Featured Quilter

It is very important to me when someone sends in something that is inspirational for everyone.  The letter below, sent to me on February 28th, gave me the idea to begin this column.  Anyone who wishes to share their special story with me will be considered for this feature.  Although all of the designs shown are not ours, the importance of what this wonderful family has accomplished and the body of work from Mr. Nichols is a shining light for everyone.  Just think of it in this way when you don't think you can tackle a project that you do not believe that you can do:
                          YES YOU CAN! 

Dear Pam, my dad is going to be 82 in May.  My 2 sisters, dad, husband and myself are all quilters.  However, my dad absolutely loves your quilting books.  He has made many over the years.  He used to be a master carpenter.  Had to have a lung removed 10 years ago to cancer and couldn't work in the woodwork shop anymore.  My sister 'challenged' him to try putting fabric together with a different 'tool'.  He has designed some and made some of the prettiest artwork I've seen.  With the precision of carptentry, he has done well!  If you could find a minute to drop him a line by email I would be glad to get it to him.  His name is Amos Nichols of Fulton New York.  He's coming home from the hospital on Tuesday (pneumonia).  You have no idea hoe much fun it would be...Thanks, in advance!  Shelley Warner, Baltimore, Maryland

Received from Shelley on March 17th:

The very first quilt my dad did was Breezing By with the hot air balloons from your The Big Book Of Quick Rotary Cutter Quilts .  We can't locate that picture at this time, but are still looking for it.  When my dad had to have his left lung removed (cancer) my older sister, Lana (we've dubbed the cruise and activity director) challenged him to try putting a quilt together.  He has a great eye for design, color, measurement and placement it would just be using different tools.  Well, apparently, you really shouldn't dare someone in our family.  Most instructors tell you not to tackle something large or hard for your first project so you won't get discouraged.  Not Amos!  I think it stoked a fire!  We have his aunt's Singer that I grew up using and eventually he bought a new machine!  Dad's Aunt May used to come and spend some winters with us and we used to put up the quilt rack in the middle of the living room.  Dad wasn't with the program at that time though!
He would NEVER sell any of his quilts.  They have all been wedding, baby, get well, benefit, raffle quilts for a good cause, etc.  On the other hand, I had to get my daughter to France for a Mission's trip.  We took the long weekend of Martin Luther King's Birthday one year and completed 8 quilts for the cause.  I had a couple tops done already, Lana and Dad each had one top done and we started, sandwiched and tied those and new ones as well!.  I brought them home, sold them and she went to France on quilts!

The local newspaper did a piece on dad (for the aging section).  When asked why he quilts, dad's answer was, "It keeps your mind sharp to figure, concentrate and construct something."  Since not being able to be around all the wood chips/dust he had to find another outlet for not just sitting around and getting old!  He has designed a couple quilts (he probably wouldn't admit), but they're gorgeous!  When my mom was alive, she was 'quality control'.  She absolutley loved to clip the threads and make sure there was nothing missing...she acutally made one or two quilts before she passed away!

After receiving Shelley's letters, I requested that she send me photos of her dads work and her family.  Her letters struck a real chord with me as we have many similarities in our families.  Shelley's older brother Gene, is the professor of music at the University of Maine, Machiasport.  Gene has a brother-in-law who plays French Horn for the Metropolitan Opera.  Gene's wife, Lynn has siblings who play for symphonies and orchestras all over the U.S.  Lynn is the co/concert mistress for the Bangor, ME Symphone Orchestra.  Shelley's brother Andy is a Navy Seal, and her sister, Lana is a Cruise/activity director.  

Although it is impossible to include the huge amount of work that Mr. Nichols has accomplished with his family, I have included pieces that I feel everyone will enjoy.  The more Shelley sent, the more it inspired me.  I hope that it does the same for all who read this and see Mr. Nichols work!  You can click on the photos to enlarge them.  The photo descriptions are Shelleys.

The Nichols Family:
First Row:  Andy (Navy Seal), Amos, (Gene, Professor of Music)
Second Row: Daughter Jeri, Shelley, Lana (Crusie Director)

Dad's sewing room.  He likes to be in front of the living room window for the light!

 Dad always likes a challenge.  Because dad was a hunter (deer, bird, etc.) my sister Lana's husband went to Havaii to see his son and returned with Hawaiian fabric and a reverse applique Hawaiian quilt book for Dad.  The deer quilt is dad's 1st attempt at this style...not too shabby!  The lady in the photo was my mom.  She was Quality Control!  She loved to snip threads and check for missed seams, etc.  Who wouldn't LOVE to have someone snip all of those threads, take the pins out, etc.

This shot includes of all the quilts that Dad, Jeri and I worked on collectively for Christmas one year.  Most were the Flying Geese throws (23) for Christmas and then there's all the others that might be just tops or pinned.  it was impressive to see ALL of them on the line at once.  They started the Flying Geese in the summer and finished up in a marathon by Christmas (I think I had to quilt the one I actually received.  I told him I'd close my eyes while quilting...).  What a production...

Lana had the pattern for a sock monkey, and Dad thought the fabric was good, but he wanted the monkey to be able to hang from the 'branch' so buttons were attached everywhere so that the monkey could be moved anywhere in the tree...

The 4 challenge quilts that were for my 50th birthday. The same fabric was used for all of them.  It's amazing how the same fabric can look so different when you change the pattern!

Dad made this leaf quilt for his cousing in Florida.

Lana, Jeri and Dad tea died muslin in the microwave and took some desings and 'tweaked' them to resemble a church window.  This went to Lana's daughter because she took up stained glass and has made some gorgeous things.

One of my cousins is very Syracuse Univ.  basketball, lacross, football, etc.  We all made the quilt for him and bought  the baby SU jacket for his son!

 Lana, Jeri and Dad tea dyed muslin in the microwave.  We each got a stash of tea-dyed cloth for Christmas that year...what a treat!
 The Green and Gold - you can see the snow outside and there's nothin' finer than to make a quilt in the wintertime - it lasts so long in New York.  Notice dad checking Quality Control on the machine quilting on the tea dyed Boston Commons.

I LOVE the Log Cabin!  Dad wanted to try a string pieced quilt and found out he enjoyed it!


One day we had a brilliant idea about the pattern for Dresden Plate...
Dad took it to the next level and we raided the 'stash' and ironed the pieces.  Dad made the template and cut the better part of a day.  Well, between the 4 (at that time) of us that quilt, we each got a box of around 1000 or more pieces.  I know that he cut 4-6 layers at a time and I still have the majority of them in my box.  It doesn't even look like I made a dent and I've made 3-4 quilts of DP myself!!!


The photo with 3 quilts on the line has Dad's first quilt of the hot air balloons and two baby quilts.

These, from your "Big Book".  Mountain Greenery went to friends who live in the foothills of the Adirondacks.

Dad made this for Eugene after he hit the bear in the road up in Maine.....  It's called Paw of the Bear, again from your "Big Book".