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.