Most quilters/crafters/makers hope our creations are much loved or enjoyed or used - that is our intention. Quilters make for family & friends with high hopes that we've found just the right fabric or design or colors to bring some happiness or comfort to their days. And, we make for strangers so they know they matter - that we see their suffering. We put our time & money (of course) into our creations, but more importantly we put little bits of ourselves in, as well. As we stitch, we think, we smile, we hope.
It's similar to the movie, Like Water for Chocolate - every emotion the female character feels is cooked into her food. Only, instead of food, we're dealing with fabric. I think our intentions & hopes are "baked" into our quilting projects. But, sometimes there's a mismatch - things don't align, projects are passed along - some even end up in thrift stores (insert audible GASP here)! It used to be that when I ran across thrift store textiles & embroideries, I'd feel bad for the Maker. I'd wonder what could have happened.
Then I remembered that one of my friends used to buy thrift store quilts. She would patiently take stitches out - day after day - night after night. Some she just re-quilted. Sometimes she re-stitched badly-sewn sections, replaced worn-out batting & then re-quilted. It was her therapy. She added her love to the quilt as she stitched away her pain. Doubly-blessed from multiple Makers. Like a gift given twice.
They say every quilt tells a story - I think some quilts are lucky enough to have multiple stories. Like this one below. It's a thrift store purchase. It's hand-quilted in itty-bitty stitches. It's beautifully pieced & the outside edge isn't bound but finished in a tiny piping, curved at the corners. I don't know what its original story was, but it brings me peace. I hope it does the same for you. ❤ faith.
