My Quilting Story

Kelly over at Charming Chatter asked us to share our quilting story.  I have always been into creating things with my hands, although it has evolved over the years!  I started out making doll clothes like so many other!  Now, many made Barbie doll clothes...

well, I made troll doll clothes!  I've always been drawn to magical things like trolls, fairies, witches... which is probably why I soooo love Halloween!

I am the youngest of four daughters and my dear Mother used to sew our clothes when we were small.  I wore lots of hand-me-downs, but back then clothes were made to last!
I used to get all the fabric scraps under her sewing table to make my troll doll clothes.  What fun!!
I took sewing lessons and all the home ec classes offered and made my own clothes in high school and beyond. I got into the craft business in  my 30's and had a nice following in south FL.  I was a member and officer in the Southern Handcraft Society there

 and had a booth in local craft fairs.  I made dolls, woodcraft, painted decor and country critters and eventually sold patterns of my designs, too.   
My crafting business came to a natural end when we moved to northern VA (DC suburb) in 1998. I was still teaching special education, but in an inclusive environment so I spent my evenings adapting work for my kiddos instead of crafting.  But I needed a new sewing activity for stress therapy.  I'd always loved quilts, so it was a natural for someone who loves fabric and sewing as much as I do!
I joined the local quilt guild in 1999

and thus began my quilting journey.  I watched Simply Quilts and attended classes and workshops and as a teacher, I naturally learned allot from books and magazines.  I joined a wonderful bee with 3 dear friends from whom I've also learned allot! 

When our town finally got it's own local quilt shop, I worked there on weekends for a few years until I tore my left rotater cuff and had to stop a year ago, but I still teach an occasional class there.

I love to piece and although I do like traditional blocks and designs, but I also love modern, too- be it designs and/or fabrics.  I am a color freak- there just isn't enough time in the day to quilt with grey and browns and beiges... GIVE ME COLOR!!  And fabric?  You saw my stash....  fabric just reaches out and grabs me!!  Ineedagottahavit!!
So, that's my little quilting story.  Probably pretty similiar to many others out there!  But maybe yours is different?  Would you share it with us, too?