Who’s Who in Pieced Barbara Heep

I’ve been asked more than once who would interview ME!  I guess we can answer that! HA!  I’m German-Irish and grew up in El Paso, Texas.  I joined the Navy in 1968 and retired after 20 years in 1988.   At the end of my enlistment, my dear friend Janet Dawson, insisted I move up to the Bay Area from San Diego as this is where I had a larger support system. (My aunt and uncle lived here as well).  So, that’s how I ended up in San Leandro.

The first appliance I ever purchased was a sewing machine. I had that Kenmore for 20 years when I upgraded to a newer Kenmore – which is still my primary sewing machine. It is old, and has few features, but I love that little workhorse. I know it so well. I don’t even have to stop and think about how to make it go faster – like I do with my fancy embroidery Kenmore.  Do you recognize a theme here?  Kenmore is a trusted product. 

Hand crafts, hand embroidery, needlepoint and cross stitch were my favorite creative outlets but I always enjoyed sewing. However, I only began quilting in 2000. My Star Trek buddy (yep, I’m a huge Trekkie) Fran Ford, the president of our Star Trek club, had been attending Kathy’s class for some time. She invited me to join her and I started in the middle of the term in Baby Beginners.  So I took Baby Beginners again the next semester AND the next semester. Finally, Kathy kicked me out of Baby Beginners and I eventually finished a quilt two years later.  Did anybody else have trouble with the math? I mean ¼ inch – isn’t that a fraction!!!

It took a few years before I felt accepted in the class so when I finally made friends I was super bonded to the ladies. I think that is why, when Kathy passed away, I not only lost my dear teacher, but I was afraid I had lost my whole network of quilt friends. Fortunately, our dear Joy picked up the mantle and brought us together to continue Kathy’s legacy.  I joined Pieced Together Quilters shortly after I met Joy when she came to the Plaque Dedication naming the sewing classroom in honor of Kathy.

I am so grateful to Joy and to you my quilting sisters. I would be so sad without you.

Who’s Who in Pieced - Sandy Gard

My sweet sister quilter, Sandy Gard, is a native Californian, born in Oakland and lives now in San Leandro! Wow what a world traveler.

In 1980, Sandy began quilting with Linda Cumming. Kathy Honeycutt was one of the STUDENTS!  Can you imagine! Having Kathy as a classmate! She began quilting because she finally has some free time. She went to class, scheduling around her kids school time. She did interrupt her quilt time when she worked full-time but soon came back to us in 2000.

After retiring, she stayed in the Tuesday evening class at San Lorenzo Adult School and joined Pieced Together Quilters when Joan Penrose mentioned the group. Sandy and Joan had been in Donna Sorenson sewing class so they are old friends too! 

Married a very long time to the best guy in the world, Rich and Sandy enjoy life together. They have four children, seven granddaughters and on very spoiled grandson! Kyle is her most handsome and favorite grandson.

Her other hobbies are knitting, – cleaning her sewing room - color me shocked -, yoga and hiking. She uses hiking poles – we’re talking hard core! OK, hubby is hard core, Sandy is a moderate hiker. She loves all the other things we all enjoy, reading, cooking and gardening. She tries to force herself to stay in bed until 6:30AM, but that doesn’t always work. (Sounds like Martha Stewart).

A little know fact about Sandy is she rescued her nieces’ retainer out of a public restroom – Sandy says her sister still owes her big time.  She reached right in, grabbed that device and gave it back to the poor kid who had just barfed it up!

Sandy told me about the on-line shop hop – where I won the $10 prize THREE times. Sandy has won $100 prize on the on-line hop AND a free sewing machine on a local shop hop. Next time I’ll sit beside her when I Bunny-Hop through the on-line shops.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Heidi Spedowfski

Heidi, my sweet Heidi, finally came back after convalescing from another surgery! This time on her left shoulder.  She was gone for three months and we really missed her. It’s great to see her smiling face again.

Heidi has been quilting since the early 80s beginning with Linda Cumming. After one year she joined Kathy’s class. She began quilting as a way to calm down from her high-pressure job working in the Emergency Department and CCU at Alameda Hospital. Her last 15 years, of her 30 year career, she was the evening supervisor. She had her 40^th reunion from Samuel Merritt Nursing School. God bless the nurses.

