Melody Busch

Meet the fun loving, hard working,
Melody Busch

Where did you grow up? 

 Loveland, Colorado

How many years have you been in the industry? 

 In the industry, 29 years total.  As a sales rep. 25 years, 

with United Notions/Moda Fabrics 21 of those years.

Favorite past time / hobbies? 

 I have always enjoyed trying my hand at any new craft that came along.  But now that my time is limited I prefer sewing/piecing, and knitting.  I also like to hand embroider because it is so portable.  I do like to ride my bike when I can but life gets in the way too often.

Tell a funny story about being on the road... 

This is my sort of funny story.  Many years ago my territory included North Central and Eastern Wyoming, where there are more sheep, deer, and jack rabbits in residence than people. I always told people in the office if they hadn't  heard from me by the end of the week (this was before cell phones) to send a search party out to look for me!    It was just before Christmas and it was pitch black dark by 4:00 PM.  I was just leaving Sheridan, Wyoming on my way to Gillette.   There is nothing out there but dark and critters.   I must have been fiddling with something on the seat beside me because I looked away, just for a second I'm sure.  When I looked up there was a huge deer standing in my lane.  I knew enough not to try to miss him and end up rolling down an embankment so I just hit the brakes and hung on for deer (really) life.  I did hit him in the rear end with the right front  my van.  Yes, I rear-ended a deer!  I was out in the middle of no where so if my van would keep going  I wasn't going to stop, no mater what the damage,  When I came to the first signs of civilization, I pulled off the highway into a lighted parking lot to look at what damage there was.  The deer had crumpled the fender,  broke the grill and the plastic housing that held the headlight.  It wasn't  too bad.   I poked the headlight back up so it would shine  towards the front rather than down to the ground and drove onto Gillette.

 

The following morning I pulled up to my appointment with my van looking a little worse for wear.  Immediately, when I walked in the shop, everyone asked "What happened to your van?"  I said "Oh, I hit a deer last night"  and in unison their response was.........."DID YOU HURT THE DEER?!" 

What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?
 I thought I was going to be an interior designer or an architect.  I loved to design floor plans and decorate them with swatches of fabric, paint chips, and tile samples until I got to college and had to take my first art class.  I found out I didn't have an artistic bone in my body.  I immediately changed my major.

What is your favorite childhood memory? 

  My Father didn't like little children much and Mom took care of us 90% of the time.  She tried her best to keep us out of Dad's hair and out of trouble.  But I remember one time, I must have been 10 or 11, I was rummaging around in our garage trying to find some wood.  I was going  to built a bookcase.  My Dad came out to see what I was doing in his stuff and, uh oh, I thought I was really in trouble.  But he actually took the time to help me built a bookcase better that any I could have built on my own.  It wasn't fancy and it weighed a ton but I moved that bookcase everywhere I went, even to college. 

 I still have that bookcase and use it in my sewing room. 

We also had a horse when we still lived on the farm.  Ginger  was kind of old and not very big but she was so tame we could do anything to her. We could braid her main and tail, cover her with blankets, crawl all over her,  and she wouldn't  do a thing except maybe stand on my foot if she didn't want to be saddled.   We'd ride her to the back of the farm playing cowboys and Indians or circus stars and she was so barn sour that when she got tired of  playing,  she'd run right back to the barn.  Mom never worried about us because Ginger would always bring us home.

Tell us about another job you had... 

I spent a couple of summers working at the YMCA of the Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, Colorado.  I worked as a kitchen assistant and did everything from salad preparation to  setting tables, and washing pots and pans.   It was the first time I worked away from home and had total freedom.  I  could have gotten into a lot of trouble if I had wanted to.  I learned a very valuable life lesson there as well.  I tried to complain about something to the chef that was in charge if the kitchen help.  He crooked his finger at me to beckon me a little closer and whispered in my ear, "You can be replaced".  I never forgot that little bit of wisdom.

Tell us about your beloved?

This is a picture of my 3 children taken several years ago.  Mittens and Boots were about 2 months old and my babies always took their naps together.

 I have to give Jim some kudos though for taking care of my babies.  I brought home two kittens barely weaned from their mother and left for Quilt Market the following week.  He  couldn't figure out why I brought home two kittens when we had discussed only getting one.  I couldn't split up sisters!   As you can see they bonded.

Name 5 things always found in your fridge? 

 Yogurt, apples, milk,  juice, and eggs.
 Guess I'm always good for breakfast.  

 The rest of the day you are on your own.

If you were a quilt block, what one would you be & why?

  I think I have two.  Delectable Mountains because I've spent my life in the Rocky Mountains.  There is no other place on earth I'd rather live. 

And the Contrary Wife.  I think you can figure that one out yourself.

What was the best thing before sliced bread? 

  I'd have to say electricity.  We don't get much done without power.  Try sitting in a motel room, in the dark and every device you need to use has either a  dead battery or needs to be plugged in.  I carry an emergency candle with me but it wasn't much help.

Name 5 things on your bucket list...

1. Go on an  Alaskan Cruise. 

 2.  Travel  to  Australia and New Zealand. 

3.  Go back to Scotland and research my ancestors. 

 4.. Hike the Continental Divide.

  5. Sew up all my unfinished projects and use up my stash.   

Tell us something about you that most people don't know..

.I can't watch many of the programs on Animal Planet because they make me cry.

Name three things you never leave home without...

 1. My money gun. 

 2.  My iPod, 

 3.. My cell phone, 

 4.  My XOOM. 

 5.  My glasses/sun glasses.

( 6. Clean underwear).

My passion is...

This is more of a guilty pleasure rather a passion.  I am totally hooked on fictional historical romance novels.  That's why I never leave home without my iPod.  I download Audible books to my iPod and listen as I drive.  I get completely  wrapped up in the characters and the stories help the miles fly by.

My motto is...

Well behaved women seldom make history.

If you were not a sales rep, what else would you do?

  I think I might like to go back to teaching but not in a public school.  I've always enjoyed teaching adults or children that were willing to learn.   It was disciplining  and fighting  the

 kids that didn't want to learn that I didn't enjoy.

I collect...

Antique sewing  paraphernalia  I have everything from old dress forms

 to antique pin cushions and thimbles.  I also collect ceramic birds, and things  with a cats on it.

If you could create your own bumper sticker, it would read...

I BREAK FOR ALL QUILT SHOPS

If gas mileage & space for samples, were not a requirement, I'd be driving...

 I used to have a black  Mazda MS6, 4 on the floor, sun roof, and spoiler.
  It was so much to drive...   I'd like to have a newer version of it.
 Maybe red.