We love getting to know our members better with each meeting. Make sure to introduce yourself to Judy at the Fall 2009 meeting!
Featured Member: Judy Moritz
My name is Judy Moritz and I have four children. I am divorced and by myself. My quilting by machine was a total accident; I went into the local fabric shop and was looking for a zipper and a very nice lady
waited on me and we got to talking about sewing and before I knew it, I was hired and little did I know what can of worms was about to open.
This was in 1990 and I was quilting everything that came into the shop except what the boss did. BUT all we were doing was pantographs. Let me tell you, I was sure tired of looking at those pantograph patterns except the ivy leaf, today I freehand those babies whenever I can. So for
ten years, we pantographed. What a waste of time, although even a pantogram is an improvement
over no quilting or tying a quilt.
We never had much time to play on the machine and try something inventive. There was always merchandise to stock, shelves to clean, etc. Good excuse right? In 1997 I moved to Denver and everything was in limbo while I got my life in gear, new job, new area etc.
I finally ordered the home craft from Gammill and got busy in my family room and started playing
with different freehand patterns and outlining and whatever else I wanted to try. Proficiency was my goal and even patterns, but to this day, I have my own style and love the free moving patterns that come to mind and enjoy the new tactics that I pick up from teachers and by accident. My daughter and her husband settled in Syracuse to raise their family and were expecting twins. The trek across Nebraska was enough to set the wheels in motion. When the twins were born I started looking into empty shops in Syracuse put an offer on it and went home and quit my job cold turkey.
Not one could believe I was leaving, I sold my home in two weeks and I was on my way.
When I Opened, even before I opened, I had quilts to do. For several years I had over 50 quilts on hand that needed to be done. When the first gas crunch hit the quilts dropped, and it was scary. But the quilts kept coming in, enough to pay the bills.
The hard part was giving up my 401K income and insurance. But now I am hanging on, still paying bills and crossing my fingers and after 7 years here in Syracuse I would still do it again. If I opened another shop, I would be just a quilting shop and not do other things that did not pertain to quilting.
Words of wisdom....I have none, but don’t be afraid to try new things, life, is too short. What works for one may not work for another. I did not have any one else at home to care for and I worked many 12 hour days. Now, I have come to retirement, I am taking my social security this fall and will continue quilting as long as my health lets me and a supplement to
social security years and to pay for insurance.