I'M CARRIE.... On The Prairie
Contact: carrie@carriebehlke.com
I've often thought I was born too late. I feel like I should be early 20th century, instead of 21st. I can picture myself a farm wife on the prairie, with a wood front porch that goes, "bump, bump, shuffle, bump" as my husband comes in from a long day's work in the field. The screen door slams, and the aroma of the frying chicken on the wood stove fills the air. There's clothes on the line, gently blowing in the breeze that spins the rusty old windmill. I better collect the laundry before the dew sets in. I've gathered the eggs, milked the cow, finished a batch of canning peaches, and I am looking forward to listening to tonight's radio program as I rock in my chair and toil with some needlework. I'll put my hard-working husband and rowdy kids to bed, before I turn down the oil lamp and snuggle into the warmth and softness of a patchwork quilt myself. Only to rise and do it all again tomorrow.
But really...
I'm actually just a silly girl from the States who finds herself in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, wondering why all my passions are so old-fashioned!
You can call me The Prairie Chicken...My name is Carrie Behlke, and I'm from Ohio. I grew up on a small farm near a small town that was supported mainly by dairy and poultry farming. In fact, our town festival was (and is) called Poultry Days. I was the queen when I was in high school, earning the official title of "Miss Chick 1998". Isn't that a hoot?!
I grew up, fell in love with a Nebraskan, and followed him to Canada. My husband took a job as a cattle veterinarian in Alberta, so here I am!
My sensibilities...
I love all things nostalgic. Crocheting, calligraphy, big band music, classic movies, and of course, quilting! And when it comes to quilting, I'm a traditionalist. If I had time, I'd hand piece and hand quilt everything. I love the folk-artform of quilting, as if each stitch ties me more strongly to the foremothers who settled the prairie and created the lives that led to our own. But sometimes it's hard to argue with the speed of my trusty little Janome.
I upgraded to a longarm quilting machine in August 2015, which has increased my level of productivity IMMENSELY. With two toddlers, my time is limited, and by converting to a longarm system, I can get much more done during naptime!
Frequently Asked Questions...