Hope’s Journey – a little late

I intended to post this yesterday, as Wednesday is our usual day for Hope’s Journey, but somehow it just didn’t happen, although a lot of sewing did happen. I’ve been totally inspired by the progress that Jeanne has made in putting her blocks together and seeing her quilt top magically grow on the design wall over the past two weeks has given me the motivation I need to keep on top of this project.

Wheel of Fortune

Basket block

Dove at the Crossroads

Postage Stamp block

As of yesterday, I have completed all of the large blocks from every chapter in the book and only have a couple of smaller six inch blocks to finish. I’m now going back to each larger block and adding the fillers, such as flying geese units and half square triangles, creating sections of the quilt that will be sewn together into rows. With so many different sizes of blocks, ranging from 4″ to 16″, the difficulty lies in fitting everything together like a jigsaw puzzle.

As each section begins to take shape, I’m falling deeper in love with this quilt. I think it’s due to the fact that it is a metaphor for my deeper feelings and truly represents where I’m at in my life right now, pulling all the disparate pieces together to make a new whole. I’m at a point where I’m comfortable with the abilities I have but still crave a challenge and continually desire to push myself out of my comfort zone physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all, creatively. Is it a strange statement to say that a quilt can do all those things? I believe it’s shameful to look at a quilt as only a textile for warmth, when within every fibre there are stories and emotions, hopes and dreams, and the heart and soul of the maker. We just need to learn to read between the lines, or in this case the layers of fabric, to discover the secrets of the heart that compel a quiltmaker to create these labours of love.

until next time, with love, carol

*Please check out my friend Jeanne’s blog at spiralj2.blogspot.com to see her amazing progress on Hope’s Journey and other projects too. You will definitely be inspired!