Quilting is an art form.  During The Evening of the Arts the local quilters had a display.  The quilts were varied, beautiful and intricate.  Mary Ellen Knudsen, aka Quilter Extraordinaire, was visiting by the display with Chalae Teeples.  They were discussing the lost art of actually doing the quilting rather than hiring someone with a “long arm” to stitch the top, the batting and the bottom together.  The conversation touched on uniform stitches versus stitching with “character.”  I found myself thinking about my experiences with quilting.

Grandma Thorpe was a quilter and I remember her living/dining area being totally filled up with quilting frames and First Ward sisters.  My brother and I would play under the quilt listening to the chit chat and watching those needles poke through the material and back up to the top.  Chalae and Mary Ellen mentioned that quilting was therapeutic, and it was for me back then.  There was something very peaceful about laying on your back, looking up at the backside of a quilt, and listening to Grandma and her friends visit.  It must have been good for them, too, because there was laughter amongst the chatter. 

Audrey Jaussi is a quilter.  She started this hobby when she knew she needed to find a passion in life.  She has determined.  She joined the local quilt club and jumped in with both feet.  She has made dozens of quilts, giving several away.  Initially, she followed patterns, learned techniques that replicated beautiful quilts and then began creating her own designs.  She has won grand champion at the fair.  She even taught me a little.  My corners don’t all meet, but if I can call that “character” I’m happy.  I have one of Audrey’s beautiful creations and it is a treasure.  Hadley, Elle and I crawl under it when we watch Heartland.

This morning, I was at Louise’s while Carol, her daughter, was sitting at what I thought was a sewing machine, but it turned out to be an embroidery machine.  She showed me the quilt squares she was working on.  She was creating animal blocks to go into a quilt for a friend’s expected baby.  The whimsical farmyard animals made with fur and contrasting material were each a work of art, and more importantly Louise’s home was once again headquarters for production and peace.

So, to all of you quilters, thank you.  Thank you for making the world a more beautiful place with your art, a warmer place with your blankets, and a more peaceful place with your work.  Life is Good if you know a quilter!