Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

Howdy, neighbor! Good to meet you here in Blogland.

Marleen, over at Stichin' By The Lake, has started an old-fashioned welcome committee of sorts so that we can meet our neighbors. What a great idea! So let me tell you a little about myself.

I'm a 50-something gal from Idaho who still has a Day Job but who would love to retire from it and quilt full time. Or at least 4-5 hours a day.  Each day that goes by I get a little bit closer to that big 6-0 number and I feel a great pressure like never before that now is the time to really do the things I'd like and want to do because, well, one just never knows how many days one has left.


So to that end I began quilting in earnest about two years ago.  I love creating beautiful quilt tops, but really, really hated trying to push and shove a quilt through the throat of my Viking. So a year ago I took the plunge and invested in a long arm machine. Boy, what a difference it has made for me!  I'm still on the learning curve of things, but I've got my back log of quilts almost quilted, and am quilting for others now. How fun is that!


On the home front, I am an empty-nester. I have a son, 30, who lives in Portland and a daughter, 26, who lives in Seattle. Neither are married. Hence, I have no grandkids!!!  Which makes me awfully sad at times, but of course, I definitely don't want to rush them. On the other hand: they'd better get on the ball SOON. Here again, my time clock is ticking away. . . .

My husband and I live just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Sun Valley ski resort. I used to downhill ski, but a hip replacement seven years ago squelched that activity. I still cross country ski, hike, bike, and walk, and I love to do most anything outdoors.  When I tried to come up with my business name, I finally thought I'd make it as simple as my love for the outdoors - Mountain Quiltworks.  It doesn't take too much effort to look at any of our mountainsides, mountaintops or scenic panoramas to see glorious 'quilty' possibilities! The colors, angles, depth and hues are amazing.


I guess the other thing that I'd like to share with you is the joy that I have found in being a creative person. I have a business degree in marketing, and so my career has been spent in both the insurance and accounting industries, as well as a long stint (while raising kids) as a freelance writer for a regional newspaper. The writing offered a wee bit of creativity, but nothing to satisfy my inner desire to think about a project, develop it, create it, tweak it, finish it and then step back with a smile on my face and say, "Yep - that's what I envisioned!"  Guess you could say I'm pretty much hooked on quilting!

So how about you, neighbor?  How did your love for quilting develop?

Be sure to check out Marlene's blog so you can visit your other quilty neighbors.

Barb

Oh - just for the fun of it, here's a self portrait of me in my favorite fishin' hat. I'm positive that it helps catch more trout if I'm wearing it!


15 comments:

  1. It`s nice to meet you and your long arm looks fantastic.

    Don´t worry,grandchildren arrived unannounced.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So enjoyed reading your blog. If we ever get to Idaho, I'll look you up. Would love to travel the Northwest as I've never been there, except to Iowa for a funeral, but that is another story.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sounds like you live in a beautiful place for your creative talents. Love the fishing hat too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Neighbor!
    Marlene sent me over. I am retired but still don't get to quilt as much as I'd like! There are all kinds of wonderful things to keep one too busy! You live in a beautiful area - enjoy!
    ~Jeanne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi! Here from Marlene's blog. Thought I would say hi and I'm already a follower. Just didn't realize it! Love Idaho. Spent the first ten months of married life in Idaho Falls. Would love to go back and visit someday. Have been married 35 years next month. Have a blessed day!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am lovin' that hat! :) And I'm jealous of that longarm. :( In the small home that we retired to there is absolutely no room for a longarm but so far I'm able to quilt my tops with my Janome without too much trouble. blessings, marlene

    ReplyDelete
  7. Barb, what a great life you have! When it's time, I'll be the first to tell you that grandchildren are worth the wait!!! I'm so glad I stopped by on visiting day.
    Happy stitching! Liz

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love your machine set-up! Nice roomy room with a view!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Don't worry Barb the grandkids will come and oh what a joy when they do. I would love to have that long arm,but no room in my house for that. We also retired and downsized. I do enjoy chatting with you when we email back and forth. Love all the pictures when post them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a Great Idea! Getting to know our Bloggerhood community. Makes it a bit more personal and now I have a bit more connection when chatting back and forth.

    ReplyDelete
  11. As a woman of a certain age, I know what you mean exactly. I love my work and part of me wants to work for ever to keep the grey cells in tip top condition but the other half of me wants to sit and sew in peace and quiet. Decisions decisions eh!. We are heading to the northwest on holiday in the summer from our home in Scotland. It looks so beautiful and we cannot wait.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I would love to see your beautiful state. On our way home from visiting my family in South Dakota last year, I asked Ranch Man if we could go home (central Texas) by way of Idaho. Vicki, he said, don't you think that's a little out of the way ? I enjoyed visiting you today !

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi, so nice to meet you and hope to stop by often. I love to see what you are working on and my love of quilting started years ago after I stopped sewing clothes for my children in the 70's.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Good afternoon Barb - being of a certain myself, I started taking quilt classes two years before retiring and when the time came, I certainly did not look back. Like you, I have also been amazed at the creativity I never iknew existed. Thanks for sharing from Judy C in NC

    ReplyDelete
  15. How lovely to get to know you a little bit better Barb! I love learning the story of your blog name and your long arm is a gorgeous piece of machinery!

    ReplyDelete

I always love to hear your thoughts!

Remembering All The Little Things

I have let my blog side away in lieu of posting photos and updates over on Instagram. For me, it takes less time, and is a faster way to doc...