hi, all!

Hi, everyone! I'm San-Dee, and very excited about this virtual quilting bee as it will be my first. I am a very new quilter-I made my first quilt within the last two weeks for my younger daughter. I have been collecting quilting books forever, and decided it was time to try it.

the background information: I've been married for 28 years to my best friend in the world, and we have two daughters who are in their early twenties. Though a teacher by education, I spent most of my working life in different phases of the financial industry: credit unions and currently the finance department of a large family owned company centering around publishing.

We moved to Bethesda, MD ten years ago when my husband, Lou, was transferred by his employer, NASA. I miss the CA life and most of our family still on the West Coast, but I have learned to live with the humidity of the northern South.

I have been sewing forever, and also enjoy crochet and knitting. I met Tara through an apron swap, and we have become fast online friends-if Lou plans out the road trip he wants to take next summer, Tara and I will meet in person since I can't get to the quilting retreat. This has been a difficult summer for me as I was diagnosed with breast cancer and have gone through two surgeries. The most important lesson I learned is that it is okay to put myself first and do the things I want/need to do, rather than put them off to do the things I "ought" to do. This has been incredibly liberating for me. (What mother ever learned to say no?)

I have no clue what we are supposed to do in the bee, but I am very good at following directions! I like getting to know other crafters and sharing our love and pride of things hand-crafted. I have a blog at sno-wear.blogspot.com that journalizes the past few months of what I have gone through, and shows some pictures of things I have done recently.

I love that this community brings together all ages and experience levels. Let the good times roll!!