It seems the most logical way to start my first official blog is to share a bit about me, and why I have decided to join the land of the blogging.
Here is the Reader's Digest Version of Who I Am. I grew up in the West Suburbs of Chicago in the 70's singing along to School House Rock ditties and the Marlo Thomas' album "Free to Be You and Me." We left the house after breakfast, walked miles to the "local" dime candy store, played in the creek barefoot catching crayfish and who knows what else, explored the woods, and played tag until dusk. Then it was a few games of kick the can until someone's parent starting yelling for them or the porch light went on. At night it was the ritual of applying calamine lotion. If it was Tuesday we would stay up and watch Happy Days followed by Laverne & Shirley, go to bed and start all over the next morning. We didn't have microwaves, vcr's, more than 5 TV channels, cordless phones (never mind cellular!), computers, or video games (can you say Atari?) until well into the high school years.
We listened to music on cassette tapes, 45's, and vinyl albums. We recorded music by placing a cassette recorder next to the TV or radio. (smile). We fixed tangled cassettes by unscrewing it, smoothing out what we could, then splicing and Scotch taping what we couldn't. Voila! Some of my first albums were BeeGees, Shaun Cassidy, Carpenters, Saturday Night Fever, Andy Gibb, Journey, Eagles, Billy Joel, etc.
My most likely topics for my blog are coincidentally already summed up in my blog title. Here's a little elaboration:
QUILTING: I am a semi-recovering fabric addict and passionate quilter. I also enjoy being creative in other mediums but can't say I have the best success rate at finishing projects. I love the emotions one goes through and the lessons learned during the process of planning, designing, assembling, stitching and enjoying a quilt. As with gardening, woodworking, or any number of trades and hobbies, it's ofttimes the process that many find more rewarding than the finished product itself. Being "in the zone" is so therapeutic and this is where the joy lies for many.
**Check out my ETSY Shop for some of my quilts. Be sure to check the "SOLD" section for ideas, too.**
SIGNING (ASL): I took my first ASL class many moons ago at College of DuPage in the late 1980's. I knew the manual alphabet but discovered books were not very helpful in truly understanding the movement and nuances of each sign. (This was before internet and dvd's!). I later took more classes in Portland, Oregon and then becoming immersed in the Deaf community in several areas I lived. I was able to eventually make a career out of my passion. I have a genuine love and respect for members of the Deaf/HH communities I have been blessed to interact among over the past 20 years. My goal is to continue to advocate for and support the Deaf/HH community in any way I can.
SIMPLIFYING: I am currently seeking to simplify my life and minimize the frivolous distractions that surround each of us. My desire is to prepare for the future by returning to basic, somewhat primitive daily routines and processes, and eventually being more self-reliant in such routines and processes.
I would also say in spite of my above mentioned desires, I enjoy certain indulgences such Chicago deep-dish pizza, Portillo's Italian Beef, a good massage and pedicure, and shopping at IKEA.
In closing, I should probably warn you about what you WON'T be seeing in my blog. There won't be any cute kids in matching Easter outfits or chubby faces smeared with chocolate frosting. There won't be any earth-changing ideas or tips on family budgeting or how to plant a garden. It'll just be me sharing an insight or two and recording for my own sake the journey I am preparing to embark on. Enjoy!
Here is the Reader's Digest Version of Who I Am. I grew up in the West Suburbs of Chicago in the 70's singing along to School House Rock ditties and the Marlo Thomas' album "Free to Be You and Me." We left the house after breakfast, walked miles to the "local" dime candy store, played in the creek barefoot catching crayfish and who knows what else, explored the woods, and played tag until dusk. Then it was a few games of kick the can until someone's parent starting yelling for them or the porch light went on. At night it was the ritual of applying calamine lotion. If it was Tuesday we would stay up and watch Happy Days followed by Laverne & Shirley, go to bed and start all over the next morning. We didn't have microwaves, vcr's, more than 5 TV channels, cordless phones (never mind cellular!), computers, or video games (can you say Atari?) until well into the high school years.
We listened to music on cassette tapes, 45's, and vinyl albums. We recorded music by placing a cassette recorder next to the TV or radio. (smile). We fixed tangled cassettes by unscrewing it, smoothing out what we could, then splicing and Scotch taping what we couldn't. Voila! Some of my first albums were BeeGees, Shaun Cassidy, Carpenters, Saturday Night Fever, Andy Gibb, Journey, Eagles, Billy Joel, etc.
My most likely topics for my blog are coincidentally already summed up in my blog title. Here's a little elaboration:
QUILTING: I am a semi-recovering fabric addict and passionate quilter. I also enjoy being creative in other mediums but can't say I have the best success rate at finishing projects. I love the emotions one goes through and the lessons learned during the process of planning, designing, assembling, stitching and enjoying a quilt. As with gardening, woodworking, or any number of trades and hobbies, it's ofttimes the process that many find more rewarding than the finished product itself. Being "in the zone" is so therapeutic and this is where the joy lies for many.
**Check out my ETSY Shop for some of my quilts. Be sure to check the "SOLD" section for ideas, too.**
SIGNING (ASL): I took my first ASL class many moons ago at College of DuPage in the late 1980's. I knew the manual alphabet but discovered books were not very helpful in truly understanding the movement and nuances of each sign. (This was before internet and dvd's!). I later took more classes in Portland, Oregon and then becoming immersed in the Deaf community in several areas I lived. I was able to eventually make a career out of my passion. I have a genuine love and respect for members of the Deaf/HH communities I have been blessed to interact among over the past 20 years. My goal is to continue to advocate for and support the Deaf/HH community in any way I can.
SIMPLIFYING: I am currently seeking to simplify my life and minimize the frivolous distractions that surround each of us. My desire is to prepare for the future by returning to basic, somewhat primitive daily routines and processes, and eventually being more self-reliant in such routines and processes.
I would also say in spite of my above mentioned desires, I enjoy certain indulgences such Chicago deep-dish pizza, Portillo's Italian Beef, a good massage and pedicure, and shopping at IKEA.
In closing, I should probably warn you about what you WON'T be seeing in my blog. There won't be any cute kids in matching Easter outfits or chubby faces smeared with chocolate frosting. There won't be any earth-changing ideas or tips on family budgeting or how to plant a garden. It'll just be me sharing an insight or two and recording for my own sake the journey I am preparing to embark on. Enjoy!
