Sunday, July 31, 2016

July Spotlight Stephanie Romney


Let’s get to know Stephanie!
Sometimes, I can't even believe my good luck. What a fun year this has been! Thank you for welcoming me into this group and allowing me to work on blocks for the amazing quilts you create. I've already received some of my Burgoyne Surrounded blocks back from you talented ladies, so it's probably time to introduce myself.

A little about me: I was born in Mesa, Arizona. I still live in Mesa, Arizona. I will most likely die here. (I feel like it might be any minute every single summer!) I met my husband while attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He was born and raised in Phoenix, but it took moving one state to the north to meet each other. We were engaged the day we met - - - to other people. One year later, we were married - - - to each other. (That's a long story for another day.) We've been blessed with three daughters and one son. They've all married wonderful spouses and we have eleven beautiful grandchildren (one's been born since this photo, and one more is on the way). They all live nearby and we are so grateful for that.

I'm the oldest grandchild on my mom's side of the family. Eight grandsons in a row were born after me before any more girls came along. So - - - naturally I was Grandma's favorite. She was my first piano teacher and she taught me to sew. I love her for that. I have no idea how many sets of matching dresses I sewed for my girls when they were little. Miles of ruffles, sashes, English smocking, shadow applique, lacy socks, hair bows . . . I had lots of fun. It was a sad day when they finally said, "MOM! NO MORE MATCHING!" (One of my biggest mom fails is that none of them play the piano or sew. They are, though, extremely talented in many other ways.)

The first quilt I ever made was a king-size "quilt as you go" log cabin. I finished it the morning of October 28, 1983, promptly went into labor, and my second daughter was born later that day. About twelve years ago, my friend organized an "I Spy" fabric swap in our neighborhood and that quilt was the first of many I've made since then. (That was the quilt that gave me carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand. My thumb and index finger are still numb. Another story - - - another day.) I sew with a group of friends once a month. We've gone through various phases of quilt making. We used to try and all work on the same type of project at the same time. We've wised up and now we sew whatever we want. It's my favorite day of the month! I make quilts for my grandchildren when they turn eight and I made a beautiful king-size triple Irish chain for my mother when she turned eighty. Quilts are for all ages.

Last summer, after thinking/dreaming about it for many years, I approached my husband about the possibility of starting a longarm quilting business. Even when I explained the cost of getting started, he said, "What are you waiting for?" Two days later, my son-in-law was knocking down the wall separating two vacant kids' bedrooms in the front of our home. By the end of August (less than a month later), Ivy, my Gammill/Statler was delivered. It has been so much fun (and maybe a little stressful) learning and working on other peoples' gorgeous creations. It keeps me very busy and is a great form of therapy. The only downside is that I don't have as much time to piece my own quilts any more and I kind of miss that. I should probably stop taking naps and eating bonbons!!




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Friday, July 1, 2016

Spotlight for July: Melissa Corry

Let’s get to know Melissa!



Melissa Corry Headshot Photo.jpgI was born and raised in West Valley City, Utah, a suberb of Salt Lake City, Utah. I moved to Cedar City, Utah to attend Southern Utah University after high school.  I was extremely grateful to have a wonderful twin sister to to come with me to college and be my roommate as it made the whole leaving home thing a little easier to bear.  We enjoyed SUU and over my third summer, I met a young local Cedar City boy, who ironically enough was living in Salt Lake City attending the U of U but just happened to be home for the summer.   6 Weeks later we were engaged.


Melissa Corry Studio Headshot.JPG
We moved to Salt Lake City where my sweetheart finished his undergraduate work and welcomed or first child, Spencer into our family.   My husband then applied for Medical School following in his Dad's footsteps and  Thus began a crazy adventure of the next 7 years  :)    We attended medical school in Kentucky, did clinical in Washington State and Utah, and finished up with Residency in Indiana.  Needless to say, we got very good at packing up a U-haul and moving back and forth across the country ;)  We also welcomed 3 new children into our family over this time, Jessica  in Kentucky, Kristian in Washington, and Kamryn in Indiana, making each of our children born in a different state.   


Sewing room.JPGAfter residency, we finally got to move home to Cedar City, where will live now and plan on living until we die!! My baby girl  Josie, joined our family in Cedar City.   And now, we are settled and loving life.  Our family loves playing games, camping and going on hikes  in the mountains, and generally just hanging out together.     I love being a wife, mother, and homemaker!!  


So where does quilting fit into all of this . . . Well,   Before moving across the country that first time I asked my mother to teach me to quilt.  I figured I was about to have some lonely evenings on my hand and needed some hobbies.

