Who’s Who in Pieced Together Quilters - Denise Bailey

Denise Bailey began quilting in 1988  with Kathy Honeycutt. It was the transition point when Linda Cumming was going to part-time teaching and Kathy was assuming full-time duties.

Her sole reason for learning to quilt was she wanted to make a baby quilt for a future grandchild – her son was at the time 11. He is now 34, about to be engaged and MUST have a girl, as the pinwheel quilt is for baby girl. Denise muses that maybe she should make one for a boy, however, she still takes out the girl quilt and fondles it – waiting for the girl she never had!

She taught radiology for High School Juniors and Seniors who wanted to be dental assistants. She retired two years ago and actually has less time to quilt than she did before retirement. 

Denise has been married to her high school sweetheart for 36 years. They went to Sunset High School in Hayward and later moved to her husband’s family home in Hayward.  Her husband was in the Marine Corps for six years in the 1970s so they moved around a bit. She loved being stationed in Hawaii, but it was also a stressful place with families reuniting after tours in Viet Nam.

Other than quilting, she loves to read, loves to cook, run the “since you are retired” errands for family and caring for her four cats. Little Huckleberry is a cuddle bug and such a sweet boy. Her son calls her a Crazy Cat Woman  (like that is a bad thing)  – he even gave her an action figure called Crazy Cat Woman! Too funny!

A little know fact about Denise is that she is actually very shy – which is a testament to this group that she feels so cherished, she can step out of the shyness and join the fun.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together Quilters - Dawn Luber

Wanda Daly and Kathy Robrahn told Dawn about Kathy Honeycutt’s quilting class at San Lorenzo Adult School and Dawn told Jenn Schofield.  They all worked at the San Leandro Surgery Center where Dawn is a surgical technician. She started baby beginners in 2006 and finished her sampler quilt the next term. I’d love to see it! She was fascinated by the Reader’s Digest book on sewing arts and has always loved the idea of quilting but thought it was too complicated. So, when she heard about Kathy’s class, she jumped on it.

Married to Bruce Luber for 11 years who is the love of her life. When Kathy Honeycutt requested a spouse to play a colon polyp for the Relay For Life, Bruce showed up in a red costume which looked like an over-stuffed Hershey’s Kiss. He had five stars on his sleeve and announced he was “General” colon polyp. What a funny guy. You may recall her adorable daughter, Sarah, who joined us a few times. Sarah is eight years old and is a budding quilter.

She grew up in Mountain View and then moved to Newark which is still her family home. After her mother has passed away, Dawn took over cooking for her father and brother. Dawn lives in Oakland and commutes daily to Newark to deliver the “Meals On Wheels” for the men-folk.

She attended California Culinary Academy and was a pastry chef for the Marriott Corporation. You should taste her chocolate cake!!! It is triple chocolate cake with chocolate chips and chocolate frosting!!!!!!!!!!!! She brought it to a pot-luck once and I died of chocolate overdose.

Dawn once belonged to Stage One Community Theater in Newark and was in Play It Again Sam and had monologues in other plays. Her two-year stint served her well as the fun-loving girl, we know, who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was part of the Intercollegiate Public Speaking Team for Chabot College and won a gold medal in persuasive speaking for Dangers of Deregulation of the Trucking Industry. Way to go Dawn!

Who's Who In Pieced Together Quilters - Ginger Yost

Ginger Yost began quilting in the early 1970’s – took a long break – then came back last year. She joined Pieced Together Quilters after Janet Hill mentioned it. They are in Tai-Chi together and somehow the topic of quilting came up and Ginger …”jumped on it!” 

Although she was never in Kathy Honeycutt’s class, she was a member of East Bay Heritage Quilters (EBHQ) and took classes there early on. She has made a few quilts, but her favorite is the Disappearing Nine Patch.   It is for her new great-grandson, it went fast and it’s beautiful.

She loves to cook, read mysteries and garden. She brought tomatoes from her garden today. Aren’t we lucky!!! 

Ginger has three grown children, two boys and a girl, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Only one grandchild is a girl, so she is a special recipient of quilts and clothing. She, fortunately, lives in Sacramento so Grandma gets to spend lots of time with them.

Born and raised in Oakland, Ginger was married to a Navy-man and she moved around for years.  Finally she came back home and loves her Bay Area roots.

A little known fact is that Ginger was a house-painter and wall paper contractor.  Her daughter was one of the women who helped paint. Our tiny little great grandmother owned a women’s painting company. What a woman!  I am so impressed that we have a trail blazer in our club.