About Judy
Is there anyone out there who doesn’t know more about me, Judy Laquidara, than you want to know?
My husband, Vince, and I live in central Texas. We’re officially empty nesters, though I’m desperately missing my son who stayed behind in Missouri when we moved to Texas in August, 2011.
We own a small ranch house on 45 acres. This is the home/land we’ve dreamed of having and can hardly believe it has happened. We’re out of the city limits, no close neighbors, plenty of land, a large shop for Vince with part of it closed in for my sewing room and a well for our water supply. Soon we will have a garden, chickens, goats, mini-donkeys and who knows what else.
Stay tuned . . this could get interesting!
My Quilting Journey:
My grandmothers quilted but mostly made utility type quilts from old clothes. My first real encounter with quilting was when I took a class in 1980 at a little shop in Lake Charles.
Here’s the first quilt I ever made. It’s hand pieced and hand quilted. (You can click on the image to get a bigger picture . . if you dare!). I started hand quilting it but ended up paying someone to finish the quilting. That was taking way too long for me!
I was hooked and quilted almost non-stop til about 1985 when I learned to knit. Then I knitted almost non-stop til I learned to smock. Then in the late 80′s, I went back to quilting and haven’t stopped.
In 1998 we bought my first longarm, which was actually a very used and very old shortarm. I used it for two years and cursed every day and cried most of the days and finally saved up enough money to buy a used APQS Ultimate I machine. I used it for a few years and saved up enough to buy a new APQS Millennium. It’s a great machine and I love having my own longarm.
I’ve written two books, both published by AQS. Nine Patch Extravaganza, was released in July, 2007 and Weekend Quilts came 
out in February, 2010. You can order an autographed copy of either (or both) from me here. I appreciate it when you show the book to your quilt shops and ask them to carry it too. A new book is in the works. If you like my borders, you’ll like the third book which will not be out til probably late 2011 or early 2012. These things take time! 
Aside from quilting and knitting, I cook, I grind wheat to make bread, I tend to the chickens and I garden. And, if there’s any time left over, I clean house but if I plan my day just right, there’s never any time for cleaning house.
My third book, 60 Quilt Borders: Mix and Match, will be published in January, 2012.
I Love to Cook!
Cooking has always been fun for me and I never think of it as a chore. Cleaning up . . that’s a different story. I believe my duty as a wife and mom is to provide interesting and tasty meals for my family. We love made from scratch recipes with the freshest ingredients we can get. We eat lots of eggs, real butter, real cream . . we enjoy our meals! Most of the cooking I do is fairly ordinary type cooking that anyone who halfway enjoys cooking can do without difficulty. I share recipes often, most of them are recipes from others or magazines, which I’ve tweaked to make them a better fit for our family.
On the blog, you may find stories about the garden, the chickens, the family, some recipes, a bit of knitting and some quilting. Thanks for visiting the blog. Come back any time!
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
I really like your new bio. The blogsite will take some getting used to but I’m sure that I will. Good for you for perservering and getting it done!
THANK YOU for posting your UFO’s…..I was beginning to think it was just me that had so much to catch up on! Now….if everyone would stop coming out with new fun things to try, I might be able to start catching up! : )
I continue to enjoy your blog and to be *busting* my stash! Have made 17 donation quilts since 1/1 all using stash. I am running out of ideas :>). I don’t like making the same pattern twice but am *schooling* myself to cut at least 3 at a time and sew them up.
Blessings to you.
Hi Judy, I’m live in Missouri too! I’m starting a quilting business and am having difficulty deciding on a name. I have several but I think I’ve gotten too many. Would you give me your opinion of the names I’ve picked?
Judy,
I made my bags this weekend and I love the pattern I chose. I made 2 desk deli bags from Quilts Illustrated and one dual duty bag. As of today the total amount of yards I have killed are 28 yards. I have 2 projects to complete this week to say goodbye to May 2008. I have made great progress and only had to buy one piece of fabric for a current project. I was really happy with my progress considering I had both my grandboys and Jacob at home. 3 Boys need to do a lot of things and are busy all the time…… I managed to make brownies and pot roast and still have lots of time to sew. I can’t wait to plan next months projects and how much sewing I may accomplish…… Have a good week I will be participating in the Quiltathon also. May your bobbin never be empty….
Do you lecture or give workshops on speed sewing? I live in Bella Vista, AR
I like what I see on your Web page.
