The quilter selected for our May showcase is Nancy McBeen.
This prize winning quilter definitely keeps busy! We always look forward to seeing what fantastic new project she's working on!

1.  How did you get started in quilting?

While growing up, my grandfather lived with my family and he always had a quilt draped over his bed. One quilt that sparked my lifelong fascination with quilting was one that my great-grandmother made in the 1930s. She called it “Grandmother’s Garden.” At age 8, I was awestruck with the design, yet also daunted, initially believing that I could never create a quilt myself.

2.  What is one quilting notion that you can’t do without?

My favorite tools are actually ones 3D printed by my son, David. He has 3D printed many binding bobbins (to store my binding) and templates for specialized blocks or applique. But, my overall favorite creation of his are cases to store the thread and matching bobbin. This has not only helped organize my thread, but also serves as a grab and go for sew days. I’d be remiss if I didn't mention my most used tool, which is a seam ripper. Despite being more of a love/hate relationship, it's invaluable for my somewhat frequent mistakes.

3.  If you’re willing, please share a funny quilting experience that taught you a memorable lesson.

One funny story I have was from when my office and quilting room were a shared space. The quilt I was working on was almost complete. I was just sewing together the rows when suddenly the mechanical hum of the shredder rang out. Unfortunately, I had left the shredder on "automatic" and it had consumed the corner of my quilt! After the shock had subsided and I had a moment to muster up enough courage to examine the damage, I realized that thankfully only one block had been ribboned by the shredder. Thanks to my love of buying a little extra fabric for every project and my handy dandy seam ripper, I was able to replace the block and finish the quilt. This story taught me two life lessons. First, that making mistakes is normal and learning how to fix those mistakes is necessary to move past them. Second was to never have a shredder in my sewing room again!

4.  If it’s possible to choose just one, what is your favorite quilt that you’ve made?

There are so many quilts that I cherish. Some I've loved because of the fabric I used. Some I've loved for the difficulty making the quilt, which challenged the limits of my quilting skills. There was a green and purple quilt featuring a sawtooth inner-border that came out perfectly without any points cut off. If I were to pick one that recently stood above the rest, it would be the Kaffe Fassett quilt pattern called “Pickle Dish.” It took about six months to complete due to each block calling for small pieces of fabric and curves to be paper pieced. I entered it into the 2024 Chico Quilt show and won a red ribbon.

5.  What do you do with your quilts?

I have made so many quilts over the years. Many have gone to family members for Christmas, birthday gifts, and various other occasions. I've donated some of my quilts to various victims of natural disasters such as the Camp Fire and the fires in Hawaii. I've also made quilts for the caregivers who have helped me have a more independent life at my age.

6.  Have you ever received a quilt as a gift? If so, please share a bit about the experience.

Yes, my daughter-in-law, who I taught how to quilt, gifted me one for Christmas. She designed, pieced, and quilted the whole thing from start to end using crumbs from my stash. It has become one of my favorite quilts to use on my bed.

7.  What type of quilting do you most enjoy?

My favorite part of quilting is piecing the blocks and assembling the quilt. One of my favorite patterns to put together is the "Granny Square" quilt pattern from Lori Holt. The best part of the pattern is the ability to use the remnants of fabric from previous quilts. Each block reminds me of the many quilts I have made throughout my lifetime.

8.  We would love to include some personal details about you (anything you’d like to share) such as your profession, interests outside of quilting, future plans, etc.

After receiving my degree in Psychology from San Francisco State, I worked for the Department of Defense where I met my husband of 44 years. We had two amazing sons and spent much of our free time, as a family, camping and fly fishing.

I worked in the tech industry for a couple of decades and ended up retiring with the U.S. Forest Service. Other hobbies that kept my hands busy and my brain working were canning, wool rugs, making Victorian lamp shades, and making custom Easter baskets. Yet, I always came back to quilting as my go to hobby.

In my retirement, quilting has been my therapy. Belonging to Annie's Star Quilt Guild has allowed me to see all the creative quilts being made in Butte County and be able to make many friends who share the love of the craft.