By Janet Esch

Anita Askins was featured in the September Edition of the Society Sampler

Anita Askins believes that she is shy, but I found that she forgets about that shyness and glows with dry wit and articulation when she speaks of quilting.

"I was a fairly new quilter when I took Mimi Dietrich's year-long Baltimore Album Quilt class at Seminole Sampler in Catonsville, MD. I dutifully followed the lessons each month and made the assigned patterns but I found the early blocks were quite plain and really limited me to the use of red and green fabrics. My mother was terminally ill when I began the class, and she eagerly followed my progress. She wanted me to make the fancy floral blocks because she so loved flowers. I then began making a fancy floral block for her each month in addition to the class requirement block. So at the end of the twelve months, I had two tops instead of one--a traditional red and green album and the floral one. My Mom lost her battle with cancer before I completed this quilt, but it is now a loving tribute to her."

Anita Askins' first Baltimore Album Quilt.

Center of Anita's 2nd Baltimore Album quilt in tribute to her mother.

Hand-dyed border of the Baltimore Album Quilt with satin from her daughter's wedding dress.

Anita's red and green Baltimore Album Quilt

Anita began to think of quilting as an adult when she looked with "new, older" eyes at the quilt her grandmother made for her when she was young. In 1976 she went to Cottonseed Glory to take her first class. Piecing was "O.K." but the true love came with year-long class of Baltimore Album with Mimi Dietrich. There she met Jan Carlson when Mimi told Jan to pick up the shy lady to take to BAS. They have been close friends ever since. Anita has helped Jan in the DAR Quilt Camp by making models and this year again working individually with the children.

Camp quilts and others using the bright colors that Anita prefers.

Anita is a Number 1 grandmother. She often baby sits five days a week for two-year-old Michael and her house and quilts reflect this love.

Quilt for Michael from Mimi Dietrich's pattern

Anita and her husband, Bart, live in Annapolis and have spent many happy days at beaches from Long Island to Florida.

Self-portrait with her husband shows Anita's sense of humor

"Quilts with a View"--a platter shape

Bart is one of those MDH's (my dear husband) who fully supports quilting. Anita tells "Bart stories" at quilt shows of the past. He was talking to Ellie Sienkiewicz and other famous teachers bragging a bit about Anita, "Well you do know my wife; she is a quilter." Anita laughs at the memory. She says she doesn't let him go to quilt shows with her any more because he embarrasses her. Bart gave her a gift with monthly kits that used brown--the color that she hates. Although she often changes colors to the bright ones that she loves, she followed all instructions since it was a gift from him.

Quilt from Bart using brown

Anita often creates her own designs and chooses her own colors--bright colors.

Copied from a card sent to her from Mimi's grad class.

"Happy Quilt"--Anita's 1st bright quilt

The best word for Anita is "prolific" as her friend Jan Carlson says. She has made quilts for friends and family, raffle quilts and challenge quilts, camp quilts and block of the month quilts. I see her sewing machine on her dining room table; she is, of course, working on something new, something bright in green and black. Before we know it we will see it at the BAS meeting in "Show and Tell."

The unusual use of plaids in this quilt

To make all these beautiful quilts, Anita has a stash that is famous.