My postage stamp quilt?

Before I could quilt I had to sew all those little pieces together. So I sewed, and sewed, and sewed. My daughter was the one who took lessons in how to piece, and I sort of remembered how she did it – just make a chain. But I can only piece two together at a time. Then sew pairs together. After quite a few hours at the sewing machine (just how many squares are there?), I finally had rows of random colored squares sewn together. And I don’t like it.

It was fun to finally get to my sewing machine and sew, but what’s with these random rows? They aren’t speaking to me at all. I like appliqué, not traditional, and definitely not random rows of pastel-y colored printed flowery grandmotherly cottons. I’m not trying to put together scraps here – my great-great grandma needed to do that so the family could be warm at night.

I don’t know that for sure. But I do know I want something fabulous – there must be a fabulous wall hanging, or purse, or something hiding in there between the squares.

So I grabbed some black background fabric, added some red squares, and placed the random rows of tiny squares on top. Then spent an hour grouping them in colorways. It was fun, and I was finally pleased with the arrangement.

So I had a decision to make here. I don’t leave unfinished quilt tops laying around for later. Really!

I don’t do that many, although I already own a lifetime supply of cotton fabric and books with ideas. But I made a decision, when I first started this new hobby three years ago, to finish what I started.

I like the process, and the dreaming of what will be next. Each idea “percolates” in my head for awhile. Then, if it’s still percolating after a few months, I know it’s time to make it. One quilt at a time.

Inspiration finally hit. I grabbed a brown padded mailer, addressed it to my daughter, The Quilter, and shoved all the little random rows in, with glee. Then I wrote a short note that said – “It’s your turn!”, and walked down to the mailbox to mail it.

Haven’t heard from her yet.