Her dear husband, Gary, was a laboratory technologist at Summit Hospital. They met when Heidi was in nursing school. They have two children – boy and girl – and two little girls for the happy grandparents. These babies are the light of her life.

When the Tuesday night class at San Lorenzo Adult School ended, she joined us at Pieced Together Quilters.  Now we have her all to ourselves. 

Heidi loves all hand work, knitting, crocheting and embroidery, but socializing with her quilting sisters is her greatest joy. She loves to go on quilting tours especially New England. One was an Amish Tour and the other  a Fall Foliage Tour.  There is a group of six girls who set off to New England to set the world on fire.

A little know fact is Heidi was born in Waltham Massachusetts  as her father was in the Air Force. They traveled all over.  It madeHeidi more gregarious as many people would be shy, she made friends quickly.  Being in the military brought people closer together  - we were all one family she said.  Ethnicity was never even considered. She was shocked when she first experienced racisms.  Heidi is one of my special friends and I’m thrilled to have her back in group and on the mend.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Lorraine Ryan

When Pieced Together Quilters first started in Joy’s living room, Lorraine was the principal source of information.  She began quilting with Cleo Moore at the Hayward Adult school in 1994 – they year she retired and went to Kathy’s class in 1995. She loved the Thursday afternoon class and stuck with those ladies. That’s where Joy and Lorraine first met. 

Lorraine had previously been a dressmaker and tailor and wanted to further her sewing portfolio and began quilting.  She was hooked – as they say.  She estimates she’s made 100 quilts in 15 years. She makes many quilts for charity as a member of Peacemakers Quilt Guild.

She was born and grew up in San Francisco. She third generation California born. Her grandmother was born at Coloma CA (where gold was discovered).  Her family name is Rohmer – German so those ancestors came from St Louis Mo to mine gold and make it rich! They came west in a covered wagon. Her great-grandmother is buried in Coloma. They’ve had family reunions there and visited the grave stones.

Married 57 years – to her high school sweetheart! They have two sons and one daughter and two granddaughters. She is still hoping for great grand children. She missed not having a grandson, so she started making boy quilts for charity – fulfilling the need to make boy quilts.

Other than sewing and quilting she enjoys activities with quilting friends such traveling with quilters, making charity quilts and going on quilt runs. She says quilting has taken over her life.

A little know fact about Lorraine is she was a Certified Used Cars Sales Representative. She still has her card!  She needed the card to sign papers and certify bill’s of sale.  A DMV officer inspected the lot and told Lorraine she needed to be certified so she went right down and took the test – passed it. She worked for Duffy Gerace and his daughter-in-law was one of Kathy’s students. 

I had to postpone this interview because true to Lorraine’s calling – she was helping other quilters with questions.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Carol Christensen

Carol started quilting in 1994 with Kathy in baby beginners. She finished her sampler  and gave it to a new baby in the family who is now 17  years old.  Lenna was the baby and was the reason Carol wanted to learn to quilt. Now, all these years later she has shared many quilts with family. Some stay with Carol as well.  Her favorite quilt is Sunbonnet Sue on Safari.  I love Sunbonnet Sue – although Kathy hated her because she was a bit too cutsie. So, in honor of Kathy, Carol’s last quilt block was a crocodile by the riverbank with Sue’s bonnet floating down the river!!!!

Carol learned of our group from Joan Allie – who was in the Wednesday afternoon class with Carol.  She joined this group last summer, the same time I did. 

Our sweet Carol has never married and sometimes misses not having grandchildren, but has lots of family she can sew for. 

Traveling is Carol’s other great joy – visiting every continent in the world except Antarctica.  Her favorite trip was to Africa – a safari and getting to see the gorillas in Ruanda.  She now mostly goes on cruises but travels with friends, one of whom is a travel agent.  Her last big trip was to the Amazon – “Which was a big river!” They fished for piranha! Imagine! They were supposed to cook the fish for the travelers, but Carol missed out on the “Feast”!

Carol is a Bay Area native growing up in Oakland. She now lives in Fremont – all alone without pets because she travels so much. Plus it is a lot less trouble!

A little known fact about Carol – she lived in Germany for three years. She taught in an Army school in Swabisch Gmund.  Retired from teaching now, Carol taught grades one through five. She taught in Petaluma, then San Jose and finally Hayward.

