Alllllrighty….Who’s Lynn?

I love working with fibers. Color, texture, drape….Creating both functional and artistic works has been a passion since childhood.

Both creative and traditional handwork have been an integral part of my life and I continue to pursue handwork with great interest. Most of my handwork has involved some form of needlework. Other hobbies include mosaic design and scrapbook work.

I enjoy working with cotton fabrics from generations past, so I collect antique cottons, quilt blocks, and quilt tops. Before collecting antique quilts, I studied textile history and took courses on dating cloth and quilts. Occasionally, I will purchase an antique quilt in need of repair so that it can be restored. Restoring an antique quilt takes me back in time, often a hundred and fifty years ago. It is gratifying, yet humbling, to share the labors of an anonymous woman, now deceased. There is an unspoken respect for these women who toiled hour after hour to create a functional quilt or a showpiece.

From garment sewing to quilting to needlepoint, my needles have travelled thousands upon thousands of miles and have provided years of immense satisfaction and joy. I estimate that I’ve made almost 200 quilts so far. And I don’t do postcard-sizes or inches!

My background is in computer science and I’ve been a geek since the late 70s and online since then, too. Yep, even before the World Wide Web was brought to the world via browsers, I was telecommuting at 300 baud. Without a doubt, I was one of the first women working full-time as a telecommuter while staying at home with my oldest son. (See….it pays to go to college sometimes!)

My career has almost always involved computers and as an analyst, I have been fortunate to work in a small company, a large corporation, and also for the Federal Government with FEMA. I have also owned my own business when my love for fiber arts guided me down a different career path. I began selling hand dyed cottons, then patterns. One thing led to another and I became an instructor teaching quilting and fiber arts classes. 

At this point in my life, I am no longer offering classes, but still sell hand dyed cotton fabrics. Much of my day is spent enjoying handwork: quilting, knitting, cross-stitch, embroidery, needlepoint, wool needlepunch. Whatever it takes to play with fabric and drizzle fibers…..

My Mister

I am married to Mr. Fantastic. He is my solid rock.

Here My Mister is holding one of our Goldens, Jake, while sitting alongside our RV. In this photo, we were camping in the Highlands in the Shenandoah Valley last fall.

Mr. Fantastic loves to travel, loves gardening, and loves the open country like I do. He is very mechanically inclined and can repair or build anything. He doesn’t make quilts, though….

My Three Sons (aka The Three Stooges)

The boys are ages 29, 23, and 21. They are all on their own (what does that mean?).

My sons are all well acquainted with quilts and  each of them own several.

(You aren’t surprised are you?)

Four Dudes and a Chick 

 

Yes, I have 3 sons. 

Add two babies to the mix: one grandson and one granddaughter.

Now we have a tribe. And I am officially a grandmother. 

What a perfect excuses to buy toys, make dolls, and act even sillier than before.  Here’s a photo of the tribe at Christmas.

The Fur Boys

Two Golden Retrievers complete my family picture. Jake, our 4 year old Golden, needed a buddy. Last year, we picked out a friend for him. We chose a 7 week old Golden who is very spirited. Effin, is now a little over 2 years old.

The Goldens are best-buddies.

And now everyone in my family has someone special to love.