Every Time......

It's no secret that I spend a lot of time at my sewing machine. I started way back in middle school when home economics was still part of the curriculum. I remember sewing a solid brown straight skirt and matching vest for the 8th grade "fashion show". Ugh.

When the kids were little I made clothes for them and for myself. When we moved I made curtains for windows and spreads for beds. But gradually I left all sewing behind in favor of quilting..... and yes still an occasional curtain. 95% of my time at my Bernina is sewing together pieces for another quilt. It makes me happy.... it satisfies my need to feel creative... it surrounds me with color... and I enjoy giving lots of my quilts away.

It was probably about 15 years ago that my mother-in-law asked me what I'd like for my birthday. I told her I'd really like a specific kind of scissors used to cut pieces for my quilts. Being the best of in-laws she granted my wish. These are only used occasionally....and NO ONE better cut anything other than fabric when they pick them up.

I used them a few weeks ago to cut circles for a specific quilt....I was trying to design something that would suggest looking up through tree branches, leaves blowing in the breeze, to see glimpses of blue sky above. This is a particular view that we've enjoyed at campgrounds all over the USA. So I raided my stash, and cut my circles using my special scissors.

I'm not sure if I succeeded in capturing the "look" I was going for....but I do like the way the quilt turned out.

The thing I liked most about creating this one was that with every little clip of the scissors in my hand I thought of my special and much-loved mother-in-law. The lap-size quilt is hanging in our third floor lobby for about a month and every time I go out or come in I glance at it..... and remember again.