It is a great joy to have Carol in our little quilt group.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Linda Blackburn

Linda began quilting in 1975 – just because she liked to sew. She began sewing in 4-H when she was ten.  She was in 4-H for eight years as a member and two years as a leader. She also raised sheep and took them to the fair. She went to Hayward Adult School, but that class was cancelled so she and her best friend, Linda Long, joined Kathy’s class around 2000.

She was married 30 years but lost her husband three years ago. (She jokes he wasn’t lost – but passed away).  They had four children, two boys and two girls and two grandchildren. (One of each)! How lovely!  She grew up in Castro Valley on the same street as Ann Rego and Gail Lysett.  Linda used a treadle sewing machine for years before getting an electric machine. She still has that old Singer.

Her grandchildren  are great Little League players and even get asked for their autographs.  You may recall her granddaughter, Heaven, visited us one evening. 

She has finished seven quilt tops and has a Gammill long arm machine that she intends to set-up as soon as she retires.  One of the finished quilt tops in the sampler from baby biginners and one is a mystery quilt from Kathy’s class.  Her most recent quilt was a Turtle Quilt, shaped as a turtle – for her niece’s baby.

A little know fact about Linda is she never sewed for her kids as they work jeans and tee shirts but she was in a Western Reenactment Group and sewed the heavy canvas coats for the cowboys called “dusters.” She made her family’s costumes – shirts for the hubby, prairie dresses for the kids. She and her family were involved in this activity for 20 years. They traveled in California and all the way to Tombstone Arizona for the Western Rendezvous Gunfighter shows.  They kept in character all weekend and wouldn’t even walk on the same side of the street as the Earps.

She loves quilting because it doesn't have to fit!

Linda is a really funny lady – but you may not notice because she is so soft-spoken.  I remember recently, one of the ladies was signing up for the pot-luck. She asked Linda; “How do you spell hor d’oeuvers?” Linda Blackburn answered, “Bring something you can spell!” I was laughing so hard I almost fell out of my chair.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Cheryl Hadley

Direct quote: “Getting old isn't for sissies!”

She has been quilting since 1978 – taking her first class with Linda Cumming. She pieced everything by hand and made templets by hand and started a king sized quilt, which she is still hand quilting.  They didn’t even have evening classes back then.  She and her daughter, Roni,  joined Kathy’s Baby Beginner class in 1999.  The mom and daughter quilted together until 2003. Roni attempted to adopt two siblings and had to stay home and care for the kiddies.  Cheryl knew Diana Johnson’s sister who suggested they join the Thursday evening class. That’s when Maggie joined the quilt group. 

Isn't it just wonderful to have a hobby with your sister! She and Maggie are as cute as kittens. Maggie makes Cheryl laugh to the point of almost fainting. Too adorable. 

Married 40 years this October to the most wonderful man in the world (now that’s questionable).  Her first husband passed away from an auto accident. She was a widow at 21. The hardest part is her daughter lost her father so early.  Then she had a son, Jimmy. She has three grandchildren. Roni has a 17 year-old boy, Ricky and a 5 year-old girl, Gracie. Jimmy has an 8 year-old little boy named Sammy.

Her other hobbies are hand appliqué. She works for Joanna Figeora of Fig Tree Quilts. Cheryl is the quilt artist’s piecer. She gets to play with all kinds of fabric and doesn’t have to spend money.  Imagine getting paid to quilt!!! She considers her friends and sister her other hobbies.  She loves playing X-Box 360 with her grandchildren.

Born in Salem, Massachusetts but grew up in Alameda because her mom didn’t like the snow and Cheryl was always sick an they thought it was a better climate for Cheryl’s health.

A little known fact is Cheryl smoked for 42 years and quit 7 years ago.  She was a two-pack a day smoker and traded that habit for See’s Candy.  She says it wasn’t hard to quit because she got sick after a trip to Hawaii. She found herself lying on the couch after three days and never picked up another cigarette.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together Joann Kersten

She quilted for her kids, without knowing how. Her aunt left her a “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” quilt and made her a Sunbonnet Sue baby quilt. She was in 4-H and always sewed – making her clothes from feed sacks. Joann grew up on a farm and the chicken and cow feed came in beautiful fabrics. All the reproductions aren’t half as pretty to Joann.

