NCUA Vice Chair Quilts Her Way To Relaxation

ALEXANDRIA, Va.- “There’s something nostalgic about quilts,” says NCUA Vice Chair JoAnn Johnson. Particularly since her grandmother got her started on the hobby. “I’ve always been a sewer since I was in 4-H. I started piecing quilts between 20 and 25 years ago,” Johnson explained. When she was in her mid-20s, Johnson’s grandmother asked her to put some pieces together for squares, which she gladly did and sent the completed squares back. To her surprise, Johnson received the final product back as a gift when she thought she was just doing her grandmother a favor. She still has this quilt (See photo). She rotates that and six others around her house, mostly from her grandmother. Johnson has pieced four quilts and her sister-in-law finishes them. She has also done several small items like wall hangings, placemats, and table runners, which she uses around the house. Depending upon how intricate the quilt and the size of the project, Johnson said they can take a couple of weeks for her to complete. She likes doing the handwork while she is watching television, especially when her husband, Brian, is gone; he still lives in Iowa half the time. Of course, this is around her time with her other love: gardening. Johnson said the family tradition could continue. Though her daughter has not picked up quilting yet, she does sew. [email protected]