually game to try something new. This exchange has been so much fun and I can hardly wait to check the mail today to see if my triangles have arrived! Thanks for all your work Ritzy and to everyone who participated.

Hi all. My name is Teresa and I spent most of my life in a large suburb of Maryland, situated half way between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore (about 15 minutes from each). I retired as a Paramedic with a large fire/ems department there, and went on to teach (in a Paramedic Program) as a full-time assistant professor at a college in the area for 7 years. Left there in '07 and my wonderful husband I moved to our quiet little beach in FL.....definitely paradise! (I HATE snow and cold weather). I have a 25 y/o son and a 22 y/o daughter.....both in South Florida! My husband is a retired Police Officer from the same area in which I worked in MD. We both work for our dear friend in her quilt shops in FL......truly a dream job.....quilters are the best! Somehow, last March, I got pulled back into my college job!! LOL. Luckily, now I am only filling an 'adjunct faculty' position, so I only commute for a few weeks at a time during the semesters......like right now! I'm in MD for two weeks......and, my HSTs will undoubtedly arrive in FL while I'm gone! LOL. Then, it's back to work at the quilt shops at home! Woo hoo!

I have been aware of TQS since its inception, but, just recently joined (a gift from my daughter!!). Much like someone else noted, this has become my quilt guild of sorts, too. I am not much of a 'posting' person, but I do enjoy reading through the site and seeing all the b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l things you all create! I have much respect for all types of quilting (and, sewing, in general)......although, for the most part, I am not a traditional quilter. I am an 'experimental' quilter....I'll take anything and see what I can do to incorporate it into a project.....shred it, melt it, distort it, etc., then, stitch it. My favorite things incorporated into my quilting projects include a Fabric Weaving technique I use, Shiva Paintstiks, and Angelina fibers and films.....totally cool things with which to play.

Ritzy, thanks for EVERYTHING! Margo, thanks for GUIDANCE and INFO! Everyone: thanks for sharing all you do......great inspiration! Ok, I actually have to go back to w-o-r-k......been goofing off a bit......no students here today!

My name is Dawn Siden and I am a quiltaholic, and queen of UFOs! I tend to work on a project until I get a feel for what it is going to look like, then move on to something else. Also, I tend to make quilts with a contest in mind, so go slowly, with precision! It is hard for me to just "whip one out!" Married 35 years. Have 4 kids, two SILs, one DIL and 2 grandaughters. My DH and I met at work. We both worked at HP, where I was a Thin Film Technition, making one of the first heat resistant transisters, working with ceramic substrates. I did the photo resist work, etching, and profiling. When I got about 8 months pregnant, I had to quit, because I couldn't lean close enough into the acid etching area to do my job safely any more! So, I became a stay at home mom. The one who was the room mother, soccer mom, car pool mom, etc. Won the showcase on the Price is Right in 1979! DH and I recently spent 7 years traveling around the country (and Canada) in our motor home. I now live on Flathead Lake in Montana, have a small studio for my quilting, and spend the whole day there, either on a quilt, or on this site. Although I am a charter member, I've only become active on the site since about last August. And, I am loving all of the friends I have made! Love you ALL!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

I'm Judy. Born in North Carolina, but spent most of my life in Wyoming. I have a degree in business education, but
spent most of my working life in offices. My husband and I have been married 44 years; we have three daughters,
three sons-in-law, and seven grands.

I've grown up with quilting. My mother was a quilter and taught my sister and me to do handwork because we were
so disruptive under the quilts when she was at a "bee." I've quilted since I was 18 and got seriously into quilting
about twenty years ago.

By the way Margo, I consider you to be our Fairy God-mother -- not the forum housemother. Housemothers enforce
rules; fairy god-mothers work miracles and solve problems.

DixieH wrote:
Dixie, if you will look at the drop-down menu (on the purple bar) under QUILT GALLERY you will find a link to a video where Capt'n John shows you how to upload your photos!
[url]learn/[/url]

To upload your profile photo (avatar) go to the link under MY ACCOUNT and click on My Profile to fill it out. Please take the time to fill out the questionnaire because it gives the TQS search engine more information to work with if someone is looking for you!

ritzy wrote: Margo wrote:
Nah - being the Sorting Queen she has just delegated the panicking to someone else to do for her

Rosemary

PS, When I learn how to upload my pcture I will and will also upload my quilts.

My name is Dixie hedrick. Been married for 31 years ,1 girl , 2 boys,2 dil's, 6 grandkids(2girls,4boys)that keep me busy.We live in the beautiful foothills of Noth carolina in Wikes county known as the moonshine capitol back in the days,now also known for chicken houses everywhere.We have 2 chicken houses with chickens that lay eggs.It is a 7day a weekjob.this keeps me busy, been doing this since 1985.I started quilting 7 years ago and I am addicted to this site. I knew about it from the beginning and was finally able to sign up a few days before the charter membership ended. I check in several times a day. This is my guild since I am tied down to the farm most of the time.My youngest son joined the Marines back in July of 2010, this site helps keep me sane. I try not to watch the evening news now, I told him if I were not already grayheaded I would be by the time he gets out. I hope eveyone will lift him up in their prayers,not only him but all the soldiers in harms way.Thanks.

OH, I forgot to say, my degree in Medical Lab. Tech. but I substitute teach--gives me more time for quilting.

Hi! My name is Lori Brewster. I've lived in Colorado almost all of my life. I can't imagine not seeing the mountains every day . I just celebrated my 10th anniversary with my second husband (who I adore). Total I've been married 22 years and have two sons in college - my baby girl is already in heaven, one step daughter, and two step grandchildren. (My step daughter's greatest joke was to make me a "grandma" at 40. )

I am the Chief Tech for a viral molecular diagnostics lab in Denver so I spend my day fussing with tiny things that no one can see. I guess quilting is a move up to fussing with bigger things that people can see . I've always been addicted to fabric but hated garment construction so quilting was a natural fit. The puppy in my profile is my quilting buddy, Sydney Vicious. She runs around the house growling, snarling, and throwing toys in the air. Her personality mirrors my mood when I can't get points to match. I only recently started taking pictures of my quilts and labeling them :shock: . Most of my earlier quilts were gifts so they are now "lost" to me. Live and learn... I've been on this site since about the second year but just quietly observing. I'm afraid that I've now caught the forum flu.