The quilter selected for our December showcase is Sandy Parsons.
Sandy creates quilts that stimulate the senses and delight the soul. Resilient and tenacious, she's definitely one tough cookie!

1.  How did you get started in quilting?

I started sewing at a very early age, making hand sewn Barbie clothes with my neighbor lady, Mrs. Kelly. By age 10, I was trying to make my own clothes using my existing clothes as the pattern. The story my mother tells is that, in 1969, my father drove in a snowstorm on Christmas Eve to go purchase a sewing machine for me. I continued using that machine until four years ago and still have it today! With that machine, I made clothes and sewed prom dresses for myself. Then in 1974, I cut out my first quilt by hand, making 4 inch squares with my scissors, using all my sewing scraps. Fast forward to 1987: Now, I was making Halloween costumes for my daughter and her friends. In 1994, I joined Annie's Star Quilt Guild when they still met at the Enloe Conference Center. I started learning how to cut with a rotary cutter, and voilà! My quilt journey began.

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

My seam ripper! Really, how many days can you go without using it? Next, would be my little 6 inch ruler, followed by my tiny scissors.

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

In 1996, one of my quilt friends gave me a couple of boxes of her grandmother's fabric from the 1930s to use. I stashed them away, saving them for a special project. That friend and her mother ended up losing their houses (and all of their family quilts and sewing supplies) during the Camp Fire in 2018. I reconnected with her in 2022 and gave her my old Singer Featherweight sewing machine, multiple quilting books, and other sewing supplies. Then, I surprised her with the boxes of her grandmother's material. She couldn’t believe it!

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

That’s a hard one. I don’t think I’ve made a quilt that I didn’t love. I remember taking a class at Honey Run Quilters when it was on the Esplanade. It was taught by Sharon, who was Honey Run's owner at the time. The class used historical reproduction fabric to make a paper pieced Nosegay Quilt. I enjoyed the paper piecing so much that I couldn’t wait to get home from work every day to keep doing it until the quilt was finished. It’s been on my bed for a long time and is now faded from use.

Currently though, my favorite quilt is an echinacea pattern from Anna Maria. The colors are so vibrant! It’s very beautiful.

I make some quilts for my friends and family for special occasions. Even my cat gets quilts! I just made a Kaffe seed pack quilt for a long-time Army girlfriend who turned 70 in October. I’ve given multiple quilts away.

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

When my daughter was in junior high, she took a trip to Washington DC/New York. She brought me back a beautiful purple Amish Quilt.

 
7.  What type of quilting do you most enjoy?

All of it! I enjoy hand embroidery and appliqué, taking classes, and learning new techniques. I enjoy somewhat complicated piecing projects, like some of Linda Ballard’s quilt patterns. Mostly, I am attracted to beautiful patterns and colors.

 
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.

I spent six years as an active-duty soldier in the Army and six years in the reserves. I’ve traveled all over the world and was stationed in places like Japan and Italy. I met my husband in the Army at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. In October, we celebrated our 40th anniversary in Hawaii. I am retired now, after working for 29 years as a Registered Nurse.

After breaking my leg in 2016, I was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I started oxygen therapy in 2017 and continued through 2024. I never let it slow me down and was able to keep a very positive attitude. My husband was a tremendous help and support to me, making it easy for me to get around and use my portable oxygen. This included using the large E cylinders that I needed for the last 6 months of 2023. In January 2024, I was blessed to receive a double lung transplant at UCSF. It has not been easy, but now I'm feeling more like my old self and I'm able to go hiking, sing, and wear dangly jewelry without it being caught up in the oxygen tubing. Now, my biggest goal is staying infection and rejection free! I am indeed blessed with my new life and am so happy to be alive and loved.