It will be on a fast track but the quilt I am about to make has been a long time in the think tank. I really mess up Christmas ... every year. I have sent gifts to Chile that should have been sent to Minnesota, bought "surprise" evening bags that one daughter said looked like a case for CD's (affectionately said, of course), and just saved Christmas 2010 by returning a coat I luckily learned was too small. So after Christmas last year I resolved to return my gift giving back to the years when I made gifts; to return to a homemade Christmas. My plan was to make each daughter a killer; the name we give our old family comforters that are crafted from wool and heavy cotton batting; appropriately named killers for their weight should one not be able to get out from under them.
By September I had accomplished having my sewing machine over-hauled, pricing my fabric, sketching my pattern and consulting an expert about the batting. But I had yet to make the plunge and start the project. Until ... a daughter home for the weekend was musing aloud how she liked the Pottery Barn comforters and I disclosed my secret plan. We made a trip to Bonnie's Quilt Shop in Pocahontas. So much for the surprise! The colors were selected by her with some help from me.
As I was telling this story while skyping a friend, she advised me to make this project a spiritual experience and to let the quilt become itself without too much thinking. That was like permission to not think ... which can get me in trouble at Christmas! So, here I go. I am going to launch a spiritual experience and not be burdened by over-thinking the outcome. Merry Christmas to me!
I like your post. Also, I can't remember a single Christmas that was ruined. Either you conditioned me to have really low standards (not part of your parenting style), or you haven't ever actually ruined Christmas (the more likely scenario).
ReplyDeleteLove it! I wish that I could quilt with you!! I have been longing to make a quilt recently, too. The idea of a killer is excellent. My great-aunt Ida made us so many great woolen, heavy quilts and though she was never very chummy with us as we grew, we grew VERY CHUMMY indeed with her quilts. They are almost friends. I could describe every one to you. Hope you get much joy and enlightenment out of your creative project/spiritual experience.
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