As a quilter and writer, I enjoy both forms of expression. My writing covers many arenas, including some nature observations, quilting descriptions and tutorials, personal essays, fiction, and some political commentary. Our View gives me the opportunity to say what I want, when I want to!
My amazing husband Jim and I have three grown-up children. One daughter is nearby and the other much too far away. They have blessed us in many ways, including with seven grandchildren. Our son is in the military. We are proud of all three.
You can also find me at Catbird Quilt Studio, my blog devoted to quilting. I invite you to come on over and take a look!
You can contact me at catbirdquilts @ gmail.com.
Our View From Iowa 
If you have questions or comments on any of my posts, I’ll do my best to respond. Thanks for reading!
My grandmother, aunts, and mother all used to make these awesome quilts. We still have a lot of them. They used to exhibit them at the state fair and Calhoun Colt Show.
I saw your post about the Missouri fair, and the great quilt pictures from there. The quilts you have from family members are a real treasure.
Thanks for joining us!
Hi, Melanie. I’ve been writing longer than I’ve been quilting, but blogging is new for me — I started just a year ago. I wrote about marking wholecloth quilts, especially antique ones. Those I have seen at the New England Quilt Museum have been phenomenal. I understand you liked my bloig, but for the life of me I can’t find what you wrote!! Can you tell me where you responded? I’ll keep checking in. 🙂
Hi — I have to say, I honestly don’t know if I wrote anything or just “liked” your blog. I check in on a lot of different blogs, and it’s been a pretty busy week, so … ??
I’ll take another look tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks for getting back to me. I never know who reads my blogs — mostly local friends, I suspect. I enjoy writing about Sally Palmer Field (who was quite influencial in New England quilting circles from the 1960 into the new century.) I often find links to things at the New England Quilt Museum, where I volunteer — Sally has so many connections or I find subjects she would have gobbled up! Happy post Thanksgiving!
I knew that there was a reason we connected, you’re from Iowa too! I was born and raised in northwestern Iowa (hometown is Kingsley… one of those that if you blinked while driving through you might miss it) and then ended up with my parents in Sioux City. What part are you from/live now?
I grew up in central Illinois. We moved here (Jim, Son, and I) in 1992 so I could attend UI. We still live here in the area.
Nice to meet a fellow Iowan! And yes, that is what I am, though I’ll have to admit, the thought surprised me when I first had it. 🙂
bonjour-hi Melanie! glad to have come across your awesome blog… 🙂 sunny greetings, my very best and oceans of inspiration… cheers and friendly thoughts, Mélanie – Toulouse, France, “old Europe”… 🙂
bonjour! Thank you for coming by. I assume you found this blog because of Jim’s Rosetta post. Welcome!
Hi Melanie, what great blogs you have! A beautiful lifestyle blog and the quilter’s blog too. I am not a quilter but I find the designs and fabrics very inspirational. I look forward to follow both your blogs and thanks for stopping by at mine ;0) warm greetings from Ohio, Johanna
Thanks for your kind comments, and for taking a look at our blogs. 🙂