“My mother made all our clothes when we were children. She would look at a dress in a store window, come home and design and sew until she’d created the exact dress,” said Alta “Gay” Freeman, 66.

Freeman inherited her mother’s talent for sewing and has created a beautiful wonderland of cross-stitch pictures and other craft-work objects. Outside, the modest brick house in the Battleground community looks like any other, but inside Freeman has transformed it into a showcase of mementos and crafts she’s created.

Married over eight years to Johnny Freeman, 68, she said they’d remodeled the house after marrying. “I already had a lot of craft-work I’d done earlier, and then I began adding to it.”

Freeman’s past work history includes early years spent sewing for the public, making special requests such as wedding dresses or doing alterations. Then she worked at Cullman Industries 15 years and Americold eight years. “I always made my own and my family’s clothes when I was younger — dresses, coats, everything you can imagine.”

Retiring with a disability from Americold, Freeman devoted all her free time to being creative with sewing and craft projects. “I have been quilting for some time now, and have made Dutch boy and girl designs, a tie quilt with a heart-shape and several scrappy quilt designs. The only way I can quilt is by doing piecework, where I link squares together on my sewing machine. I buy most of my supplies at a cross-stitch store in Huntsville.”

Unfortunately, she said she can no longer do cross-stitch, and finished her last picture project in 2003.

“About three years ago, Francis Lake, a very dear friend and my hair-dresser, got me started in scrap-booking. It’s been a challenge and very time-consuming, but I’ve created over 40 scrapbooks.”

She has turned her large dining room into a workspace, and has a computer with digital cricut program and various cartridges as well as a sewing machine and bright lights for such detailed work. “Johnny said he’ll build me a special workshop soon, and then I’ll have a larger area to devote to my work,” Freeman said.

Beautiful, large, intricate pictures hang on her walls, and she explains how she photographs an ordinary object, like a basket or vase, then enlarges it on the computer and prints it out. At that point, she begins decorating it with artistic touches, such sequins and beads, until each design becomes a unique work of art.

“I haven’t sold any of my work yet. I usually give it away to friends and family. I might try to sell my special occasion cards someday. I already have all my Christmas cards done for this year,” said Freeman.

Displaying a sample of her quilts, she said she only makes king size quilts. “I always give my family quilts at Christmas. For birthdays, I try to give a special craft I’ve spent extra time making as perfect as possible.”

A couple of years ago, Freeman learned she had cancer. After treatments, she said her first goal was to make sure she finished quilts to leave for her family at Christmas, should she not survive. However, treatments were successful, and she said she is now cancer-free.

Freeman is also an avid rabbit-theme collector. She has one bedroom with a rabbit theme, where any little girl or boy would think they’d fallen down the proverbial Alice-in-Wonderland rabbit hole. A bed with ruffled-comforter holds an assortment of stuffed rabbits, and cozy cushioned chairs hold larger rabbits. Amazing ceramic rabbits and angels cover an antique dresser and soft, plush carpet underfoot lends a hushed, fantasy-land atmosphere.

Enchantment is found in every nook and corner of Freeman’s original house with distinct artistic designs. Her kitchen has a table with lace tablecloth, family pictures in elaborate frames she made. Every counter has exquisite ceramic objects, and her bright white cabinets are lined with brilliant red-and-green garlands of apples and vines.

In the living room, she has a collection of dolls, some large and some small, as well as family pictures in frames with unique memorabilia labels. In a curio glass cabinet rests many ceramic rabbits of all shapes and sizes.

Freeman said she has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia but still stays as active and busy as possible.

“I can’t do as much without taking rest spells, but I will always be creative as long as I can,” she said.

“I love what I do with crafts, and Johnny is getting me an embroidery machine for Christmas, so I can be even more innovative with my designs,” said Freeman.

Freeman lived in the Vinemont community before moving to Battleground with her husband. She has two adult sons, Brett and Eric Sullins; and three grandchildren, Chase, Hunter and Candace Sullins.