I enjoyed reading your bio and your blog.
Hi Judy,
Did you know that there is a Quilt Show coming to Springfield, MO? It is put on by Ozark Piecemakers Quilt Guild and is called “Kansas City Block Party” Quilt Show. Dates are Sept. 18-20th. Joyce Barham
I just placed an order for your book and some of your patterns from your website. Would you please autograph the book for me? The email will be a yahoo address – but it is still me!! Love your blog – when do you have time to quilt? LOL
Hi, I was wondering if the Louisiana tigers quilt is a pattern or if you designed it. If it’s a pattern I’ld love to know what pattern it is. Thanks for any help. Nancy
Judy … I was on Stash Busters with a previous name. Cannot access now. Are you any help with that?
Thanks!
Enjoyed your program at the Little Balkans Quilt Guild Monday night. You are a hoot! Can’t believe you really put the pepper picture
on your blog. Guess you do what you say, huh.
Hope to catch your program in Chanute next
month and that you will come back to our guild.
You brightened up my day. Thanks.
Ditto everything Jan said except I won’t be in Chanute. LOL. Enjoyed your trunk show at LBQG immensely.
Enjoyed your trunk show tremendously. Hope you decide to join our guild so we can share more of your creativity at close range.
Hi, been visiting for quite awhile but this is my first comment I believe. I really enjoy your quilts! I was wondering, do you use a program like EQ to design your quilts? I have done a few origionals, but cannot figure out how to replicate them in a silly program!
Again, thanks for all the effort you put into this site, it is a blessing!
Judy, are you ok? Chad ok? I am just shocked about the tornado damage and lives lost in Joplin. Marilyn
Love your hen!!! I have some lovely brown hens too. People keep saying that cats go with quilting, but I think chickens are much better (plus I’m allergic to cats)
Hi Judy
I’m just dropping you a line in case you weren’t aware that one of our magazine writers has spotted your blog and has chosen to feature it in the July issue of British Patchwork and Quilting magazine (page 77).
I would be happy to send a blog button and some code to embed if you would like to let your blog followers know that you have been selected for inclusion.
If you would like to receive a voucher copy of the magazine free of charge, please send me your contact details and I will send this on to you so you can show your friends!
We have published a Special Issue of British Patchwork and Quilting, a bookazine, called Inspirational Projects, which has 12 fantastic quilting projects to try. Please see here for more details:
http://shop.traplet.com/product.aspx?c=3197
I would be happy to send 3 copies to you as blog candy if you would like to host a competition on your blogsite for your followers.
I hope your blog will enjoy extra website traffic as a result!
Kind regards
Helen Pallen
Hello Judy, I just discovered your blog. Where in Texas are you moving? We are one hour north of Austin.
Hi Judy
remember me? We sold our place to 3-M ,moved to town. We go to Tx. for 6 mo. in the winter. Haven’t seen you for 2 years now. Some one told me you were moving to Tx. Where and when?? I saw the newspaper June 30th, with your story about QUILTS for JOPLIN. I read it 2 times and cryed both times, so touching!! Would love to see you again before you move. Joy
Hey Judy, just wanted to drop you a line. Have you heard about the quilt across Texas shop hop? It will all of September. There are 90 shops participating. I saw on one website that they have put together a book ($5) listing all places (and probably has maps) and a state map highlighting all shops ($5). Since you just moved here, either one would be a good tool to have. Here is one website: http://www.stitchinheaven.com It is in East Texas and I know that there a closer shops for you.
Sound pretty idylic to me
I put 20 acres, Brownwood Texas into Google and came up with several properties … but do ya think I can find your email address?!
Migraine headache is my excuse.
Cindy B.
Sept, 2011, Judy, I hope you get this as I can’t find a place to send you messages, but last night at our Log Cabin Quilter’s club in Harrisonville, MO. a lady made a very beautiful quilt using a pattern of yours in your book that was small squares (alot) with the turn dash all around it. It was stunning.
I just love your blog. But I am fairly new. Is there any place I can see a photo of Speck? Today he was a pile of cover. Lets see him! He sounds adorable!
Judy
Can I brag to all my friends that I know you personally? Here’s hoping this new book sells a million copies!
Hi Judy,
Just found your blog and I will be coming by often to visit.
Hi Judy,
Is there a way to find a collection of your posts about your chickens? My son has just built a chicken coop and wants to raise some chickens.
Lyn
in North Georgia