About

Sylvia L. Broda – Who am I and why do I do what I do. 

Like many of us I started sewing at a young age. At first I played with fabric scraps from my Grandmothers stash. She saw my interest in what she was doing and decided to teach me how to use her treadle sewing machine. And that started my love of fabric and sewing. As the years went by my interest increased. I made part of my own clothes. When my mother told me I couldn’t have a two piece bathing suit…I thought…

I’ll make myself a two piece bathing suit and I did. What a learning experience, it did turn out nice. But I will not do that one again. It was not as much fun.

I met my wonderful husband Ross in 1964.  Ross and I were married in October 1965. We moved to Indiana, Ross’s home state. His family had a forty acre farm where they raised corn, wheat and soy beans. It was Ross’s mom, Lucy Broda that introduced me to quilting.

After making and quilting many quilts with my domestic sewing machine I decided it was time for a long arm. I bought my first long arm in 1994.

I have been asked many times … What inspires my quilting? Or, where do I get the ideas or designs I use on quilts?

I get my inspiration from nature.  I find when I am outside I inhale and exhale and take the time to see the clouds and flowers and trees and plants and am in awe at the beauty around me.  I take my love of contours and shapes and interpret the bark and waves and heavens into the quilting on the quilt in front of me.

When I do custom quilting, I look at the fabrics in the quilt top for inspiration. I let the fabric talk to me. I look at the piecing and/or applique design. I want to enhance the quilt with the quilter’s infused concepts she/he has already begun but not over power the quilt top design.

I am lucky to be able to have two machines. One is “all me” and the other is computer assisted.