I don’t know how Ashli Montgomery keeps up with all the things she has going on!  I’m guessing that the support from her family helps with so many of the projects she’s doing.

This is my second interview with Ashli.  I wanted to touch base with her as she has some new books available under her pen name, Virginia’dele Smith, that you might want for a Christmas gift.  She also is leading a book club and quilt alongs among other responsibilities she has going on.  

Ashli’s nonprofit organization, Quilt 2 END ALZ, continues to be an excellent resource for those that want to contribute to the Alzheimer’s organization with their quilting.

Find out more about Ashli Montgomery and Quilt 2 END ALZ through these links:

Website: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Facebook: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Twitter: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Pinterest: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Instagram: quilt2endalz

And here's Ashli's links for her books

Website: Virginia'Dele Smith

Facebook: Author Virginia'dele Smith

Pinterest: Author Virginia"dele Smith

Guthrie and I share our thankfulness in this episode.  We are especially grateful for the opportunity to have this podcast and to meet all of the wonderful quilters.  Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to these Thankful Notes from 2024.   I am so thankful for each and every guest that has been willing to be interviewed.   And I’m especially thankful for each of you that has taken time to listen to A Quilter’s Life podcast.

Did you keep track of how many of the guests that you remembered from their episodes?  If you did, please let me know.  I think it was a fun game.  

I found this quote from William Arthur Ward, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

I’m sure as you listen to these quilters you’ll agree that this is what they’ve done.

Here are the last 11 Thankful Notes for 2024.

 

Connect with Megan Fowler

Modern Moon Quilt Studio

Website: Modern Moon Quilt Studio

Instagram: modernmoonquiltstudio

Quilt Scouts

Website: Quilt Scouts

Instagram: quiltscoutsofamerica

Megan's Episode

 

Connect with Dora Cary

Website: Orange Dot Quilts

Facebook: Orange Dot Quilts

Instagram: orangedotquilts

Etsy: OrangeDotQuilts

YouTube: Orange Dot Quilts

Dora's Episode

 

Connect with Eva Saunders

Website: Gingerly Quilt Co.

Facebook: gingerlyquiltco

Instagram: gingerlyquiltco

TikTok: gingerlyquiltco

Etsy: GingerlyQuiltCo

Eva's Episode

 

Connect with Patricia Moller

Website: Dulce Quilts

Trisha's Episode

 

Connect with Ellie Perez

Website: Mojave Farms Quilting Co.

Instagram: majavefarmsquiltco

Pinterest: Mojave Farms Quilt Company

TikTok: elliethequilter  Mojave Farms Quilting Company

YouTube: Mojave Farms Quilt Company

Ellie's Episode

 

Connect with Lynn Christiansen

Website:  Emerald Falls Quilts

Facebook:  Emerald Falls Quilts

Instagram:  emerald_falls_quilts

Pinterest:  Emerald Falls Quilts

Lynn's Episode

 

Reberta Hall

Reberta's Episode

 

Connect with Emily Dodd

Website: Dreamland Quilting

Instagram: dremlandquilting

Facebook: Dreamland Quilting

Emily's Episode

 

Connect with Jenifer Gaston

Website: Woolen Willow Designs

Instagram: jenifergaston

Facebook: Jenifer Falcsik Gaston

Jeni's Episode

 

Connect with Kathrine LeBlanc

Website: Author Kathryn Mykel

Facebook: Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio

Instagram: Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio

Kathrine's Latest Episode

 

Connect with Ashli Montgomery | Author Virginia'dele Smith

Website: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Facebook: Quilt 2 END ALZ

Instagram: quilt2endalz

Website: Author Virginia'dele Smith

Ashli's original episode from 2021

Her 2024 update episode will be published soon!

This is the second out of three weeks that we get to share these short and sweet Thankful notes of guests that were on A Quilter’s Life in 2024.

“The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy” is a quote from Mother Teresa.  I have seen this gratitude and thankfulness in the wonderful quilters that I get to share here on A Quilter’s Life podcast.

Did you play along in the last episode to try to remember each guest?  How many did you remember?

On this episode we have 12 more guests sharing what they are thankful for.  I'm curious if you’ll remember them all?  You might just have to go back and listen to their episodes again.  I have loved hearing each one of their stories and it’s amazing how much of it comes back to me when I listen to their Thankful Notes.

I don’t always remind you about looking on A Quilter’s Life website to see the quilts these precious guests have made.  What a wonderful craft we all share!

 

Jackie Perry

Jackie's Episode

 

Jan Lockhart

Jan's Episode

 

Holly Sprout

Holly's Episode

 

Connect with Carrie Dell

American Quilt Study Group website: AQSG

Facebook: American Quilt Study Group

Instagram: americanquiltstudygroup

YouTube: American Quilt Study Group

Carrie's Episode

 

Connect with Teri Tope

Website:  Teri Tope

Facebook:  Teri Tope

Instagram:  teritope

Teri's Episode

 

Connect with Lisa Shepard Stewart

Website: Cultured Expressions

Instagram: culturedexpressions

Facebook: Cultured Expressions

Lisa's Episode

 

Robyn Capps

Robyn's Episode

 

Connect with Mary Shepherd

Find out more about Mary’s book, Free Motion Murder on her website Mariners’ Compass Murders.

