Embedded Files
Meet a few of our Amazing Volunteers!
Stephanie Bartlett
Hello! I’m heading the medical team and doing administration behind the scenes.
Due to my own weird genetic condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I have a lot more medical knowledge than a lot of people. My best friend of almost 20 years is a Dr out of state seeing Covid patients. My worry for her makes me quite passionate about this group. With our combined experience the group can offer better masks and accompanying information to the medical facilities we work with.
I’m from Michigan, outside Detroit, where my parents still live. My closest family, in Houston TX, is my sister. Almost everyone else is on the east coast, like my 91yr old grandmother in New Jersey. I moved to Santa Fe for my masters in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling 8 yrs ago and eventually found my way down to ABQ/civilization and my bf Martin.
If it is a form of creation I have probably done it from soldering electronics or stain glass to sewing, and digital art to wood working, or the more usual painting, drawing and pottery.
I love cats, though have just lost my love Lauren this past week to cancer. I still have another Loka, the fat loving grump who swears like a sailor. I hope to rebalance my house hold soon.
Due to my own weird genetic condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, I have a lot more medical knowledge than a lot of people. My best friend of almost 20 years is a Dr out of state seeing Covid patients. My worry for her makes me quite passionate about this group. With our combined experience the group can offer better masks and accompanying information to the medical facilities we work with.
I’m from Michigan, outside Detroit, where my parents still live. My closest family, in Houston TX, is my sister. Almost everyone else is on the east coast, like my 91yr old grandmother in New Jersey. I moved to Santa Fe for my masters in Art Therapy and Clinical Counseling 8 yrs ago and eventually found my way down to ABQ/civilization and my bf Martin.
If it is a form of creation I have probably done it from soldering electronics or stain glass to sewing, and digital art to wood working, or the more usual painting, drawing and pottery.
I love cats, though have just lost my love Lauren this past week to cancer. I still have another Loka, the fat loving grump who swears like a sailor. I hope to rebalance my house hold soon.
Sunny Kirkby
I was born in Douglas, AZ. but raised mostly in Los Angeles. My mom's family is Mexican-American-my Aparicio Familia, and my dad is English, Irish, Greek & German, the Kirkby's. I graduated from U of Redlands in California which was one of the most amazing times of my life. I studied abroad in Europe with my college dorm-mates and my life was transformed forever. I love to travel and was fortunate to land positions in my career that fed this addiction, most notably at Symantec Corp. where I was in charge of developing a worldwide presence for our software, including in the USSR (now Russia). I still can't believe it was me in Red Square, and dinners at the Kremlin! Half my life was spent as a Navy spouse which was a blast. I have 2 kids that loved moving every 2-3 years as much as I did - thank goodness. I'm an old mom. My daughter, Sierra, graduates from Eldorado HS next year and I'll be 60 yrs! My son, Rob, is a TSA Officer in NC. I love volunteering for my community and I'm politically active as well. I really became deeply rooted in this beautiful state through my involvement as Volunteer Coordinator for our State Auditor Brian S. Colón for his mayoral campaign. I have life long friends through that effort, and I feel the same energy and love through all we're doing together with our MaskNM teams
Five years ago I found my HS boyfriend on FB and we've been together ever since (we just took a 40 year break!). Life is so crazy and wonderful with unexpected turns, like finding John again, and getting to know all of you in the most unusual circumstances. I'm thankful for your friendship.
Five years ago I found my HS boyfriend on FB and we've been together ever since (we just took a 40 year break!). Life is so crazy and wonderful with unexpected turns, like finding John again, and getting to know all of you in the most unusual circumstances. I'm thankful for your friendship.
Jacqueline Garreaux
Hello! I’m from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. I’m Lakota Sioux and French. I’m a descendant of Crazy Horse and Spotted Elk (also known as Chief Bigfoot). My great grandmother, Jennie In The Lead was a survivor of Wounded Knee. As she fled, she put her baby on her back. She felt something hit her back. It was a gunshot, killing her baby. In the chaos, she was able to grab a horse and rode out to the badlands where she buried her baby. Her entire family was killed that day. Sometime later, she married a Frenchman by the name of William Garreau and that is where my grandpa and my dad come from. Had she not survived, I would not be here.I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters. I’m also the baby of the family. My dad is 93 and my mom is 90 and they’ve been married for 73 years. My ambition in life was to marry and have a large family but that was not meant to be. Instead, I was married for 18 years to a federal law enforcement officer and his career took us to many different places. We lived in Montana, Georgia and here in New Mexico. After divorcing, I decided to stay in the Land of Enchantment and bought a house. I studied computers and that is the job I currently hold at the US Fish & Wildlife Service. I also have a side business where I make Native American style purses and much more. I enjoy gardening, sewing, traveling and socializing with my friends. Lastly, I have a cat and a significant other. Volunteering and helping people are my passions in life and I’ve been very fortunate to meet so many people who share those same passions.
