October Program Member Trunk Show … Gail N.

I am a lifelong sewist and quilter. I started off young, with my grandmother first teaching me to braid ribbon hanging from a   dining room chair and later embroidery and knitting. I am smitten with textiles of any sort. When I’m out and about, textiles are what  always catch my eye first.

Like many, I started sewing garments in junior high. I was able to use my very basic fabric and sewing knowledge to secure my first job in high school at the local fabric store. It was there that I began stretching my skills and experimenting with fabric. I wasn’t afraid to try any fabric or technique. My takeaway from those years was that the worse thing that could happen was that I’d need to toss the project and start again. Those lessons of being fearless with fabric have stayed with me.

I started quilting in earnest about 20 years ago. I was still working as a special ed teacher so my time was limited. But I was hooked!

 Fast forward to retirement and a move to a new town. When we moved to McMinnville 7 years ago, I didn’t know a soul. After enduring my first cold, dark and lonely winter, I knew I needed to get out and meet people. I joined the local guild and made it my mission to volunteer and participate in every activity offered. Little did I know how life changing that decision would be.

That long dormant sense of experimenting with fabric came back in spades. My skill levels blossomed with the support of that group. I discovered COLOR, learned how to foundation paper piece and honed my precision piecing. I learned that   applique and hand quilting are not my jam. But most importantly, I found my tribe. The relationships that developed through quilting continue to sustain and amaze me.

Quilting for me now is all about the process. Leaning new skills, playing with color and experimenting with some facet that I haven’t tried before. Generally, I’m pretty happy with the end result. But in those cases when a project doesn’t quite work out as planned, I’m happy to embrace the mistake, learn from it and move along.

I look forward to sharing some of my makes with all of you in October.