tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post5714392147956847378..comments2024-03-25T10:17:23.584-05:00Comments on From the Strawberry Patch...: I'm A Half-LiferMrs. Goodneedlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07453388163219666450noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-9850871781218376062012-07-04T17:58:26.099-05:002012-07-04T17:58:26.099-05:00I began quilting in the winter of 1993-94. You'...I began quilting in the winter of 1993-94. You're right about the foundation; I learned to do everything by hand, including the sashings and cornerstones of my six block sampler. I'm sure a lot of tools were invented between your beginning and mine, but I'm constantly dumbfounded by what's coming out now.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11791592886458322904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-86157645043932011912012-06-27T14:23:41.945-05:002012-06-27T14:23:41.945-05:00My first quilt wss in 1977, so I was 25 and am 60 ...My first quilt wss in 1977, so I was 25 and am 60 now, so a long time ago. Like you I started with cardboard templates and scissors and only hand quilting. My, how we grow. On occasion my dh will remind me how I detested machine quilting. I love all the new advances in our industry. Hand quilting is still my favorite part, but I love how my machine skills have evolved.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06651902143383112805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-69145360829143457812012-06-27T13:03:53.656-05:002012-06-27T13:03:53.656-05:00I've been quilting for 56% of my life! And ca...I've been quilting for 56% of my life! And can I just say that using the calculator to get that figure was a real trick in itself! My math skills are focused on geometry, not algebra! LOLreganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14822110311373036914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-46048063403624732772012-06-25T04:25:36.097-05:002012-06-25T04:25:36.097-05:0038% and it's all been since I came to Geneva! ...38% and it's all been since I came to Geneva! Interestingly, it also means I've lived 38% of my life here. Pretty good place to be. :-) Like you, I appreciate the "old school skills" and pass that on to my beginning students. They have to do the practice blocks by hand and then they can use the machine! Can't beat knowing that if you're stuck up in the mountains with Elita@Busy Needle Quiltinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10833568994883621755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-81290251449485021002012-06-24T08:12:08.789-05:002012-06-24T08:12:08.789-05:00I was 50 when I came to quilting, 13 years ago. M...I was 50 when I came to quilting, 13 years ago. Moved to Pennsylvania and knew no one here so took a quilting class because it had always intrigued me. Made GREAT friendships (as well as lots of quilts) which will last a lifetime. Learned to hand-piece first but definitely prefer to machine piece and usually send my quilts out to a longarmer; my hand quilting leaves much to be desired. Now 45th Parallel Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09054316704528545846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-11828875215984363282012-06-24T07:55:53.295-05:002012-06-24T07:55:53.295-05:00I'm at 66.6%! I made my first quilt in my dorm...I'm at 66.6%! I made my first quilt in my dorm's study room. No one was using it for anything during finals week :-) That thing was so heavy that you couldn't put it on top of you but it held up for years and did a good job as a play mat - later as a moving quilt. <br /><br />I took my first class in 1978 and did mostly hand piecing, cutting the pieces with cereal box templates. It Charleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13777340733393515857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-58238969619023241062012-06-23T23:53:33.196-05:002012-06-23T23:53:33.196-05:00I'm at 44.68%. Seems like yesterday. It'...I'm at 44.68%. Seems like yesterday. It's amazing how much richer my life has been since that first trip to Piece Goods.Salem Stitcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03544950900664044425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-21733729237690387262012-06-23T21:19:22.727-05:002012-06-23T21:19:22.727-05:00I started quilting much later in my life, in 1999....I started quilting much later in my life, in 1999. I did try to make a quilt in 1977 but I didn't like cutting out all those pieces with scissors. I am glad my mom introduced me to the rotary cutter.Carrie P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10063988589711911820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-32217023896597017432012-06-23T17:33:19.575-05:002012-06-23T17:33:19.575-05:00I started hand quilting on my Mother's quilts ...I started hand quilting on my Mother's quilts when I was in junior high, but didn't actually start making my own quilts until I was in my 30s. I haven't quite been at it half of my life--just shy by 4 years!Janet O.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05083607398709252597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-10345082456001635182012-06-23T07:49:24.934-05:002012-06-23T07:49:24.934-05:00Made my first quilt as a freshman in college on Ch...Made my first quilt as a freshman in college on Chrisymas break. Mom and Sad had moved to Wa and I knew nobody so it filled the time. I was 18 then and 45 now so I guess I am way past 50 percent. Joined the guild at age 23! But I have to agree that the friends I have made are some of the best dividends of this journey. Like You!Nanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11301631192384221838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-47102476572157217622012-06-23T07:30:12.800-05:002012-06-23T07:30:12.800-05:00How fun to think about this...I have been quilting...How fun to think about this...I have been quilting, helping mother that is, since I was a little girl. I made my first quilt all on my own when I was 21...so I guess 55.3 percent of my life I have been quilting, on my own that is!julieQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00509047751868460895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-63672236292240826692012-06-23T07:28:08.999-05:002012-06-23T07:28:08.999-05:00I came to quilting late - when I was 48. But I...I came to quilting late - when I was 48. But I'd watched my grandmothers and my mother quilt all my life so I guess I learned a little by osmosis. :) Seventeen years later I still feel like a beginner some days but other days I just zip along and miraculously things come out right. I do have a great appreciation for today's tools though. Even though I bought her a rotary cutter and StitchinByTheLakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04501479854150315011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-20507555943561317932012-06-23T07:19:45.573-05:002012-06-23T07:19:45.573-05:00I'm also glad I have old school skills. And I&...I'm also glad I have old school skills. And I'm also grateful for all the advancements in ophthalmology, which were part of the reason I couldn't draw accurate cardboard templates. Things are easier when you have an accurate eyeglass prescription.Orange Crumpled Napkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04055834177618192244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-73522352143681306272012-06-23T06:32:04.981-05:002012-06-23T06:32:04.981-05:00I started my first quilt in 1982 ... I would have ...I started my first quilt in 1982 ... I would have been 31, so I've been quilting more than half my life! I remember templates (which I wasn't very accurate in tracing out ... I learned the hard way how important accuracy is in quilting). Since cutting fabric is my least favorite part, I am especially thankful for all the tools available to me now.Kathy ... aka Nanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17626590048036292030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29952936.post-75841856121176109722012-06-23T06:25:35.491-05:002012-06-23T06:25:35.491-05:00An interesting idea: I have only spent 5.5% of my ...An interesting idea: I have only spent 5.5% of my life quilting. But they have been so rewarding that if feels like I have been doing this my whole life.Gari in ALhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07695711731891676422noreply@blogger.com