She grew up in Michigan – in the thumb of the mitten in a town call Capac. Coming from hardy German stock, at 18 she went to college in Illinois and found  her first husband there. After graduating she was a teacher and she and her husband moved to Arizona. He broke her heart and found a new love but she did have two beautiful boys.  She moved to California and worked everywhere to make a living. Finally, she got a special certificate in reading at Cal State Hayward and began teaching English at James Logan High School.

Now she has four grandchildren – two of each – ranging in age from 10 to 23. 

At the California Literature Project, she met a Hayward quilter who told her about Kathy’s class. So in 1988 she joined San Lorenzo Adult School with Kathy.  I can’t imagine having so much time quilting with Kathy. What a blessing.

Diana  Johnson – Joann’s personal quilter – told her about Pieced Together Quilters and she quickly found a new home.

Some of her other hobbies are reading mysteries but her Rheumatoid Arthritis is so severe, she is unable to do any hand work even using the machine to sew on binding. Fortunately, she can machine piece.

A little known fact about Joann is she wanted to be a nurse but soon found out she’d have to “toe the line” for doctors, so  she quickly switched to education. She taught 35 years and influenced scores of children to read and enjoy all there is to discover in books.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Muriel Morr

Muriel started quilting in 1991 with Linda Cumming, taking her beginner class, and maybe three years later moved to Kathy’s class.  She was in class all day on Thursday, morning with Linda and Thursday afternoon with Kathy.  She has previously made quilts without instruction and her next door neighbor was in Kathy’s class and told Muriel about San Lorenzo Adult School. She hurriedly joined!

Widowed in 1984, she was married in 1946 and celebrated 38 wonderful years together with her husband, George. Muriel was in school and her girl friend introduced she and George.  It wasn't love at first sight, but he had a car! They had a son and two daughters and two grandchildren, a boy and a girl.  She has a footlocker in the attic and has lots of toys and baby clothes just waiting for a great grandchild. No luck so far. Kathy so loved Muriel’s great-grandmother’s box, that she started one for her own grandchildren. Little Liam is a lucky little boy.

Joy had a couple of meetings at a restaurant in Hayward and Muriel went a few times and when the group moved to a regular meeting place, Sharon Clarke brought her along.  Joy was also in their afternoon quilting class with Kathy so it was an easy transition, especially after the tuition went up so much at San Lorenzo Adult School.

Having just finished planting her vegetable garden, Muriel spends lots of time outside. She cooks for her Eastern Star group. She likes to cook special meals, but is sick of the day-in-day-out cooking duty.

A little known fact is Muriel grew up in California but went to 21 schools before she graduated High School. Her dad’s job took them from town to town so Muriel grew-up making friends easily and fast.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Patsy Harmon

Patsy began quilting in 1981 – self taught from a magazine. It was a Christmas wreath log cabin. She didn't have a sewing machine so she pieced it by hand! Imagine. Her grandmother quilted and made her clothes. Her grandmother could replicate any dress they showed her from a store or picture. Her sweet husband remembered a quilt on his bed as a youngster that was “Grandmother’s Flower Garden” the little hexagons. Patsy cut and pieced over 4000 hexagons for that quilt. After piecing it, she hand-quilted the project. She has had it on her bed ever since then and it’s a bit faded, but well-loved.

She never met Kathy, but knew Loraine Ryan from the library and Peacemakers Quilt Guild. Loraine told Joy and Joan Penrose that Patsy worked with appliqué and invited her to join Pieced Together Quilters.

Married to the love of her life whom she met at age 16. She and Bill have been married since 1959! They have two children, a boy and a girl and three grandchildren – two girls and a boy. They will welcome their great-grandaughter in July! Such a happy occasion.

Patsy grew-up in Michigan then moved to Hawthorne California in July 1958 where she fell in love at first sight with her sweet hubbie! They now reside in Hayward, living there for 17 years.

She loves to read and enjoys all kinds of music. She has always sung in the church choir and in quartets.

A little know fact about Patsy is she is basically shy in a large group preferring to meet in small groups. However, she easily integrated into Pieced Together Quilters because we are “Pieced together in love,” especially Joy, “She is such a loving person.”

