As I have said, I love to quilt and have done so since 2003. I was introduced to this wonderful medium by my sister. Kind of a funny story. We were at an annual family reunion in Des Moines, Iowa and my sister really wanted to find a quilt shop. She wanted my husband and me along for the ride. I told her the only way I would go to a quilt shop is if there was a scrapbooking store nearby. We found both on the same block, so we compromised. That's my sis in the pink.
Well, I was bored silly for the most part while in the shop and anxious to get to the other shop down the street, but while she was looking and feeling of nearly everything there, I wandered to the back room and was fascinated by a Hoffman trunk show using the yearly feature fabric. Uh-oh....it began.....





My sister, Beryl Freeburg and I. She is the best and I always smile when I am around her.....








Then while she was checking out, there was a table topper pattern and kit by the register and when my husband saw it, he really liked the fabrics, so encouraged me to buy it and try it...after all, I have sewn for years, but frankly quilting was beyond my realm of familiarity. By the way, I blame my addiction on my sister and my husband. (don't all addict have to project the blame somewhere??)


My hubby, Chuck. Very patient with me.










So, I bought it, and let it lay around for about 4 months....Then, while the kiddies were trick or treating in October of that year, I tried it and really enjoyed it, but knew very little about rotary cutting, true 1/4 inch seams, etc.

About two months later, I discovered a fairly new quilt shop in my hometown of Grayslake, Illinois and soon joined the Thimbleberries Club to meet new people and to learn.

Recently, I have been on a path to finish many projects that I have started. Two weeks ago, Monday, I made labels for two quilts.
This is my proudest work so far:

It is a Grandmother's Flower Garden and is completely hand pieced and hand quilted. It is probably the most intensive thing I have done. I was inspired by my own Grandmother Girard to do this. It is all 30's reproduction fabrics, which I am so in love with. Those and Civil War Repro's.
I started it May 2006. My mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer in November of 2005 and she saw me work on this the entire time she was sick. She lost her fight June 20th of this year. When I finished it, it was a rather hollow victory as she was the first person I wanted to show it to. Everytime she saw me stitching on it, she would say, "I wish Grandma could see the talent you girls have, and I am so proud of you!!!"
My mom, my oldest daughter Catie, and I after Wheaton College's Christmas Festival in December of 2007.


The other quilt that I finished that day:This is from that first Thimbleberries Club that I was in. I learned so much from that club and was able to network with other quilters, most of whom were very advanced. This was missing for almost 2 years as the custom quilter that I sent it to would not return calls. I finally threatened litigation and it was returned to me. I sent it to another custom quilter Pam S. and she did an absolute divine job. It surely covers up all of my many mistakes.
Hope you have enjoyed a brief glimpse into the creative side of my life.