Heaven must surely be filled to the brim with birdsong. I don’t know their names, these tiny warblers who cheerfully celebrate even the smallest improvement in winter weather — except for the obvious cardinals and mockingbirds. In northern Arizona, a singing bird was a rarity. The meadowlarks in the spring, with their clear, pure, three-note song, are the ones I remember. Singing out from high perches, the always sounded romantically lonely to me. But here, birdsong heralds the opening of day as surely as the light from the sun, so long as icy rain is not actively drenching the choir! Such joy.
Author Archives: seldomseenquilting
Almost done…
A little less than half of the hand work on the binding, and this quilt will be finished. My customer is deciding what she would like to have embroidered on a label for the back, but that will only take … Continue reading
I am fascinated…
Truly fascinated, by these 1930’s fabrics. I think some of them were from feed sacks, others from flour sacks, and who knows what other grocery items may have been packaged in fabric to tempt the homemaker of the day. I … Continue reading
We called her Mima…
…the wonderful great-grandmother that made this quilt, my mother’s grandmother. I often think I didn’t get to spend enough time with her. She was tiny and frail from my earliest memories of her — with paper-thin, baby-soft skin, wispy hair … Continue reading
Little gifts, big hearts…
I have some awesome friends. They are always giving little gifts to others — and usually they play down the importance/value/significance of the gift. “Oh, it’s just a little thing.” But it’s not really little for someone to spend time … Continue reading
I’ve said it before…
But it bears saying again: I married way above my station. How thankful I am for every moment and every day with my amazing husband. This is a man who will go fishing in a hurricane. That sounds crazy, I know. But it is this innate belief that he can ride out any storm God sends his way is a gift he uses in so many ways. Like when he waits patiently for the misery of illness to spend its fury, on only the promise of the calm in the eye of the storm. And still wants to see pictures of quilts on my smart phone. So if you’ve looked for me at the studio this week, and found that I’m not there, just know I’ve got my priorities in the right order — God, Family, Quilting — and I’ll be back at my machines as soon as he sails into a calm spot.
Nothing like a sewing bee…
The room was buzzing — between six and eight visitors, two teachers, the occasional popping in of a spousal unit (mine) — all evening. People were learning. People were sharing. Everyone was working together to do something for someone else. … Continue reading
Mini Sue on a mission…
This miniature Sunbonnet Sue — just under 3 inches tall — is one of 12 that will be adorning a miniature quilt soon. It will be 18″ x 22.5″ — a perfect size (I think) for an 18″ doll to … Continue reading
The art of graciousness…
It may be a dying art, but it is not yet dead, at least down here in the heart of Texas. Yesterday, I received a lovely, handmade, hand-written note of thanks for… well, doing my job. A truly memorable note … Continue reading
Farewell to Christmas…
I will really miss playing non-stop Christmas music at Seldom Seen Quilting Studio. To be honest, there are two Christmas CD’s that I will play all year — one is called “Precious Child,” the other is Kathy Mattea’s Christmas album. But I will try to mix it up some, so the customers in the store don’t think I’ve completely lost my mind! I will especially miss Mannheim Steamroller’s version of The Holly and the Ivy. Actually, there are three notes in the rendition that I will miss the most. Three lilting, soaring, floating notes sung out by the flute with abandon — letting go of the melody and flying. Three notes that sound like an angel’s wings opening, or an eagle gliding across the sky. Those three notes — I wait for them each time I play the CD, to the point of putting down my work and closing my eyes. Somehow, those three notes fill my heart with joy and hope, reminding me of the wonderful blessings of the Lord. I guess it really is the simple things in life that matter.
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