Do you remember the 1989 movie PARENTHOOD with Steve Martin? I used the movie in my Family Lifestyle class I taught in high school. The students watched the movie with a worksheet.
One of the questions was “What did Grandma mean when she told Gil (the complaining, stress-out main character-Steve Martin) “You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster. Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride! I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn’t like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.”
Some of the students got it–I must admit some students thought she was just talking about a roller coaster. That quote has been swimming around in my head this week. Our week has had some really high points. My husband has been feted and shown so much love this last week of his work. We are both so excited he is retiring but both of us are unsure of how this will change in our schedules, habits and relationships.
This week we also received some scary medical news from a family member. This could play out so many different ways. I have no control over any part of it. I just have to hang on to the handlebars and offer my love and prayers.
The Quilters at First are trying something we have never done before–participating in the First Friday Art Crawl in Wichita. We are putting ourselves out there. What if no one comes? What folks don’t think our quilts should be on an “Art Crawl”? We are excited to show off our treasures to the larger community. We see it another way to advertise our sale. But it is proving to be stressful and more work than just preparing for the October Sale. It would have easier to just have stayed on the merry-go-round and just repeated what we have always done.
We will host the Sale in a different location this year. We will be in Meredith Hall instead of Wilke Family Center–the opposite end of the building. Pros and cons with the move. It was easier to set up when we just repeated what we had done in the past. The table runners went here; the Christmas items there. We are being forced to look at how we will display our quilts etc differently. Maybe it will be a fresher approach. Our equipment for the sale is stored next to Meredith Hall–no climbing two sets of stairs with racks and stands but it is more difficult for our guests to come to the sale. What is the line?Change is the only constant in life.
John Denver expressed his view of life’s ups and downs with a song. “Some days are diamonds, some days are stones
Sometimes the hard times won’t leave me alone
Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones
Some days are diamonds, some days are stones”
How do you navigate the ups and downs of life? The friendships formed at Quilters at First and the act of creating with my hands helps me ride out the roller coaster of life.
I finished this scrappy quilt with a twist this week.
This collection of 2.5″ squares came together with the addition of teal sashing and sawtooth stars. The quilt is machine quilted in teal thread in these swirling designs. The quilt measures 69″ x 69″. $175. The bad news is that I still have hundreds of 2.5″ squares. Maybe another one with a different color of sashing?
Football season is here–and in Kansas it feels like autumn is here weather wise. So, here is a KSU quilt to wrap up in.
Elaine quilted it with Wildcat paw prints! The quilt is 56″ x 77″. The backing is two different KSU prints! $150
A friend ask if we would have any table runners at the Sale. Oh! we have table runners. this week we had three new ones appear.
Shirley used some “found” paisley in our stash and used it to collect solids that matched. This table runner makes a statement! It is ( I took the photo before she had finished the last two inches of binding 🥴)
Fall tablescapes were on the minds to two of our quilters.
This 20.5″ x 32″ table runner glows with the metallic accents in the focus fabric. It is machine quilted and hand bound. $50
Heather’s table runner could be used on both sides..both sides are fall but with a different intensity. The runner is 16.5″ x 44.5″ and is $50.
More items for your table include two sets of placemats.
This set of four placemats are made from batiks. I think they suggest autumn but could be used year around. 12″ x 18″. $40
This set spells it out for you–with printed messages such as Fall Days and Autumn Blessings. The backing is a pale blue with monochromatic blue pheasants. 11″ x 18″. $40
Pretty cute? Small hand crochet pumpkins and acorns with shy smiles. $5 each. Diane made several.
So soft and sweet. And it won’t make a noise when dropped on the floor. Washable. $25
For toddlers and preschoolers who are learning their alphabet, we have soft and quiet letters. All are from a polka dot fabrics. These could be washed also–maybe with a press afterwards. All for $25
And to carry all your treasures home, Elaine made a duffle bag!
You could put a lot in this bag. The fabric is quilted. There is a zipper on the top to close it up. The handles are constructed so they will stay with a heavy load and they are padded. $50
The shelves, cupboards and tubs in our quilting room are filled to the max with a huge variety of items that will be at the Quilt Etc. Sale October 16-18. The twenty quilts we will show at the September 5 Wichita Art Crawl have been selected. We are almost ready for you.
And remember–“Some days are diamonds, some days are stones” for everyone.
Quilts, Etc. 