Linda Thomas

Background

Linda Thomas was introduced to sewing at the age of 8, when her mother sent her to the Singer Sewing Center in Jackson, Michigan. She began sewing her own doll clothes, then her own clothes.  When she had sons, she sewed their rompers with snap button crotches. Linda has always enjoyed decorating her home and looking for ways to make it unique by using unusual items in various ways, such as an antique doll crib as a toy box.

In 2015, Linda started taking classes to learn how to use an electronic sewing machine and started learning to make quilts. She is in the process of making quilts for all of her children, grandkids and great grandkids. She loves finding unusual patterns and picking out the fabrics for that pattern. Linda started taking two of her grandchildren to class with her and they began sewing together. Both children have made several articles of clothing. Linda also took classes to learn how to do machine embroidery and use a Serger machine.

One of her grandchildren and she took painting classes and painted several pictures together. Linda has always been interested in doing creative activities and expanding her knowledge in the arts arena.  She recently taught a Lifeskills class at Sycamore High School and a similar class for younger children at Willow Oak.  

They young girls made pin cushions, learned how to sew on different types of buttons, slip stitched the sides, and learned how to put on patches. It was wonderful to see those precious minds trying to grasp skills that today seem to be lost.

Linda graduated from Trigg County HS and attended Hopkinsville Community College before marrying Ross, her husband of 54 years. She spent the last 15 years of her work career managing nonprofit organizations including United Way of Sumner & Wilson Counties, Nashville’s Table, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, Project Return INC in Nashville, TN, and the National Conference for Community & Justice in Portland, OR.