Today's Member Monday and Logo Block feature is Joan Thornbury. Here is what Joan shared…
"I have been quilting about 13 years. I had always wanted to try piecing a quilt, so when my daughter graduated from GPS, I could not wait to cut up her uniforms and make a quilt. That was the beginning of being hooked on quilting.
My compass has always directed me into some form of needlework. I knew a lady in the neighborhood where I grew up - my parent's generation and originally from the Phillippines. Trudy ended up on Signal Mountain with a WWII American husband. Our relationship began when I was about 8 years old. Trudy taught me to knit and crochet. Susan, a neighbor friend, and I visited Trudy a lot over the years. A couple of years ago, Susan's father died, we reconnected and went to see Trudy. At age 96, she was being taken care of by her 2 daughters she left behind in the Phillippines 60 plus years prior. (I did not know they existed until that last visit with Trudy.) Susan and I shared a purpose for her and she was quite the mentor and inspiration for me. Trudy died a few months later.
For about 25 years, while raising my children, I designed counted cross stitch patterns. People would send me a photo of their homes and I would convert that to a pattern for cross stitch, through a mail order business. (Ironically, I got a note from a lady named Susan from Indiana that said "I saw your ad and knew Joan from Signal Mountain had to be you!") I had not spoken to her since we drifted apart after high school. My business also included about 16 designs of Chattanooga buildings and landmarks.
Modern quilting was intriguing to me because it was fresh and new. We moved to a condo downtown 4 years ago which has a modern flare. So naturally the quilts were underway. I love the negative space, simple structure and the new quilting designs as well.
Rarely a day goes by without quilting in it. It is calming, it is creative, it is my passion and it is my therapy!"
I have only known Joan for a short time, but am in awe of her talent—even more so having read her story! Thanks for sharing with us Joan.
Joan's logo block is featured in the ChattMQG Header.
Pam
Joan is a very prolific quilter and quite an inspiration to me. Thank you, Joan!
ReplyDeleteI have a non-quilting question. I hope someone can help. I am doing the Mystic Porch with Molly cross stitch series by Joan Thornbury. I have all but Spring, and have never seen it anywhere. Please tell me how I can buy this chart if it exists. Thank you.
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