Weeks writes: “Share your work – volunteering to organize a quilting day to make quilts for your favorite charity, offer to give a lecture on your work at your aunt’s retirement community – you needn’t be famous or have written a book to share your quilts with others”
I was listening to a podcast the other day (Frances??) and the hostess said that a town near her had a Quilting Day. They had for years and it consisted of people working together on projects. Quiltmakers went to the local hgh school and worked with the kids on quilts. I love this idea because there is so much to share in quiltmaking – the camaraderie, math, love of fabric, the feeling of making something that will bring someone joy, whether your own family for friend or someone you don’t know.
This blog is all about sharing. While I write the blog for myself to keep track of my projects and progress, I have come to enjoy the comments and back and forth with readers. This has really become a venue for me to share. I like posting the tutorials. Well, I like posting the tutorials. Writing them can be a chore! I like sharing what I know and my opinions about quiltmaking.
I don’t like people stealing my content or my photos. That is the NOT FUN part of sharing. It is also a little sad when I don’t receive comments on a post or several, but I remind myself that I am writing this for me. It is a good exercise in not seeking attention.
I think there are a lot of different ways to share. Like Weeks says above, you can organize a quilting day, but you can also write a tutorial or help a friend to make some quilted placemats. I think that if we share, even just the project we are working on Flickr, then the community is richer for your contribution.
Thanks, Jaye for the reminder to share our craft. One ofy favorite ‘shares’ was taking a load of quilts to a local retirement home and doing a ‘quilt turning’ laying the stack on large tables and folding them back after talking about pattern, design, technique. Even the men were excited sharing memories of being a young child watching Mom sort the scraps. By the end they were singing old songs together. I was moved to tears.
What a great idea! I can imagine that a quilt turning would really spark some interest and memories. How great! I love it.
Even when we don’t comment, I hope you know how much your inspiration and knowledge are valued in this community. You are an amazing resource and share so many fabulous things on your blog.
Thank you, Jenny. I do get down sometimes when I don’t get comments, but then hear Frances say she is sending me telepathic comments, which I assume others are as well, and feel better.
That is a great idea, Carole! Never even thought of that. And I’ve got several antique quilts I inherited from Mom that may well bring back memories for folks, too. I’ll have to think about doing that. Thanks for these posts, Jaye. I’ve been reflecting along with you although not posting my reflections on my blog. (Still in recovery from those dang 30 Questions posts, LOL.) I enjoy your insights.
I like reading those “30 questions” type things about other people, but never want to think that much about myself much less put it out into the universe! I commend you for doing it. I am finding this a really great process. It is making me think hard about myself and those words in relation to my quiltmaking. You know that if one speaks to you, you can just share thoughts on that one. You don’t have to commit to the whole series. Or it might be some food for your ‘Creative Bytes’ series.
Thanks for reading!