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LOUISIANA, MO. -- Long before Louis “Shovelhead” Garrett started stitching his now-famous panty quilt, he was dressing mannequins in his mother’s basement.

I know, that’s a disconcerting sentence.  It even gave me the willies as I flashed back to scenes from Silence of the Lambs.  But Shovelhead softened the blow when he told me most of his 16 mannequins he dresses in vintage early 1900’s clothes.

“I like the old stuff,” he explained.  Now, he does have a few of his mannequins dressed in lingerie, but that’s how ol’ Shovelhead rolls.  “I love beautiful women.”

If you haven’t yet heard about Shovelhead, here’s some background.  Shovelhead’s a 59-year-old Harley enthusiast who has the unusual hobby of creating quilts out of women’s undergarments.  Read all about it here.   

Shovelhead’s original art involves collecting mannequins and storing them in the basement of his mother’s house in Louisiana, Mo., where he rents a room.

“I don’t know what started him on that,” Shovelhead’s mom, Joan Myers told me.  “He’s always bringing stuff home.  I haven’t been in his room in a long, long time.  You can’t hardly walk in there.”  In fact, his collection grew to the point that the mannequins had to move out, and take up residence in a travel trailer.

I asked Mrs. Myers what kind of kid Shovelhead was growing up.  She described him as a “neat freak.” 

“I can’t believe he turned into this motorcycle riding, long-haired tattooed guy.”

Not that Mrs. Myers minds.  She’s proud of her son.  As for the quilt sewn from 58 pair of women’s panties:  “I thought it turned out kind of neat.  He was so proud of that quilt; he wouldn’t let anyone touch it.”

While Shovelhead is very fond of his panty quilt, his first love is Mary Ann, his Harley motorcycle.  “I love that HOG.  I give her a hug and a kiss every day.”

And his love of motorcycles gives him a chance to display yet another talent.  Check out the pictures we’ve posted of his motorcycle sketches.  For critics who say Shovelhead isn’t an artist, these pictures show he definitely has talent, whether his medium is silk underwear or paper and pen.

Next week:  Shovelhead goes viral.   We’ll show you how the panty quilt has captured the attention of the nation, and even countries outside our borders.

Take care ~Sarah