About Me
About Me
I am Charisma. Yes, that is my real name. I am a wife, mother to six children, Christian, and I own my own long arm quilting business. Those are all of my titles in no certain order. I have been quilting for several years…..and decided to make it more than a hobby in August of 2010. I bought my first long arm, a 26 Innova, by August of 2011, I bought a second machine. I have quilted more than 1000 customer quilts and I have over 100 of my own. I have a range of work as you can see in my gallery. I am in for the adventure that comes with my life and this business.As some of you know through the process of following my blog I dropped out of college a few winters ago to pursue my LAQ business further. I am happy for the changes….I get more time with quilting, my family, God and all of you! all very important things for me.
I am a proud owner of 2 dogs, Gracie our English Mastiff, Brodie our yellow lab ( my favorite one:)) and a cat that likes me or dislikes me moment to moment….the feeling is mutual believe me. So as you can see I am pretty busy and I don’t think I know how to slow down….which is ok…we only live once.. I better use as much energy and life as I possibly can….I love to make new friends…and maintain all the relationships I build in person or on the internet..I can’t tell you how blessed I feel to meet all of you. You have each brought something into my life…I know God has a hand in everything and I recognize those blessings! Thanks for joining me on my journey!
Filed under:
Thanks Charisma. I love it that you have this neat website. I really am sorry the QB changed our nice format to one so user “unfriendly”…. I check on it, but don’t spend time there like I once did. I miss seeing what you have done, so will be checking with you here. Thank you for letting me know. You are very special to me and I would hate to lose contact with you.
I send greetings of love to you and your family and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and home celebration. God bless you each and all. Much love, Roberta
Hi Roberta,
I am so glad you made your way here. What a blessing! I love hearing from you.
I know I am a bit discouraged about the new board as well. It is heartbreaking actually. SO many of us loved it there. For whatever reason we needed changes?? I just needed to create my own happy place and not worry about the rug being ripped out from under me again. I hope you will stop by often. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
hi…just testing to see if this gets emailed to me. LOL
I agree! I used to love the old board and looked at it daily. Now I’m lucky to get on it every couple of months. So I too am EXTREMELY glad to have this website. I’ve already told my husband that I will be shipping my heirloom quilts to Charisma to be quilted! 2012 is going to be a great year!!
Kristi
I am so happy to find your website thanks to Momto4 posting it on the QB. I was wondering why I had not seen your wonderful quilting on the QB. I have subscribed so I can follow your great work and success. So you plan to be at the Sewing Expo in Puyallup this spring? If so I plan to go just to meet you and your quilting partners in person. I love your website and your choice of music. Warm wishes to you and all of your family.
Caroline S. aka Sweet Caroline
HI Caroline,
Thanks so much for coming here and subscribing. I really appreciate it. Have a blessed day.
C
Hi Charisma,
I’m thrilled I found you! You laq’ed a top for me earlier this year – Blueberry Razzle Dazzle – fabulous, I might add. I always admired your posted work on the old QB – so sad to see it’s demise. I can’t figure out how the new QB is an improvement. Happily, something good has come out of it – your website. Have a blessed Thanksgiving – there is much to be thankful for .
God Bless, Cheryl
Hi Cheryl, Of course I remember you and Blueberry Razzle Dazzle, after all I named her.hehe. I am so glad you found me. Thanks for your support I really appreciate it.
Many blessings
C
Hi Charisma, you don’t know me but I feel like I know you! I started following you on the old QB but now that we have this “new and improved board” I am not on there much. I wish I understood the need for the new format. Oh well I guess enough people like it. Anyway, I enjoy your quilting and your blog. You are an amazing woman!! I have a long arm, but I have had a neck injury that keeps me from using it. One of these days I hope to get back on. I would love to do 1/2 the beautiful work that you do!! Darcey quilting in Alaska
CC…. Hi
I just gave you a new name CC..Creative Charisma. I love all your work and appreciate your enthusiasm and your love for God! You are an inspiration and a blessing!
Hi Toni,
Thank you so much! I appreciate your kind words. It’s nice to meet you!
Hi Toni,
Thanks so much! I apprecaite the new name! LOL
I want you to know that the main reason I would check out the QB formerly Paradise Quilts was to check out you new projects. You are the best LAQ and have such a lovely quiet demeanor. I look forward to seeing them again.
Thanks for joining us Martie! I apprecaite that.
Hi there from North Carolina, I wake up every morning to look at all the beautiful quilts on the board and alot of your quilting and it is beautiful. I bought a carefree quilter through a lady that is from West Virginia, but the machine came from Puduka Ky and it is not worth having and was 7000.oo and I probably havent quilted 10 quilts on it the tension will not stay adjusted and I cant find anyone to work on it here, but anyway I would so love to have a good machine so I could really learn to quilt like you and your boys would love to see some of their quilting, I have 3 grown boys but none of them will get interested in quilting. Have a good night and good to finally talk with you and find your websight.
Hi Janice,
I am so sorry about your machine..what was the brand name? I may be familiar with it…did the company go our of business? I had an issue like that too once. I bought a voyager. I sent it back….and I am so glad i did. My Innova is a dream after that nightmare.
My boys…well they are doing all over stipple right now…I think they have lots of potential to grow in teh business for sure. I am thinking of buyinga computer program for them. I am computer challenged..but they could pick that up very easily…So we shall see what is in store for them this year.
Thank you so much for stopping by….I appreciate that!
