I've been on a quest to put labels on some of my older quilts . . . just because :)
Here's the latest.
I got caught up in the Aerobic Dancing craze in the mid '70s. I was introduced to Jacki Sorensen's program at our local YMCA and was hooked from the start.
I became in instructor and taught 6 classes/wk. Prior to each session, instructors had to pass both a 12-minute running test and a weigh-in based on height. If you were 5' your max weight was 100 lbs. From there, the scale went up 5 lbs for every inch. If you were over you couldn't teach until you lost the extra weight. Really!
Every 12-week session had a name. I was part of the 'test group' and danced each session's routines at home before they became official.
There was a woman in a neighboring town who started hand-painting and personalizing tee shirts. I ordered a couple from her with my name on them.
Eventually I became a clinician and traveled to different parts of the country teaching new sessions to instructors--even went to Hawaii! I was an area coordinator and eventually the district manager for NJ and parts of PA.
It was the best job I ever had! My office was at the Aerobic Dancing Center in Short Hills, NJ, and that's where I hung my c. 1980 Aerobic Dancing quilt. I had cut my tee-shirts, zigzag-stitched them onto a sheet, added batting and another sheet for the backing then tied the layers together with yarn. I used a commercial orange blanket binding for the edges.
So there you have it! Probably more than you ever wanted to know :)
_________
Onto the charm bracelet . . .
Most of the charms were from high school, others shortly after I was married. From left to right: church, engagement ring, a treadle sewing machine like my grandmother's that I learned to sew on, a heart for something :), scissors for all the sewing I did (made all my own clothes), wedding ring, wedding bell charm for my cousin's wedding--I made her gown, a couple bridesmaids dresses and my daughter's flower girl dress . . .
. . . a megaphone for being on the freshman cheerleading squad, two charms for high school graduation, 1st anniversary charm, my birth certificate inscribed Barbara and the date . . .
. . . my husband's Sigma Chi pin, Christmas bells, baby shoe when my son was born, another megaphone for the varsity cheerleading squad, and another charm for being a bridesmaid at my cousin's wedding in 1969--the newest one on this bracelet.
I keep it in this embroidered pouch . . .
. . . inside this fabric envelope . . .
.JPG)
. . . which is on the back of this fabric book I posted on my very first blog in June 2011! You can read all about it here.
Well, that's enough reminiscing for now. Thanks for sticking with me to the end of this post :)
Copyright 2022, Barbara Schaffer
That is quite the background story. I guess that kept you in great shape. I have a charm bracelet too filled with memories like yours
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, what a story about the aerobic dancing! Sounds like it kept you in great shape--and got you to Hawaii!
ReplyDeleteI love that you are labeling your older quilts.
I enjoyed learning about your charm bracelet. You store yours in a much prettier way than I do mine--and you have a much greater variety of charms.
The aerobics quilt is fantastic! Love the sentimentality of it.:) So good that you are catching up on your quilt labels, especially for a custom, unique quilt like this. I've been slacking for a couple years on labels. Probably need to take care of that!
ReplyDeleteWow! I am so impressed with your Dancing Instructing! I loved jazerice in the 90s and in the 00s I went Zumba classes. I still do "let's dance on wii" and Apple Fitness Dance a few times a week at home. It is a great add on to my walking. I love your dance t-shirt quilt. It is so much more fun than the stand tshirt quilts.
ReplyDeleteWhat a special charm bracelet. So many memorable occasions.
I have similar charms on mine :)
I just read all your posts back to July and enjoyed them very much. Everything you sew appeals to me. Sometimes it's like that. I took Aerobics classes for 18 years of my life and still do some of the moves to keep fit. Your t shirt quilt is wonderful and fitting and what a keepsake that charm bracelet is! Happy Stitching from me!
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled you are getting labels on your quilts. What a great story to go with your aerobics! Sounds like a real blast!
ReplyDeleteDarling charm bracelet too!
Oh my! I am just trying to catch up on a few blogs after missing an entire summer! This post is so amazing. I have always known that we have similar tastes in our quilting endeavors, but reading about your aerobic dancing teaching really struck a chord! I too taught aerobic dancing at our local YMCA in the early 1980's. I can remember those rigorous tests and all the "steps" we had to learn. I finally had to stop teaching just two weeks before my daughter was born. Thanks for bringing back such fond memories. As for the quilt your made to commemorate your teaching days, it is fantastic! And, of course kudos to you for getting labels on all of your quilts. It is so important for future historians! Hoping to get a blog post out myself this week, but I feel I need to catch up with others first. Thanks for sticking with the monthly minis too!
ReplyDelete