these days. And me, with only those pathetic Yuletide Orphans...rounded up, but hardly a crowd. I'm suffering, I'm in pain, I'm in withdrawal...I gotta play. (This quilt top is a cousin to our orphan train tops.) It's my Mile A Minute blocks combined with a few orphans. It's bears quite a strong resemblence to what Patti http://quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/ just finished up with orphan blocks. This one still needs borders and will get them,but not just yet. Those other orphans call me..*S*Because when I'm not playing with scraps of fabric, I love to play with orphan blocks.They have got my 'number'. It has gotten to the point where some quilter friends give me their "trimmings" and parts of blocks. LOL..... for me it's a challenge I enjoy. And it doesn't bother me what other people think. I'm a 'leftovers' charity case..*G*
I'm here in my little corner of the world. I have chosen this very small, little life for this part of my journey. I like it that way. Trust me, I've run the bigger race. I've climbed the mountains, forded the rivers, and dug tunnels. As the wife of a school administrator, daughter of a parent with cancer, mom to five adopted kids, foster mom to more newborns than I can remember, church member, community member, etc, etc, etc I know all about the "flow" of life in the fast lane.I've spoken out, spoken up and been counted. Now I'm choosing again. And THIS is definitely the road less traveled except for my blogger friends *VBS*. I don'thave to impress or please anyone any more. If you want to say my time could be used productively, making trophy quilts, or maybe quilts that would win awards...you are right.
But I'd rather make quilts for babies. I'd love to know that every baby has a snuggly quilt to love. Maybe they don't all have one, but I'm doing my part.
If you are making the quilts, and doing the needlecraft things that make YOU happy, then you understand. And if you aren't, that's not mine to change. If I make 'my' quilts, then I'm doing whatI love. Sometimes I forget that. This Orphan Train Challenge has awaken that slumbering part, and gotten me moving again. Except it's too slow with those Yuletide blocks......
and right now that means digging out the BALANCE of my orphan blocks(lots of them) and having a different playtime....but I won't forget the Yuletide Orphans...promise!
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10 comments:
As a foster parent and adoptive parent, I completely understood what you were saying. It is ALL about doing what you love and what other people think is their own opinion. Take the positive and leave the negative at the door of your wonderful "little corner of the world".
AMEN Finn! Time to do what we WANT to do and ENJOY! The heck with what others think we should do. I sew what I want now. And I enjoy every second of it...
I LOVE your new profile picture!!!
Makin' yourself happy should always be a very important priority.
As usual, I'm right with you about life and quilting. And hugs too.
what a happy looking picture of you-really nice. Someday I'll get brave and have one taken. I've given peeks now and then but I'm still blog-pic shy.
Looked all over for orphan blocks and I only found a small bunch(4-5)I used a lot of them in samll wall hangings to give as gifts. I'm enjoying yours though.
You know trophy winning quilts are all well and good but there's something far more special about a quilt full of love to wrap around someone
HI Finn,
Its great to see you enjoy what you are doing -giving of yourself to others is the greatest gift one can give- I think your orphan block quilts are beautiful and interesting. I love your new photo- it is a lovely picture of you. You write a very interesting blog- Thanks for sharing.
Regards from a Western Canadian quilter,
Anna
I think when we 'grow up' we can relax back into doing whatever we like. Good for you.
I have done the 5 things meme, Finn, if you would like to pop over to see it. Thanks for the tag, I quite enjoy doing them.
Trophy and award quilts I can't relate to but I can and do relate to quilts stitched from the heart. I'm glad you know what's got your number and what kinds of quilts make you happy. I'm still trying to figure all that out for myself.
My friend Ellen and I were just talking about this today. She has a friend that has just gotten a quilt accepted into the Paducah quilt show and another one in some other show. It is wonderful for her, but my friend told her friends that if she makes one more "Nemo" quilt...But, Ellen has a generous heart and make for family, firends and those in need. I work at U of M and every year we have a raffle to benefit patients designated as "in need" by the social work dept. Last year our dept gave 31 families $1000 each. The quilt raffle made almost $11,000 of that. We are alwya seeking quilts and it would suprise you all the places we have received them from. Anyway, I digress. Send me your address!
~P
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