Sunday, November 2, 2014

Guest Hosting-Anything Goes Monday Link Up Party!

I am excited to have made my way here to be guest hosting the 
Anything Goes Monday Link Up Party
for Marelize from Stitch By Stitch.

So here is my story!
There are allot of photos- so hang in there!


My Fibertastic Journey!




If you a new here, I am Helen Ernst


If not-Welcome Back!



I began this wonderful journey 24 years ago.




As you, I am obsessed with all things fiber!




Years ago, I loved gathering knowledge and learning as a hobby quilter while raising a family.





As time passed I somehow went from hobby quilter 
to commissioned quilter.
 Making quilts from start to finish.




However as a commissioned quilter I felt like I was lacking 
something personal to me. So my path turned
towards Technique Investigator (is there such a title?).


Which included dying, painting, manipulating fabric 
and hopefully someday weaving.




Which has brought me to my Happy Place.
LongArm Quilting!




I still am addicted as a "Technique Explorer" but
I just melt when it comes to the quilting!





It amazes me how a wonderful quilt can become a 
amazing quilt with quilting.





I still love to create quilt tops but relish the idea of quilting it!




Allot of what I make is traditional-but-not.
(now does that make any sense?)








Quilting is a passion for many and I am sure can be described in many ways.  For me, this has created a incredible bond with my mother, old friends and many new ones.
It is the special connection of togetherness I think!



There is something undescribable when women of 
all ages come together and share their
life stories, adventures and knowledge.




I have memories of sitting under weaving looms in Sweden as a child with my grandmother when she was getting together with her girlfriends that left a impression on me forever!




Many years ago--I was the young one--then the one with children at home--and now I am the one that has the last one leaving home!
Life is changing--AGAIN!





I can only imagine what the next few years will bring.




But happy to know it will be Quiltastic!




































My Family!

This is our youngest who is a helicopter pilot and is
 continuing his flying education in Florida.


Our oldest works for a hospital system in Monmouth NJ.
And is also working hard to become self-employed.



Hubby! 
When he is not helping me with tech support or everyone else 
he can be found fishing!



And Buddy!


I may have never found quilting if it weren't for my mom!
 Thank You for being you and introducing me to this completely sane and insane world.
I Love You! 


And this is my dad!
He was a painter, artist and musician.
I wish we were able to have done this journey together!
But Thankful for the time we did have.
There is around 10,000 one inch squares in this piece.



Other Things!

I am 52!
Have been married for 31 years to a great guy!
 Live in the U.S. in a seaside resort town at the most southern part of New Jersey.
You can say we are at the end of nowhere but near everything
--a short drive we are in Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and New York City.
My back door is on the Delaware Bay and 4 miles east is the Atlantic Ocean.
A short drive and we can be skiing in the mountains of  PA, NY and Vermont.
And unlike many of you--I do not have a green thumb! Yep a little jealous!

Join me on Instagram at--Till We Quilt Again
Also join me through GF or via email on the top left for posts.


Thank You Marelize for having me as a guest host and including me to test your pattern.
It was a Fun quilt to make!
I highly recommend it!





Till We Quilt Again,



So now it is time to link-up!

stitch by stitch








16 comments:

  1. I love, love, love your quilts and the beautiful quilting. They are all gorgeous. I will come back to see more, because I can learn a lot and you are inspiring. Thanks for hosting the link up.
    Love from Amsterdam

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  2. Thank you for this beautiful post, Helen! I so enjoyed seeing your gorgeous quilts. I agree that masterful quilting is positively magical in the way it can transform a quilt top -- longarm quilting is like Cinderella's fairy godmother, turning pumpkins into coaches and rags into ball gowns! Then I got to the end of your post -- Monmouth County, New Jersey? I grew up in Manalapan Township in Monmouth County. Southern tip of New Jersey, near Philadelphia? I lived in Edgewater Park, NJ for about a year when I was first married, a block from the Delaware River and not too far from the Burlington Bristol Bridge. So now I'm dying of curiosity -- where in New Jersey are you, and which beach am I seeing in your photos? I have lived in North Carolina since 1999 and I miss being able to take day trips to the Jersey Shore. Thanks for sharing a piece of that with me today. :-)

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    1. Hello Rebecca--Jersey Girl,
      I was born in Point Pleasant but raised in North Cape May and Wildwood Crest. And have lived in Cape May Court House for the past 31 years. All of the beaches are wonderful but I plop my beach chair on the furthest spot in Stone Harbor! It really is a piece of Heaven! My son went to Monmouth University and now resides in Toms River. He works in Monmouth county and is seeing a girl from Atlantic Highlands. When I am longarm quilting I over look parts of the Delaware Bay. I love how I can be on the beach in 10 minutes! There is water on 3 dies of me! Life is good!

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  3. What beautiful quilts. Helen you are so creative with a needle and thread!! We have two things in common....my daughter is named Helen and I spent a summer in Point Pleasant (back in 1985). I am from Alaska so it was a real adventure. I loved the boardwalk and the Atlantic Ocean. The weather was pretty incredible too.

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  4. Hi, Helen -- nice to meet you!! Love your quilting!!

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  5. Hello Helen!
    How nice to meet you and read your wonderful blog! You are really an accomplished quilter!!!
    I enjoyed seeing all of the wonderful quilts: your work is so diverse. I love your take on thread painting and the gorgeous feathers. I adore the sentangle shoes, so fun!
    Esther

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  6. Hello sweet lady! Thank you for hosting such a great party. I love stopping by . I hope you get a chance to stop by our party, tonight at 7 pm. We would really appreciate it. http://loulougirls.blogspot.com/
    Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls

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  7. I really enjoyed reading your post and looking at all your gorgeous creations (I love the shoes)! Very interesting. I must say that I absolutely love the purple leave with the shiny quilting on and around it. I don't remember seeing the whole piece... Did you make a post about it? :-)

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  8. WOW! I loved your post from start to finish! I feel like I know you...Your quilts are amazing and I love the journey you have been on! My story is much like yours (minus long arm quilting, 2 boys, and living on the east coast, LOL)
    Thank you for hosting and I shall follow you on IG and your blog!

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  9. Hey Helen, thank you for taking us on your fabric journey! Your quilting is stunning and one of a kind. If I were in the US I would totally send my tops your way! I might also have developed a crush on your boys, haha ;-) You must be so proud of them.

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  10. Helen! We are just a hop, skip and jump away from each other! I'm near Annapolis!
    Great post girl! And what gorgeous husband and sons and doggie. LeeAnna at not afraid of color

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  11. Wow Helen your quilts are amazing and so is your quilting, you have taken to it like a duck in water!
    The men in your life are quite handsome and I can tell you all love living near the ocean.
    Thank you for the tour!
    As a fun coincidence I know LA Paylor who commented right above me! She is total fun, you need to meet her!

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  12. Helen - what a fun bio! Such delicious quilts you've done - the one of your dad is especially cool and meaningful as well. Thanks so much for sharing :)

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  13. And we will be meeting again online as I will be following your blog. I am so glad you were the guest host so I could discover you and your wonderful work!

    I'll be back to visit.

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  14. Great post and was nice meet you!

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Thank You for stopping by and leaving a few words. I will answer questions for all to read or you can email me privately for a private response. Either way I will answer you soon. Till We Quilt Again, Helen