Mary's Episode

 

Connect with Jody Leonardo

Website: Purple Daisy Quilt Designs

Instagram: purpledaisyquilt_designs

Facebook: Purple Daisy Quilt Designs

Jody's Episode

 

Connect with Rochelle Rice

Instagram: doughnutwarrior

And listen to her podcast: Inappropriate Quilters Podcast

Rochelle's Episode

 

Connect with Ellen Happe Phillips

Instagram: ellenhappe

Facebook: Ellen Happe Phillips

Ellen's Episode

 

Connect with Melissa Struttmann

Website: Osage Hills Retreat

Facebook: Osage Hills Retreat 

Instagram: osagehillsretreat

Pinterest: Osage Hills Retreat

TikTok: osagehillsretreat

Yelp: Osage Hills Retreat

And here’s her links for Osage Hills Quilting

Website: Osage Hills Quilting

Facebook: Osage Hills Quilting 

Instagram: osagehillsquilting

Etsy: OsageHillsQuilting

Melissa's Episode

As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States I decided to again share the Thankful Notes that I gathered from guests on A Quilter’s Life this past year.  2023 was the first year I tried this and it was fun to gather these notes from each guest to be able to share such positive praises.

It was surprising when I looked at the list of guests that some of these were recorded almost a year ago, because it seems like we just chatted yesterday.

I think last year many of us enjoyed playing along as we listened to the Thankful Notes to see how many of the guests we remembered.  Let’s do it again.  If you’re following A Quilter’s Life on Social Media go ahead and type in the number of guests that you remembered.  

Below I have the list of guests with links to contact them along with  a link to their episode if you missed their story.

I want to thank each guest that shared what they were thankful for.  This was so much fun to include in the interview process.

The Thankful Notes are broken down into four episodes.  Three of these episodes will be the guests and the fourth will be Guthrie and I sharing our Thanksgiving for 2024.  This first episode will have the first 10 guests.

 

Connect with Susan Smith

Website:  Stitched By Susan

Facebook:  StitchedBySusan

Instagram:  stitchedbysusan

Pinterest:  Sitched By Susan / Long arm quilter & teacher

YouTube:  StitchedBySusan

Susan's Episode

 

Connect with Sarah Fulks

Website: SnuggleBugStitching

Instagram: snugglebugstitching

Facebook: Snugglebugstitching

Etsy: SnuggleBugStitching

Sarah's Episode

 

Connect with Audra Rasnake on her Etsy Shop

In The Sanctuary

Audra's Episode

 

Connect with Tori McElwain

Website: The Quilt Patch by Tori

FaceBook: Tori McElwain

Instagram: quilt_patch

And Tori’s YouTube – Coffee Chats with Quilters

Tori's Episode

 

Connect with Andi Stanfield

Website:  True Blue Quilts

Facebook:  True Blue Quilts

Instagram:  truebluequilts

Pinterest:  True Blue Quilts

YouTube:  True Blue Quilts

Andi's Episode

 

And check out Quilting on the Side with Andi and Tori!

 

Connect with Sheila Squires

Facebook: Sew ‘n Bee Cozy

Short video of Sew ‘n Bee Cozy on A Quilter’s Life YouTube Channel

Sheila's Episode

 

Connect with Jen Frost

Website: Faith and Fabric

Facebook: Faith and Fabric

Instagram: Faith and Fabric

Pinterest: Jen Frost / Faith and Fabric

YouTube: Faith and Fabric

Also check out Jen’s 2024 Scripture Quilts Awards!

Jen's Episode

 

Elsie Coleman 

Elsie's Episode

 

Connect with Erin Grogan

Website: Love Sew Modern

Instagram: lovesewmodern

Facebook: Love Sew Modern

Pinterest: Erin Grogan – Love Sew Modern

Erin's Episode

 

Connect with Karlee Porter

Website: Karlee Porter

Instagram: karleeporterdesign

Facebook: Karlee Porter Design

Pinterest: Karlee Porter

YouTube: Karlee Porter

Karlee's Episode

It’s never too late to learn to quilt!  Juanita Roby is in her 80’s and learned to quilt not even 10 years ago.  I was so happy to have the opportunity to visit with Juanita and share our enjoyment of quilting.

This is the quilt that Juanita said she named Nightmare.

Her favorite type of quilt - Dutch Girl / Boy

A few of Juanita's Christmas quilts

I first interviewed Kathryn LeBlanc in 2021.  It just doesn’t seem like three and a half years have passed since then.  This is our fourth visit and I’m thrilled to get to share with you what Kathryn has been up to.  She continues to write lighthearted, humorous cozy mysteries under the pen name Kathryn Mykel and has published so many fun books that include her passion for the craft of quilting.  I purposely am sharing her interview now so that you will have time to check them out for gifts this year.  It might be something you want to put on your own Christmas list or a gift for someone you know.  Kathryn is even offering a special bundle for the holiday season which you can find on her website authorkathrynmykel.com/store .  I do not have an affiliate with Kathryn, so I am not receiving any compensation for promoting her business.

