My name is Jen and I am addicted to all things quilty!
The quilt behind me is a vintage snowball quilt I purchased on ebay over a decade ago. It is not labeled so I have no idea who the maker was. Much of the batting has bearded and some has completely fallen out of the seams that have opened up. And yet, it is one of my favorites. One I hope to make my own version of in the future.
I began learning to quilt in August 2014. I have sewn for a living since 2002 but always thought quilting was something I would never be able to do because I am legally blind. I was born with ocular albinism and extremely poor vision is a byproduct of that. My best eye is considered legally blind (20/200) and my worst eye is worse than 20/400. That eye cannot make out the largest "E" on the vision screening chart. As a result, I am extremely near-sighted which makes sewing perfect seams difficult. But, where there's a will, there's a way. That sentiment could very well sum up my entire life to this point. If I want to do something, I will find a way. It may not be conventional. It might look awfully strange to an onlooker, but it will happen nonetheless.
I have always loved the look of quilts and for a time, I collected them to use as wall decor. But the store bought quilts we used for our bedding never lasted and that was a huge disappointment. The idea that I could make my own quilt and stitch it in a way that it would endure time and use never occurred to me until last summer when I went to a garage sale in my town and found a gorgeous handmade quilt. It was quilted to endure, that was obvious. But the colors were not "me" so I did not buy it. I did, however, decide that I should make one myself.
My husband of nearly 19 years was my biggest cheerleader and greatest aid in the process. I'd explain my visual issues and he'd come up with a solution. Whether it be lighting, magnification, space, comfort, "braille" notches next to my sewing foot so I could feel seam allowances, he found what I needed to keep going.
Before I had completed my first quilt, I had already started my second. And before completeing my second, I had pieced the entire top for my third. One might say I was addicted. I would say that I was just so pleased to have this avenue opened to me.
With a few more finished quilts under my belt and a lot of adjustments to my work space, I have found what works for me. Improvements can still be made though and that is simply a matter of finding out if they exist. I utilize tons of lighting for piecing but also use shadows for quilting. I might not always be able to see the thread but I can see the shadow it leaves behind. I wear +6.00 readers and also have a 5x magnifying glass mounted to my machine. This just scratches the surface of "aids."
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| This is my view. I sew using my "better" eye. |
I created this blog to record my progress, connect with other quilt lovers, and yes, show off my quilts!
A bit more about me....I am a mother to four, three on earth, one in Heaven. I live in the Pacific Northwest. I love animals and the outdoors. In my free time, when I am not sewing, you will find me spending time with my horse.
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| This is Bud |
I also love to hike and kayak!
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| Kayaking in the Port of Tacoma |
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| Hiking at Mt. Rainier Park, Paradise |
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