Ever since I was a little girl, I have been fascinated with all kinds of creative pursuits.  Through the years I’ve tried my hand at drawing and painting, knitting and crocheting, clothing construction, tailoring, lingerie making, calligraphy, acting, directing plays and more.  I even took a class in belly dancing when I was young.  But I never stuck with anything long enough to get very good at it.  I would learn just enough to satisfy my curiousity, then I would get bored and start looking for something new.  In short, I was a compulsive dabbler.

All that changed, however, when I became a grandmother.  I didn’t feel old – because I wasn’t – just thirty-five.  But, all of a sudden, I felt as if time was running out.  I was at the top of the hill, and it was going to be a roller coaster ride down.  I had never accomplished anything in my lifetime – never even set any goals for myself.  Finally it dawned on me that I was never going to achieve anything unless I chose one thing to do, concentrated on that alone, and stuck with it.  It just so happened, I was investigating creative writing at the time.

So I set out to learn to write.  I took classes, participated in workshops, went to writers’ conferences.  I subscribed to writers’ magazines.  I read and reread many books about writing fiction, especially short stories.  And, of course, I wrote.  And rewrote.  And submitted my work.  And got rejected – again and again and again.  But I didn’t give up.  For ten years I concentrated on writing.

In that time, I was published in many magazines – in the United States and in eight foreign countries.  My short stories won various awards, and my one and only novel was a finalist in a major contest for unpublished authors and seriously considered by Harlequin.  I have had editors come to me, asking permission to reprint certain stories I’d had published.  A couple of editors asked me to submit something to their magazines, and one commissioned me to write more than half a dozen stories, on particular subjects.

All of that happened because I worked hard, believed in myself, and didn’t give up.

Then I discovered quilting.

I started quilting in 1995.  I took an introductory class then immediately jumped in with both feet.  I signed up for two other classes, during the first year or two but I never finished either of them.  I quickly discovered that I wanted to do my own thing.  In all this time, I followed a pattern just once and copied someone’s pattern once, making minor changes to it.  Everything else, I designed myself.  I think, by now, I’ve probably made 70 to 80 quilts, large and small.  They’re not all wonderful – especially some of the earlier ones – but they are mine.  I’ve won a few ribbons in our local quilt show, but never tried competing in bigger shows.  I’ve presented my work to various audiences through trunk shows and local art an cultural events in my area.  Two of my quilt designs were published in magazines, and I’ve written and produced patterns for two other designs.  I hope to do more in the future.

In addition to writing and quilting, I’m attempting to illustrate a story I wrote for my oldest granddaughter.  I also love to draw.  So, as you can see, I’m kind of back to dabbling – though not in so many areas now.  I’ve learned to limit myself to some extent, at least.

I’ll never be rich, and I’ll never be famous, but that’s okay.  I just love doing my own thing then sharing what I do with as many people as possible.  One thing is certain, however – as long as I’m able to create something, I’ll never be bored.

P.S.  I actually do have a real life, too.  I’ve been married to the same man for 47 years, helped him farm for over 30 years, raised three sons, and worked in a podiatrist’s office one or two days a week for over 29 years.  I have 13 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 to 29 years old.  And I have 5 great-grandchildren.  Most of them live nearby, so I do a lot of cooking and a whole lot of babysitting.  Which means, I constantly have to fight for my time to create.  But, it’s worth the fight!