About Me

My maternal grandmother was a seamstress. While she did make several quilts, what I remember most about her were her dressmaking skills. I’m not sure that I always appreciated how truly skilled she was, especially during those teenage years when I longed to wear something purchased from a store. When my parents got married, my mother and grandmother went to the bridal store and looked at wedding dresses until they found one they liked. My grandmother found a similar pattern, purchased the fabric, went home and made a beautiful dress. 
Twenty-five years after my mother wore it for her wedding, I wore the same dress for my wedding.
 
I like to think that I inherited my love for sewing from my grandmother. I started by hand sewing a large wardrobe for my Barbie doll, then moved on to making my own clothes, mostly out of necessity because it used to be so much cheaper to make than to buy. Then I kind of left sewing behind and embraced a lot of other things—needlepoint, cross stitch, china painting, scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting—you name it, I probably tried it. But nothing ever really “stuck” for very long.

Coming from a rich heritage of quilting in my Mennonite Brethren background, nearly thirty years ago I thought it might be fun to give quilting a try. From that very first quilt, I knew I had truly found my passion.
Double four-patch, completed February 1996--oh how I agonized over choosing the four fabrics in this quilt!

I love everything about quilting—dreaming about design, playing with color, the tactile nature of playing with fabric, I love it all.
  Lumos--my current favorite
Amish Stars, April 2014 
Around 2008, I started designing some of my own quilts, based on things I saw around me everyday--floor tile, a beach towel at Target, upholstery. 
                                                                                    Delta Breeze
                                                                    Amish Charm
                                                                One Pink Flamingo

I started Live a Colorful Life as a way to document my quilting journey. Along the way it has also become a way to document my life for my grandchildren. I hope this gives them more insight into who I am,  what makes me happy, and lets them also know how much I love them.

I also hope to inspire you to look around, at fabric or yarn or flowers or art—and to savor whatever adds color to your life.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

11 comments:

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Carla said... #

Thanks for the peek inside your past. How wonderful to have a heritage of sewing in your family.

Hema Elumalai said... #

Beautiful quilts!

Kathy McNeil Quilts said... #

Hi Cindy. I love your quilt " Just point me in the right direction" I am putting together a new workshop on borders and have been searching modern quilts for bindings that visually act as border to capture and contain all the energy within the central composition. Would you allow me to use your quilt as an example? I would need a full JPEG of the quilt and any info about you that you want included on the slide. My web site is www.kathymcneilquilts.com and my e mail kathymcneilartquilts@gmail.com. This workshop is sold out at the AQS Paducah show and I am so excited about sharing some of the most unique and interesting quilts. Thank you so much Kathy

Quiltlady said... #

My grandmother was also a seamstress. Her specialty was wedding dresses. My sister still has my grandmother's wedding dress. I also wore my mother's wedding dress for my wedding. I have enjoyed quilting for several years for all the reasons you mentioned - it's so therapeutic.

Kathleen said... #
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Lindsey F. said... #
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Diana Longhenry said... #

My aunt found a quilt on your blog and wants me to make one for her. It’s a red, white and blue quilt with a multitude of different Star patterns and shapes in it. I’d send you a pic, but Idk in this format. My email is PTQuilterOriginals@gmail.com. I hope you reply, as I’d rather buy/use someone’s pattern than design it myself; there are some Star shapes on it that I’ve never seen before. Thank you in advance, Diana Longhenry.

Anonymous said... #

Hi Cindy - I just found your site, and I am delighted. You and I come from similar backgrounds. My grandmother was a profession seamstress in Pasadena, CA. I have been sewing, knitting, crocheting, and much more, all my life. I have always wanted to make a quilt honoring our American flag. This would be a quilt that would be passed down through the family. When I saw yours, and knew that was the one. The pattern, the size and your more muted colors, is just amazing. Is there a pattern for that flag quilt, or did you just put it together? I would appreciate your advice. I will have my 70th BD this Sept., and I am feeling nervous that I may not get all my projects done. HaHa. My mother is 105. Thank you for your beautiful inspirations. Patti

Annmarie said... #

This is my first visit to your blog. What a wonderful post. I subscribed!