So three weeks earlier –
Chelsey brought a friend from Germany home to visit, His name was George and he
was studying for a master’s degree in Management. So while there was a
definite German dialect to his voice, he spoke English incredibly well. Chelsey
told me he spoke 4 or 5 languages. Smart guy.
Don tells me this story
after George went home that night. He’d been around the house about half of a
day when he and Don decided to go downstairs and play a game of pool. Don
is racking up the balls. George picks out a pool cue. They are
making small talk--- the weather, football, how many days left in the
semester. Then out of nowhere the following is spoken:
“You sure have a lot of
blankets…”
Don grins ---, “No Shit...,
not much chance of any of us getting cold around here…”
Don laughs, George smiles
and the pool match continues.
Yes – George’s “Blankets”
were my quilts. I started looking around. Yep – they were
everywhere. I started evaluating. Is it too much----are there too many??? At
what point does creativity become obsession? Did my home look like a
house of a crazy person—you know like the one in the movies about a woman who
can stuff animals so consequently there’s all these stuffed animals all over
the place….
So fast forward to
Thanksgiving weekend. The house is full of people. Eric and Carolyn
come home. Chelsey brings friends. My take is ---the more the
merrier.
Our famous family
saying is ” We don’t go to sleep in our house, in the winter time we go into
Cryostasis instead.” Don like it cooler and we pile on the covers. My kids grew
up piling on the quilts.
That first night I had all
the air mattresses and beds layered with sheets and quilts. The next
morning I asked how everyone slept…The general agreement was they were ”chilly”
to put it nicely. As a Mom--- I felt horrible. That second night,
I put my ’blanket obsession’ away and gratitude was replaced as the quilts
were pulled from the ladder rungs, yanked from the quilt racks and unfolded
from the quilt chests. Everyone slept warm that night. I’ll never
entertain the idea of having too many quilts round my northwoods home again
I guess I’m typing this
because I want to remember this – and what it means to be a quilter.
11 comments:
Oh Melanie, I LOVE this story---and no, you simply cannot have 'too many blankets' and they are to be USED. :)
Great post!
I was showing my new sister in law (also a quilter) my collection of quilts and unfinished quilt tops. We never did get to all the walk hangings and table runners. I was embarrassed by all that I had!
I am glad to be on the same league you are. Thanks for sharing.
I often wonder the same thing about my piles of quilt and then I will need a special gift or my go to charity (Margaret's Hope Chest) will ask for additional quilt and I will have something all ready. Then I need to make more to fill up the stacks.
What a wonderful story Mel! My philosophy is we just can never have too many quilts...and I live in Florida...LOL! We do it because as my husband says " That's just what we do". And we love it! Keep making quilts!
No, you can NOT have too many quilts. What would I do if I couldn't make quilts? And it's wonderful to always have a quilt nearby to grab and snuggle in. ;-) So quilt away, Melanie!
Some people collect shoes, purses, tools, golf clubs. cars, etc. but we make and collect "blankets" which can warm the world.
Enjoy your passion.....
Never too many quilts! Beautiful functional "decorations" :)
No, Melanie, there can never be too many quilts! Of course, I'm pretty sure I'm not a reliable witness since I AM one of those crazy quilting ladies!
:) big smile here - I have "too many" also - they are all over the place - when our daughter and family came from WI for Thanksgiving I asked if everyone had enough quilts for sleeping and as they looked around the rooms - it was yes think there are plenty! I love your quilt ladder - did y'all make it and if so do you have instructions - I sure do need one - or two - or three LOL
I love this story!!!! I will never have more than I need, more than I want or more than I can create!!!
Life is so about the little thins that bring joy!!!!!!
Many years ago, I had an aunt tell me in an authoritative way that I had way too many quilts and why do I bother to make more since I cannot use them. I just smiles and said "it makes me happy". Voila! Life is short so do what makes you happy! Cheers!
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