Monday, November 5, 2007
I used to be a closet quilter, now I am a full- fledged, proud craftster! My husband has golf when he's not working, and I have quilting. It's my latest obsession & I just love it. He teases me that I'm an old lady quilter, but I don't mind one bit. Being crafty (quilting, scrapbooking, making jewelry and yes- even knitting) has become very popular for young women. No more waiting 'till we're grandmothers anymore. I think it may have something to do with wanting more meaningful pastimes.
My mom taught me how to quilt when I was in 5th grade. I made a quilt for my pregnant teacher who I babysat for. It took me all year. After that, I put up the needle and never thought of it again. Until September 11th. I spent a summer interning in Manhattan in college and took a whole roll of film atop the World Trade Center Towers. It really hit me. I was moved to document a moment in history I knew I would look back on for years to come, and my future children would someday ask questions about. I journaled alot, clipped newspaper articles and saved magazines, but still felt I must do more to have something tangible to show how 9-11 changed me. The station I worked for at the time sent me to New York to report for 3 days. While there, I bought a flag bandanna from a shop and decided to use some of that fabric to make a patriotic quilt. Again, it took me about a year to complete my mostly hand- stitched, red, white & blue quilt. I figured it would always be in our family and that personal labor of love, became a real productive and addictive hobby.
I have since designed & made more than a dozen (mostly baby) quilts I always try to personalize. I've attached pictures of two I made last year- an alphabet quilt for my sister Mary's little boy , Aiden & a pirate quilt for my nephew Mason. Thanks to the technology of some really cool quilting machines & classes- it's no longer quite the intense time commitment.
However you chose to spend your time away from work- or the kids, I hope you do have something that's just for you, reading, writing, maybe making something for yourself or others. It's important to take time to yourself for a little project or fun to kick back and relax-- on the golf course or at the sewing machine!
Email Nicole at ncrites@kpho.com
My mom taught me how to quilt when I was in 5th grade. I made a quilt for my pregnant teacher who I babysat for. It took me all year. After that, I put up the needle and never thought of it again. Until September 11th. I spent a summer interning in Manhattan in college and took a whole roll of film atop the World Trade Center Towers. It really hit me. I was moved to document a moment in history I knew I would look back on for years to come, and my future children would someday ask questions about. I journaled alot, clipped newspaper articles and saved magazines, but still felt I must do more to have something tangible to show how 9-11 changed me. The station I worked for at the time sent me to New York to report for 3 days. While there, I bought a flag bandanna from a shop and decided to use some of that fabric to make a patriotic quilt. Again, it took me about a year to complete my mostly hand- stitched, red, white & blue quilt. I figured it would always be in our family and that personal labor of love, became a real productive and addictive hobby.
I have since designed & made more than a dozen (mostly baby) quilts I always try to personalize. I've attached pictures of two I made last year- an alphabet quilt for my sister Mary's little boy , Aiden & a pirate quilt for my nephew Mason. Thanks to the technology of some really cool quilting machines & classes- it's no longer quite the intense time commitment.
However you chose to spend your time away from work- or the kids, I hope you do have something that's just for you, reading, writing, maybe making something for yourself or others. It's important to take time to yourself for a little project or fun to kick back and relax-- on the golf course or at the sewing machine!
Email Nicole at ncrites@kpho.com
Posted at 7:26 PM by Nicole
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