For a few moments yesterday, I was in Maple Creek visiting with friends. A photo was sent of a group of women I either worked with or had served in some capacity over the years. Taken on a beautiful sunny day at the flower shop where I worked, their smiling faces a very welcome sight. Once again I felt as though I was transported back in time, able to visit with them, while checking out their beautiful quilts.
Several photos were also send of the small quilt show on display for Maple Creek’s Heritage Days. It is a fantastic display of their labour of love, and as an artist, one I love to take time to see. I am fascinated by how they can at times use only scraps of material, turning them into works of art. Great skill, a huge amount of love and dedication to their craft produces a colourful array to be admired.
I was the only one in the group who did not quilt, although they did make many efforts to get me hooked. But it only frustrated me – you have to think and plan and be patient in a different way than I understand. But this only made my admiration for them greater, knowing the process as I watched the fabric get magically turned into art. One of the ladies owned the quilt shop above the flower shop, so we were often able to have our coffee breaks together. I have such fond memories of those times, laughing and talking, watching them work as we did so. I really loved show and tell, those times when my boss or one of the other ladies would show progress made. It is amazing to see it grow and change as the pattern is worked out. Even if they are all using the same pattern, it is sometimes not recognizable as being the same, simply because of the material choices. And that is another point I need to make. The surprising colours which compliment each other when put together in certain ways. And this is not as easy as it sounds, this combining of colours and print styles.
Their dedication and love is measured, I feel by their generosity, the quilts often made as gifts or donations. They work together to create many quilts which are given to cancer patients to remind them not to give up, to always have hope and remember they are not alone. The quilts provide comfort and warmth as they go through their healing journey. I have great admiration for these ladies, because I understand as an artist it is easy to get attached to something you put so much of yourself into. I also understand the joy of giving your art away – money, at least for some of us, is not the motivation. Artists and their passions, we are a special kind of crazy, each of us feeding our soul in our own way.
I was so happy to see some of the quilts made while I’ve been gone, a very welcome gift. And it was wonderful to see these ladies, friends made, there at a distance helping me on my journey. This is no small thing for me because I have not had such friendship since I was in high school. So while this post is not about my journey here, it is about the importance of the journey itself and those who have been an integral part of it.
I know now I have a picture to look at if ever I fall again into that space where I lose hope. Sometimes we just need a visual representation of what is so far away. Like the soldiers who would cling to a photo of their sweethearts, giving them strength as they faced the uncertainty of their world. In some ways I too am in a war, but it is a war of the mind, as I battle those gremlins telling me I have no value. It is so often, the simple things that can turn your day. So this post is dedicated to all you beautiful ladies and the amazing work you do. For the comfort you give to others with your generosity, I send you my love and gratitude.
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