Dear friends,
My quilting adventure began 8 years ago with a challenge from a college friend. Laurie said, “Here is a quilting block that you can create.” She even sent a drawing of how the fabric patches would fit into a block. I was very skeptical of my sewing/creativity skills, but my husband Pablo, then very ill and bedridden, encouraged me to try it. He said he liked hearing me curse when I messed up and had to undo all the stitches I had made as that meant I was doing something besides caregiving. My artist husband nursed my beginning skills, encouraged me to experiment with color and design, and many weeks later, cheered the completion of a lop-sided quilt.
Since those early beginnings, I’ve gotten much better. I no longer apologize for gifting unsuspecting relatives with my quilts. Like many quilters, I have LOTS of fabric waiting to be transformed into something useful and hopefully beautiful! I’m especially happy to make children’s quilts as babies don’t pay attention to the regularity of sewn stitches! And I am happy that my quilts now end up in foster homes and senior citizen nursing homes.
Among other things, what I have learned is that creativity is healing. Early in my grieving for Pablo when I felt especially raw, I turned to quilting. It comforted me to know that my husband believed in my nascent skills, and I tried to put into practice his advice on design and color placement. Sometimes, I imagine him looking over my shoulder and telling me not to be so judgmental and just allow creative forces to unfold – a difficult undertaking for someone so schooled in organization/linear thinking. I suspect like others, I can be so involved in my sewing that I lose sight of time passing, and I am content.
I continue to grow as a quilter, thanks to YouTube quilting tutorials, books, and patient salespeople at fabric stores! All of this narrative boils down to encouraging you to nurse the creative part of you. Creativity is truly healing! I wish you joy in discovering whatever creative forces are lying dormant inside you or are already in full bloom!
Best,
Cora
