First Entry

So almost a year ago my husband convinced me to set up a blog.  I made one entry and never looked at it again until a few weeks ago.  I've recently been visiting numerous quilting and cooking blog sites - both are hobbies of mine.  And I thought why not start using my blog to showcase my work and document my experience.  So here is my attempt.

Growing up my brothers and I were always in the kitchen with my mom; canning items from the garden, making bread, cookies, cakes, chicken, spaghetti sauce and  whatever else happened to be on the menu.  I have always loved to cook.  I remember being in the 7th grade and my mom being on a 4-H volunteer trip for nine days;  I cooked dinner every night for my 2 brothers and dad.  As a 4-H member, I entered items in the fair and loved trying new recipes along with the blue ribbon favorites.  I've never stopped cooking and baking.  My favorite items are baked goods; cakes, breads, cookies.  My dream would be to one day open my own coffee & pastry shop - one like that of Meryl Streep's character in the movie "It's Complicated."  For now, my husband and my co-workers get spoiled with the scrumptious goodies.

Besides cooking my other hobby is sewing.  My mother started teaching me to sew when I was 7 years old.  I remember it was on an old Kenmore machine.  Through 4-H I participated in Fashion Revue and entered items at the fair.  As I got more involved and developed my skills, I began sewing with wool and combined my sheep project with sewing; participating in Shepherds Lead and the Maryland Make it With Wool contest.  To me sewing is relaxing.  I love the creative side and knowing that a garment I make is unique, going to fit and be just what I want.  I made my first quilt at a 4-H workshop while in middle school.  It was the Trip Around the World, quilt in a day. My mom still has the quilt and my niece Jillian has claimed it as hers.  Over the years I have made several more.  Now that I am finished with college and graduate school, I have more time and have begun to explore machine quilting and expanding my quilting techniques.

I also enjoying knitting, another talent my mother shared with me.  As a 4-H prize, I received lessons at a local yarn shop.   In  middle & high school I spent many Saturday mornings hanging with my mom and her friends at a knitting circle.  It was another way for me to incorporate my sheep project.  Wool from my sheep would be spun, dyed and then I'd knit it into whatever.

So I'll keep you updated on projects...