Wendy Bechdel
Hello my fellow Masketeers. I grew up in a small town NW of Pittsburgh, Pa. I was the baby of the family of 5 kids. I was called Francie by my family, Wanda by my teachers , and given the nickname of Wendy by my husband - maybe that’s why I’m such a scatter brain at time.
Got married at 18, married 52 years now although we have an unconventional marriage. We spent our first few years in Alamogordo where my husband was stationed at Holloman and we fell in love with NM, esp the blue skies and friendly people. Moved to Baltimore when Jim went to Vietnam and moved back to NM in 1975. I have two daughters, Jennifer and Sarah, and 4 awesome grandkids, and my cute labradoodle Roarke. I got my MBA from UNM, worked at Sandia for 30 years and retired when my granddaughter Grace was diagnosed with leukemia (she survived at age 5). Although my working career has been business related, my passions have always been in the arts and being involved with people. I love to sew, bake and decorate cakes and cookies, dabble in stained glass and travel - esp to St Lucia. But my most fulfilling part of life is helping others. I feel so blessed when I can be of service, to make someone else’s life better, easier, safer, more joyful. I really do believe we are our brother and sisters keeper. My motto is to Cherish the journey and never have any regrets.
Got married at 18, married 52 years now although we have an unconventional marriage. We spent our first few years in Alamogordo where my husband was stationed at Holloman and we fell in love with NM, esp the blue skies and friendly people. Moved to Baltimore when Jim went to Vietnam and moved back to NM in 1975. I have two daughters, Jennifer and Sarah, and 4 awesome grandkids, and my cute labradoodle Roarke. I got my MBA from UNM, worked at Sandia for 30 years and retired when my granddaughter Grace was diagnosed with leukemia (she survived at age 5). Although my working career has been business related, my passions have always been in the arts and being involved with people. I love to sew, bake and decorate cakes and cookies, dabble in stained glass and travel - esp to St Lucia. But my most fulfilling part of life is helping others. I feel so blessed when I can be of service, to make someone else’s life better, easier, safer, more joyful. I really do believe we are our brother and sisters keeper. My motto is to Cherish the journey and never have any regrets.
Lisa Isenberger
Hey, all! I’m originally from Toledo, OH. Mark & I have been married for 31 yrs. We have two children: a son who lives in San Francisco and a daughter who lives in Albuquerque. I am learning to really appreciate it when the four of us are all together in one place! We also currently have two (old) dogs and two (young) cats.
Many years ago, I attended the University of Cincinnati for my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. We moved to New Mexico in 1990 to work for Intel Corporation and fell in love with the area and the people. I remained at Intel until “retiring” in 2016. Afterwards, I completed a year-long Encore Fellowship at Crossroads for Women. I recently decided to go back to school for a Master’s in Engineering with the notion that I could apply those skills to a non-profit in some way. I am enrolled as a distance learner at my alma mater, with a target graduation at the end of 2021.
When I am not busy with school, I enjoy all kinds of arts and crafts, gardening, volunteering at a local food pantry, camping, and enjoying the beauty of NM. I find it deeply fulfilling to spend some time each day doing something that might impact others in a positive way; therefore, most of my art and crafts projects are given away. I have really enjoyed using material that has been building up in my stash to make a positive difference for others.
Many years ago, I attended the University of Cincinnati for my bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. We moved to New Mexico in 1990 to work for Intel Corporation and fell in love with the area and the people. I remained at Intel until “retiring” in 2016. Afterwards, I completed a year-long Encore Fellowship at Crossroads for Women. I recently decided to go back to school for a Master’s in Engineering with the notion that I could apply those skills to a non-profit in some way. I am enrolled as a distance learner at my alma mater, with a target graduation at the end of 2021.
When I am not busy with school, I enjoy all kinds of arts and crafts, gardening, volunteering at a local food pantry, camping, and enjoying the beauty of NM. I find it deeply fulfilling to spend some time each day doing something that might impact others in a positive way; therefore, most of my art and crafts projects are given away. I have really enjoyed using material that has been building up in my stash to make a positive difference for others.
