My name is Sam and I am the author of my blog 'Quilting Curve'.
My blog is named for the insane learning curve that
represents my journey as a quilter. I have also learned that the
quilting curve is a never ending climb. My quilting story is
intertwined in my personal struggles, so here is the short version of my
tale:
I presently live in Dawson Creek, British
Columbia. I have lived here for two years which is the longest time we
(as a family of 4) has ever lived anywhere. We have lived
in Prince George (the big city) and McLeese Lake (population 300). I have worked for 'The Man', run our own business, and ranched 1000 head of cattle... there is absolutely no method to
the madness. As I am typing this up I am surrounded in
boxes in a cruddy little basement suite on my way to Saskatchewan next
month. Throughout my gypsy life I haven't left British Columbia, and I
am slightly concerned about the wide open spaces.
When I was hardly 21 my first daughter was born. I struggled to
find that maternal instinct and when she was 5 months old I found myself
pregnant again (Yeah, I finally figured out why this kept happening).
After my second daughter was born I completely lost touch with whoever
it was I used to be. I lived in a world of baby excrement and all of
the struggles a young family with no money. When the prices of
cattle began to drop we had no choice but to sink with the ship or bail
out. We bailed, and lost all we had accomplished. By this point I was
very unhappy. That Christmas is when I received my first
sewing machine.
I received my machine from my parents in 2010... Mom set it up for me and made sure there was thread in it and said;
"There you go, good luck. Call your deaf grandmother if you need help. Hahaha".
Well great... That machine sat at our table for months and months until finally my husband told me to step up or move the damn machine. The fear had built to such a level my eyes would almost cross in horror at the thought of breaking this fine piece of equipment. To tell you the truth I don't know exactly how it came about but I started to cut some dollar store fleece into squares and took the plunge into quilting hell. I have learned more swear words from that sewing machine than working in a sawmill!!! But soon my fear faded and the beginning of a wonderful relationship was born.
As
the year of 2011 progressed I was consumed by my new addiction, which
has caused a large shift in my lifestyle. I found a guild in town
called 'The Mile '0' Quilt Guild' (we live at Mile 0 on the Alaska
highway) they have been so important in my journey I don't think I could
really express my love for these women. I
joined the guild in July and when September rolled around I finally
realized I
felt more grounded and stronger than I had in years. Quilting has
given me a focus that every woman needs... on herself, for that brief
respite that is so important (especially in mid-winter with cooped up
kids eh!).
So
all in all I have been quilting for just over a year (May 2011) and
can't believe that I have been able to accomplish so much on a personal
level. My future is entirely uncertain but our move to Saskatchewan is
another new beginning and a great opportunity for my family. Plus I'm
pretty sure there are a ton of quilters in Saskatchewan!
I
have many goals to accomplish in the coming years quilt-wise. First I
have to make a landscape quilt that I promised my mother in a weak
moment, I've been working on the process of how to build this massive
monster of a project so far beyond my skill, but if you don't try you
will never know, here is a link to my progress so far.
I'm also bound and determined to make some really cool quilts and
maybe follow a proper pattern. The town of Kindersley that we are
moving to in Saskatchewan actually
has a quilt store so maybe I'll apply for a job there so I don't have
to work in the pub since I haven't really worked a real job since
becoming a mother and losing my job due to the nature of the work
(refinishing log homes). I may even try and start my own guild if the
one in Kindersley isn't to my liking.