About SusanB

Quilting

I took my first quilting class in 1988. I love to piece, but seldom applique. Books, magazines, the Internet and television quilting shows inspire my quilts. I like to create my own designs instead of following a published design start to finish. I make many quilts for charities like Project Linus, so simple, fast projects are my favorite.

Crocheting

Grandma taught me to crochet when I was young. In my teens, with help from a learn how booklet, I learned to follow a pattern. Many afghans and hats later, I began creating my own patterns for gifts and quick-to-make charity donations.

Knitting

A stepmother, who was an avid knitter, taught me to knit houseshoes. Years later, I taught myself to knit on double-pointed needles to make socks for my dad. Crocheting is faster, but for some things, knitting results in a garment more to my liking.

Sewing

I learned to sew in Home Economics class and made many of my own clothes for a couple of decades. I still occasionally sew clothes and other non-quilted items.

Embroidery

I occasionally embroider. I mostly do counted cross stitch, rarely a stamped embroidery design. Long ago, I did needlepoint.

Reading

I read a variety of magazines and use the public library regularly. My personal library includes western novels, science fiction / fantasy novels, quilting books and magazines, and many needlework pattern books and leaflets.

I own the Longarm series (western novels) by Tabor Evans and many of Louis L'Amour's western novels. I collect Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover novels and Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern novels.

Personal Finance

I strive to stay informed about financial planning and investments. My basic philosophy is save, budget, save, diversify investments and save.

Healthy Living

Pursuing a healthy lifestyle, I no longer eat meat or dairy products and try to exercise regularly.

Environment / Green Living

I recycle and try to reduce my impact on the planet. Gas mileage is a major factor in my car purchases and I combine trips whenever possible.

Web Design

I designed my Handcrafting with Love web site. I designed websites for local Project Linus Chapters: the Metro Kansas City chapter (1997), the Greater Kansas City Area chapter (2000), and the Jackson/Clay/Platte Counties, MO chapter (2009). After a chapter coordinator change in 2010, the Project Linus site I designed is gone. I have taught myself html, Javascript, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and PHP.

Personal

Having long been a saver, I retired at 49 years old when my job as a software developer was eliminated. I had the same employer for 26 years.

Born in Springfield, Missouri, I spent my junior high and high school days in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After college, I lived in New Jersey almost 16 years. I have lived in the Kansas City area since 1995.