Lucinda Marquez Montoya
I'm a proud Native New Mexican, originally from Santa Fe, but have lived in Albuquerque for over 30 years now. My parents are also Native New Mexicans and lived in Santa Fe for most of their lives (my dad's 94 years old and still loves taking care of his yard and the house he built for him and my mom. I'm the youngest of 8 children. I've got too many nieces and nephews to count. I've been married to the man of my dreams for almost 26 years and we've been blessed with two wonderful boys. My husband, Johnny, retired from the State of NM about 4 years ago, and is currently working as an Educational Assistant for APS. Our oldest, Zach, has his degree from UNM in Computer Science is now works at UNM. Jared, the baby, just earned his degree in Sports, Exercise and Wellness from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. (He had to finish his year from home, due to the pandemic. We'll travel to Mitchell in September for his graduation ceremony. Oh, that leaves me...I'm the Executive Assistant to the City of Albuquerque Planning Director. I've worked for the City of Albuquerque for almost 15 years. I previously worked for the State of NM and resigned when Zach was born to stay home (for 9 years) and raise the boys. One of the best decisions of my life!We love to travel and love soccer!! For about the past 10 years, we were able to do both. Jared has played soccer since he was 5 years old (Johnny coached him for 14 years) and as he got older played on a very competitive club team that traveled A LOT! Hawaii and Seattle were the best places we traveled as a team! Jared received a soccer scholarship to a Junior College in Kansas and was then recruited to go play at DWU. We made numerous trips to watch him play in Kansas and then in South Dakota and Nebraska...so many wonderful memories we'll always have.We were beyond excited when NM finally got a team! We LOVE going to NM United soccer games and travel to their games whenever possible. Other interests include: cooking (have recently gotten into making jam...yummy), gardening (our cactus garden is my latest thing), hiking and visiting new breweries (we love craft beer)!
Flo Plecki
I was raised in the prairie of north central Texas. It was there that I attended the University of Texas at Arlington, where I met and subsequently married Mark, the love of my life. We moved to Albuquerque in 1978 and made it our home. I never had a proper career but have provided office assistance and editing locally over the decades for an insurance brokerage, a software development company, and a small publisher of books about health topics. I reside in Western South San Pedro with my two cats, Tiger and Cortana. Hobbies and favored activities include crochet, embroidery, inkle weaving, ceramics, playing games with friends, and reading. I have crocheted since I was quite young and that is primarily what I contribute to MaskUpNM by way of crocheted ear savers.
Pati Nagle
Pati Nagle is a New Mexico native who loves mountains, tea, music, rain showers, bird-watching, gardening, and cats. She has made many more costumes than regular clothes, and learned to sew without pins when she worked in a professional costume shop. She is a novelist with multiple pen names, and lives in the East Mountains with her spouse and her feline muse.
Deborah Meeks-Nixon
Hello. I was a Navy brat born in Key West, Florida. I am the second oldest of six children, and the oldest daughter. We moved about every two years until my father retired and moved us to Washington State. There I graduated from high school, married my first husband, and gave birth to our son. We divorced after 20 years of marriage. My current husband and I are members of a medieval recreation group, the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where we met. We spent our honeymoon driving for three days in separate vehicles and arrived in Albuquerque, where we have lived for the last 24 years. I am hoping to someday move back to Washington State to be closer to my son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren.My husband and I have two cats, eight parakeets, and probably 50+ ornate box turtles. Until very recently, we had a dog. She was 16 years old when she passed away. My current husband and I were adopted by a young man after we took him in when he was 16 years old. He was the friend of a neighbor’s son; and his mother had kicked him out. He will be 30 years old this year and lives in Albuquerque with his wife and their animals.I am a retired executive/administrative assistant. I spend my days cooking, baking, and crafting; and sometimes I manage to find time to do some cleaning. I love to sew, machine embroider, quilt, crochet, knit, paper craft, do calligraphy and illumination, and many other things. Currently, besides sewing masks, I am trying to learn how to use my new Glowforge 3D laser printer.
Amanda Flory
I am a native New Mexican third generation, a mortgage broker, happily married with a dog and two cats, the adored fur babies.
I was raised in Lamy, New Mexico, super small town up north. Both of my parents are hippies, so my comfort zones are gardening, art, sewing, and cooking.
I live by Plato’s philosophy of Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
I was raised in Lamy, New Mexico, super small town up north. Both of my parents are hippies, so my comfort zones are gardening, art, sewing, and cooking.
I live by Plato’s philosophy of Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
Annie Brengelmann Chavez
I am originally from Seattle, Washington but have lived in Albuquerque for about 25 years. I live with two of my adult sons and husband and have another son who just had our first grandbaby (in another state). I have been a teacher of the blind for almost 20 years. I am an avid gardener, like to knit, do a little sewing and love to read.
