All About Me in 28 Days (Day 11)

Okay, I am a couple of days late and more than a couple of dollars short, so…..

Today, we are sharing something that we really love.  Day 10 showed something that we hated, but today, we get to share something that makes our hearts sing.  At least it makes my heart sing.  It’s quilting (again, please note that it is NOT Dr. Who!  LOL!).

It’s probably interesting to note that I am not naturally inclined toward domesticity at all.   My mother always believed that it was her job to take care of me (she is one of those fortunate, born organized sort) and when I moved out, I would naturally take care of my house the same way that she did.  Well, surprise!  I never paid attention at all and I went out and got married not doing how to do, well, much of anything.  Hubby taught me how to cook anything more exotic than soup from a can, grilled cheese sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese.

I theoretically knew how to do some things because I had seen others do them several times.  From there, I just tried to remember what that task “looked like” and do the same thing (or close enough to it to serve the purpose).  Let’s just say, I am not talented in this area.

Then, many, many years ago, in order to have something nice to give my hubby for our first anniversary, I just up and decided to make a quilt.  I liked the idea of making something with my own hands and I loved crafty things, so I figured “how hard can it be?”   That’s when I jumped right in.

I made a lot of shortcuts and didn’t do things the way that the quilting books said that I should do them, but it really wasn’t all that hard.  I think if I had done my first quilt the “proper” way that I would have gotten bogged down in details and made it really hard on myself.  The quilt was on our bed for years and years.  Then it hung on our bedroom wall for several more.  It’s in sad shape from lots of use and wear.  It is a tied quilt, in the style of the Appalachian Mountain folk.  Now, I know more about durability and all, so I do machine quilt small projects and hand quilt larger ones.

I thought my mother would pass out when I asked questions about the quilts that I had watched her and my Granny put together years ago.  I don’t think she expected that I would ever finish it, much less give it to hubby on our anniversary.

Later that year, in November, I gave one to her and Dad on their 25th wedding anniversary.  It still hangs in their log cabin.  Two weeks after that, I gave one to hubby’s parents for their 25th wedding anniversary.  Whew!  That is three quilts in 6 months.  Two were to fit double beds, one was for a queen.  I was hooked!

Quilting has opened up many creative doors for me as a college student, young wife, older wife, mom, and daughter of parents who are getting older.  It has been a refuge and a constant in my life when other parts of my life were in shambles.  I have used beautiful designer fabrics, and bits and pieces from old clothes.  I love every one I have made.

I am trying to learn that it is okay if every project is not a bed quilt.  It goes against everything I have ever believed in, but I am trying to persist!  LOL!