Co-Queen Bee LindaTX (Texas): All colors and fabric patterns appeal to me because I love the Scrappy look in quilts. Occasionally, I do pick certain fabrics and colors for a special quilt.  Traditional piecing is what I do best. I have done some appliqué and hope to improve on that and to try paper piecing in the near future. Both of my DGM’s quilted and so did my DM.  I learned from my DM but can remember, as a very young child, the ladies sitting around a quilting frame resting on the back of the old kitchen chairs.  I have a treasured quilt from one of my DGM's and one from my DM.  I collect all quilt books and magazines, as anyone who attends a quilt show with me can tell you. I'm so glad that the love of quilting has brought so many of us together and allowed us to become friends.

Co-Queen Bee JudyTX (Texas): I'm really not much of a quilter.  But, I do know how to make blocks and put them together into quilt tops. LOL I like all fabrics that I see---some more than others.   But, I think I would/could narrow down my preferences to marbles and hand dyes--really like the watercolor hand dyes. I "unofficially" started quilting back in the early 80s, but I got seriously interested in it after losing my dear husband in 1997.  One of his sisters is a quilter, and she sorta' re-kindled the flame for quilting.  But, I can also remember, as a child, both Grandmothers piecing and hand quilting something every year.   They are the ones who "taught me how."

Favorite color(s)-----all of them

Fabrics----already mentioned marbles and hand dyes--will add calicos

Books--------Hmmmmmm,   my checkbook !!!!!

CathyB - (MO): I live in a very small town – Walnut Grove Missouri. I am married and have two children, a girl and a boy. I love horse, quilting, crocheting, and life in general and I try to make each day count. I have been quilting for six years and love the traditional quilts but am willing to try anything once. I am very passionate about the 1930s repo fabric and patterns. My mother was a quilter, but I was not bitten by the bug until well after she died. Then I took it up and have not stopped since. I have never belonged to a guild before – I live too far out in the boondocks. So, I am self taught – picked up what I can from TV and the numerous magazines I subscribe to. I guess that sums it up – I am a very simple person – like to keep to myself pretty much – not a big socialite – love my little chunk of the world and just happy to have some place to call home. Give me my horses, family, and sewing machine and I will be forever happy!

Claraine (Canada summer/Texas winter): My mother quilted when I was growing up though I don't really remember it.  Where she found the time I'll never know as she also worked full time as a nurse. She made a lot of our clothes, 4 girls and 1 boy. I first started to sew in Home Ec in grade 9.  I started making some of my clothes and a few for my older sister.  I made clothes for my daughter but not for the boys.  Theirs were boring. I started quilting myself after I retired and came to Llano Grande Lake RV Park in Texas.  My next door neighbor was quilting and she got me interested.  I bought a Singer machine, as I don't know what had happened to mine.  It got lost in one of our moves. When I got home in the Spring, my neighbor there was also a quilter and between her and her mother I started my first quilt, "The Umbrella Lady", is one of the names of the pattern.  Since then I have made a small quilt for all my 12 grandchildren and they also have their bed size quilt.  Three of my children have received theirs, king size, my eldest son is still waiting but is the next in line.  I only do hand quilting on the quilts. I do attempt machine quilting on small things but it is very basic as I haven't mastered free motion.

Cyberangel50-Sandra (Texas): I live in rural West Texas. I’ve been quilting for five years although I did not sew before I started quilting so it has been a real challenge for me. My favorite thing to do is to buttonstitch applique by hand and have done several quilts like this. Unfortunately when you get all those blocks appliqued they have to be put together into a quilt so I have to learn other quilting things like making quarter inch seams. I love bright material, shiny, frosts, etc. I just retired the end of October 2006 after more than 28 years in the juvenile justice field. I hope to get to travel more and quilt more as well as spend time with my three lovely grandchildren.