Annie has been a sewing demon on our EOC city mask group - a super power that runs throughout our team!
Annie has been a sewing demon on our EOC city mask group - a super power that runs throughout our team!
Caroline Ann Moxon
Hi everyone! I am 27, originally from England and moved to New Mexico nearly 5 years ago to be with my husband, Nate. I grew up in a small town called Fakenham in Norfolk with my parents and 2 younger sisters. I moved to Norwich (also in Norfolk) where I lived for two years. I went to Norwich University of the Arts to study Textiles Design, only completing my first year when I met this crazy American who whisked my off my feet and to New Mexico!
We have been married 5 years this October and have two little chihuahua terriers, Bartok and Bear Cub. Right now I work part time at a sushi restaurant, Crazy Fish, and once things get back to normal Nate will go back to work at Brixens down town.
I have always had a love for sewing. When I was little I had a childminder who taught me to cross stitch and ever since I was hooked. Other than mask making right now I am working on a hand embroidered wall hanging for my nephew who turns 1 this month. My mum passes away 2 years ago so my sister sent me some of her scarfs to create some little keep sakes for the family. The wall hanging being one of them. This way her grandson has a little piece of her to look over him!
My Dad and sisters still live in Norfolk and I talk with them as often as I can. We try to make a trip each year to see them. I'm hoping next year my youngest sister will be able to come visit us with her boyfriend so we can show off this beautiful state to them both! ** This photo is the center of my home town."
Caroline, Nate & I worked together at Elaine's in Nob Hill. They became my family and I can't wait for you to meet them!♥️
We have been married 5 years this October and have two little chihuahua terriers, Bartok and Bear Cub. Right now I work part time at a sushi restaurant, Crazy Fish, and once things get back to normal Nate will go back to work at Brixens down town.
I have always had a love for sewing. When I was little I had a childminder who taught me to cross stitch and ever since I was hooked. Other than mask making right now I am working on a hand embroidered wall hanging for my nephew who turns 1 this month. My mum passes away 2 years ago so my sister sent me some of her scarfs to create some little keep sakes for the family. The wall hanging being one of them. This way her grandson has a little piece of her to look over him!
My Dad and sisters still live in Norfolk and I talk with them as often as I can. We try to make a trip each year to see them. I'm hoping next year my youngest sister will be able to come visit us with her boyfriend so we can show off this beautiful state to them both! ** This photo is the center of my home town."
Caroline, Nate & I worked together at Elaine's in Nob Hill. They became my family and I can't wait for you to meet them!♥️
Joan Ellis
I learned to sew at the tender age of 5. My mother made a polka dot doll dress, and I hemmed it with big awkward stitches. I have sewn all my life, and am especially grateful for the opportunities to teach kids the value of being able to do something simple for themselves. I was a volunteer presenter for Art in the School for seven years when my youngest was little. One of the last units we did was quilt making. I still remember the looks each of the other parent volunteers gave each other when I showed up with real needles and thread in a class of first graders. And, later, the amazement that the children rose to the occasion beautifully. Fifteen years later, my son’s artwork still graces a pair of hand stitched pot holders in our kitchen.
After retiring from 30 plus years in mortgage banking, yes, I am a recovering mortgage loan originator, I took up working at a small quilt shop. That lead to teaching summer textile camps at Explora, which paved the way to teaching art, and filling in for math and language arts at a small private school near home. Yes, there was a lot of sewing involved in those art classes. So proud of the groups of kids that have gained the confidence sewing has woven into their lives.
Currently I test garment patterns for a handful of indie designers. Ditched my corporate wardrobe for something more fun, practical, sustainable, that I could not find anywhere else but my sewing room. I also teach classes and private lessons, or did until March. I blog about my sewing projects, so that I can remember how I did that, or share the details later with someone who might be interested. I love learning and sharing new ideas, patterns and techniques with others. I guest blog for a pattern company and moderate two Facebook sewing groups.
When I am not behind my sewing machine, you can find me in the garden. Ten years ago, I discovered that gluten was my foe, and after just finishing Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I decided home grown veggies were the path I wanted to rediscover. I love experimenting with new plants, extending the growing season, and preserving the extras to enjoy later.
I am grateful for the opportunity and distraction of mask sewing. It gives me hope with each mask I sew that somewhere someone will be spared. We are all interconnected and it is very apparent and important now.
