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In mountain tradition, my ancestors created free-flowing art that warmed their family on winter nights. They pieced scraps of twill, denim, corduroy, children’s outgrown clothes, men’s shirttails, worn-out dresses, and cotton sacking into the “memory gems” of life. Similarly, I toss aside perfection for small, unpredictably shaped patterns—my verbal crazy quilt of poems, stories, and reflections.
Know what? I used to design and hand make quilts. I had one that never saw a machine, literally all done by hand, stolen out of the back of my car (that and a self portrait in pointillism were the hardest things to lose in the middle of a move). I love quilts. The one we’re using now is starting to fall apart; it’s getting to the point where I can’t keep up with the fixes. I’m looking to buy a cotton quilt but the ones I’m seeing have polyester in them (say at Macy’s). Yuck. Do you know a good place to get a cotton quilt? … ha and that wasn’t even your real topic… This is calling going-off-on-the-symbol! We’ve just dug out of the snow and it’s beautiful and sunny today!
There was a fabulous shop owner in Tuscaloosa, AL. Former professor. It had a range. From traditional to Gee’s Bend style. I can check out some good places and send you websites.
I love the way you equate your blog and blog community with a quilt…
I can remember my grandmother telling me about quilting bees. That is community. Thanks for reading the blog! You are very kind.
I love this sentence!!! I don’t know why, but I do. I think it has an unexpected structure with a dose of allusion that warms you up.
My grandmother, in the tradition of mountain mothers before, created free-flowing art that warmed her family on winter nights.
[ Smiles ] That is a beautiful quilt design.
Thanks for reading, Renard! I grew up in AL, famous for special quilts. You will love this–http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/fabric-of-their-lives-132757004/?no-ist
I love something that has an amazing history and that quilt looks absolutely amazing.
It is beautiful. Sometimes random pieces fit together!
I always admired people who can create such great quilts. This quilt just looks great. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cecilia, I wish I could take credit for the quilt. But we can always cherish our past. Thank you for writing!
I am amazed to see this beautiful art:)
Wow!
Keep it up!
Salut Catherine… Lovely words and I much enjoyed the analogy with the quilts is the same and the way you highlight that Textile artists toss aside perfection for small, unpredictably shaped patterns.
Just great! All my best wishes :star: Aquileana 😀
Hi Catherine, what a wonderful description of your blog. My mother was a quilter and my wife is a fabric artist. Often we would visit antique stores and buy stitched, woven and crochet treasures. There is nothing more comforting than a crazy quilt with all it’s memories of former clothing, curtains, cushion covers and love.
It is a true joy connecting with you and sharing your verbal crazy quilt. ~ Dennis
Thanks Dennis. I certainly have enjoyed you blog, with its rich poetry and prose. I appreciate your encouraging comments.
Catherine, I have nominated you for an award. Please go to https://annermurray.wordpress.com/2015/05/21/nomination-and-award-for-the-sisterhood-of-the-world-blogger-award/ for details. Congratulations and you deserve it. Anne
Hi Elizabeth (pen name). Thanks for thinking of me! I sent a note via your author’s site. Quick question. Best, Catherine
Keep writing, it is beautiful. You have the talent. http://www.bellofpeace.org
Thanks for dropping by!
The quilt is such a good metaphor for writing–for what is a writer if not a collector images, feelings, ephemeral coincidences?
Thanks for stopping by! I love your notion of writer as collector.
I am fortunate to have a quilt my grandma made me before senility took her. She had all of our family from Alabama send her fabric, over 20 relatives, and she made a quilt out of those pieces for me for Christmas one year. I still have it and used it for a long time but no longer do because it is getting frail. Great post!
Have you thought of museum mounting your quilt and hanging it on the wall? You would preserve and enjoy it always. P.S. I’m from Birmingham. Do my “pipple” know your “pipple”?
My pipple are from a little town about 45 miles from Birmingham called Fayette!
“This blog is my verbal crazy quilt.The color and richness, my garden of perfect moments.” <<< Love this!
Thanks–love to hear this from a writerly soul!
I love storytelling and I’ve imagined the rich stories quilting groups share with each other… Enjoyed my visit 🙂
Thanks. Come again!
Such a poetic and imaginative post full of originality. It is heartwarming and the image of the blog as a patchwork quilt will stay with me now!
That is one of the nicest remarks I have received. I appreciate your stopping by! I’m hopping over to see your blog!
I have to agree with heavenhappens…your words are poetic. And your voice…hmmm…hypnotic. Love this idea of voice and words.
Well, I’m not a seamstress by any account, but I know a weaver of beautiful words when I see one. Thanks for sharing your gift! I’m just stopping by to wish you a very Happy Holiday before I get back to writing my book.
Hope you will have a wonderful holiday at The Nest. You are very kind. Drop me an email about your book!!! Excited for you.
I like that your grandmother chose different scraps of fabric which were of different textures and weights. Twill and corduroy will be the sturdy fabrics holding this together with her stitches sewed in love. ♡
I am not on Facebook but will keep an eye on your stories on wordpress. Smiles, Robin
Hey Robin. Wow. Your comments are the germ of a good Twitter feed. I love how you express yourself creatively–even in a few sentences.
Economic circumstances determined the fabric scraps. Happenstance quilt piecing, I suppose. But it worked out!
OMG I LOVE THIS CATHERINE~!!! I think a story quilt so FREAKING COOL! WOW I never heard of such a thing. I am going RIGHT to the google machine for MORE!!! Thank you for opening this door for me!
I really enjoyed this. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a lovely evening. Koko:)
Wonderful! A quilt like this takes you back to times long past, but lets you revisit them as if they were just yesterday. Thank you for sharing.
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I’ve made several quilts. Sadly the only one that was 100% sewn by hand, never saw a sewing machine, was stolen out of my car. 🙁 My mother-in-law thought it was a waste of time since that quilt could have been bought in China for 5$… but I kept the needle working away… and she appreciated its beauty later… because it was love sewn in with each stitch.
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