Judy Heyward's Musings on Quilts and Nature: A Nice Thing

Thursday, May 11, 2017

A Nice Thing

The Western North Carolina Quilt Guild had its Quilt Show last weekend and it was a very nice show. Lots of really nice quilts and equally nice quilters. It was my first time to participate as a member and to see how all of the pieces fit together. And fit, they did. Our Show co-chairwomen were experienced and the venue, Bon Clarken, was great. And there is no BUT.

BUT, something very nice happened to me AFTER the show. This is one of the quilts that I entered into the show. (It actually won a Merit award for "Best Message." ) This quilt means a lot to me because our world and our responsibility to preserve it mean a lot to me--and I hope to you. A lovely man saw this quilt and wanted to own it because he, too, is very concerned that our time is running out. He really GOT what I was trying to say. He came to my home with some friends and visited, sharing his perceptions and commitment to doing what he can for our future. And he left with this quilt. And I was happy. What better home could it find?

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I've been a quilter for over 25 years and have had so much enjoyment as I've travelled down this path of creativity. I have been blessed to have my quilts be well-regarded and have won many awards for them. Over time, I've more or less developed a style --or, perhaps more accurately, a theme in my work. Nature, flowers and vegetable gardening have always been a large part of my life and most of my quilts--in one way or another--reflect that interest. It is a joyful thing when I can bring those elements into my quilts and share them with others.

From the beginning of my quilt life, I have felt that it is part of the package for me to quilt the quilts that I create. There is something so affirming to watch one's quilt transform from a smooth top to a finished quilted work with added dimension and meaning.

So I continue on-- making quilts that I enjoy bringing to life. And I hope that you enjoy seeing them as I include them in my blog.

And I would like to share the following poem by Dawna Markova. It is especially meaningful to me as the years pass and and the parameters of my life seemingly decrease. These words remind me that "it's not over yet, baby."

I will not die and unloved life

I will not live in fear

Of falling or catching fire.

I choose to inhabit my days,

To allow my living to open me

To make me less afraid

More accessible

To loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,

A Torch, a promise.

I choose to risk my significance,

To live

So that which came to me as a seed

Goes to the next as blossom

And that which came to me as blossom,

Goes on as fruit.