Hello all! I'm new to this site, but not new to quilting. I've been making quilts/quilt tops, etc. for about 36 years. I'm from Essexville, Michigan and I love what I do.

I am a legal secretary by day, an independent wedding cake baker by nite, but when I am looking for something to keep me grounded, focused, or calm, I roll naked in my quilt fabrics :oops: ! Actually, I love to quilt. I love everything about it: collecting patterns (mostly for blocks), buying fabrics, designing a new project, piecing, cutting, sewing, basting, and hand quilting. I do not machine quilt (never learned how, and not sure I care for the look as much), but am not adverse to taking my tops to a friend with a longarm machine to quilt for me. That's how I got my first grandson's done (which was paper-pieced and loaded with tiny pieces and lots of seam allowances -- a nightmare for the hand quilter with arthritis like me!), and was able to quickly get my Godson's completed for his wedding.

I do not yet have a freestanding floor frame (which I WANT desperately), but I do have my grandmother's frame that's got to be about 100 years old. It's just 4 pieces of 1x2's with holes drilled in each one. I don't have the space to use it myself, but I keep it for sentimental and historical reasons. I love to see where quilting came from so I can better appreciate where it is going.

I recently completed a blue & white top for my husband and am currently working on a Round Robin center that is due to be sent on Sept. 22nd.

Well, that's enough about me for now. I'm looking forward to a long and fun relationship here.

Odessa Quilts
(a/k/a Joyce)

Hi from Massachusetts, and welcome.

Hello from Alabama, your going to love this board.

Welcome Odessa/Joyce from Pleasant Hill, CA. Sounds like you are going to loooooove this board...please post pictures often - we love to share our work around here. If you can, check out the swaps. They are a ton of fun, well organized and good bonding activities! A new Fall block swap was just started...

Welcome from Alaska ! :D You really are in for a treat on this board. We'd love to see your labors of love. Oh, to be able to hand quilt! I can only imagine!!! :roll:

Hi, Joyce, welcome to the board from Ireland. I love the idea of rolling naked in your stash - I might have to try that!

Hi Joyce from Warren MI
:)

Hi and welcome from Ninnie in NC
Also a hand quilter only!!

LOL! I love the rolling naked in the stash idea! (Maybe my husband wouldn't resent it so much then?)

Hello and welcome from UPPER Michigan- you know, the good half! LOL! This board is a lot of fun and it looks like you will fit right in.

Hello and Welcome- Your gonna love it here.