Editor’s Note: Throughout our Back to School Blog Party this week, we’ll be introducing you to our 2015 team of Back to School reader-quilters and showing you their versions of Village Square. Our 2015 Back to School Party team consists of Amy Hering, Cindy Tiberio and Sonja Zastrow. They are real-life friends who, despite living on opposite ends of the country, meet up annually for a fun quilting retreat. At this year’s retreat in Kansas, they all worked together on their Village Square quilts.
Today we’ll introduce you to Cindy Tiberio. Cindy created her gorgeous version of the Village Square quilt pattern using Artisan Spirit Fashionable Gray fabrics by Northcott.
You’ll hear from Cindy in her own words below:
Cindy used Artisan Spirit Fashionable Gray fabrics by Northcott for her quilt.
Cindy Tiberio
I live in Webster and Cape Vincent, New York, with my husband, Ted.
I’ve always been “artsy” and have tried and enjoyed all kinds of crafts through the years, but seem to continually return to my first love, sewing. My love of sewing began when I was quite young. My Mother was a wonderful seamstress and would give me her scraps to make doll clothes. It was about eighteen years ago that I was invited to a baby shower and wanted to make something special for the Mom-to-be & baby. That was my first attempt at quilting. Oh, Gosh! when I look at pictures of that quilt now, I can only shake my head! I had no idea what I was doing. But, the quilt was well used and actually stayed together through numerous washings. I like to think that my quilting abilities have grown considerably since then.
I mostly love the design aspect of quilting. The choosing of fabrics and bringing the ideas I have in my mind, to life. Inspiration comes from everywhere for me. I might like certain aspects of different projects and then I attempt to meld them into a unique design.
“Quilty Sisters” retreat fun!
I have recently begun to machine quilt after exclusively hand quilting. Village Square was the first large quilt that I’ve attempted to free motion on a domestic machine, and quite the challenge for me. There are just so many patterns and techniques that I want to try. And, with the newest addition to my “pink” studio, I’ve been able to add machine embroidery to my sewing/quilting repertoire.
YAY! Our first completed blocks.
I think that the highlight of my quilting journey, thus-far, has been the support, encouragement and companionship that I have found in our “Quilty Sisters” group. This group of wonderful women from all over the U.S. found each other on a Weight Watchers group site. Two years ago I met up with a number of these ladies at a retreat in Kansas. These women turned out to be even more amazing than they seemed online! This past July I attended my 2nd retreat with them. That’s where Amy, Sonja & I worked on piecing the quilt tops for this project. It was nice to see the three quilt tops come together in each of our totally different fabric lines. We were able to bounce our questions, opinions and frustrations off of one another, there, and, after returning back to our respective homes. We will forever have a “Back to School” bond!
Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your quilting story with us and for all your hard work on the quilt!
OK, time for another giveaway! We have a prize bundle of the following to give one of you:
- 1 copy Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Vol.11
- 1 copy Quiltmaker Reader Favorites, Summer ’15
- AURIfil thread pack
For a chance to win this bundle, please leave a comment below by midnight tonight (Wednesday, September 15) telling us where you draw inspiration for your own quilts. We’ll choose one winner randomly and announce the winner here. Good luck!
The winner of the giveaway is Lisa E! The winner has been notified by email.
See you back here tomorrow for the next step of Village Square construction, another wonderful version made by a member of our Back to School Team and more giveaways!
Happy Quilting,
Natalie