Ep 006: My friends, Judi + Ann; Part I: Judi’s Story
Meet my friend, Judi
In this episode, I'm delighted to share the first part of a special two-part series that features a mother-daughter duo, Judi and Ann. These ladies are a perfect picture of what it looks like to steward a creative legacy for the next generation and watch it take on a life of its own. Judi Jaksa is the mother to one of my dear friends, Ann Skaehill of Crafty Moose Quilts, and was kind enough to sit with me for over an hour to talk about her sewing history, how she got into quilting, and what it means to her to see her daughter developing a quilting practice of her own.
The start of it all…
Born in Evansville, Indiana, Judi Jaksa grew up with a love for sewing fostered by her family. From her grandmother’s alteration shop to her mother's skillful sewing, Judi was surrounded by talented seamstresses who no doubt instilled within her the confidence to try her own had at sewing! Her first (mis)adventure involved sewing a beautiful dress with an inside-out zipper, but that didn’t stop her from pressing on and learning more.
Judi and her husband married and eventually moved to Iowa where they started a family that, of course, needed to be clothed! Her sewing skills and knowledge meant that an investment into a sewing machine paid off in the form of making clothing for herself and her children for a fraction of the price of store-bought clothing. She would even make money performing alterations on clothing items; if she didn’t know how to do it, she would figure it out! Eventually, she fell into the world of embroidery, and even started a business creating and selling digital embroidery designs.
Judi joined the quilting community in an unexpected fashion.
When her mother passed away, she left behind a sewing room full of beautiful quilting fabrics, quilt kits, and even projects in progress that Judi was tasked with organizing and allocating. During the sorting process, Judi realized how special these projects were to her mother, and decided that she really wanted to complete the projects that her mother had left behind. It really didn’t matter much to her that she had never made a quilt before - she would figure it out! She joined classes, found YouTube tutorials, and did what it took to figure out how to finish many of the works in progress from her mother’s sewing room. This quilting journey wasn't just about creating beautiful pieces, but also about honoring the work her late mother had done.
Giving and teaching
Over the years, Judi has made quilts for her children, grandchildren, and even friends, particularly in the form of memory quilts from the clothing of a friend’s loved one. Each piece carried a story, and was stitched with love and expertise. When asked for help, Judi was always eager to share her knowledge, inspiring the next generation of quilters like her daughter, Ann! (We will explore Ann’s story in a Part II episode coming soon!). Judi also explains how she finds great joy through giving her family and friends meaningful gifts, even if they are small, as a way to show her love to them. Over the years, she has come to love making mug rugs and smaller projects that blend quilting and embroidery, and loves to crochet as well.
Five memory quilts Judi made from the t-shirts and patches of her friend’s late husband. Each of the children received a quilted memory of their father.
The memory quilt Judi made for her friend, Georgia, featuring her late husband’s old shirts.
I hope you enjoy hearing Judi’s story!
From her early days in Evansville to her current projects, Judi’s story is a testament to the power of determination, creativity, and community. She's not only preserved her family's sewing tradition but also enriched it, and has passed it on to her daughter Ann, and inspiring many along the way.
I loved hearing her final words of advice in this episode, where she encourages sewists to turn to teachers of any sort - whether they are on YouTube or in an in-person environment. She also recommends finding a local sewing community by looking for a local chapter of the American Sewing Guild, an organization that she has enjoyed being a member of for many years.
From family heirlooms to thrift store finds, the Patchwork Revival podcast celebrates the generational connections made through the quilts we love. See you next time!
More quilts Judi has gifted to friends and family, including a t-shirt quilt for her daughter, Ann, and the infamous parrot quilt!