After retiring from 30 plus years in mortgage banking, yes, I am a recovering mortgage loan originator, I took up working at a small quilt shop. That lead to teaching summer textile camps at Explora, which paved the way to teaching art, and filling in for math and language arts at a small private school near home. Yes, there was a lot of sewing involved in those art classes. So proud of the groups of kids that have gained the confidence sewing has woven into their lives.
Currently I test garment patterns for a handful of indie designers. Ditched my corporate wardrobe for something more fun, practical, sustainable, that I could not find anywhere else but my sewing room. I also teach classes and private lessons, or did until March. I blog about my sewing projects, so that I can remember how I did that, or share the details later with someone who might be interested. I love learning and sharing new ideas, patterns and techniques with others. I guest blog for a pattern company and moderate two Facebook sewing groups.
When I am not behind my sewing machine, you can find me in the garden. Ten years ago, I discovered that gluten was my foe, and after just finishing Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, I decided home grown veggies were the path I wanted to rediscover. I love experimenting with new plants, extending the growing season, and preserving the extras to enjoy later.
I am grateful for the opportunity and distraction of mask sewing. It gives me hope with each mask I sew that somewhere someone will be spared. We are all interconnected and it is very apparent and important now.
Hue Walker Bumgarner-Kirby
I’m a grandma, 2 boys whom I dearly miss hugging... so I crocheted them a hug (pic attached)... I am a lifelong Burqueña...(grandparent had TB....) ‘71 grad of UNM... artist, author of Journeys Through Inner Space published 1995... Fulltime artist now retired to tinkering with photoshop, LEGO’s, and mask making!"
Sarah Lopez
I’m a mommy to my 7 yr. old daughter, almost 17 yr old step daughter & my 11 yr. old angel daughter in heaven. I’ve been with my amazing husband 15 years this July. We also have two Boxer dogs named Neo & Trinity. I have a BA in Animation Graphics, Associates degrees in social media marketing & viral marketing. I work doing Accounting for a company that makes salsa, Run my nonprofit called Just BE Cause & run a mask making business called Happy Face Masks! I am a busy woman! I love being busy & love going on adventures with my family!”
Marti Johns
I’ve lived in Albuquerque for 25 years. I am originally from El Paso, but moved around most of my early life (Army brat). I am married 26 years and have two amazing kids. My elder just graduated from Arizona State University summa cum laude with a degree in Digital Culture. My younger is a sophomore at UNLV studying film.
I'm a freelance educational writer specializing in mathematics but my real passion is children's fiction. I have a non-published children's picture book completed manuscript, and several middle grade historical fiction novels in progress. I like doing anything crafty. I sew, make rubber stamped greeting cards, knit, and scrapbook. My husband is a big-time rock hounder and lately I've gone out with him collecting at sites all over NM. I love to travel. I've been to most of the US and several foreign countries. I even did study abroad in college, living for a year in Jerusalem, Israel.
I'm crazy about art, bright colors, dogs, cats, baking, spending time with my friends, reading, the ocean, snow, rocking out at concerts with my kids, Broadway, and helping make the world a better place. Thanks for letting me be part of this amazing group of mask makers.
I'm a freelance educational writer specializing in mathematics but my real passion is children's fiction. I have a non-published children's picture book completed manuscript, and several middle grade historical fiction novels in progress. I like doing anything crafty. I sew, make rubber stamped greeting cards, knit, and scrapbook. My husband is a big-time rock hounder and lately I've gone out with him collecting at sites all over NM. I love to travel. I've been to most of the US and several foreign countries. I even did study abroad in college, living for a year in Jerusalem, Israel.
I'm crazy about art, bright colors, dogs, cats, baking, spending time with my friends, reading, the ocean, snow, rocking out at concerts with my kids, Broadway, and helping make the world a better place. Thanks for letting me be part of this amazing group of mask makers.
Glenda Morling
I’m a retired community college social and behavioral sciences teacher. After retirement, we moved here from Michigan, where we had lived for thirty years. Before Michigan, my husband, Jim, and I immigrated to the United States from England.
We have two sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, five amazing grandchildren and two rather cute dogs.
Since moving to NM, we have traveled a lot, mostly with a fifth wheel. We learned to haul that 34’ RV after we had both retired, having never driven a pick up truck, or pulled any trailer before then. We were pretty proud of ourselves for that.
I have a lot of interests. I really like learning new stuff, but am not an expert in anything. I love the outdoors and traveling, I make jewelry - beading and wire work, I like cooking and baking, I enjoy gardening, I am a news and political junkie, I grow orchids, and I am trying hard to learn the names of New Mexico native plants and flowers.
