My given name is Eleanor, after my mother, after umpteen relatives in Sweden - I recently visited a 6 year old cousin in Stockholm with the name. My mother started to call me 'Honey Bunch' which my older brothers picked up. Let's be grateful the bunch was dropped along the way! So, that's what all my friends call me: Honey. It came in handy in undergratuate school (BOSTON COLLEGE WAS JUST ADMITTING WOMEN) with ten thousand men and about 800 of us - loved those coffee breaks and lunch. If you don't like it - call me Ellie. I taught Pediatric Nursing for years and loved every minute of it - wish I could return. We raised our children Beth 40, Karen 39, Rick 38, Bill 37 (BC is a Catholic college!!) in Connecticut. Just before the youngest was leaving for college, we made plans to move to New Hampshire. Let me quote myself in PAPERCUTS and PLENTY, vol 3 of Baltimore Beauties and Beyond (see Elly Sienkiewicz's quiltmakers on page 88): "When my husband and I decided to move to NH in 1987, I envisioned mountains of snow, crackling fires, knitting to my heart's content, learning to quilt, and putting up blueberries (never did do the blueberries thing). At first, I hated applique because everyone in my 'block of the month class' groaned with the 'A' word was mentioned and because I didn't know that with good teachers, tools, techniques, and time, my fascination would blossom." Elly remains one of my all-time inspirations. And I have been very fortunate to have other excellent teachers who encouraged me to try new things with new approaches. If I didn't like it - gave it away (sometimes to the circular file). Go to classes if you can - and don't be surprised if you learn more from your fellow classmates than the teacher!

I have had features in "Quilting Today", taught and lectured especially around New England, have done commissioned pieces and was an award-winner at serveral quilt competitions. I went on to have my original designs picked up by Keepsake Quilting, Herrschners, Creative Stitchery and Designers LTD. I produced a method of foundation piecing that still ranks among the very best and I will be offering them to you probably in the Fall when things are calmer for all of you. My company, NEEDLE ART WORKSHOPS (no specifics in the name because like many of you, I love to indulge in many needlearts), rested for 4 years while first I recovered from illness and then my husband - we both do OK now considering that we are two old things! My attempt to return to quilting happened in February of this year with eBay.

Meanwhile I am working on new patterns to help you want to passionately pursue your PASSION!

Honey of wrekermest