I realized something last night...
My daughter and I really are two peas in a pod...
And I really am a happy, proud, lucky girl.
This morning, as we do each day,
we read affirmations together as a family, and I want to share with you today's...
Our lives are patchwork quilts of mismatched fabrics, all stitched together by an invisible seamstress. The tattered, blood-red scraps of quarrels, the beige of pastry crust baked on Saturdays in a grandmother's kitchen that always smelled sweet, the brilliant colors of our happy moments-picnics and sunsets and laughter-all these are necessary pieces of the tapestry of our lives, even our cold, white doubts and emptiness.
All colors of life sewn together with the green thread of growth. We are a mixture of feelings and experiences. Often, we want to cut away a square of painful memory. But without it, our quilt would lose it's beauty, for contrast would disappear. If a piece is removed, the rest is weakened and incomplete.
(from: Today's gift, Daily Meditations for Families)
I love that it was about quilts. Could it be more timely? I feel that way about my quilts... I like them to have a good story in them...otherwise it is a "nothing" quilt. Most times they are not obvious stories, and sometimes you can read them like an open book... Rather like my "Double Edged love" it might not be an obvious story, but all that interweaving of past and present of where I was, and a where I am now...it's good to reflect, acknowledge and move on.
I also like how life and making quilts leads you on unexpected journeys... Sometimes quilts make me want to pull my hair out, and sometimes so do relationships! But you work a bit harder, try a something new to change the dance, then all of a sudden something beautiful emerges...
That part, feels soooo good.
...I'm off to play a bit more with family, then back to work tomorrow...
I have three quilts here, ready to baste, then quilt.
After such a fun week, I am itching to start a new project.
Do your quilts tell stories?
Fantastic post, and sizzling hot in the sparkly dress! What a gorgeous couple you make. OK onto quilts, When I look at certain quilts, it takes me back to the time when I was making it. One is my Dad's cancer quilt, my mom's dying quilt, my first outing around other people after my husband passed, a camping weekend with all my treasured girlfriends, I think most of our quilts have a journey of life in them. Maybe that's why some take us so long from start to finish, there's a story that needs to be stitched into it, we just don't know what it is yet.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! We don't know them yet! Sometimes we make them and don't learn the lesson to after they are done too... ;-)
DeleteBeautiful and touching in so many ways. Each quilt, each loaf of bread baked, every journey has a story and makes each individual who they are.
ReplyDeleteLove those happy faces!
ReplyDeleteYep life is full of tiny moments all rolled together into
our individual experiences.
Happy Spring
Boo is a beautiful young lady. I'm so happy you two got "sewn" together. yes, each quilt is a journey-- from the small mug rug to the king size. each "square" represents a story.
ReplyDeleteoooh! I am so happy we are stitched together.. ;-) I count my lucky stars for her each day.
DeleteAbsolutely love this post, the quilts I made with Allie were a journey of joy and love....
ReplyDeleteLovely post (although I know that a lot of quilters/artists intensely dislike the "L" word - I really mean it!)
ReplyDelete(And love the pics of you. I'm so glad you got the shiny gray dress!)
:)
Such a wonderful way for a family to start the day together and this is a perfect affirmation for a quilter. As I think about most of my quilts they do have stories stitched to them, graduations, new baby love, cancer quilts...the ones that sit stalled in an unfinished pile, hmmm...maybe their story isn't finished yet.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and lovely family! I realized after a few years of quilting that I was quilting my life stories. Last year they came together in an exhibit called Pathways....and there's more to come. I really enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteYup, that little "silver sparkle number" was definitely the right choice!! Awesomely handsome couple!!! And Boo and you are most definitely "two peas in a pod".....that is something I detected long ago! And that is a very good thing! Hugs, Doreen
ReplyDeleteThank you for a lovely post. A great sentiment to start my day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post and a beautiful inspiration about our families and the lives we share.
ReplyDeleteWe are going to be first time grandparents next month so our grandson will be here soon, the circle of life continues.
Debbie
Great post! Yes of course they all have their own stories and they all fit into the journey too :). It's good to look back at them and reflect, remember, learn and grow :) x
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiration you are!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful evening, beautiful meditation. Good reminder to be grateful for all the "pieces" of life.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! Thanks so much for sharing your quilting with us. I love your blog and look forward every day to see what you've been up to.
ReplyDeletewhat a gorgeous post, quilts without a doubt speak to me also, in so many ways. After many years of quilting, I am actually working on my first 'scrap' quilt, and a surprisingly beautiful element has come out of it. It takes me on a journey of all the quilts and therefore memories that have come before. You find yourself reminiscing of 'where' you bought a fabric, 'who' you were with. The 'occasion' for which the quilt made and who it was for. 'When' you bought it, or made it..... so many lovely and sometimes sad memories. What a journey and a time of a reflection that a quilt can offer. xx
ReplyDeleteThat was fabulous!! What got me though was the very last sentence about a piece being removed. You know how I feel about that and how it has affected my life. But how true is the entire saying? We are all intertwined and everyone and every piece has a meaning, family and friends alike! Thank you for posting this, it really puts things into perspective. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteWow what a wonderful affirmation. We really can't cut out the sad or bad things in our lives without ruining the whole. I love the thought that we are stitched together.
ReplyDeleteYou sure look great in that dress! And so do your toes! :-) Beatrice is so pretty. In that second photo, she reminds me of Lucy Liu (sp?). I think all my quilts end up having a story in them, whether they start out that way or not. Often, they just remind me of events that were going on in my life at that time.
ReplyDeleteLove that affirmation!
ReplyDeleteYes, my quilts tell stories. Like you, I would feel them empty or something if they didn't. My first quilt was all about Texas, which is my home, but not where I live right now :) My second start, but still UFO, is a Diary Quilt. My finishes so far are a baby quilt for the first niece on my husband's side, and a comic strip quilt for my son that uses his comic printed on fabric. The current project is for my 2nd son, and he designed it. So, yes, stories, all of them.
Many of my quilts have a story behind them or a inspiration for their creation. It is so rewarding to make a quilt for someone that reflects who they are and their personality. I do have one quilt that has an unhappy story and I have been tempted to burn it. I made it for someone and they did me wrong. I was so ticked off I asked for the quilt back (I spent an entire week hand quilting the darn thing!) and they actually sent it back! So every time I see that quilt it brings back memories of how I was deceived and you talk about a person with trust issues now - that's me!
ReplyDeleteIndeed all quilts has a story - from colours to ideas, shapes to prints, touch to feel, slicing to piecing and so forth. I agree that all these life moments during, within or after quilting, may it be small or big, it all binds into that one journey with the quilt. And on top of that, that journey continues when the quilter passes the quilt on to the next person and they will write their stories with the quilt.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the lovely affirmation.
I love that mediation! I'll be coming back to contemplate it some more ...
ReplyDeleteAnd you look stunning in that dress! Great choice Michael!