Jim and I are both keen birders, and I am very much enjoying being part of Jim’s latest interest - bee-keeping.
I’m not a very good seamstress, but really wanted to help our community combat Coronavirus when this mask making opportunity arose.
We have two sons, two wonderful daughters-in-law, five amazing grandchildren and two rather cute dogs.
Since moving to NM, we have traveled a lot, mostly with a fifth wheel. We learned to haul that 34’ RV after we had both retired, having never driven a pick up truck, or pulled any trailer before then. We were pretty proud of ourselves for that.
I have a lot of interests. I really like learning new stuff, but am not an expert in anything. I love the outdoors and traveling, I make jewelry - beading and wire work, I like cooking and baking, I enjoy gardening, I am a news and political junkie, I grow orchids, and I am trying hard to learn the names of New Mexico native plants and flowers.
Jim and I are both keen birders, and I am very much enjoying being part of Jim’s latest interest - bee-keeping.
I’m not a very good seamstress, but really wanted to help our community combat Coronavirus when this mask making opportunity arose.
Juanita Martinez
I was born in Albuquerque and graduated from UNM in Chemistry in 1995. In 2001 I earned my PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Oregon in Eugene, where I lived for 6 years. I am now working at the VA medical center in Research where I study neuropathology of addiction. I live 5 min away from my mother. My dad passed away from cancer in 2011. He was a retired firefighter and former Army paratrooper. I am the youngest of 7 children.
I have the best furkids in the world. Two years ago almost to this day, I was sitting on my patio and I saw a litter of four three-week-old kittens tumble out from under the bush. This experience led me to the world of fostering and feral trap neuter return which has been some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done. I have worked with several rescues in ABQ and Los Lunas. I try to focus on black kittens. I also have an awesome 6 year old boxer dog named Sisko who has been a trooper through it all (except he will eat the kitten food if I’m not watching). He loves to hike and run and is a professional restaurant patio dog.
I love traveling, camping, biking, hiking and drinking chai on the patio. I love science fiction and movies. I love video games and making art, and I am almost finished with an associate’s degree in Digital Arts. Currently I spend most of my time looking after my pets, my mother and my house in SW Albuquerque. I have found sanctuary in my volunteer work and feel honored to be a mask sewer for NM.
I have the best furkids in the world. Two years ago almost to this day, I was sitting on my patio and I saw a litter of four three-week-old kittens tumble out from under the bush. This experience led me to the world of fostering and feral trap neuter return which has been some of the most satisfying work I’ve ever done. I have worked with several rescues in ABQ and Los Lunas. I try to focus on black kittens. I also have an awesome 6 year old boxer dog named Sisko who has been a trooper through it all (except he will eat the kitten food if I’m not watching). He loves to hike and run and is a professional restaurant patio dog.
I love traveling, camping, biking, hiking and drinking chai on the patio. I love science fiction and movies. I love video games and making art, and I am almost finished with an associate’s degree in Digital Arts. Currently I spend most of my time looking after my pets, my mother and my house in SW Albuquerque. I have found sanctuary in my volunteer work and feel honored to be a mask sewer for NM.
Truemy Gray
In the picture is my husband Nathaniel Gray. We have two cats and a bit of a potted plant garden. I enjoy crocheting and am coming to enjoy sewing since entering this group. I also write and bake. I enjoy loads of fantasy books. I like anime and plenty of sci-fi and fantasy shows. I play a few video games, most of which are very low key. I also occasionally practice wicca.
Sherry Smested
Hello. I’ve lived in Albuquerque for most of my life. I am a retired educator. I taught Communication at the community college for nearly 30 years, including two year-long teaching exchanges in England. Now I am a volunteer reading tutor, an amateur photographer, bird enthusiast, lover of British Crime novels, cyclist, sewist and mad crafter. Lately I’ve gotten caught up in learning how to make time-lapse videos as sewing and crafting guides. My husband Gregory and I live in the valley. We have a little orchard, a little vineyard, lots of roses and a small container garden. I have a daughter (21), a stepdaughter (26) and a son (30). They have been wonderful about bringing supplies to us these last months so that we could safely keep my elderly mother with us. Gregory and I love to travel, particularly to Scotland, and we love to stay home. More about being a mad crafter. I enjoy sustainable crafting – upcycling birdseed bags into reusable shopping bags, making my own liquid hand soap, bug repellent & rose spray, making paper from recycled junk mail. I also enjoy canning the fruit from our orchard & vineyard (jams, preserves, chutney, pie filling). I am a sewist. I LOVE to sew. I’ve sewn normal things like clothes, home goods & gift items. I’ve sewn odd things like a 6 ft. zipper in a tent, hummingbird costumes & skirts that turn into flags. I take my hat off to quilters. It is such an amazing art, but not in my repertoire. Now I am sewing the Meagan Medical Mask. I am so pleased to be a part of MaskupNM.
