Something to Smile About

After last week's frustrations and disappointments, I had a good reason to smile when I receive this in the mail. Here we are, only three months into 2011, and the 2012 Quilt Art Calendar is already in print. 

The part that made me smile is tucked in there alongside the April to May page.

That's my "Dashing the Churn" quilt. 

I pieced and quilted this big quilt - it's 92" X 103" - from 5" Churn Dash blocks I swapped during 2003, with my friend Edith in Switzerland. Both of us used the same background fabric, but made our blocks from "an assigned" color. Edith made all the blocks that are green, keeping some for herself and giving an equal number to me. I made the yellow blocks, keeping some for myself and giving an equal number to Edith.

Here's a picture (used with permission) of Edith's block layout. This quilt isn't finished but that's certainly okay! As quilters, we all know about good intentions, plans to do such and such, and how easy it is to get side-tracked. Isn't her layout pretty with that great color and value gradation?

My design idea for putting together our Churn Dash blocks came after I took a class from Sandi Cummings and learned to make her "Double Circles" block. It was the right block, along with black and white checks (a "phase" I was in when I put this top together) that tied it all together. I think that "Baby Genius" black and white wavy print border makes for a funky finish.

It's a nice-to-look-at quilt, and I'm glad I made it. It's good to have something to smile about. And maybe this will give you a smile...

A father gave his teenaged daughter an untrained pedigreed pup for her birthday. An hour later, while wandering through the house, he found his daughter looking at a puddle in the center of the kitchen floor. 

"My pup," she murmured sadly, "runneth over."

I've just concluded a ten-week Beth Moore Bible study called David: Seeking a Heart Like His. In the final video session, Beth reviews the 23rd Psalm which was written by David. I'm reminded and am resting in the words "my cup runneth over" (verse 5), reviewing my blessings - a full and satisfied life -  and how God fills me up to overflowing when I spend time with Him. I don't need to wonder why last week turned out as it did (no Stitchin' Mission DVD). I simply need to let God be God of my life. He "runneth my cup over." Linda