Mary Lou Weidman began her quilting life at her Grandmother's knee when she learned first to make yo-yos and then to piece nine-patches, half-square triangles and then Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks (her favorite pattern). Mary Lou's father, Ted, encouraged her to paint and draw since he was an artist and later on they shared a studio where they painted and sold fine art paintings.
After Mary Lou got married and had children, she worked in advertising and layout and was drawn back into quilting when her son was being treated for childhood leukemia and she had a lot of time sitting in the hospital with him. After her son was well, she started doing story quilts with a folk art style that got the attention of museums and galleries. Eventually quilters and shops enjoyed and understood her happy, whimsical style.
She has written three large books "Whimsies and Whynots," "Everyday Angels," and "Quilted Memories." Along with writing, she creates booklets and patterns for her own pattern company. "Hoochy Mama Quilts" and "Flower Power" are two books that are popular as she travels and teaches techniques.
Mary Lou's goal is to get each quilter to do a Story quilt about themselves and who and what they love so that in the future, people will know about this quilter and what was important to them. It is her belief that Story quilts will be researched and held valuable in the future, "a happy quilt begins with a smile."