I was so happy to find your website. I too have not been on the QB much since all the changes. But when I’m there I always look for your work. You have inspired me so much. You did 2 quilts for me in exchange for yo-yo’s last year. I hope to be at least 1/2 as good as you. I have a HQ18 Avante and just love it. Now I know where to find you, and I enjoy seeing your sons work too. Hope you and your family have a wonderful new year.
Jeri
Hi Jeri,
I know ..I remember everyone I quilt for…LOL. I couldn’t forget you..all those yo-yo’s I am going to finish that project soon…soon!
Plus you had AMAZING quilts! Honestly! That embroidered quilt had me in fear for a bit. LOL
I hope you have a blessed new year as well!
Charisma, I love your new site!!! YEAH for you!!! Thanks so much for the oh so sweet things you said about your children’s mittens. The pix on my cell phone of your little daughter (don’t know if I can mention her name) is so adorable! I am thrilled that Carl figured it out…woo hoo for him! The heart on the thumb is to remember that God loves you. I stitch that on each pair I make. So if your children are ever lonely or sad please let them know they are loved by God. That is just a little reminder.
About the QB I too am bummed out by what happend but we are both well aware what “the rug being pulled out from under us” is all about and thankfully we can rest in Jesus that He is in control so we roll with the punches
Thankful for being constant in Christ’s abiding love. May God continually bless you and your husband and children. Hugs & prayers, Tootsie
P.S. by the way I checked out your recent quilting and again it is spectacular!
Hi Charisma,
I was so very happy to see that you now have your own website. I love and admire your work.
Thank you for sharing with us.
God Bless,
Marlene
Hi Charisma, I’m so glad I found your website. I would check out QB just to see what you were doing – the new format made it more difficult to find you. My friend and I are LAQ’rs and love your work. On our own projects we think, “WWCD?” ( “What Would Charisma Do?”) Then we usually end up doing pantos, because we are too chicken to try free motion. LOL! What you do enhances the quilt so beautifully. You are a truly talented artist. Thanks for being there and for sharing!
Ann
Hi Ann,
Thanks so much for finding me and leaving a comment. I am so flattered. It’s so funny because i repeated this to my boys..and they said well “They don’t know the real you”…”the real Charisma gets speeding tickets and doesn’t buckle her seat belts”…..oh Bother I am never going to live down that speeding ticket. I can’t wait until they get one so the heat is off.
So there ya go the real me is a law breaker! Clearly they don’t understand that I can operate a quilting machine do they? no respect I tell ya!
HEHE! Thanks so much. PLease share any FMQ that you do ..I would love to see how I inspire you! I will share it on my blog.
Have a great weekend.
Charisma
Hi Charisma, Wanted to share my blod with you. Hope you stop by.
Jeri
http://sewmanymemories-jeri.blogspot.com/
Hi Charisma:
Thanks so much for sharing this with us. I too miss the old way of the QB but if this is the good that came out of the actions of theirs then it is a blessing. Your work is amazing and always a thrill to see the latest. I am working on a wall hanging now for my newly remodeled living room/dining room. I have never hung anything on my wall that I have made. It seems to leave the house before that ever happens. I am so excited to ask you to quilt it for me. I want it to be somewhat of an eye catcher and you are the only LAQ I have seen that can do just that.
I am so looking forward to your blog and all those associated with it. Your playlist is amazing. I feel as if I could put my name on it. It is so much of what I love too. Thanks for all you do to keep us motivated.
Debbie
HI Debbie,
We finally got you all settled in and a follower..YAY! Thanks for hanging in and not giving up. I appreciate that. Thanks for all your compliments….but I am always inspired everybodies beautiful quilts..so I can’t take all the credit…we all work together. My Playlist…I love this music..I love all types of music..but I get a bit paranoid that my kids will hijack my playlist and put dirty songs on it for my blog..LOL. They have done that to me before and I have to be on the look out.hehe.
Thank for joining..I am so happy to have everyone here on my journey!
Blessings
C
Be sure to let me know if you still plan to send a scrap box and I will watch for it.
Thanks,
Jan
I, too, am glad to find you here. I truly admire your quilting and you give me so much inspiration. I totally enjoy reading your entries and see you are doing a fine job with your boys. I have two sons, now grown and married. There were a few rough spots but they turned out great. Yours will too I’m sure.
You have a great website, I have enjoyed looking it over. I have half the kids that you do and I struggle with making it all work. Congrats to building such a great team and business!!
I just love your quilting……… you are so right God has truly blessed you.
So glad to find your website. Am a fairly new quilter and your work is just amazing to me.
I live in Portland, OR and one day hope to get a quilt top up to you for completion. It will indeed be a special quilt for me to keep!
God Bless you and your family, for living a life so full of talent and goodness!
Gosh, I typed in a lovely comment to you but I mistyped the password that I needed to copy! Made a mistake, guess that is what happens to my quilts too, Maybe need new glasses!
Anyway, I am from Portland, OR and hope to get one of my quilts finished by you one day. It will have to be a special one to me and so I will plan on keeping it. I read earlier on your mission, God Bless and have a lovely time.
Charisma, I have followed you on the quilting board looking at every picture you post. I didn’t know that you had your own site. Now you are in my “favorites” and I’ll be checking in from time to time. I would love to own a long arm some day, but for now will have to settle for my old Juki & frame. I do hate that small quilting path using it. Absolutely love your work. You are one talented quilter! Debbie B
I am so happy to have found you. I, too, have followed your posts on QB for such a long time. You have been an inspiration to me to further my interest in quilting. Thank you and God Bless. Merry Christmas.