Ted & Casey – the Backstory

Today’s stories are from Ted & Casey- (both are members of the quilt group)

Ted’s Backstory-

I started sewing around the age of 11 or 12, in Junior High School. All students were required to participate in Wood and Metal Shop and Home Economics. I loved all 3 art forms, but sewing was the least expensive to continue to follow.

I’ve sewn off and on ever since. I join the US Navy at the ripe old age of 17, and my sewing took on a new dimension…I became a surgical technologist, and learned to suture.

I returned from Okinawa, Japan in 1996 and caught an episode of Quilt In A Day; I went to one of the local fabric stores and bought the Log Cabin QIAD book and the fabric to make my first quilt. It literally took me 8 hours to complete the top of a California King quilt. I still have that quilt on my bed. Around that same time, I started working at one of the fabric stores.

Once a quarter we would host a “Lock in Quilt Class” where we would lock the doors at 8pm and the students would stay up all night learning how to make a quilt. I worked the register for one of those, and I learned how to make the Dresden Hearts Quilt.

I used antique reproduction fabrics in patriotic themes, on a navy blue background, and used bits of the heart fabrics to make sashing in between the blocks. I needle turned and hand appliqued the hearts to the background, and got my top finished in about 2 weeks.

I decided that since it looked antique, it should be hand quilted. To date I have finished quilting 3 of the 12 blocks.

I chose this story to show that not all projects need to be finished to be cherished.

A little bit about Ted-

I’m a European-Asian boy born in Honolulu, HI and raised all over the US. I finished high school and joined the Navy from Akron, OH. I spent 20 years as a Navy Hospital Corpsman, with 4 years on an aircraft carrier, and 9 years as a Field Medicine Technician stationed with the Marine Corps in Okinawa, Japan and Camp Pendleton, CA. My final duty station was US Naval Hospital Sigonella, Sicily, Italy. I retired October of 2004.

Casey’s Backstory-

I started quilting when I was a teenager and created my first quilt on my own with my own pattern. It as not very straight but over the years I got better and better. I now have a stack of quilts in my quilting room and continue to make more.

I donate now to Project Linus for the quilts I make. I have a local chapter in my area that I donate to. My mother also quilted but unfortunately she passed away last month and I inherited a lot of her quilting supplies and double my stash. (I don’t need to go to the quilting shop any time soon.)

Right now I am working on a photo memory quilt of her.

I chose this story to inspire others to have their own story.

A little bit about Casey-

I have been quilting since I was a teenager and enjoy doing it as my therapy.

These stories are brought to you by the members of the online quilt group.  Become a member to get to know April and all the other talented quilters.  We are a community of members from around the world sharing projects, inspiration and ourselves with others. We would love to get to know you too.  More info here.

Until next time.

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