 

 

Links for Kathryn:

Website: Author Kathryn Mykel

Facebook: Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio

Instagram: Dragonfly’s Quilting Design Studio

 

 

I am so glad that Jenifer Gaston listened to the Quilting on the Side podcast episode where Andi and Tori interviewed me.  Jeni and I didn’t know each other even though we only live about 15 minutes apart.  After our interview for this episode on A Quilter’s Life, we continued to chat and found out that she had known my husband’s grandmother and even had been in my house years ago.  How do you like that for coincidence!

Jeni's favorite quilt.  A Life of Plenty.

Here's a quilt that Jeni's mom made.  Jeni showed me the hand stitching and you could see how it changed over the years that her mom worked on it.  What a treasture.

Jeni used her Mom's Featherweight and a toy sewing machine that she had when growing up as decorations in her studio.

Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine

Some of the Rugs Jeni made that she had in her studio.  Then she showed me how she made them.

Connect with Jeni

Website: Woolen Willow Designs

Instagram: jenifergaston

Facebook: Jenifer Falcsik Gaston

During the interview we talk about Jeni’s fabric line with Marcus Fabrics called Scrap Happy.  Somehow I forgot to mention the name of it in the interview and wanted to make sure I mentioned it here.

Jeni's Fabric Line at Marcus Fabics:  Scrap Happy

 

Emily Dodd’s roots run deep in the desert of West Texas and she believes there is nothing like a desert sunset to inspire creativity.  She lives there with her husband and babies, and it is where her heart feels at home. When Emily is not sewing, she’s probably chasing babies, drinking coffee, or working at the hospital where she practices the art of medicine. Quilting though is where she always returns to relax, recharge, and reset.

I want to mention that I was able to try Emily’s tip on not using as many pins when piecing curves and it worked wonderfully.

This is the Prairie Queen quilt that Emily made with her Mawmaw.

Connect with Emily

Website: Dreamland Quilting

Instagram: dremlandquilting

Facebook: Dreamland Quilting

Don't forget to check out Emily's podcast Patchwork Revival.  You can find it through her Dreamland Quilting website or on your favorite podcast player!

 

And Thanks to Megan for her part in connecting me with Emily.

Here's my episode with Megan:  Megan Fowler

Modern Moon Quilt Studio

Website: Modern Moon Quilt Studio

Instagram: modernmoonquiltstudio

Quilt Scouts

Website: Quilt Scouts

Instagram: quiltscoutsofamerica

We had to drive on back country roads in West Virginia to meet Reberta Hall.  Ginny Guthrie Caplinger had told me about Reberta a while back and I’m so glad it worked out for me to meet her.  Should I have been concerned when Ginny and her husband, Jim, climbed into the truck to take me and said to each other - Do you remember to get there?  And then at a fork in the road they again were - Which way? Oh well, we have all day to get there.  I just smiled and trusted them.  And I’m so thankful that we arrived, had a wonderful lunch, and of course the best part was getting to know Reberta!

Throughout Reberta's story you’ll hear how she loved to sing and she loved poetry.  She shared several quilty poems, quilts, and pictures of her life which I'm sharing here below.

This Flower Garden quilt was started for Reberta in 193o and finished for her daughter in 1951.

Reberta loves Crazy Quilts.  Here she is with a special one that she keeps on her couch.

Here are some other quilts that Reberta has made.  Her special cat, Sue Boy, used to enjoy them also.

A couple of pictures of life.  Reberta and her cousin.  Then the second picture shows the car Rebeta learned to drive in.  Notice how deep the ruts in the road were.  This is the road that went past their front door.  You can see her house in the background.  It's now part of her driveway.

Reberta painted this stool.  Doesn't the design look a bit like a quilt?  Isn't this collection of wooden spools amazing?

When Reberta and her Aunt Pauline made these cushion covers it started her on her quilting journey.

Here is a picture of Margaret Ott Somerville.  Reberta exclaimed over Margaret's hands and how wonderful it was to be able to see them in this picture.  The hands that made so many beautiful things for their family!  The second picture is a needle book that Margaret made.  The third and fourth pictures are the remnants of a bed coverlet.  The work on this coverlet is so good that you can't tell the front from the back.  According to oral family history, Margaret Ott Somerville sheared the sheep, combed and spun the wool which she used to weave this bed coverlet.

Reberta has been collecting poems and shared these.

Thank you Ginny for taking this picture of Reberta and me!

Again, Thanks to Ginny Guthrie Caplinger!

Check out Ginny's Facebook page: Log Cabin Country Quilts

And if you missed her episode: Ginny Guthrie Caplinger