Pat Blazick-Peterson Pat, like of lot of quilters, learned to sew in 7th or 8th grade Home Economics. Her mother sewed, making Pat’s clothing, however Pat is the first in her family to quilt. Her adventure in the world of quilting began when she was in college creating an independent study class for her Art Education and Coaching degrees subsequently teaching herself how to piece and quilt. In the 70’s when Pat began her independent study quilting patterns were all traditional. She made her own templates, used a pencil to trace the template onto fabric, cut the shape out and sewed an approximant total of 20 different patterns together by hand in small hot pad style quilts for her class. Of course, she earned an “A”! As a student funds for fabric were scarce so both backs and fronts of the small quilts were pieced. When she graduated from college her independent study quilting class fed her desire to continue quilting. She found Gladys Raschka’s shop and took a Drunkard’s Path class from Pat Cox. Now, she loves to select a pattern and totally redesign it to her taste. She emphasizes how important accurate cutting and piecing are. Pat loves medallion quilts but did have Amish quilt period liking the dark colors. She took inspiration from a stained-glass church window for ones she made. Pat’s proudest achievement, however, is an applique basket quilt she completed and donated to Methodist Hospital after a personal health crisis in the early 80’s. To her delight it is still on display within the hospital. In 2017 having had kids and career Pat retired. She knew life was going to change moving into their seasonal northern Minnesota lake home for summers and purchasing a winter home in Tucson, AZ. She went through her sewing accumulation as she packed for the transition and gave everything (except the double wedding ring quilt she started when she was getting married) to a former student who wanted to sew. Pat was positive she wouldn’t be sewing or quilting any longer. Surprise! The community Pat and her husband moved to in Tucson, AZ has a vibrant prolific quilting club. She began attending and said she’d press for the group. Eventually she was told she needed to participate in the next project which was a wonky log cabin. She stated the new terms, tools and techniques she needed to get used to were like learning a foreign language. Luckily the club had a group sewing machine she could borrow as she jumped back into the changed yet familiar quilting world. Soon she bought a machine, and now is owner of several. Pat began taking classes to re-learn techniques. She tried Celtic and Hawaiian as well as needle turn applique. Her love of McTavishing inspired her with a project from a Holly Ann Knight String and Story class she took. She is a prolific piecer and loves that she can make smaller project realizing not everything needs to be bed size. Pat still has a friend she met at a Minnesota Quilters’ fall getaway about 50 years ago! She loves the comradery and self-expression of quilting. She reflects at one time in her life her love of quilting kept her from working full time to pursue her love of quilting. She did however return to full time employment as an art teacher and coach. Pat is a prolific quilter who encourages others in their quilting. She is as at home in the desert as she is at her Minnesota lake home sharing her talents and inspiring others to quilt.