Answers

"There are two ways of spreading light: 

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”

Edith Wharton quotes *
American Novelist and short-story writer, 1862-1937

Last week I asked two questions for you to ponder.
As promised, and after a week of thought, here are my answers:

1) Why do you quilt?

I quilt as therapy. Some do their art to better understand their lives. I quilt as a reaction to my life.

I quilt to relax, to feel instant accomplishment since this Stay-at-Home-Mom race is 18+ years long, to create and to play.  Fabric seems to rest my soul the way running calms the early morning ladies who zoom by my window, the kayakers at dusk find peace in the calm of the evening Adirondack lake waters, and the child is comforted by his mother's lullaby or their favorite teddy bear.

I am compelled and driven to make more things.....not necessarily to complete them (HA!), but to cut apart and to piece back together more beautiful fabrics in new and innovative ways.

2) What inspires your quilting?

Light
The light within a fabric is the first thing which inspires my work as does the light within people, nature, my children, and life.

The high contrast of lights and darks in this Bali Pops pack, called "Zinfandel" made a lovely table runner. The 2 1/2 inch by 44 inch strips easily came together as seen here.

The scraps became this little piece of randomness which is ideal for my guild's Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative challenge. The balance of darks and lights created a "window" looking out upon a wooded, leafy landscape--with blue skies in the background.

Second, the cross struck me as central and complementary of the work........like our faith should be.... Or should it?

Fine artist, Maureen White of Urban Pastures (http://urbanpasturesart.com), recently gave away a piece on her blog. I was the lucky winner.

"Lean on Me" is a 7 by 7 inch painting on wood in which Maureen captures the light behind the mountains near her home in Montana.  When asked about the light and inspiration of this work, Maureen spoke of her struggles as a working full-time artist and the voice she hears while she works challenging her to keep her faith and to believe.

I too struggle with how the light within me is to shine as I strive to live as a Christian child of God. How am I called to balance daily modern life and the call of discipleship, while striving to use all the gifts and talents I have been given?

"Valleys to Mountains" is a partner work, also 7 by 7 inches, which I purchased in gratitude for the light and work of artists like Maureen. May they continue to create beautiful works inspired by life, by God, by light of all kinds.

To all of you who quilt or create other forms of art for whatever reason, I offer this Irish Blessing:

May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. 

May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. 

May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. 

And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.

Amen.