This month we are meeting Judy Shortt. As one of the veteran's quilt quilters I know Judy mostly through her perfectly pieced quilt tops! But I wanted to know more and she agreed to be interviewed for this month.
Judy with her minime Granddaughter
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?
My family moved to Hanover in 1954 and I (along with my 6 siblings) were enrolled in Rockville School
which was at that time, grades 1 thru 11 (no 8th grade). Prior to Rockville, (Our address is Montpelier by the way) we lived on Curles Neck Farm in the Varina area. It was about a 2000 acre farm on the James River and most of the milk products supplied to the Richmond area came from there. Mom insisted that in order for us to have a better life, my Dad would have to do something different.
So...my Dad went to work for Overnite Transportation and they bought 30 acres and a house here in the Rockville area, where my Mom called home until about 6 months ago when she went to her eternal home. Three of my siblings and I built homes on the property and we are a pretty close family.
2. When you were young what did you plan to be when you grew up and what happened with those plans?
I remember sewing when I was 10 or younger. ...making doll clothes from discarded clothes and using just a needle and thread (no patterns). I never dreamed I would sit at a sewing machine as much as I have in my lifetime.
In High School I thought I wanted to be a nurse. Instead, I went to work after high school and got married a year later and forgot the nursing.
When we had children, I loved being a stay-at-home Mom.
3. Tell us a little about your family.
I think I have told you a lot already but my husband, Hubert has been retired for 12 years. We have two children. Tammy was an Elementary School Teacher but gave it up after her 3rd child, and now does books for her husband's business. She lives about 1/2 mile from us. Kevin lives in Greensboro with his family and is an Engineering Consultant. We have 5 grandchildren.
4. What are your favorite things to do in the area?
At this stage in our life, we do not go much. but I love family picnics and gatherings,
reunions and being around my grandchildren. In the area, I guess I could say I really enjoy riding through the area and seeing all the changes and new homes. We used
to have to drive about 45 min. to a grocery store...now Walmart is 10 minutes away.
But really, we are pretty much homebodies.
5. What’s your favorite meal?
My very favorite meal is bean soup and cornbread on a snowy or cold rainy day!
You can have the steak!
6. What hobbies or activities do you do other than quilting? Where do you do them? How did you get involved with them?
Drawing: I took lessons at the Montpelier Center about the time I retired;
Crossword puzzles; Reading: Currently reading the "Bregdan Chronicles".
At one time I made all the clothes that my daughter and I wore, but only do quilting now.
I do window treatments when asked by friends, but not my favorite thing to do.
I have done lots of cross stitch in the past. I am currently making cross stitch Crismons for our Church Christmas Tree. I don't know how to knit or crochet or
anything about electricity, but I have tried everything else, and still like a challenge.
7. What’s your favorite vacation spot? Where do you want to go next?
Emerald Isle, NC.....a very quiet beach, but lots to do if you are interested or
a quiet campground with my children and grandchildren.....either is very relaxing.
I would love to go to Australia and New Zealand. It will never happen but has always been a dream.
8. What saying best describes how you like to live your life?
Little things give the greatest pleasure! Give God all the credit. It all belongs to Him anyway!
9. Tell us about your sewing space and please give us some photos. My sewing space is a small bedroom converted to a sewing/art/office/TV room. Yes, it gets pretty cramped when I set the ironing board up. When I am not in there, my husband claims it as his man-cave because he can go in there and watch whatever on TV, hitting those remote control buttons as much as he wants.
This is my sewing space, along with a couple of my pieces of art work(grandchildren) on the wall. ...and my little quilt for the show. The bar bells are for when I have been sitting here far too long.
This is my office space.
This is where my husband roosts with his remote control when I vacate the room.
And just for fun, one of my pieces of art from when I was doing classes at the Montpelier Center. It is color pencil.
As you can imagine, All of this in a 12' X 12' room has to be kept neat or I would be crazy, crazy!
10. Show us a photo of the quilt that’s on your bed right now.
The above is currently on my bed. After 10 years I am ready to do something different.
11. What is your all time favorite quilt and why? Do you have a photo of it?
Above is my favorite only because it was my first. I did not know what I was doing. However,
I used it on my bed for years and it has now been in the closet for about 25 years.
It needs to be cleaned, but I did not do enough quilting and am afraid of washing it.
