My interest in sewing began when, at an early age, as I watched my cousin make dolls out of cigarette cartons. I took my first clothing class in ninth grade and developed an interest in constructing garments. My first job was working for a costumer who made costumes for dance school recitals.

My education was continued at Wayne State University where I became an educator. After teaching various home economics classes, I began teaching clothing and tailoring. In 1992, I took a class in quilting and I was determined to make a quilt by hand. It was a wonderful class whetting my appetite for piecing. I was still working at the time and felt that I needed more time to devote to my new interest. It took about eight years and meeting one of my former clothing students to redirect my interest in quilting. She was teaching a quilting class, invited me to join and the rest, as they say, is history. While taking her quilting classes, I was invited to join Great Lakes African American Quilters’ Network.

Since joining GLAAQN I have participated in various quilting activities and my love for quilting has grown. For the last five years, I have coordinated an annual community quilt display, celebrating African American History Month and our historical affiliation to quilting. I also began teaching beginning quilting classes; both of these events are held at the church I attend. I also taught quilting to a group of young people in an after school program. This opportunity provided me a chance to expose the quilting concept to future generations.

Quilting has become my passion. I feel excited and exhilarated each time I begin a new project. With each project, I like to try different quilting techniques. I usually have a family member in mind when piecing a quilt. I make other quilts for display at quilt exhibits. I feel that I am “a work in progress”, always striving to improve my skills, learn new techniques, and move closer to being an expert quilter. My goal now is to add art quilts to my quilt story.