Nikki's Introduction

Hi, I'm Nikki Wheeler from Poulsbo, Washington. I'm a stay at home, homeschooling mom with four kids, ages 8, 6-1/2, 4 and 2-1/2. I discovered art quilting only last November. I was overwhelmed with the chaos of four little ones and knew I needed something or else I was going to either go crazy or sink into a deep depression. I escaped for an hour to Barnes and Noble and discovered Quilting Arts magazine. My life hasn't been the same since. After playing on the Internet, I learned about a whole new world that I was very eager to join.

I was very surprised when I received Diane's email inviting me to join this group. I am so new to all this and have so much to learn. I'm just playing and feel like an impostor if I refer to myself as an artist. Artists are people I read about, like all you, not me. But then when I learn more about people, I learn we all have our insecurities.

I remember as a little girl wanting to be an artist when I grow up. Then in the fourth grade my art teacher told me I did my picture wrong and needed to change it. I figured I wasn't good at art and gave up for a time. Then in college I took a design class, found it fun and decided to major in Graphic Design. Once again I had a teacher who told me I was doing it wrong, so decided Graphic Design wasn't for me. I should have explored fiber arts, but they dropped that major my freshman year. I didn't know what I was doing in college anyways so I dropped out, got married and had kids. Fast forward 12 years and here I am with a wonderful and supporting husband who lets me play and never tells me I'm doing it wrong. Hopefully I have matured enough to handle a little criticism without throwing in the towel.

I'm excited to get to know everyone and learn more than I can imagine. Thank you Diane for setting this all up and inviting me to play!

P.S. Photos of me are few and far between. Since having four kids, I rarely give up the camera.