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Sabina Hill

Sabina has been quilting 25 years. Her mother-in-law was a quilter and when they visited her in Virginia, Sabina would watch her piece using tissue paper for her patterns. She first took a class with Linda Cumming 1986 and Kathy Honeycutt in 1987.  Such a long time knowing and loving Kathy.  She took her baby beginner class and just like me – never finished the sampler.  She still has the blocks – blue and peach – that could work out now!!!! 

Merle Hill was a handsome sailor whom Sabina saw from a distance and said “That’s for me!”  They have been married 41 years this September.  They dated for almost a year and had a non-denominational wedding blessed by the church several years later. (She is Irish Catholic from WAY back).  They have two beautiful daughters, Jennifer and Michelle. They gave her three beautiful grandchildren – so far. The little girl child was born in November to Michelle.  Jennifer has two wonderful boys.  Benjamin was the first boy and Sabina was thrilled to finally have her little man! Elijah is the middle boy.

Kristy Hanson was the lady who brought all the Tuesday night class to Pieced Together Quilters - assisting Joy with forming our evening class. That was how Sabina and I learned about this wonderful group.  We love coming to Thursday evening with all our old friends and new sisters.

She grew up in Oakland and now lives in San Lorenzo!!! 

Sabina always wanted to be an Ice Skater (princess on ice).  California isn’t one of the word hubs of figure skating, but that didn’t stop Sabina from dreaming.  Her other hobbies are reading but she mainly just loves the grandkids. She works for the Bay Area News Group as a supervisor in the circulation department.

Editor’s note: 

Sabina was one of the first ladies who welcomed me into the clique at San Lorenzo Adult School.  She was the first quilt lady to give me a present. It was a yard of newspaper headlines about a quilter’s husband who was buried under her stash. I have loved Sabina since I began quilting. 

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Lilia Fonseca

Lilia in one of our original Pieced Together Quilters. She was with Joy when they met in her living room.  She began quilting in 1982 – self taught – just because she thought it was beautiful.

In 2004 maybe – the year Kathy broke her leg, Lilia started the Baby Beginner afternoon class.  That was the time she stayed with – loving every moment of the sisterhood of quilters.

Originally in from Portugal – the Azores Islands – she moved to Oakland when she was 16. She came by herself to go to school but soon met the love of her life! Sadly she lost him after 13 years to cancer. That was over 40 years ago. They had three boys and Lilia now has two granddaughters. Both of whom are successful actresses – one in commercials, Hannah Dworkin, and Lindsy Fonseca is a co-star on the WB show Nikita.

Her other hobbies are stained glass, crochet, and she loves to garden. Roses and other flowers are her passion.

A little know fact about Lilia is she wanted to be a Catholic Sister. She wanted to wear the habit as the main attraction – she didn’t really have a vocation. What little Catholic girl didn’t want to dress up as Sister Mary Holy Water!  Instead of living a life of prayerful contemplation she now graces us with her beautiful creations.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Mary Wickersham

Mary first made a quilt with her grandmother in the 1950s, maybe when she was in the first grade. It was six, half square triangles on both sides of the quilt. However, she began quilting with Kathy in 1994 at San Lorenzo Adult School. She started in Baby Beginners on Thursday night then move to Wednesday mornings for a couple of years. She was on and off for a while but then settled into Thursday night.

Tired of making clothes, Mary had a work friend who quilted and invited her to San Lorenzo Adult School but Mary also took a class a Going To Pieces in Pleasanton.  She loves the feel of the textiles and favors hand quilting and hand appliqué.

She has a daughter who teaches in San Ramon who is married to a very nice man and is a CPA. Mary is still hoping for grandchildren. She grew up in San Jose and is fifth generation Californian. Now she lives in Danville.

Mary is getting back into cooking and has discovered 30-minute meals turn out FANTASTIC! She also enjoys reading and gardening. She hikes, loves movies and can’t wait to see “Lincoln Lawyer.”

A little know fact about Mary – her last Milestone Birthday – she went zip-lining in Canada.  On a calmer note, she will do the “Gadspy Pick Nick” where they dress in period clothing (20s and 30s).  Her other bucket list item is traveling to Italy to learn cooking.

Charity Quilt

Today I received a photo of one of our charity quilts....hanging in one of FESCO's shelters - it looks great!  I know all the families who visit there will be welcomed....just like home!

