Hi! I'm a 50 something quilter from north of Traverse City
I have been quilting for about 10 years, off and on (more off than on). I am just starting to really get into it now that the children have grown. My favorite quilts are SCRAPPY quilts. I just love them! I am a machine quilter and piecer. I love hand quilted quilts but have not tried it myself. Maybe one day soon, I'll try.
I would love to chat with all of you about your quilts, fabrics and ideas. My husband tuned me out a LONG TIME AGO. Looking forward to someone who will listen
Deb

Deb!

You have found the right place, then ... where people never get tired of talking about quilts!

I am in my 50's and after a long break from any quilting ... (I just had to make applique flannel baby quilts for my three children over twenty years ago even though I had not clue as to what I was doing) ... when I decided I had to make a quilt for my baby, my DD, when she went off to her dorm. That was over three years ago and now quilting is one of my favorite things to do. I am a self-taught, mostly machine quilter. I consider myself an "experienced beginner" and will for a long time. There is so much to learn ... and BC is a great place to do so.

Any thread or swap you are interested in joining, just jump right in ... the quilting waters are fine ...

I love scrappy quilts, too!

May you make many friends and many quilts here on BC ...

Thank you for the welcome! I'm self taught also ...Grandma taught me to sew when I was young but she didnt quilt. I've read books and magazines (ok...I look at the pictures) and watch TV. Thats where I learned to quilt. I think I would probably agree with you on being an experienced beginner. I thought I had a pretty good handle on how to make quilt until I went to my first quilt show... IT BLEW ME AWAY! I am just amazed at the perfection out there. Just BEAUTIFUL! I just hope for seams to meet where they should and not cut off to many angles
I just finished a quilt for my neighbor's new baby. The baby is due in August so I just finished in the nic of time. I made up my own design and used really bright, cheerful colors. I was really happy with it. When it came time to quilt it, I decided to learn to stipple machine quilt. I took out my sewing machine instruction booklet for the first time in 10 YEARS. AMAZING... there's this little darning foot, I never knew I had. I learned to use it and I AM HOOKED! I was such fun! I should have pulled that booklet out years ago ... So now that I am an EXPERT stippler (yeah,right!), I am going to make a table runner for the kitchen and stipple some more. Then it'll be time to learn a new machine quilting pattern.
So any swaps going on right now? I'm really new to this forum stuff also. Still trying to find my way around

Deb ...

There are several ladies here from Michigan ... I am sure they will be along shortly to give you a very warm welcome. The boards have been very quiet the last few days.

No one in my family ever quilted that I know of. My mother had an old cabinet Singer sewing machine and I learned to sew in school and and my own, but I never saw her use it. Guess I shall just ahve to make up for the lack of quilters in my family. My DD has shown some interest and made herself a quilted bag and started anther project, but she does not really have much time for sewing right now. She enjoys an occasional quilt show or quilt shop with me ... and has even started a small fabric stash of her own ... I have a Brother machine now and I took a couple of years to find first the walking foot attachement and then that little free-motion darning foot ... now I love it!

The swaps are found in their own section and are open to anyone who wants to join. There is a Hostess for each swap and you need to let them know if you want to join the swap.

Here is an monthly program ... Happy Blcoks ... which is not a true swap as we make blocks and two winners are chosen each month and we send these two lucky winners all the blocks ...

The August Swap is still open until the end of the month ...
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/970609484/m/5661002773
Winner will be chosen on August 1st.

And the September Swap is just starting to take sign-ups ... we are waiting for the July winner (first name drawn gets to chose the next theme) to annouce theme and fabrics ...
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/970609484/m/1571042183

All the rules and how-to's for Happy Blocks are found here:
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/970609484/m/6381010073


There is an Christmas Ornament Block Swap (make one for each swapper) going here:
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/970609484/m/2861005083

... and another Christmas Ornament Swap just waiting for the Forum Owner Kim to okay here:
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/970609484/m/5021014083

That is all for open swaps right now ... we just had a couple close. I am sure there will be more coming soon.

There are also some nice BOM programs:

There is a member-selected BOM program called Block Party Surprise here ... (in this one you make and keep your blcoks and just post a picture in the album each month) ...
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/frm/f/1111042502
To join BPS just post your interest in the July thread:
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1111042502/m/6481015973/p/4

... and Kim Noblin, our fearless leader, has designed a beautiful BOM program featured on the main BC website and discussed in uts own thread here:
http://blockcentral.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9561069353/m/4881069353

Hope you join us ...

HEY!! another Michigan Deb!! I actually go by Debbie..I love the Traverse city area. in fact, I love anywhere up north!! (right Meg?) welcome here, it is wonderful to see another Michigan lady on the boards!!!

there is a special section here on the boards for swaps and exchanges, and there is usually lots going on!!

Hi Deb~
I'm a transplanted YOOPER trying to live life as a TROLL
I'm originally from the Soo but moved down here in 82. We finally settled in Grand Haven and will be here until we retire. Then we will probably settle in your neck of the woods. I just love that area!
I am also a self-taught quilter, but have been sewing, knitting, crocheting and cross stitch/embroidering since I was a little tyke. I figured if I could make clothes, I could make a quilt - NOT!! I have not attempted the free motion quilting yet, but am determined to do it! One of these days....
Welcome to the board - just jump right on in!

Hi, Deb, welcome from central Alberta, Canada! where it's been cool (mid 60s) and showery for the last few days. This is a great place to be. I've been sewing for 42 years, and taught myself to quilt about 20 years ago, not that I've got a lot of finished projects, other than a bunch of baby quilts for my sisters babies, and two queen size wedding quilts. I do have lots of blocks and tops, though! I seem to spend more time online or looking at books/mags than actually stitching - of course, the last 15 months or so, my hubby and I built a house! so there wasn't a lot of energy or time to sew. Ah, but I'm getting back into it! Join in on the swaps if you're interested. Happy blocks, christmas ornament block swap, etc.

Good to have you!

Gerda

WA-HOO!!!! ANOTHER MICHIGANDER!

Oh, yes, Deb's right! We love Up North! I used to live in Alpena, my mother still lives near there.

The $64,000 question is: are you a Red Wings fan? We have our own psuedo-mini group of 6 or 8 Great Lakes States Gals. While being a fan isn't a requirement, it is a definate plus! LOL

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

THANKS FOR THE WARM WELCOMES!!

Pat ...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I am VERY new at forums so finding my way around has been difficult. But your reply was GREAT ...some fun stuff out there. Now I just need to figure out what to participate in! I just finished a couple of project and am starting on three more (that's nothing, Im told )so Im ready to have another little side thing going ...maybe the christmas blocks? I have been planning on starting a Christmas quilt for quite awhile... Now could be the time.

MEG- OF COURSE, Im a fan! I live in the country, & I only get two stations on TV but the games are always on at someones house or resturants/bars.

Char- I started out as a downstater, moved here when my husband retired. I wouldn't live anywhere else ....(talk to me in January, might be a differnt story). We have ALOT of quilters up here...probably comes from staying warm!

DA Bell- Thank you! Yes I love Traverse, the cherry festival was a blast this year. We had the blue angels out over the water... FANTASTIC!

Gerda- I was thinking... wow! 42 years...but then I started figuring out how old I am (my real age, not the age I say) and subtracted learning to sew in 3rd grade (8/9 years old? or so) and guess what? I've been sewing for about the same amount of time! WOW! I've only been quilting for about 10 of those and am certaintly still learning... Thanks!

Thank MICHIGANders! AND EVERYONE ELSE ... I KNOW I've FOUND A NEW HOME

Deb