Daphne’sMum – Pat (New Zealand):  I like all colours but must admit I love Autumn and Christmas fabrics. I like Traditional and scrap quilts best, admire what others do but not my thing! I have done paper piecing good for getting points right! And a little appliqué. Quilts as such were not made in the family, Mum and grandmothers made what we called bedrugs, they were just lots of dress fabrics sewn together with an old thin wool blanket as a batt; they were the extra blanket on the bed in winter. But I do remember Granny quilting green satin on a frame and it was then cut to make a dressing gown. My youngest daughter gave me a book one Christmas and I started by making pillows. I have SOOOO many books and magazines I should NEVER run out of things to do. I have given lots of quilts away and made them for family members. I also like to make wallhangings. I am SO pleased that Dianne got me to join this group.

DorothyMS (Mississippi): I live in Central Mississippi, have two children, four grandchildren and one four-legged son. I started sewing in Jr. High School, love all crafts, crocheting, needle punch, embroidery, cross stitch, and in the future want to try color book crayons. Both my Grandmother and Mother were quilters, but I did not start until 2002, and by that time both were gone, but I have an Aunt who is a quilter and who has been a great source of encouragement and also the ladies of this guild have been very helpful. In 2003 I made quilts tops for the children and grands then had them long armed quilted. Love to try all the different type quilt blocks, some I have mastered and some are still in progress such as paper piecing. Subscribe to four quilt magazines, and my favorite fabric and colors are all of them!!!

KatieTX (Texas): I love all fabrics and love the look of scrappy quilts too. I like traditional piecing but occasionally do machine appliqué.  I had a favorite quilt growing up (Grandma’s Flower Garden) but I don't know what happened to it or who made it.  One of my dear grandmothers did quilt but I don't know what happened to any of her quilts.  I got into quilting by making a photo quilt for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary in 2001.  I don't have a favorite book or author but love doing children’s quilts the best.  Sometimes I think I am hyper when it comes to quilting because every time I see something new I want to do it even though I have so many other projects started.  The best thing about quilting so far has been meeting such wonderful friends with the same interests.

KeepYouInStitches-Sherry (Texas): I am from the Piney Woods of northeast Texas! I am married. Between the two of us, we have one daughter and two sons. The first quilt I ever started – well, I simply could not believe how absolutely boring this “work” was. In my early twenties, I just had too much to do to be satisfied with quilting. However, before long, I became involved with the quilters at church and actually completed a quilt. I then picked up that first top I had started and quilted it all alone – before turning 30. A new love was born. I am more of a traditionalist; however I love looking at the contemporary and art quilts, but can never see ME making one of them. My great-grandmother was a quilter. After her death, my mother acquired several of her quilt tops – she was still piecing tops well up into her 80s. I have had the privilege and enjoyment of quilting a few of those tops and the joy I felt knowing that my fingers were tracing her work was one of indescribable joy. I have several old family quilts my mother has given me, including one that was a wedding gift for her and Daddy, and I value them tremendously.

Mimi123g – Michel (Texas): Well I started quilting back in the late 80's and didn't know what I was doing then, so I put it up for several years and started back in the 90's. I still have a lot to learn and am eager to learn. I have a lot of quilt books, material, and tools. My favorite color is all colors. I love to do red work and hope one day to hand quilt, it's not easy for me because I do all my needle work with out a hoop and thimble. I love the Nimble Quilting Divas group, and we have so much fun.

Mr. Stitch – Lucas (Texas): Hello! I am the son of Mimi123g-Michel. We live near the Texas Gulf Coast. I started quilting in the spring of 2007 and I really love it. I’m not as good as you all are but one day I hope to be. I have watched my mom sew all the time and it looked like fun to me so I decided I would give it a try and I really love it. I love going to quilt class and I have so much fun at it that I wish it was more than once a week. I am glad to be a part of this group and I will do my best at whatever I need to do to help out with the charity projects. I also play guitar, bass, and drums on my own. I never took music lessons…I am self taught. I play the piano a little. (Lucas is also an artist. Some of the Divas have seen his work and have passed on the information that he does beautiful drawings. We are hoping he shares his talent it with us all.)

