Before She Quilted

It has been very quiet around here of late.  The secret thingy I may or may not be working on is taking every spare moment of my waking life which is not already taken up with the hullabaloo that having four kids involves.  Then last night my sister (who despite having no interest in quilting whatsoever has been my biggest blog supporter right from day one) emailed me this lovely guest post entitled "Before she quilted":  As winter draws in and the snow makes its presence felt, as the logs crackle in the fire (in someone else's house as I only have electric radiators), and as we snuggle up under Lily's quilts, I'm trying to remember what life was like before she quilted. 



 For starters, life was boring as when she didn't quilt, she didn't blog. What on earth did I read? Can't remember but it didn't make me laugh half as much as she does when she writes. Secondly, life was darn cold before she quilted. I slept in multiple, Bibendum like layers of tyres, I mean pyjamas. I bought shares in hot water bottle firms my bed was so cold. Now I lie under my personalised Penguin quilt, a t-shirt is enough to keep me warm.



 My children didn't sleep so well. When young children say they are warm enough they invariably aren't. It's a boring parent question, not worthy of an honest answer. So they used to say yes, when they meant 'don't know, don't care' and I now know the real answer was no. Now that they sleep under their Batman and Swoon quilts respectively, they sleep all night without waking me up having nightmares, falling out of bed sneezing and coughing.


Life wasn't so colourful. We inherited a family heirloom from Mr Rolleiflexes family, a ruddy great big Breton chest carved in the darkest oak ever. It wouldn't look out of place in a cathedral. It looks distinctly out of place in our small flat. We even call it the spare bedroom as someone could (un)comfortably sleep in it. Then I inherited theyoutubequilt with it's bright tv squares and 70s colours and now it decorates the top of the chest and makes everyone's life a little less dull, a little less French farmhouse.



This is not to mention the more comfortable chairs with quilted Paris map cushion covers, the have-fab-baby-weekender-bag-will-travel means I now look Brit chic instead of back packer. My large union jack in washed out colours means no French person will ever wonder what nationality I am again. So my butt, self-confidence and sense of identity are all better off since she quilted. So thank you Lily for generally improving my quality of life in weird and wonderful ways. I owe you.

Comments

  1. Love this post, such a lovely description of how quilting makes our lives cosier!

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  2. I love you and your sister, you both make me laugh!! And this post is absolutely gorgeous!!! Please thank her for us...and thank you for making your beautiful quilts and blogging and generally making life better! xo

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  3. What a lovely post. And what a lovely sister to have. Obviously humour runs in the family too. That must have just made your day when you read that.

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  4. This is a great post and what wonderful things crafting adds to our lives :-)

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  5. Such a wonderful post! Your sister is such a great story teller as you are! That's really bad that she doesn't quilt.

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  6. What a sweet post for your sister to have written! She is clearly a girl with good taste. Adore the Penguin Books quilt!

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  7. What a lovely post from your sister. I enjoyed getting another glimpse of the youtubequilt. It is one of my all-time favorites.

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  8. What a wonderful testimonial. I think things like that help to keep us quilting. It's sort of like a mission to make sure as many as possible can be warm and cozy with our help. Thanks for sharing this.

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  9. What a lovely post! and how fab that you are so appreciated, take note all you none quilters who receive our hard work!! Hugs xx

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  10. Awwww. I have a little lump in my throat after reading that. So very sweet. xxx

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  11. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh me too!!! what a wonderful story...we're glad you quilt too.

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  12. Aww, that's nice. It's so great to know that your efforts are appreciated, isn't it?

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  13. What a very sweet post of appreciation!

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  14. Your sister gets you, doesn't she? That's awesome.

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  15. What a wonderful sister tribute I have 2 such supportive sisters, equally creative and generous...how lucky we are!

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  16. That is a wonderful post. You both clearly have a great turn of phrase. The quilts all sound terrific and her love for your brilliant stitching is undeniable. Brilliant stuff.

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  17. Such a lovely blog post! I think we forget as quilters how our quilts touch people we give them to. So lovely!

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  18. Great post :-) Love you to bits, and your sisters pretty cool too - each time you blog I scroll down to see if there's a rolliflex comment, she usually makes me laugh :-)

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  19. What a wonderful gift of words from your loving sister, Lily. Thanks for sharing.
    xo
    Donna

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  20. Sisters are the best! Thankful to have my sisters and their children to quilt for. Mary

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  21. Actually got a little choked up, so lovely! Thank you for passing along. Those kids are so sweet ;)

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  22. You are blessed with an awesome sister....as is she.

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  23. Wow what a nice tribute to you! It is wonderful that you have such a great relationship with your sister. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

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  24. What a beautiful tribute from your sister:) If you ever wonder why you spend hours quilting, just go back over and read re-read this post.

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  25. That was so funny and uplifting, thank you to big sister

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  26. I"m sitting in bed in a tiny little town in Tennessee having my morning cuppa tea and I've just raised my cup to you. Love this post!! :)

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  27. What a lovely sister you have! Clearly, she has a pretty good sister too :)

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  28. I love this post. My non quilting sister is my biggest supporter too. Sisters are the BEST. My sister encouraged me to start blogging.

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  29. Ah, what a sweet post. It is so nice that your sister appreciates your art and talent. When non-quilty friend/family member appreciates your work you know you have done well.

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  30. I want that penguin quilt! How on earth did she make that?????

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  31. awwh, what a lovely post. very special.

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  32. Such a sweet post. I wish I had a sister. Not two lumps of brotherness.

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  33. Awww, what a sweet tribute from your sister!

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  34. What a lovely, lovely sentiment from your sister!

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  35. Awww, what a sweet post!

    P.S. I see your sister shares your talent for writing, has she checked to see if she also shares your talent for quilting?!

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  36. I think many of us are richer for Lynne having taken up quilting and blogging.

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  37. I have thought about life before quilting as well and can't seem to remember what it was like. Definitely not creative!

    Fantastic blog post!

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  38. Wow! how cool is that! Bet your face got wet, I know mine would have :) xx

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  39. Wow, that is such a lovely post. I must say that it brought a tear to my eye. My sister would be astounded as I never (well very rarely) cry.

    The love of a sister is a wonderful thing.

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  40. She is a great sister, it is wonderful to give quilts to folks who love them.

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  41. Brilliant! This is so funny and so true.

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  42. My eyes welled up. That was a wonderful way to say I love you.

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  43. Hehe! Such a lovely post! :-) And we all owe you, too, for the inspiration you share on this blog! Thank you! :-)

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  44. I think I may have teared up a little - that just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

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  45. Aww, sweet Rolleiflexes. I love her comments and now her lovely guest post. It's so great to know your lovely work is so loved!

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  46. Ohhhhh, that is just the nicest thing ever. Yay for sisters and sister quilters :-D

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