Bargello Train Quilt: Cutting and Sewing Instructions (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781481268684)

I was a stay-at-home mom when we lived in Chicago's Hyde Park district so I had a lot of time on my hands. I started buying and studying jewelry design books and set up a small studio in the sun room of our apartment and showed my wares at street festivals. The University of Chicago offered a class in welding so my friend, Annie Kleboe, and I decided to sign up. Annie was doing stone sculpture at the time; she's now into collages. My other crafts include woodworking and sewing (quilt design and construction). I owe whatever sewing skills I have to my mother. She was very patient with me. Sometimes I'd get so frustrated at not being able to do it I'd be ready to quit. But she sat with me and she showed me and finally I'd settle down and try again. Another skill this taught me was how to follow directions. I mainly enjoyed cutting out the patterns and seeing how much material would be left over from what the pattern recommended we buy. Sewing the pieces together was just another kind of puzzle and it taught me how to visualize and think things through so I could end up with something that was half-way decent looking. Woodworking is still another kind of puzzle only in order to put this puzzle together, you first have to design and make the pieces. It's fun. I definitely recommend any kind of craft as a worthwhile pastime and learning experience. My professional writing career began in 1980 with the publication of Jean's Arizona Fan Palm, cutting directions for a 3.2 carat citrine (you can see it in the Handcrafted Jewelry Photo Gallery book in the Kick-Start Creativity series), in the January issue of the Lapidary Journal Gem Cutting Magazine. Many years later my step-by-step articles for original jewelry designs were being published in various international magazines including Jewelry Artist, Step by Step Beads, and Wire Jewelry magazine just to name a few. And now, 2012, I'm enjoying the writing and publishing of various kinds of books for Kindle. (How To Eat Healthy - foods to eat...foods to avoid, No Work Vegetable Gardening, Psychology of Success - how to have success when trying to change how you look, The Trust - a cautionary tale, Little Mysteries - a short story, and many others.) I'll be 70 years old this year. It's been quite a ride. I hope you enjoy my offerings. Again, thank you for your interest. Joyce Zborower