When I started out full time at Seldom Seen Quilting Studio, I had no idea of the depth of the blessings that God had planned for me there — none! I thought I would simply rent machines to other quilters and putter with my own projects. I agreed to do quilting for family members. From that I gained confidence, and began to take in quilting for others. Then I agreed to make a custom quilt — Sunbonnet Sue, for a family member. One thing lead to another — one confidence grew to embrace another skill and another skill. Today, I find the custom quiltmaking is one of my greatest joys. Like this memory quilt I’ve been working on this week — the second one I’ve made for this family, from their grandfather’s pajamas. I pray as I sew, and I pray that they will be blessed by the quilt — but I have received the first blessings.

This incredible job. Not even the ten years when my amazing husband and I worked together in our dry cleaning business. Those years are what whetted my appetite for the entrepreneurial life. But they were not as amazing as this job — owning and operating Seldom Seen Quilting Studio. This is a job that makes me think, “Yay! I get to go to work today!” This is a job where I meet wonderful people every single day. Where I get to see works of art, touch them even. Where I encourage and receive encouragement. Where I pray and am prayed for. A job where the customers all become friends. Where giving is the norm, charity is a way of life, smiles are abundant, learning and creativity are blossoming all day long. A job where I teach — which I never even knew I wanted to do — and then watch in delight as my students outshine me. (For instance — the creator of the quilt in this picture.) This is a job that sends me home high on life over and over again.

My darling husband has always loved boats of all kinds, but especially sailboats, and recently he has become interested in an event called the Texas 200. The event, which runs 200 miles along the coast of our great state, is sailed primarily in home-made boats. Participants are discussing making boats to resemble the Texas scow — a workhorse of a sailing vessel that served well in the shallow and unpredictable waters in question. What I would like to make, of course, is a quilt that resembles the Texas scow — and I think the schooner version was cuter than the sloop version. I found this block, called “Tall Ship”, and I think it might do nicely.