Well, I didn't go off to sew because I was prompted to add a profile. That was a bit of work and when I thought I was done it wasn't accepted because I was a tad too wordy......LOL. Just a tad, doncha know.

So... I cut it down to the bones for the profile and here is what I actually wrote. I'm a rule-breaker, yep.

I just turned 50 this June and as each new decade arrives I look forward to new beginnings. My current home is in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Northern Virginia, USA. When I moved here seven years ago I named the place "Mountain, Valley, River, Wood" and even wrote a poem about it. To get to my home you head toward the mountains to the valley, past the Shenandoah River and into the woods.... there you will find my humble ranch on 5 1/2 private acres. I love it here but will be moving on to Clarksville TN as soon as my house sells. There I will have a new beginning just as I did when I moved to Virginia from Massachusetts when I turned 40.

I have three children and one grandchild.... lucky me! My oldest daughter Jessica (27 in August) lives in TN with my grandson Isaiah. They are waiting for his daddy Ivan to return from Iraq. He is scheduled to be here for Isaiah's first birthday on August 20. Gabriel (21) is my second child and only son. He's a Marine stationed in Okinawa. We hope he'll be returning to the states this winter. The youngest is Rose (19). She still lives here at home with me but not for long. In just a few weeks she'll be heading to college at Austin Peay University in Clarksville TN. So... now you know why I'm moving. I'm going to be near my daughters and grandson. I just can't keep away!

That's it for my personal life and here's my pre-professional blurb...

Two years ago I discovered quilting. Now, it's not the first time I've sewed, mind you.... just when I started quilting. I grew up with a sewing machine, began sewing at age 6 and was making all my own clothes by age 12. In my teens I sewed professionally, making prom gowns as well as a bit of custom sewing. When I married I made prom gowns as well as wedding, Christening and bridesmaids gowns. I always loved the fancy stuff! Then there was a decades long break from sewing as I dealt with a difficult marriage and began raising my children alone when they were 1, 3 and 9. After arriving in Virginia I bought a Viking and attended the Martha Pullen School, learning to sew lace and fine fabrics. I am a licensed Martha Pullen fine machine sewing instructor and have taught fine hand embroidery as well. Making a quilt top using these methods led me to quilting.

For the past two years learning all I can about quilting has been my focus. To that end I participate in the Quilting Arts Forum on Delphi where I swap blocks as well as fabrics. I have learned just about all I know about quilting there. I am also a member of Jennifer Chiaverini's list for the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. At 90+ blocks I have gained much experience in different techniques and learned about traditional blocks. I have also met quilters from around the world and have a quilt made with blocks from that site. Another web group I participate in is the Yahoo group "Cyber Quilters" and it's sister group "Cyber Quilters 4 C-Bees". Here I can check out links to blogs and web sites as well as participate in the weekly question named "Needle-Notes". My Midget Sampler came from a link in that group.

I said this was all "pre-professional" because once I sell my home I am going to buy a long-arm machine. For the past two years I have been making tops but not quilting them. Last year I completed 18 tops and this year so far I have completed 22 with five others very close to completion (three should finish in the next few days).

My long term goal is to combine lace work with quilting.

So... that's where I am at this point. And I really am going to go sew as soon as I call the doctor again and have some lunch.