Jodie Mae Love
It all began when I was a toddler watching my mother lose herself in her sewing. It was the time of day when she seemed most happy and content. She looked so peaceful and the end result was always something beautiful. I learned how to sew from my mother at the age of 9. She showed me how to follow patterns and make clothing. While she stitched clothing for me and my brothers, costumes and Christmas dresses, curtains and home decor, I never found it quite as satisfying as she did.
I remember attending craft fairs as a girl where she would set up and sell her handmade pillows with eyelet ruffle trim, café curtains, and the stuffed calico geese with the brick in them to hold doors open. While my dad sold his carvings from juniper wood including shelves, birds, quilt racks and more. This was always so much fun to do!
I collected all the scraps from the items my mother sewed and before long I had a basket full. I would often look at them and wonder what I could make. I loved the way they all looked together in that basket. They were so colorful and random. I used them to make scrunchies for me and my friends, blankets for my dolls, I even made some shoes from those scraps! I learned about quilts and quilting from a lady at the craft fairs my parents would attend. I just loved the way she used all the scrap fabrics together to make something totally unique, beautiful and functional. I went home and made my first yoyo and ever since I've been hooked on quilting. I finished my first bed sized quilt when I was 18 and I treasure it to this day. It is a very simple patchwork and muslin quilt but I look at it and feel a sense of warmth, love, and accomplishment.
Textile art is my first love. I am addicted to beautiful fabrics and I love to piece together snippets and watch something lovely and unique evolve. Quilting is truly a labor of love and I find myself in my loft quilting every single spare moment I have. My friends tell me I'm the only person they know who stays indoors to quilt on a perfect sunny 75 degree day! My idea of the perfect day is spent at the sewing machine!
Since I've been an adult, I've sold my own creations at local craft markets, online, and I have made quilts for all of my friends' firstborns. I have found there is no gift that compares to a handmade quilt and it is truly treasured by the recipient and their family through generations.
Today, my mother is intrigued by the things I create as I am in awe of her talents and creations. She will always be my mentor, best friend and biggest fan! I will always be appreciative of the skills that she so patiently taught me as a little girl.