Nana7 – Dianne (Missouri): Nana7, seven grandchildren; therefore the name.  I started quilting when I retired in 2000 but did a lot of sewing and embroidery through the years. I'm the first quilter in my family and have never taken a class. I am learning the hard way and am probably more proficient at ripping out than most of the rest of you. Love all kinds of fabric and seldom leave a fabric shop without a purchase.  I am a firm believer that in order to do a good job you need the best tools.  Love to paper piece, especially miniatures, and do red work.  I would love to have the time to do more hand quilting but settle for free motion on my machine most of the time.

PatchworkPatti (Oregon) Hi! I am married to Gary (1989) and we have no children (by design not choice) We do have four indoor animals: two dogs and two cats…and they seem to run everything. I type data entry in home for Gary who is a house appraiser. I have been sewing since junior high. My first project was a pastel orange gingham apron which is on my dress form as I type. I started quilting at 18 for gifts and was on and off. I enjoy the process of piecing the best and making my own designs although I do love pattern magazines. I want to be an asset to the group and look forward to getting to know all of you.

QuiltBea-Sandra (Maine): My favorite colors are varied.  I love pinks and lavender/purple shades, also turquoise and fuchsia, and many blues and greens.  You could say I'm a lover of that range of colors. The type of fabric I prefer are the marbles and tone on tones, but a lovely floral always catches my eye and my purse.  A lovely color combination in a fabric will always find its way to my stash.  Sometimes I never use the fabric, but its there to run my hand over its lovely surface and enjoy as 'eye candy.' My current type of quilting is basically traditional, but I like to play with the stained-glass look through appliqué and paper-piecing now and then for its amazing accuracy.  Appliqué has its challenges because there are so many ways to accomplish it, so I dabble in different techniques as well. I remember getting a quilting video at the local library one time and thought I'd see what quilting was all about.  It was in 1993. By the time that video was done, I was hooked.  I went right out to get my supplies.  My first quilt was made out of my husband’s old pink shirts and some muslin and had too many errors to count, but it’s still my eldest granddaughter's favorite. I'd have to say my favorite quilt is the one I got from the Guild when my darling husband passed away.  It is made with such love by people whom I think of as friends even though we've never met. As for my elders’ quilting, I have to say I'm the first in my family to take up the pleasure of quilting but I intend to pass it along to the grandchildren.

RolliePollie-Dee (Texas): I am from west Texas. I have lived here since the late 1990s and been involved with quilting for the last few years. I am a member of our local Quilt Guild and have helped with our Midland donation quilt project since joining the group. I have one DD, DSIL, and one DGS...3 cats...and work at the Midland Hilton...(an activity that takes up way too much of my time and energy...lol...) I have been collecting batik and hand-dyed fat quarters/fabric for quite some time. I have dreams of someday making a "Storm At Sea" quilt out of them. Right now I am suffering from a lack of energy/motivation on a lot of fronts and hope to get back to normal someday soon...lol...until then the stash will continue to grow. Lap and crib size are the only size quilts I have dared to try so far.

TerriNM – (New Mexico)

TXPat (Texas): I am a beginning quilter. I took a class in 1993 from the Carriage House in Van Alstyne, but I immediately changed jobs and moved to the Metroplex. Quilting was put aside. In 1999 I made my first quilt, a signature quilt, for my daughter’s wedding. I finally finished hand utility quilting it for their fifth anniversary. I have “collected” a stash that could serve as a quilt store. I’ll have plenty to last me until I’m 95 without buying another piece of material. Obviously I love fabric! Up until now, I have done more buying fabric and less sewing quilts. My preferences in fabrics are the Thimbleberry type fabrics and 30s reproductions. I’m hoping to collect enough 30s to make a Grandmother’s Flower Garden from them. I also love blues and yellows and hope to make a quilt in those colors some day. I love traditional patterns and also any patterns for the 30s fabrics. I also love doing red work embroidery. I have lots of fun making quilts, mostly play types for my two granddaughters but production has been “slow.” I would love to learn paper piecing. I have two old quilts that my great grandmother made. One is a very scrappy Bowtie, and the other is a Sunbonnet Sue and Sam. They are precious to me. My new home is going to have a “spare” room that will become a quilt room. Yea! I’m looking forward to meeting and knowing all the Divas.

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