Stitchin’ Heaven Howdy

 Well, it’s not her birthday, it’s not her anniversary and it’s not National Boss’ day, we just felt like blogging about Deb…..So, this blog is from us (everyone else at Stitchin’ Heaven). Most sites have an “about us” page or a place on their site where you can read the shop’s “story”. We really don’t have one of those, so ….Here’s an interview with Deb. You’ll see the text in red, is my(Nichole) response to her answers.

This is our “formal” questionnaire, by the way…lol

When did you first begin quilting? I was working at a major corporation in the DFW in a very high-stress job. I found a local quilt shop and bought fabric to make an Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Log Cabin.

Who taught you? I took classes at my LQS. (Local Quilt Shop)

Did you have a certain inspiration or need to start quilting? When I got pregnant with Clay I became interested in quilting and decided to make a baby quilt for him. I bought a very simple panel and decided I would quilt it – no instruction. I became frustrated and could not do it and ended up having someone else make it for me. It was not until years later that I realized a few lessons were in order.

Is quilting something that has been a family tradition/hobby? My Mamaw always had utility quilts on the bed but there was never a “tradition” of quilting in my family. My aunt was always an inspiration to me – she started quilting when she was 65 years old.

Who do you quilt for? Yourself, friends or family? How ‘bout “The store?”. I quilt for family and friends mostly. I occasionally will do something purely for myself but it is not often that I do that. ( She does quilt for the store too, well, maybe more of designing. Several of our Quiltflix patterns are her design, White Chocolate is a timeless quilt that we have sold 590 of to date (woo hoo) and several that are featured in magazines (seems like monthly issues)….Ice Castles featured in McCall’s Quilting Feb. 2009 issue, American Cowboys & Walk on the Beach both featured in Quilt Feb./Mar. issue, Boy Scout Quillow featured McCall’s Quilting May 2009, Gumballs and the list goes on! Oh wait…not to mention she is responsible for the leadership in Patchwork Party that starts again March 15, 2009!)

What is your favorite type of quilt block to make? I don’t have a favorite – I love all of them but get bored easily so I want to do different things. ( I can vouch for the “bored easily”, Deb is constantly coming up with something new/different and often changes her mind…:o) She claims that her best ideas come to her in the shower and in the car, so we dread road trips and the fact that she remains “clean”. LOL Um, not really, we are often reminded of job security! That we are so grateful for )

Do you have any “quilt stories”, funny, sentimental etc…? One of the best stories is the guy that called me because his wife was about to turn 50 and he wanted to give her a fat quarter a day and double it every day until her b’day starting 2 months before. It came up to 2250 fat quarter all together! He was a neat man and you could tell that truly loved his wife. They came into the shop after her b’day and I got to meet her. Most people would find it funny that I only made and completed one quilt before I opened my shop. (No, I had not finished my log cabin quilt yet). I did an appliquéd heart quilt from Quilts, Quilts, Quilts. I hand appliquéd the hearts and hand quilted it. That quilt was/is the only hand quilted quilt I have ever done. Been there. Done that. But, I am truly the poster child for proving that we can do anything we set our minds out to do. We don’t have to know everything about it or even be good at it for that matter. I have learned a lot since opening my shop – so much it is scary. (Yes, it is scary! I can’t boast enough about how talented, motivated and driven, Deb is!! There is seriously nothing Deb can’t do, and dare not tell her, she will prove you wrong! I had to share some of these funny pics of her too. Her personality is priceless)