Being a single mom to a child with autism is never easy. Finding a way to support yourself full time and still be able to attend to your child's special needs can be nearly impossible. I am extremely grateful to be one of the lucky ones. This is my story...

My grandfather Jimmy was a carpenter. The women in his family worked with fabric and the men worked with wood. Somewhere along the way he decided to use his skill at carpentry and apply all that cutting and math to quilts. I always thought it was so unique that he was a man who sewed. It was because of him that I first became interested in quilting. He made many quilts in his lifetime along with my grandmother Elsie and his own mother Rosa who had taught them both to everything she knew. Unfortunately I was not around to learn from any of them during those years. But I have very fond memeories of napping under the quilts they made all through my childhood. I always LOVED their quilts so one day in 2002 I decided I was going to make one myself.

I knew nothing of quilting and very little about sewing at the time. I literally bought some fabric, thread and a pair of scissors. Cut out some squares and sewed them together... WHA-LA! A quilter was born!

My simple patchwork quilts quickly evolved into more advanced appliqué. Again I had never learned any of the "rules" of quilting or proper techniques so I just made things up as I went along. As a result I began creating my own techniques for advanced appliqué. My subject matter also became increasingly advanced. My husband at the time was a very talented tattoo artist. We traveled the country attending many tattoo conventions and he encourage me to take the next step and begin selling my art. My work was a huge success and I received a lot of attention in those early days because no one in the tattoo industry had ever seen anything like my work. As a result I was blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with several world famous tattoo artists who I remain friends with to this day.

It was around this time that I realized I actually had some talent. I decided to begin entering submissions to quilt magazine and shows. Ironically I was almost always turned down. My work was labeled as to "sub-versive" or "edgy" for today's quilters. It was also around this time that my husband and I decided to split up. We made a commitment to each other to remain friends for the sake of our daughter and her needs. We both kept true and this promise and I was in fact our break up that led me to the next step in my quilting career.

Since our daughter was getting older and her autism more pronounced it was imperative that one of us focus on her full time. He father continued to work the convention circuit and would sell my quilts for me from time to time. However I was forced to put my career on the back burner for a while. In an effort to stay connected to my passion I took a part time job at a local quilt shop. The women that I met there and learned from in those years changed my entire life. Not only did I learn so many new techniques and skills, but I was also supported, loved and mentored through my divorce and the realities of being a single parent. It was a major turning point in my life and I will be forever grateful for those years at Quilt & Sewing Center.

Now that I was no longer working in the tattoo industry full time the subject matter of my quilts changed dramatically. I began using my art as a healing process. My quilts became more rich and romantic. I was encourage by several of my new friends to begin re-entering quilt shows and this time I was ACCEPTED!!! Not only was I finally being accepted but I have yet to be turned down since.

During the recession I was unfortunately laid off from the quilt shop so I began working in daycare full time to remain close to my daughter. I have always loved working with kids and ended up being promoted to summer camp director. I used this opportunity to teach countless kids how to sew. The summer camp was a huge success and I had many families return year after year. the kids couldn't wait to get sewing again! This experience was what led to me to where I am today.

Supporting yourself being a full time quilter or artist can be challenging however supporting yourself by being a full time care giver is not only very possible but also very rewarding. So in 2016 with the encouragement again from my ex-husband I opened my home own home day care and it was the best decision I have ever made. It allows me to continue to care for my daughter and also gives me plenty of time for sewing and quilting. Not to mention the opportunity to bring my love of all things fabric to a new generation of crafty kids!