10 Questions - Julie Van Den Elzen

We kid Julie a lot about all of the fabric that she buys. She has a MFB (Masters of Fabric Buying) degree. But the truth is that she's incredibly prolific and uses all that fabric that she buys. Let's get to know her better this month.

Julie doing what she does best!

1. If you live in Hanover (or the area), how many generations of your family have lived here and how did they come to settle here? If you moved here, where are you from and what brought you here?

I was born in Wisconsin and lived there for 19 years until Chris and I married in 1986.  Chris was offered a job out of school and given the choice to live in New York or Virginia, never being out east when I thought of New York I thought lots of people, so I said Virginia and that's where we went.  It was a whirlwind weekend, I took care of all the major changes in my life at one time, getting married, leaving home and leaving the state.  We married on Saturday, said our goodbyes on Sunday, packed up and left on Monday morning for Virginia.  We've moved a couple times in apartments then finally built our house and settled here in Montpelier in 1992.


2. When you were young what did you plan to be when you grew up and what happened with those plans?

When I was younger I looked into going to beauty school, I don't think it was called cosmetology back then.  Then life took over and I started working office jobs.  When we moved here I worked in an office until my daughter, Megan, was born.  A few years later, I was introduced to a lady that was making and selling children's clothing.  So I started sewing children's clothes and was able to stay home with my girl.  I was then lucky enough to find another job at home, doing data entry, which lasted a few years until Jacob went to pre-school.  I enjoyed myself so much helping out there that they offered me a job working in the classroom, then moved into an office job there.  I was there for almost 10 years and found myself moving on yet again.  This took me to Pawscienda Pet Resort right here in Montpelier.  I love working with the animals and their "parents" but found the hours were keeping me away from my family way too much.  So I was going to leave but we worked out a deal and I now go in to take care of a few things one day a week and fill in if I'm needed.  Well, I guess you could say that I'm still trying to figure out what I would like to do.


3. What’s your favorite meal?


My favorite meal is any meal that I don't have to cook :-).  I am very lucky in that my husband likes to cook and takes care of it when he is home.  When he's gone, I live on leftovers from our great meals he has cooked.  Although sometimes I like to surprise him and cook something different.


4. What hobbies or activities do you do other than quilting? Where do you do them? How did you get involved with them?

Reading, baking, knitting, a little crochet, cross stitch, painting crafts, I Love to try everything.  I actually have a wonderful room that can accommodate everything that I do.  Although I believe it was much bigger when it was built than it is now.  It's true the more space you have the more stuff you collect.


5. What’s your favorite vacation spot? Where do you want to go next?

Really the only vacation we take is to go back to Wisconsin to visit with the family.  However, our children have introduced us to the beach.  We never really enjoyed the beach, but now find it relaxing.  Walks on the beach, watching Chris fish while I read and reconnecting with our kids.  Neither Chris or I have been up to Maine for a vacation, that would be one place I would like to go to.  I hear there are some nice quilt shops up there.



6. What saying best describes how you like to live your life?

I pretty much take one day at a time for the most part.  


7. Show us a photo (or photos) of where you create.

My room is stuffed full of all the projects that I have collected.  I am determined to finish what I have and minimize my purchases.  Chris is handy enough to build my cutting table, pressing table and cabinets, although I'm still waiting for bookshelves.  Having so much stuff, I find that I'm always looking for a better way to organize it.

   

An overall look at my room, I love my cutting table built a little taller for me, my rulers right behind me close enough to grab what I need, and a flannel wall at the back,  

My sewing area, I use my Pfaff sewing machine for most of the sewing.  An embroidery machine which I just dusted off to start an machine embroidered applique Christmas quilt, and a serger from my clothing making days.

This is my pressing area.  I purchased a big board, then Chris built the storage unit to put underneath.  I has a large pressing area and is very sturdy.  I put this on the opposite side of my sewing station so I must get up and walk around to get that "exercise".

  

  

I couldn't resist putting my fabric guard "Emma" in here.

Okay, so here's the real story, I pretty much cleaned up to take pictures of my space, now here's the rest. . .  You know the saying "She who has the most fabric, wins!"  Do I win???

8. Show us a photo of the quilt that’s on your bed right now.

Actually there are two quilts on our bed since it had been so cold.  The first is a BOM that I did from Keepsake Quilting, and on top for the added warmth is a rag top flannel quilt that I put together.

9. What quilt is your least favorite quilt. Not necessarily the ugliest but the one that you liked the least or struggled with the most or just plain hated making. Why did you choose this one? Do you have a photo of it?

I don't know if there is a least favorite, but usually when making a quilt about halfway through, I get tired of looking at it and don't think that it will ever be done.  I do find that with each quilt I make there is at least one lesson to be learned in the process, and all the ladies in Country School Quilters are very helpful in that process.

10. What is your all time favorite quilt and why? Do you have a photo of it?

Again, I don't have a favorite quilt either. I am very happy when I finally get one done, but have not had that feeling of never wanting to let it go.  I hope to work on many more quilts and maybe will find that one special quilt for me.