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Quilting Class Life is about being in the right spot for the experience and opportunity it brings. Such was the case in Alpharetta, Georgia for me at the Quilting Class. The decision to coordinate a class making the Fence Rail Quilt was right on! Working on this quilt allowed me to see areas where I was sitting on the fence. Not making decisions. Imagine that. How often is it that we are afraid to make decisions for ourselves? Want someone else to do it. Or avoid it. How wonderful for me to see that a way to help me move through things had arrived. The Quilt Class was taught by Vicki Murphy in her home in her sewing room. The sewing room was enhanced by the table that was built by her husband, Jeff Murphy. It was large enough to lay out the quilt pieces and see our designs. The table was taller than most tables to allow us to work easily. The creative process began as we each selected our fabric and began to lay out the pattern. How interesting to see we could not see the inner border, which was the next step, until the quilt pattern was completed. Likewise with the outer border; it seemed no decision could be made until the next step was completed. This took me back to the idea about making decisions. So often I want to know the whole solution – see all aspects. It is not such a huge task to decide when I just take the next step. The quilt showed me this very clearly. I began trying to decide all parts of the quilt and was frustrated as I couldn’t see it. But, in taking just one step at a time the quilt evolved. Kind of showed itself to me. I began to be happy at what was happening. Decisions were being made with out effort. I noticed how soothed and content I felt as we began to ‘stitch in the ditch’ – a quilting term to seat the batting, quilt top and backing. I was in the flow. Others around me were sewing and each having their own experience. We topped the quilt off by naming it, signing and dating it. Vicki said she named hers to remind her of the fun and to look at ways outside the norm – allowing the project to develop. One student was making hers as a gift. She commented that it was such a gift to come and just work on her quilt, walk in new areas and experience the gift of being in her right place. Another student used it as a break from college. Getting away and enjoying something different. I made my quilt as a thank you to a city I had lived in and loved. Thank you In the Desert Children’s Project for these classes and opportunities to do things that the inner child wants to do and for bringing us to our right place. NS Note: Each individual had the choice to create their own pattern through the choice of material selected. The quilts were signed and dated as a piece of art. Some quilts were named. The beautiful quilt below is by Anneliese Koehler. |
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© Copyright 2010 In the Desert Children's Project
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