Looking Back on the Journey

Moving back to the states, unpacking, sorting, and rearranging has led me back to this quilt.

This is my very first quilt and I finished it 5 years ago today. It seems like I have been at it forever, how quickly I have become addicted to this sport. It got me to thinking about all I have done, all the places I have traveled and all the great friends I have made along the way. It all started in Saudi Arabia where my husband was working. I was busy minding my own business making chocolate and fabric boxes and who should be there but the one and only Joy. Yep--that is where we met and she started me on a serious love of all things quilt!!!

This is our little group:

Notice those nice quilts down there on the floor?? The one at the top was project number two--that is not mine. I think I was still taking mine apart and putting it back together again at that time. A paper pieced stained glass--how nice is that for your second quilt. They obviously had been learning lots of things before I dropped in. I did finish the top, but it is still in a drawer waiting to be pinned and quilted. Strangely enough I did not give up after that one.
Shortly after learning we headed back to Florida for a little while. I joined Florida Cabin Fever Quilt Guild while I was there and bought my first Husqvarna. I still have Hannah, she just has a big sister now.
Soon after that we moved to Puckapunyal, Victoria is Australia. And then guess who returned to live there too---Yep--Joy. And she only lived a couple of hours away.  So we had some sew-ins there too.

This was my birthday sew-in. And all of those little squares at the end of the table are bits of my birthday quilt that Joy got for me. Guess what--it is still in pieces. I wasn't so good at half square triangles back then, so I kinda need to redo so of those. But strangely enough I still didn't quit.
One thing that I did finish quite appropriately while living in Australia was my son's that was covered in Frilled Neck Lizards and Tree Frogs.

Then we headed back to Florida and that was kind of a blur. I know I did some sewing, but there was also a new roof, and carpet and this and that and then it was off again to Perth, Western Australia. Yep we stopped in Victoria on the way. Not too much time for sewing though.
In Perth I totally got carried away. Darling Hubby bought me Hillary Husqvarna Designer Diamond at Handcrafter's House. A naughty little shop run by Michelle. I took a bunch of classes and learned lots of new things. This one is called Snake Trails. It is also finished.

And yep--Joy came to visit and we did a Mystery Quilt Marathon by Helen Stubbings.

We traded colors for this one. I did blue and she did purple.
I must also give a shout out to Di of Quilting is Blissful. It was in Perth that I finally got a little more into the high tech world and started this blog. Shortly after that I met Di who sews so fast you just have to try to keep up--no matter how impossible that is. I even won a giveaway from her. I gorgeous Christmas apron that she made. I will hang it in the kitchen--it is too pretty to actually use. She always makes you laugh with her silly jokes.
And yes, time flew by and two years were over and we had to return to the states. No not to Florida. This time we will be living in Virginia and this will probably be permanent---at least for awhile. I am back to my roots. I was born in Virginia and my mom lives 2 hours from here, so she is quite happy that we are back.
I already have a fun place to go fabric shopping called Bella's. I am sure they are quite happy to see me coming. Way, way, way too much pretty fabric in there.
Well, thank you all for listening. I do not want you to fall asleep reading.
I have enjoyed my quilting journey so far--can't wait to see what I learn next or who I will meet.
 L,A-