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Cindy Ayers

Cindy began quilting 24 years ago – she knows because her youngest daughter is 24, almost 25. She always wanted to quilt in High School during the 70's quilting revival but waited until she was having a child. Her grandmother was from Arbuckel, CA, pop 1000. The aunties had quilts hanging from the ceiling – on pulleys to raise and lower the quilt frame with the quilt in progress.

She got the flyer from the San Lorenzo Adult School and started quilting with Kathy in 1988.  Cindy was 30 and Kathy was 32. Kathy’s boys were only 12 then. In those days baby beginners was on Monday. After moving the baby beginners class to Thursday, most of the ladies stayed in Monday.  Cindy remembers Kathy back then being the Chief of the Quilting Police.  No rotary cutters, they used cardboard cut-outs and hand piecing only!!!!

Born and raised in the Bay Area, except four years in LA, Cindy lives in San Lorenzo. She was born in Eden Hospital in Castro Valley.

Tim, Cindy’s husband, and she have been married for 33 years. They were High School sweethearts. Tim is still the love of her life and her best friend. She is dying for grandkids!!! Cindy would have loved more children, but had lots of trouble carrying the babies to term. Her youngest was born at 35 weeks after mom went into early labor at 26 weeks.

Cindy is our embellishment queen putting beads and stuff on everything. She loves embroidery and is learning crochet.  She also enjoys gardening, cooking and reading but mainly quilts.

Growing up in a Catholic family, she has five brothers and sisters. (Three of each).  Most people don’t know she has so many children in her family.  They aren’t as close as people might think. Family dynamics are hard to manage.

I so enjoyed hearing about Kathy IN THE OLD DAYS from Cindy. Such a sweet lady.  Cindy declined having her picture inserted. But we know who she is.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Diana Davallou

Diana began quilting six to seven years ago with Kathy in the Wednesday morning class. Having made dolls and sewed for 15 years, her sisters – quilters both – (one sister doesn’t quilt) encouraged her to make quilts.

One of the other ladies in her church who played hand-bells, mentioned San Lorenzo Adult School and Diana joined ASAP!

Diana Johnson told her about Pieced Together Quilters and she joined last winter.  Diana so loves being with people who have the same interest and learn new things and socialize with loving quilters.

We love Pieced Together Quilters – as Diana says – because it was as if  we all came here alone. There was no long history of being together and forming cliques but we were able to come together quickly as friends.

Married 43 years to the most wonderful man in the world. Diana’s husband is Persian – they we met in college in Montana. David was studying mechanical engineering and Diana was studying psychology. They met in a college bar and when Diana saw him across the dance floor – she fell in love! It was December 1^st and they were married June 11 – just six months later.

They have a boy and a girl who gave them three grandchildren.  Diana was born in Montana and came to the Bay Area by way of Oregon. After a few years in Oregon, work brought them to Fremont. They now live in Oakland.

Diana is a twin. Her fraternal twin sister is also a quilter and lives in Bend, Oregon.  

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Linda Louise Long

Our sweet Linda began quilting in 1999 but started buying the magazines in the 1970s. So, she has wanted to quilt forever! She began quilting at Hayward Adult School in 1999. After the Hayward school was cancelled she and her best quilting buddy, Linda Blackburn, transferred to San Lorenzo Adult School with Kathy in the intermediate class. They had finished their sampler quilts but after spending time in Kathy’s class, they moved back to baby-beginners to learn “Kathy’s” way.

She had wanted to quilt after seeing a Crazy Quilt on display at the Oakland Museum. It made her heart stop! She stood and stared at it for at least two hours. This mush have been around the early 1980s.  She thought it was too special a skill that she’d never master but her sister signed them up at the Hayward class.

Married to the most wonderful man in the world since 1970, 41 years in July, they have two daughters and one grandson. She gets to sit with "Jack Danger" four times a week. Isn’t being a grandmother bliss!

Linda was born in Hayward and excepted for two years in Oregon, she has lived in Hayward all her life.

A little known fact is Linda volunteers for the Hayward Police Department, is a block captain in the neighborhood watch, supplies goodies to the DUI checkpoints and was the DARE organizer for over ten years.  She was PTA president and room mother even though she doesn’t drive! She had a day care in her home for over 30 years.

Linda collects antique dolls, doll houses and teddy bears. At one point she had a doll hospital but we know her best as the Yo-Yo queen.

