Quilting it together...

I JUST LOVE quilting! At the beginning of the year I decided to take the plung and take on some hobbies that were just for me. That may sound selfish to some, however having had my last baby at 40 I've been feeling that if I was going to ever take something on I should quit waiting and jump in. I'm not getting any younger! LOL!

I've always wanted to learn to quilt and would often go to the fairs around and just delight in all the magnificant quilts on display! I would admire and think how amazing they were, but until now could never really appreciate all that went into their creation. It is such a process. One that I had not fully understood until I began quilting. It's amazing how an impatient person, as myself, can embrace and find solace in the pain staking process of quilting. I sit in wonder of how you can take just one little piece of fabric and build upon it and change it in to something else. To add depth and perspective that you don't notice when it's all on its own.


I guess it's what I imagine a painter going through. You begin with a blank canvas and then as you add color and texture it begins to come alive and take shape. In many ways for me that's what happens when I quilt. I begin with one print or color and add a bit of this and a bit of that only to draw out something more. Isn't that what we do each day as home educators? We take this child, who in some ways is that blank canvas, and we mold and sculpt helping to form this well rounded person. We add our influences, our tastes, our biases and in time we've had a hand in "developing" who our children will become.

There are times when a piece of fabric just needs to standout on its own and be shown off for its beauty apart from the rest. Then other times when a piece is so complimented by another color or texture and brings out a beauty that isn't noticed as much on it's own.

I'm currently making a "log cabin" style quilt for my grandmother, who will be 98 this month. It's amazing how each fabric I have chosen brings out something in the main blocks that reminds me of her, her colors.

It's the process of taking one thing and adding from my stash of scraps... and creating. Such fun!! It will be lovely when it's done and I always feel such a sense of accomplishment. But for now it's still a work in progress. Each evening I get to work on it for an hour or two, if I'm lucky. This weekend I was bless with an abundance of time and seems to be coming together.

So as we begin a new week and a new month for that matter I will continue to take a bit of this and bit of that to make up my main quilt that I call my family. Some times I don't care for all the pieces at first, but as they come together I can see where a bit of this and a bit of that has enhanced the rest and are neccessary to complete a beautiful quilt. Some day I hope to be able to take a step back and be proud of what I've done.

Enjoy your week!