I began slowly and enjoyed being able to create adorable baby blankets for friends.  I created Happy Quilting in July of 2010 after my husband got on my case for hijacking our family blog.  And from there, it has just been an amazing ride!!!

Long Arm.JPG

I have loved the opportunity Happy Quilting has given me to expand my skills and share them with others!! I never would have dreamed when I stared my blog that I could say it would lead me to becoming a pattern writer and  author.  I have just loved having so many wonderful opportunities to create open up to me in this amazing industry.  And most of all, I have loved making  so many wonderful friends in this virtual quilting community!!  I just love this industry and the small little corner I have to be a part of it.

Favorite Movie - Pride & Prejudice, although you could throw in any Jane Austin in there ;)  I love to watch movies and have a crazy little obsession with finding old DVD's of shows from my childhood at the Pawn Shop.  I think we have over 400 movies now.  But we don't have netflix, kind of silly ;)  Favorite TV Show - My family loves to watch Master Chef.  I personally don't really watch much TV (movies a ton) unless you count when my  husband is watching sports while I press fabric :)  Good times :)


Favorite Candy - I love Milky Way Simply Caramels ;)   Honestly, I love anything with Caramel ;)

Favorite Recipe - My mom's bread recipe.  It is no fail and my family loves it and there is just nothing quite like the smell of homemade bread or rolls ;)

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Spotlight for July: Melissa Corry

Let’s get to know Melissa!



Melissa Corry Headshot Photo.jpgI was born and raised in West Valley City, Utah, a suberb of Salt Lake City, Utah. I moved to Cedar City, Utah to attend Southern Utah University after high school.  I was extremely grateful to have a wonderful twin sister to to come with me to college and be my roommate as it made the whole leaving home thing a little easier to bear.  We enjoyed SUU and over my third summer, I met a young local Cedar City boy, who ironically enough was living in Salt Lake City attending the U of U but just happened to be home for the summer.   6 Weeks later we were engaged.


Melissa Corry Studio Headshot.JPG
We moved to Salt Lake City where my sweetheart finished his undergraduate work and welcomed or first child, Spencer into our family.   My husband then applied for Medical School following in his Dad's footsteps and  Thus began a crazy adventure of the next 7 years  :)    We attended medical school in Kentucky, did clinical in Washington State and Utah, and finished up with Residency in Indiana.  Needless to say, we got very good at packing up a U-haul and moving back and forth across the country ;)  We also welcomed 3 new children into our family over this time, Jessica  in Kentucky, Kristian in Washington, and Kamryn in Indiana, making each of our children born in a different state.   


Sewing room.JPGAfter residency, we finally got to move home to Cedar City, where will live now and plan on living until we die!! My baby girl  Josie, joined our family in Cedar City.   And now, we are settled and loving life.  Our family loves playing games, camping and going on hikes  in the mountains, and generally just hanging out together.     I love being a wife, mother, and homemaker!!  


So where does quilting fit into all of this . . . Well,   Before moving across the country that first time I asked my mother to teach me to quilt.  I figured I was about to have some lonely evenings on my hand and needed some hobbies.

I began slowly and enjoyed being able to create adorable baby blankets for friends.  I created Happy Quilting in July of 2010 after my husband got on my case for hijacking our family blog.  And from there, it has just been an amazing ride!!!

Long Arm.JPG

I have loved the opportunity Happy Quilting has given me to expand my skills and share them with others!! I never would have dreamed when I stared my blog that I could say it would lead me to becoming a pattern writer and  author.  I have just loved having so many wonderful opportunities to create open up to me in this amazing industry.  And most of all, I have loved making  so many wonderful friends in this virtual quilting community!!  I just love this industry and the small little corner I have to be a part of it.
Favorite Movie - Pride & Prejudice, although you could throw in any Jane Austin in there ;)  I love to watch movies and have a crazy little obsession with finding old DVD's of shows from my childhood at the Pawn Shop.  I think we have over 400 movies now.  But we don't have netflix, kind of silly ;)  Favorite TV Show - My family loves to watch Master Chef.  I personally don't really watch much TV (movies a ton) unless you count when my  husband is watching sports while I press fabric :)  Good times :)

Favorite Candy - I love Milky Way Simply Caramels ;)   Honestly, I love anything with Caramel ;)

Favorite Recipe - My mom's bread recipe.  It is no fail and my family loves it and there is just nothing quite like the smell of homemade bread or rolls ;)

Pin It!