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Sharon Clarke

Quilting since 2001 in Kathy’s class, Sharon never quilted prior to that date. She lived in Napa for 22 years raising miniature horses and chickens and llamas but never quilted. She’d made horse blankets and dog blankets and was ready for a real challenge. She moved here to take care of her dad, who passed away in 2008.

Her sister,  Linda, was in Kathy’s class and invited her to join San Lorenzo Adult School.

Sharon has always wanted to quilt so three days after arriving she joined Kathy’s class two weeks late into baby beginners. Known as one of Kathy’s “Over-Achievers,” Sharon demonstrated a quilt-as-you-go project my first meeting with Pieced Together Quilters. It was a fantastic lesson and one I always wanted to try.

Sharon grew up in Washington Manor and her dad was in the Navy. They moved between Alameda and Naval Station San Diego. After retiring from the Navy, her father owned an air charter service.

This is the first time in her life she hasn’t had an animal – after losing her dog and cat in 2006, she hasn’t replaced the little critters. She took care of her dad and now feels a little lonely.

Gardening, canoeing and fishing are great outings for Sharon but she also crochets to keep her hands busy.

She has two boys, one in Minnesota is the oldest and the second son is in Washington State. He is a professor of economics at Pacific Lutheran Universary. He is married with two grandchildren, a boy and girl. Granny quilts for EVERONE!

A little known fact is Sharon super Sci-Fi fan. She loves Star Trek, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel – anything that is “way-out.”

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Jo Anna Collins

Jo Anna began quilting 11 years ago but has always sewed.  She was a tailor and a sewer and began sewing in 4H in junior high school. Jo Anna’s mother, even though she hated home-made anything – bought Jo Anna a sewing machine.

Joining Kathy’s class around 2000, she took baby-beginners but never finished the quilt. She didn't like the colors and finally donated the UFOs to a guild.

Kathy and her two boys used to shop in Jo Anna’s store, but didn’t remember her when Jo Anna joined San Lorenzo Adult School.

When she learned she was having a grandchild, a friend insisted Jo Anna make a quilt for the new baby. Pink quilt is not her color but she made a pink and purple – baby-doll – quilt for the new granddaughter. After finishing that quilt, Jo Anna joined Kathy’s class.

She loves to bake but doesn’t enjoy cooking. However, her husband and her mother-in-law really like to eat so, Jo Anna cooks. Her favorite thing to do is make chocolate chip cookies and her oldest granddaughter comes to help her bake cookies. Married for 47 years, Jo Anna has been cooking and cleaning and doing all the wifely chores for Ron – the father of her two boys. Some of her other hobbies are gardening and reading – Civil War books. (Civil war quilting books, histories, biographies).

Jo Anna is one of our long-arm quilters – working for 7 ½ years. It was an easy transition from piecing to long-arm quilting and she loves every minute of it. She grew up in Castro Valley and lives right around the corner from her old homestead.

A little known fact – Jo Anna is a tap-dancer, having tapped for eight years. She dances at “Bedazzled” dance school in San Leandro.  

Who’s Who in Pieced Together - Juanita Jones

Juanita Jones began quilting in 1982 with Linda Cumming and Kathy Honeycutt was her classmate then.  Juanita misses Kathy so much – after having has so many years to learn from her – it is a daily reminder just how special Kathy was.

She started quilting with her other friends – but Juanita had always done hand sewing and embroidery and loved working with her hands. She most enjoys small projects but she and her mother hand pieced and quilted a double wedding ring. They won a First Place ribbon from the Alameda County Fair.

Some of her other hobbies are gardening, reading (books and magazines) mostly Romantic Novels and biographies.  She is a good cook and can get something on the table quickly – to joy of her family.

Juanita has been married since 1969 – 41 years – to the greatest man in the world, Paul. He retired from the railroad and Juanita retired last year from the Castro Valley School District. They have two daughters and one granddaughter – the joy of her life. The sweet baby is seven years-old and plays basketball, soccer, sings – dances and loves to read books.

A dear friend mentioned Pieced Together Quilters. Juanita was in Monday night class at San Lorenzo Adult School and particularly loves our group because we all knew and love Kathy.  It is so easy to talk about Kathy here and we don’t feel disrespectful to the leader.

A little known fact about Juanita is she would love to travel in Europe, especially France and Italy. She would love to sit in the sidewalk café and watch the Parisians walk by.