I love to sew. I’m so grateful to modern quilting for making it more accessible, more fun, more relaxed. I love that we have so much choice–machine or hand, complex or simple, scrappy or coordinated, solids or prints, modern or reproduction, bright or subdued. I love that for every taste there is a pattern. For every color, a fabric.
I love that if you want a challenge, you can find it. I love that if you just want to play with fabric because you get enough challenges at your day job, you can leave the seam ripper in the drawer. I love that no matter what your taste, you can find people who enjoy the same thing.
I love that you can cast off the rules, or stick to them. I love that you can quilt to show off tiny stitches, or quilt to make pretty blankets with serged edges and wonky lines.
I love that people share information and inspiration without expecting anything in return. I love that I have 200 actually INTERESTED people to share my projects with. I love that there are many more 100s of women who inspire me to make projects as beautiful as theirs.
I love that more and more people are wearing the badge ‘quilter.’ I love that quilting is changing and growing and that fabric manufacturers are churning out bright youthful prints right alongside the subdued reproduction prints. I love that there are guilds for traditional quilters, guilds for modern quilters, guilds for art quilters. I love that if you’re looking to quilt competitively, you can follow that path, and if you couldn’t care less about chopped off points, there are plenty of people that will still love your quilt’s beauty.
I love that in this age of the internet we can make connections with people who share our tastes and interests. I love that we can look in awe at all the stuff we love, and not bother with the photos or words that don’t bring us joy.
I should have had quilt pictures for this post, but instead I have my finished library bag! We go to the library every Friday, and I’ve wanted to make a second bag so that I can have two going–one with books going to/from the library, and the others that get to stick around home for another week or two. The book fabric is from the Victoria and Albert collection, the pattern is the Jane Market Bag.)
Kati S. - Thanks for your happy sewing thoughts… and I love that bag!
Becky - perfect! the thoughts on quilting…the bag…the photos. thank you! that just made my VERY late night:)
Alison - I agree wholeheartedly – nice post!
Mary - Great post- I have seen so many us vs. them posts on quilting blogs and I wanted to tackle that on my blog but I try to keep my blog drama free. You said what I wanted to say beautifully and without negativity- more quilters, more choice…choice is good. Read what you like, ignore the rest…you don’t have time to follow every quilt blog on the internet, anyway!
Vickie Angell - Well said!!! Thank you!!!
Laurie - Ohmygosh. I am obsessed with this bag. Lovely post and pictures.
A.J. Dub - Now that is a post worthy of reading and sharing. That was nicely said.
Beautiful bag!
Jacey - I love these things, too! Our community is pretty awesome, and I’m proud to be a part of it. I love your new bag; I just bought the Jane Market bag pattern and I’m currently trying to decide on my fabric (from the stash). You made some beautiful choices!
Lee - Great post, thank you! : )
Susanne - You’re so eloquent with you’re words. I think everyone who’s read the recent posts has an opinion on them….mine kept involving words like “old bags” and “batiks” so I left it alone 😉
Seriously, it’s just sewing….we’re not blogging about war or child rearing. Happy Sewing, Traci!!! Here’s to 200 MORE followers 🙂 !!!
Jessica - That was so nice. You have put into words many of my thoughts (even though they are yours) and have been respectful and uplifting. Thank you!
beth lehman - i feel the same way – really – thank you for saying it – i think it every day i read or sew…
felicity - Love the bag and I love the library. Your post made me happy. 🙂