Today I give you a riddle.
How can a quilt room expand and shrink at the same time?
We are up to our eyeballs in a home renovation. My quilt room is completely gutted. It has ‘expanded’ to whatever free space we have. Living room, writing room and, of all places, the shower. Not to worry, it’s the one that has never been used. We continue our hygiene as always.
The job will get done in phases. Little did I realize, with all the downsizing I’ve done through the years, how much stuff I still have. I refuse to take full responsibility. Many of the quilt shops I have entered bear a sign just inside the door. ‘Your husband called and said to buy whatever you want.’
Ideas come from so many sources, quilt magazines, the guild ladies, the projects and classes quilt shops offer is the problem. To make matters worse—fellow quilters are sooo encouraging. Never do they utter, “Don’t you think you have enough projects going on at home already?”
My turning point came by degrees. As I would sit in the guild meetings, I would realize all I am doing is keeping a seat warm once a month. All kinds of opportunities to become heavily involved were available, I just didn’t. Mostly, because of all the inspirational ideas rattling in head already. One person can only do so much you know.
Then this writing gig came forward in such a way I could hardly refuse—and I did try. It would seem my sewing machine broke down. But I really think it died of loneliness. Anyway, here I sit at the computer pecking away at keys telling stories of everyday events that might give my readers encouragement.
The quilt room is in a transitional season to be shared with an impressive bookcase. Complete with a library ladder. Be still my heart.
The answer to the above riddle is my task of weeding out, disposing, aka, getting rid of excess quilt baggage. Phase one began by throwing out tiny samples of fabric that my Aunt Jane must have saved for years. Any quilter worth her salt knows fabric of any size could be good for something. Wrong. These samples were all variety of fabrics, some dry clean only. Do not try to lay a guilt trip on me, they needed to go.
Usually, my rejects are so undesirable, no one else wants them either. If only my creative granddaughters were here to take some things off my hands! Surely they could find some useful project to make—I mean some of this could be used, right?
One Day Wonders with JBK 