I’ve Been Tagged

I’ve been a little busy getting my new books and patterns ready for spring quilt market and many other things in my life have been on hold – including reading all my favorite blogs.  Last night I was out on the web playing a bit of catch up and noticed that Camille had tagged me a few weeks back.   That means I’m supposed to give you 6 or 7 random facts about me that you don’t already know (I say 6 or 7 because I don’t exactly know the rules).  So, here goes –

1.  I was the most feared player on my high school softball team.  See   –   This is the award I received at the Athletic Banquet that year.

It was handmade by my coach.  It sounds like a great award – like maybe pitchers were scared to go up against me at the plate or maybe I had a wicked throwing arm.  But no -I was given this award because I was strong enough (NOT) to break an aluminum bat while taking batting practice.   It really was just a fluke, but it was my tiny moment of glory for all the time I spent playing sports.  I pretty much sucked at sports (and should have been at home sewing or something)  but – hey, it sounds good, right?  My brother and sister actually were local sports stars, so they got their sports glory the old-fashioned way.  I had to break a bat, as my athletic skills left much to be desired.

 

2.  I was home-schooled from third grade through eight grade.  Please don’t let my writing skills and typos negatively influence your views on homeschoolers!  I’ve had many years since then to forget what I learned in English class.  I loved being home-schooled and we had a great support group in our area.  We were always going on field trips and learning  interesting things outside the classroom.  I give my homeschooling years partial credit the career path that I have chosen.  While other kids were spending a couple hours a day riding the bus or having play dates with their friends, I was at home learning to sew.  I spent many hours with my Mom in Home EC. class.  In fact, I think it was almost every afternoon!  We got to pursue more advanced sewing projects than other kids my age, as there was one teacher per kid.  In fact, I was surprised when I went back to public school and found out how many girls grew up without a sewing machine.  

 

3.  As a young gal, when I wasn’t busy sewing, I was usually doing some other art project.  I loved to paint and draw.  I took many art classed in high school and college and they were always the highlight of my day.  Here’s a  few of my projects from high school –

After my freshman year in college, I kind of gave up on my art.  I really struggled with how to make my art marketable.  I thought there was no way I could make a living doing anything like this.  It just wasn’t practical.  Shortly after that, I discovered quilting and have been using some form of my art ever since.  Several years ago, I got the chance to paint and draw again, as Henry Glass Fabrics asked me to join their team and start designing fabric.   If only I knew then, what I know now!  I would have been focusing on my art and taking lots of other classes that would have helped me become better at what I do now – like some classes in graphic arts, design, photography, etc.

 

3.  I’m a travel channel junkie.  Sounds boring to most of you, I’m sure.  I just love seeing all the beautiful places in the world.  I know I will never have the time, money, or bravery that it takes to see them all, so I have to live vicariously through the travel channel hosts.  I’m starting to get out and see more of the world  – though so far, it’s been mostly in the US.  Here’s a few shots of one of my favorite places to far – The Oregon Coast.  We were there after Quilt Market last spring.  We only had one day, so I didn’t get to see nearly as much of Oregon as I would have liked, but I still managed to take a few hundred pictures of what I did see!

 

4.  I’m not a morning person.   I’m getting a little better though.  When I was single, I would stay up until 2:00 am working and sewing (are you reading this Camille?).  I would then sleep in until . . . . well never mind.  Even though I slept in, I got so much done every night!   Then I met Joel, and everything kind of went downhill from there changed.  He was  an early riser, so we have compromised and both changed our schedule a bit so we can spend some time together.  I have to tell you, he is so darn perky in the morning and it drives me CRAZY.  He actually wakes up feeling good!  I can’t image –  I wake up feeling like I got hit by a truck and my brain doesn’t really start working properly until at least about 10:00 am.

 

5.  My husband has me in training to be a “coffee snob”, as he calls it.  The first date I had with Joel was at a coffee shop.  He ordered a latte – I ordered a smoothie.  But, you can’t be a part of the Peterson family without drinking coffee.  They started me off with mochas (coffee with mostly chocolate), and after about seven years of training, I am drinking coffee every morning – with creamer.  Maybe by the time I’m 50, I’ll be drinking it black and will have graduated to french roast.  I saw a sign once, that I think should hang in the kitchen at our house –  “Coffee – Do stupid things faster and with more energy! ”  I thought that was pretty cute.  When I’m not drinking coffee, I’m drinking Diet Coke, so either way I should have the energy part covered.

 

6.  My husband says I have an over-motivational disorder.  I have to be busy at all times.  I have never understood the concept of being bored.  I figure you only get to live once and there are so many fun hobbies and people to enjoy in that time!  So, when I’m not working or quilting, you will find me knitting, repainting my house, reading books or blogs, taking pictures, spending time with family and friends, and hopefully traveling a bit.  Sounds like I need some more coffee!

 

7.  You’ve all heard me say lots of good things about my husband Joel – but I have to throw him under the bus for minute.  He once stabbed me in the foot with a pitchfork,  (Accidentally, of course)  and I forgave him.  We also remodeled a house together, and I forgave him.  Hopefully, he forgave me too!  Can you tell I have run out of anything else to tell you about myself????

 

As part of being tagged, I’m supposed to tag a few more people.  Again, I don’t know the exact rules.   Now here is where I have a slight problem – I follow a few blogs and the people I know have already been tagged.  So what to do?  How about this – I’m asking for people who haven’t already been tagged to volunteer.  For the first FIVE people who volunteer to be tagged, you will each get a copy of my new Jelly Roll book – Called Stop, Drop and Roll.  See –

 

 

So, just let me know right away that you want to be tagged by leaving me a comment.  Then I’ll watch for your post or you can e-mail me when it’s up (hmulder@wecnet.com)  You have until next Tuesday to put the post up, as that’s when the books will be ready to ship out.  I will then get you a copy before anyone else has theirs!!!!  Yeah!  I think this is going to be fun.

(This contest is now closed.  Please do not tag yourself!)