John& Paula Lesher Whisenhunt
My wife, Paula, and I are both NM natives. We met on the dance floor at a local studio in ABQ, dancing ballroom, Latin, swing and country dancing. We now have 2 kids, an almost-20-year-old and a 13-year-old, both living at home now because of COVID-19. We are now balloonists (sad the Balloon Fiesta was postponed). We actually bought our first balloon the day the restrictions went in place that did not allow us to fly it - – until a couple of weeks ago -
My son is a pilot-in-training, we just enjoy being part of the entire process. How we started sewing (we did NOT sew before this at all): For work, we own a Medical Transcription company that we run out of our home. We found ourselves with little work during COVID-19 (canceled surgeries and doctor appointments), did not have a lot of work to do, and were feeling completely helpless with regard to the pandemic. I somewhere heard of the idea of sewing masks and commented that I wish we had a sewing machine so we could do that… Fast forward a few weeks and a family member loaned us a machine. Fast forward another several weeks, we bought a machine, continued buying materials, and just kept sewing. At first, our kids helped a lot, now it is mostly just the two of us sewing. We are closer to but still trying to reach our goal of 1000 masks donated. Work is back in full-swing now (thank God), but we are still trying to sew as much as we can – it is so empowering to feel like we are doing something to make a difference! I’m glad we found this group!
My son is a pilot-in-training, we just enjoy being part of the entire process. How we started sewing (we did NOT sew before this at all): For work, we own a Medical Transcription company that we run out of our home. We found ourselves with little work during COVID-19 (canceled surgeries and doctor appointments), did not have a lot of work to do, and were feeling completely helpless with regard to the pandemic. I somewhere heard of the idea of sewing masks and commented that I wish we had a sewing machine so we could do that… Fast forward a few weeks and a family member loaned us a machine. Fast forward another several weeks, we bought a machine, continued buying materials, and just kept sewing. At first, our kids helped a lot, now it is mostly just the two of us sewing. We are closer to but still trying to reach our goal of 1000 masks donated. Work is back in full-swing now (thank God), but we are still trying to sew as much as we can – it is so empowering to feel like we are doing something to make a difference! I’m glad we found this group!
Rachel Quici
Hello, I was born in Roswell NM. I personally have not seen any U.F.O.s or Aliens. I grew up in Roswell and spent much time in Ruidoso as well. I moved to Albuquerque about 12 yrs ago. I am a single mom of 4 now adult children. I am also a grandma of 6. My kids and grandkids are my world. I enjoy doing volunteer work and have done it for many yrs. I do my best to put together snacks and or make meals to do hand outs in my area. I also enjoy car show events and at times dressing up within the pinup style. I grew up next to my grandma and her sewing machine. She taught me how to sew at a very young age. I joined the mask making group early on. As hard as I tried to keep track I lost count after hitting my 500 mask donation.
Van Delfin
My name is actually Carolina but a bunch of people call me Val since 2006 and it stuck to my Facebook and many social circles. I am from Mexico City and lived there all of my life until 2 years ago when I came to Albuquerque with my son Pablo and just a few bags to get married to the love of my life, Aaron, after almost 9 years of long distance relationship and start this new exciting chapter. This crazy little family has grown a bit and now has Star and Glameow to brighten our days.
I am a self proclaimed Graphic Designer, my actual major was Communication Sciences and a Digital Post-production minor. I've had all sorts of jobs as GD and one of them took me to Montréal, Canada for a few months. A couple years later a twist of life took me to The Cheesecake Factory to work as a server and I discovered many new passions. I can fluently speak Spanish, English and almost French, and am still learning Korean and Japanese.
I've been a crafter all of my life, I like change and diversity so I like learning new techniques, mostly on my own, and it maybe started when my grandma taught me a little bit of crochet when I was about 9 yr. My life was never the same. Taught myself to sew when I was around 16 yr. because I had this shirt I absolutely loved and was I confident I could replicate it, and without knowing a thing I "copied" the shirt's pieces on new fabric, practiced a little bit on how to handle the machine and made 2 new shirts. They weren't perfect, but I made them and I was proud of the result, even when something was off with the sleeves and collar; after buying some Simplicity patterns I could see the correct way to make it, but that new knowledge only made me want to do more and more, and I made most of the clothes I had to go to Uni just because I could. I also know knitting, amigurumi, all sorts of paper crafting, jewelry making, macramé, ceramic painting, beadwork, I'm not even sure about all of these words in English! In sum, if I see something and I think I can make it, I'll make my best to teach myself and do it, sometimes I even know how to and do the research just to see if I was right. Maybe my hands and abstract thinking are my best gift and I love to share it with the world.
