01.30.08
A Dose of Creativity; A Dose of Sunshine
Yesterday was a glorious sunny day and we decided to head the car in the direction of Keepsake Quilting. Sometimes we feel guilty having the store to ourselves in New Hampshire, but I know that many of you put it on your “destinations” list in better weather, and with good reason.
If I had not had in mind what I actually wanted to buy, I would have felt overwhelmed, as has happened before. There have been times when I have walked out the door empty handed, and only because the selections are so numerous. It’s the same kind of feeling I get when I go to the candy section of the Vermont Country Store. There they have every single kind of chocolate and licorice confection every made. Where else would you still find “Good and Plenty” candies?
Yesterday, gift certificate in hand, I headed for the sections with medleys. I love the look of scrap quilts and so I don’t mind having a fat quarter of this and a fat quarter (yard) of that. Scrap quilts suit my personality perfectly.
So, this morning, my new task was to wash all of the fabrics. I chose the most delicate/hand wash cycle, cold water, no detergent, and threw in a color catcher sheet to pick up loose dyes in the wash. Better there than on a piece of white fabric in the quilt, at a later date.
One hundred dollars later, I felt virtuous in having stimulated the economy. I have great plans for my new quilting fabrics. They are just the impetus I needed to get me out of a period of inactivity when all I’ve wanted to do is to write. I’m almost finished making a counted thread work piece of the Tudor Rose, a pattern which was brought to me from London, from someone dear to my heart.
I feel inexplicably happy. I suppose it’s not good to voice that because it’s sort of like tempting the fates. She’s happy? Can’t have that! Let’s send down a lightening bolt, or have a black cat cross her path. Luckily, superstition is not my thing. I think I’ll just continue being creative and thinking creative thoughts because those activities are truly the root of my happiness.
Happy Quilting!
Patricia Cummings
