What does this forum mean to you???

[roseytoes]

I joined QIAD this past August. The past few years have been kind of rough. My Mother has gone through cancer treatments twice, my Aunt has no children so I help her (both are in their 80's). I take care of my Grandchildren 2x a week (thats fun though!) My middle Son has had some problems. I was exhaused and stressed out. My Dr. told me I needed to find something to relax me and take my mind off of things for awhile. I have sewn since I was little so I pulled out the machine and started quilting. I was hooked and am having a blast. I did a internet search and found you all. Even thought we have never met in person I feel as though I know many of you. Dh thinks its pretty neat when I talk about the forum and the people here. DH & I are taking a 10 day vacation over the holidays. I hope they have internet where we are staying or I will have withdraw lol! The weekend sew inns, the charity sewing have all become a very important part of my life. I love coming here throught the day to see whats up, how everyone is. I love the creativity here. This is a kind and caring place, no one has been judgemental. I think I am going to stick around!

[HeyGirl]

What does this forum mean to me? Well it means very nice people that share my same interests. Everyone seems so kind and willing to share quilting, feelings, laughter and prayer. Thank you all and God Bless.

[Grammy2]

I love this forum, I am fairly new. Joined before thanksgiving. After leaving the medical field 3 years ago I watched my grandkids 2x wk & they spend alot of weekends with me. They are in K and preschool now & I have more time.

Summers are busy as my DH & I go to the river 2x month. I met some regulars there that quilt & they took me to a quilting retreat in Aug. That got me hooked again and was a boost to my confidence. I am my own worst critic.

I looked at other forums & by luck found this one even tho I knew QIAD had a website. This has made me excited to quilt again.
Sometimes it is not easy for me to meet people. I cannot believe how close you are to each other & truley care for each other. I hope that in time I will be included in your circle.
I love it that we have people from all over the world & get to learn about new places.

Thanks Linda for starting this, and thanks to everyone for giving me advice & help.



Grammy2/Sharon

[QIAD-Linda]

Oh Grammy, you are automatically part of the circle! Quilting brought us all here but getting to know each other and friendships keep us together.

I have been thinking and thinking about this discussion. I have read everyone's response several time and each time tears flood my eyes. For months I have been scratching my head and trying to figure out why this Forum has been so successful. It is all of you! You ARE the Forum! Each one of you is special and brings something different to the party. I love it when a new quilter asks a question and a bunch of you jump in to help! Heck, I have learned a lot from you all! This is a very special group of people who truly care for each other, old members and new members. Granny, never be shy about jumping in to a discussion, we are interested in what you have to say and we can all learn from each other!
You are all a blessing to my life!
Mama Linda

[Hummingbird]

I knew it! I just knew it! I should have grabbed the tissues BEFORE I started reading this thread. Jennie - what a wonderful idea!

KHO/Sandy - you just shake and we'll love you and thread your needle for you. One of the most precious people in my life has Essential Tremor - my mom. She's shared with me some of her discomfort around other people so I know where you're coming from. I tell her she's in charge of the milkshakes and give her a big hug.

This forum - wow

I had first signed up for the forum very early on and then kinda forgot about it. I was very involved - even a moderator - on another forum that was supposed to be Christian in nature. It broke my heart with all the animosity that was taking place. I had to leave. Then I remembered that QIAD had a forum and since I was working on my Twin Sisters, I came back to take a look and share my pictures. What a BLESSING it was! And still is. You all put hands and legs to your faith and beliefs, whatever they may be.

DH and I moved here in October of 2006 and while it's a beautiful little town, we haven't really made any new friends here. I still have friends in lots of other places but nobody on a daily basis. We're still going to our church in the previous area so don't have that fellowship here either. Something that is very important to me.

Here? I have sisters. I have friends. I have women who quilt together, laugh together, cry together and even many who pray together. We share our ups, our downs, our quirky humors and get to be girls again, LOL. The men here are wonderful as well. We care about each other, we torment each other and most of all, everybody is welcome and loved.

I find friendship, encouragement, support and all those things that make life good. DH is a great guy but has NO interest in the internet (part of his faithwalk, bless his wonderful heart!) but even he is starting to ask - when he hears me laugh or cry - what are those girls up to now? I read him some of the posts and he laughs with us or even chokes up with us. It's a good thing.

Y'all have supported me through my son's wedding and the corset, my soapmaking adventures, my quilting and life.

What's amazing too is the friendships behind the scenes. The generosity, the giving, the encouragement, the sharing, it's just unbelieveable. We're not afraid to be REAL with each other. I even get to meet two of you tomorrow! That is just SO cool. And another in a couple of weeks. What an amazing group of worldwide friends.

Thank you.

Nancy, Hummingbird, Bubbles (nowhere else would I get stuck/blessed with the name "Bubbles"!) LOL

[Tulpje]

*smile*

This forum means a lot to me.

It provides me with a window to a world with people I love to be with. I came here to learn about quilting, but I'm learning SO much more then quilting alone.

This forum has been a God send to me.

Linda, this forum provides me to learn all about quilting and so much more. It is also a place where I can show support, and learn to be more patient and tollerant. I can cry, laugh, share and be silly here. This is a place where I feel comfortable, accepted and loved.

This forum also brought me closer to God again.

***Tulpje***

[gardenquilter]

all of the wonderful, caring, sharing, loving, compasionite folks who make up this forum have and do mean so very much to me. I have had so many trials in the last few years and they just keep on rolling along it means so much to have found a group as loving and accepting as this bunch. The friendship is a God send and how marvelous to be able to laugh, cry, share, joke, tease, teach and pray for and with each other. I am thankful to God for each of you.
This is a forum of friendship, love, blessing, joy, sharing and healing. Such a ministry for each of us to have been blessed with.

[dforseth]

I joined last January and tend to lurk rather than chat. I really appreciate all the help you have given me over the last months and the enouragement that Linda has given me in ALL the PMs I have sent her.

Thanks to all of you.

God bless each one of you, and have a Merry Christmas.

Debbie

[teacupdelights]

Hummingbird a.k.a. Bubbles

You are in good company with the Bubbles moniker. Another very famous accomplished, gifted woman who was known as "Bubbles" was...
Beverly Sills, the opera singer and manager of the Opera in New York.

[Caroline1947]

I love this forum because you have all become my family. I had no one to share my quilting passion with,and I have met so many wonderful friends its just too much of a blessing to tell.
Ladybess,I sent you the runner because ,although we havent met in person, we are kindred spirits in the quilting world.Different ones of you have blessed me with packets of fabrics alnong the way, and have seriously saved my sanity through quilting. I could never afford to buy what I need ,and would have just had to sit and wish. When I am able I like to make a gift and send someone to "pay it forward". I pray about it and God always lays on my heart who I should send a gift to.Hes a wonderful Father, and has richly blessed me with so many loving friends..Now IM bawling,,Pass the tissues ,please!!