Sallie Tomato

My Story

I grew up in Hawaii, where I was always captivated by the bold, two‑color Hawaiian quilts. My mother insisted that all her daughters take sewing classes the summer after sixth grade — a skill that served us well through high school. Money was tight, but sewing allowed me to make my own prom dresses and school clothes, and that sense of creativity and independence never left me.

In the 1990s, I discovered a picture of a Grandmother’s Flower Garden quilt in a library book, and that moment sparked my lifelong love of quilting. I began collecting books and fabric, though I didn’t complete my first quilt until around 2010 — a special one for my dad.

Between raising my children and working full‑time, quilting often had to wait. But when my sons left for college and the world slowed down during Covid, I returned to my decades‑old Grandmother’s Flower Garden project. As I stitched, I noticed my seams were uneven, which inspired me to design a notched template — now called the Plexi‑Hexi™. That simple idea led to my Etsy shop and eventually to this new chapter: QuiltingJoyPDX.

I still consider myself a confident beginner, always learning new techniques (thank goodness for YouTube!). My shop continues to evolve, and I’m focusing on beginner‑friendly quilts and tools that make quilting approachable and fun.

In a couple of years, I’ll retire from my “day job” and spend my days surrounded by fabric, color, and creativity — something I’m truly looking forward to.
If you’re searching for something special, please reach out. I’ll do my best to find it through my vendors.

Thank you for being here, and for supporting this little corner of quilting joy.

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