I am a semi-retired quilting teacher. I no longer teach at quilt shops, just do one-on-one teaching at people's houses. This gives me more time to concentrate on what I like to do. I am a contemporary quilter, which means I use anything and everthing on my quilts! I belong to The Textile Center of Minneapolis and 3 quilting groups---MN Quilters, MN Contemporary Quilters and Chaska Area Quilters. I started sewing when I was 7 and used to make all my own clothes, but stopped when it became cheaper to buy them than make them. i complained that I missed using my sewing machine and someone suggested I try quilting. Wow! I never knew I could have so much fun at the machine again. I am called The Thread Lady because that is my specialty. I use lots of it and I used to teach bobbin drawing, couching, twin needles, metalic thread and lots of other stuff. Also did talks at quilt clubs. My husband finally pointed out that I was constantly making samples,not making the kinds of quilts I like to make, so he told me last summer to retire from teaching! He didn't have to tell me twice!
I also knit and dye and paint my own fabric (which I sell). My friends say I am the best bargain hunter they have ever seen. They are always amazed at the deals I get. I am a wholesaler for 2 thread companies, just so I can get my thread cheaper. I don't ever use cheap thread or cheap fabric in my quilts because It's not worth the time and effort you put into a quilt and then have it fall apart.
I spend a lot of time at charity shops and find wonderful bargains. I always go on Senior Day (I am 62) and receive a discount of 25% and one place gives 40%. A couple of weeks ago I wanted to do something in real leather, so I looked through the men's coats and found 2 full -length ones that were less than @15,00, Now I have lots of leather for projects!
I can't remember the last time I paid full price for anything! It;s not that I can't afford it---I can. It's just that I can get so much more for my money if I hunt! I don't buy the cheap stuff either. I guess I just know where to go in the Twin Cities to find the best bargains. Also, I am not impatient and will spend a lot of time looking through bins of stuff to discover treasures. Most of my friends are not as patient or as persistant as I am.
