quiltbeads

I started knitting potholders when I was 6. And progressed through fair-isle sweaters by the time I was in Junior high. I was I weird kid & wanted to get even more difficult projects. I discovered a beaded knitted purse that some ancestor knitted.. No one knew who. I found the Bag Lady's books and taught myself to knit with beads. Made lots of amulets & a couple of "heirloom" purses. Lots of time! So I developed patterns for purses ... Read Full Bio »

I started knitting potholders when I was 6. And progressed through fair-isle sweaters by the time I was in Junior high. I was I weird kid & wanted to get even more difficult projects. I discovered a beaded knitted purse that some ancestor knitted.. No one knew who. I found the Bag Lady's books and taught myself to knit with beads. Made lots of amulets & a couple of "heirloom" purses. Lots of time! So I developed patterns for purses made with size 8 beads, size 5 pearl cotton and 00 needles. Much faster and very fun and very pretty. I started hand sewing in elementary school and then went on to take Home Ec in college. From then on made most of my clothes and my daughters. Took tailoring classes with a master Tailor to upgrade my skills. I also made my own ballroom dancing gowns.. I had fun challenging myself to more difficult projects. More recently I make costumes for our high school's drama department. They seem to give me projects no one else wants,- like a pleather Go-Go girl outfit with a center back zipper and copying bead embroidered appliques from 2 skits to make a third skirt. I started quilting and bead embroidery in the early 80''s & went on from there. Started with bed quilts & went on to make "art quilts" with beads.. I also make heavily encrusted bead embroidered bracelets, broaches, necklaces, hair adornments, and beaded wall hangings. I do love to learn so each time I start a new skill, I take classes with the best, nationally known teachers & read everything I can. I then take all the approaches to develop my own way. I've tried to pass these skills to my granddaughters. I have 4 and each favors a different skill. But all can operate a sewing machine and knit. My "vocation" was in the field of nutrition, I taught at all levels, kids through doctors in training - in high schools and college. I wrote grants and developed educational materials. I developed a weight loss program based on a point system, long before weight watchers. One of my students went off to work at Weight Watchers in the early 90's, just before they came out with their point system. hummmmm: ! I went into school nutrition and retired from the Ohio School nutrition [program. I oversaw the school lunch program. Now I?m retired and enjoying all this fun stuff, related to fiber & beads.