Tuesday, June 23, 2015

My Happy Conversation Quilt

For such a small quilt, this one is taking a long time to finish hand quilting. The problem is, of course, that I'm working on my Fire quilt at the very same time. So... this quilt only gets taken out when I go sit with my cousin or when I have company in my home. There's just something about the Fire quilt that makes me nervous and squeamish to work on it in front of people. Call me shy.
Working on the borders
Or call me thoughtful. Maybe even a little particular? Happy Flowers is just bright and happy. It makes for very lighthearted conversation! And even with all the crazy goings on last week and over the weekend, I did manage to complete a couple frames. When people {who want to act interested but don't really want the skinny} ask about my quilting, this is an easy quilt to pull out. There's a brief mention about the quilt in my lap {hand quilting doesn't seem to be an ordinary event in most homes} and then very quickly the conversation about quilting dies and moves on to those things that we have more in common. Which is as it should be.
Adding a little flower pattern in the gold triangles
Am I being snobby? Condescending? No. I don't think so. We ask people about their hobbies and interests sometimes because we know it's important to them and we do care. Really. But sometimes we really, really don't want the hour long rambling conversation it evolves into! {Sorry mom, your genealogy tries my patience sometimes.} So I try to be polite and keep my 'I am so very serious about my quilting, you wouldn't believe how many quilts I'm working on!' conversations for those moments when I can see excitement and true interest involved by the other party. It's not that my 'different' quilts are a secret. Hello! I talk about them all the time on a public blog. It's just better and so much more interesting all the way around to have those conversations with people who share the same passions. At least for me. Maybe you're one of those ramblers who make our eyes glaze over?*wink

19 comments:

  1. It's a pity handquilting wasn't a more ordinary event in most homes :0) It is at my house and I'm very ordinary - loI! I know what you mean about personal projects and talking about our hobby (passion) with people just being polite. I have one quilty friend who I absolutely unload on everytime I see her - there can be so much quilty excitement in my head but it's best to save it for someone who "gets it"
    I love the little flower shape - the quilting looks wonderful so far!

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  2. Me, ramble? Surely not! LOL
    I of course would love to listen to your rambling, but I do know exactly what you mean. This little flower quilt is so sweet!

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  3. Your little quilt is so lovely no wonder non quilting and quilting friends ask about it,as far as rambling goes you are so right it is much more fun to chat about your quilts to interested parties.

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  4. so agree - my eyes glaze over when DH gets into genealogy - oh my I get bored with that so easy! give me my quilts any day.

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  5. So true Audrey - a few polite comments are usually enough from non-quilters, and I never know how much detail to give them at risk of too much or too little! Better too little than become tedious is my feeling! Thank goodness for quilting friends eh?

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  6. I agree about quilt discussions with non quilters. I quilt for my own enjoyment and if someone ones makes a nice comment I am very grateful. But I don't expect them to understand the joy I get from quilting.

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  7. I know exactly what you're talking about. Non Quilter's get just enough info to answer their inquiring question but save the stories and techniqual challenges for your friends, both in the blog world or locally, who can really relate.

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  8. I can relate to this - and it's always a thrill to meet someone who speaks "quilt" ;).

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  9. How sweet it is to talk to other quilters and rug hookers...but I'd rather poke myself in the eye with a fork than to make small talk to others about my passion...

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  10. I agree, I think it's polite not to force too much information on to an uninterested friend, we don;t want to bore them do we!! But if someone is interested it will flow into the conversation.

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  11. You can always tell if someone is interested... or just polite in the first few moments of a conversation. It seems the truly creative folks, regardless of medium "get it" and the others just find it mildly interesting.. or even a little quirky. :-)

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  12. I sure do "get it" and try my best not to bore friends and relations, but there's one grandson, now nearly 7, who is totally fascinated with the 1932 Singer hand crank machine sitting in my sewing room and insists he's going to make a quilt next time they come down for a weekend. Gotta get out the totes and cut a bunch of squares for him, and prep the machine for next weekend - what joy! But it is sad that I've yet to find a good quilting buddy since we moved across the country last fall, there isn't even a quilt shop within 30 miles ... Thank goodness for quilty blogs!

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  13. It's a nice contrast for you emotionally to have this one as well as the fire quilt to work on :)

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  14. Most people just do not get it but quilting is still a great conversation starter. When they start talking about their hobby, I just smile and look pleasant, lol! Sometimes I'm multitasking by listening and planning my next quilt too.

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  15. When friends and co-workers asked where I was going for the weekend and the answer was quilt retreat, I saw that blank look too. Oh well.

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  16. Oh wow, can I relate! I think there are 4 types of people. 1) quilting friends who are truly interested in ever new project. 2) good friends who are not quilters but love seeing what I am working on. 3) friends who ask about any new "blankets" I might be working on and then quickly change the subject. and 4) people who say, "do you have to work on that in front of me?". I actually don't have any type 4 friends but I'm sure they exist. I thank you for sharing your views! I love the quilting you are doing on this quilt. So happy! Enjoy the day.

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  17. I guess this is why we connect through blogs - so that we can bang on about quilts without boring people! You should call this quilt Happy Conversation: it's a great aname for a quilt.

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  18. Aren't we fortunate to have blogs and guilds to share our quilting! You always use interesting fabrics, make fabulous borders, and add so many details. This one is so happy. I agree with Kaja; Happy Conversation is a great name.

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