Today there were several things to take care of and . . . it was the first day that I went into the basement closet and got out a winter jacket. Ugh! The fact that I have not been out of the house in several days tells that story.
After picking up some groceries we stopped in at Brett’s home. Dennis’ nephew runs a concrete crew from early spring to late fall and is now back at his second career . . . a quilter. Brett has a huge basement and he can spread out like no one’s business. When he told me he had stood in line at JoAnn Fabrics cutting table on Black Friday, I did as much as I could to hide a smirk. He was number 59 in line. He went on to tell me he went back the next day as each sale deal had a definite calendar date. Brett is well on his way with a king sized quilt top. Choosing a quilt block that is 24″ x 24″ and features an eight point star, I give him lots of credit. He may be loosing a few star points when he trims his quilt blocks but that is the name of the game and indicates that at some time within the sewing of that block the 1/4″ seam allowance was foregone. I encouraged him and gave him a few pointers . . . literally.
I don’t think I have ever made a quilt top that I had wished for a bit more patience in an aspect of the piecing. That very same is what makes our quilts unique. If they had been turned out in China, Japan or Vietnam, it would have been cookie cutter turn outs. Hands on makes quilts special to make and oh so special to give.
Dennis and I returned home and were thankful to feel the warmth of our home when we came through the back door. The wind and cold will drive through us until we toughen up a bit. Dennis turned his attention to making a spicy hamburger noodle hot dish for supper and I began hand hemming a quilt on the dining room table. Fast forward: the kitchen is beginning to smell really good as there is an addition of several slices of cheesy garlic bread baking as well as the hotdish. It’s time for me to call it a day in the hemming of the quilt and get the dining room table ready for some “good eating.”