I am a self proclaimed Graphic Designer, my actual major was Communication Sciences and a Digital Post-production minor. I've had all sorts of jobs as GD and one of them took me to Montréal, Canada for a few months. A couple years later a twist of life took me to The Cheesecake Factory to work as a server and I discovered many new passions. I can fluently speak Spanish, English and almost French, and am still learning Korean and Japanese.
I've been a crafter all of my life, I like change and diversity so I like learning new techniques, mostly on my own, and it maybe started when my grandma taught me a little bit of crochet when I was about 9 yr. My life was never the same. Taught myself to sew when I was around 16 yr. because I had this shirt I absolutely loved and was I confident I could replicate it, and without knowing a thing I "copied" the shirt's pieces on new fabric, practiced a little bit on how to handle the machine and made 2 new shirts. They weren't perfect, but I made them and I was proud of the result, even when something was off with the sleeves and collar; after buying some Simplicity patterns I could see the correct way to make it, but that new knowledge only made me want to do more and more, and I made most of the clothes I had to go to Uni just because I could. I also know knitting, amigurumi, all sorts of paper crafting, jewelry making, macramé, ceramic painting, beadwork, I'm not even sure about all of these words in English! In sum, if I see something and I think I can make it, I'll make my best to teach myself and do it, sometimes I even know how to and do the research just to see if I was right. Maybe my hands and abstract thinking are my best gift and I love to share it with the world.
Barbara Marquez Wolfram
I have been married to Jeff Wolfram for four months , I am a mom of four kids, two girls (34 and 20), two boys (16 and 15) and one grandson (16) and two fur babies, Apollo (Lab/Border Collie) and Penelope (Chihuahua). I am a NM native from Peralta. I worked in the medical field for many years and now I am a stay at home mom who shares a love for photography with my husband, and enjoys volunteering, sewing, outdoors, and any crafts I can do with my sister Yolanda Serna.
Most importantly, I am a Heart Attack survivor. I give credit to Joshua Martinez and the American Heart Association for my survival. I am passionate about teaching people the importance of the A. H. A., exercise, healthy eating, and learning to put yourself first in order to be there for others. I am proud and honored to represent the A. H. A. and share my story with others through media
Most importantly, I am a Heart Attack survivor. I give credit to Joshua Martinez and the American Heart Association for my survival. I am passionate about teaching people the importance of the A. H. A., exercise, healthy eating, and learning to put yourself first in order to be there for others. I am proud and honored to represent the A. H. A. and share my story with others through media
Debbie Sanchez
I was born and raised in the South Valley. I married my childhood sweetheart Robert of 36 years and we live in the same neighborhood we grew up in. We both went to Adobe Acres, Harrison MS and Rio Grande HS as did our children. I have 3 grown male children, Robert 32, Trinidad 31, and Timothy 29. They all live near me in the South Valley with my extended family near by. I also worked in the South Valley at a child abuse prevention program for 32 years with parents and children who were experiencing child abuse, mental health issues, disabilities, domestic violence and incarceration. I left that program and started a homevisiting program for first time pregnant mothers again in the South Valley in 2010 and retired after 2 years as the program was and still is well established. I have been an advocate for those that have been disenfranchised for most of my life. I have been a lifelong volunteer doing a variety of things since I was young due to my mom and dad's influence. I have a bachelors degree in early childhood. I am an infant mental health specialist and volunteer to provide infant mental health advising to those interested in endorsement across the state and I also review portfolios to be endorsed. I love to camp, ride our Razor, boat and spend time with our family and friends who also grew up in and live in our neighborhood. I have been sewing since my children were young making them costumes for Halloween and any other activities that required costumes. Since I retired in 2012, I have made over 50 quilts, including T-shirt quilts for my 3 children and many of my nieces and nephews, with still more to do (11). I love to sew and my son saw Robbie Sanchez's request for help to sew masks on his facebook and told me about it, as I don't have facebook. I am so honored to be able to help in my own little way and be part of a great group of awesome volunteers who really stepped up to the plate to make a difference for our community! What a blessing! Thank you for letting me be a part of this!
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