Meet Marie Bard-Curtis from Lansing, Michigan

I have been sewing and crafting for as long as I can remember. In the 1960s, Patty Playpal, a popular 3ft tall doll, was a Christmas gift to me. I used to buy clothes for her at the Salvation Army store, but I decided to make her clothes myself. I asked my grandmother, Hattie, for help with sewing. Since she worked during the day, she sent me to the local Singer sewing center to take classes. My grandmother was my creative inspiration as she was always busy quilting, sewing, painting, crocheting, playing softball, and riding her lawn tractor until she passed away at 79. Although I never quilted with her, I watched her make quilts by machine sewing and hand-quilting them. Each child in our family received a handmade quilt, including me. My quilt was utilitarian and was used frequently, causing it to wear out. After my grandmother passed away, I decided to learn quilting so I could continue the tradition of making handmade quilts for my family.

As I was designing a king-size t-shirt quilt for my nephew, on a design wall that went from floor to ceiling, I sprained my ankle while stepping off a two-step ladder. Still waiting for the swelling to go down I tried to wrestle the quilt sandwich under my domestic sewing machine for quilting. That was the turning point for me. I decided to purchase a longarm quilting machine with automation software. I was fortunate to receive three days of training on the longarm and software from a representative at my local quilt store, immediately after my purchase. After the training, I started teaching other quilters how to use the software by organizing in-home software and longarm classes. As I loved helping others learn the software, I approached my local quilt store and asked if I could hold the training sessions there, and they agreed. I founded The Quilted Poodle longarm quilting and Quilter's Creative Touch software training company. I use social media and Zoom to recreate the in-home atmosphere for sharing quilting and software demos, tips, and tricks. Although I haven't won any awards for my quilting, it is very rewarding when someone tells me that they were able to finish their quilt because of something I taught them.

Follow this ambassador online on their social media channels:
Web: https://www.QuiltedPoodle.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thequiltedpoodle
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheQuiltedPoodle
Facebook: QCT Club of East Lansing Group; https://www.facebook.com/groups/203150156999448
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie.quiltedpoodle

Email: [email protected]

Follow this ambassador online on their quiltedpoodle.com and social media channels:

QuiltedPoodle.com : https://www.quiltedpoodle.com