I'm probably being petty about this but I need to get it off my chest!!! Claudia, one of the ladies in my Needlework Group (knit, crochet, embroider, quilt, etc.) was diagnosed with cancer in the early spring. At our April meeting (4th Thursday of each month) her best friend mentioned to a bunch of us that she had told Claudia that the up side to the diagnosis was that she was sure Claudia would get a Hug Quilt out of the whole thing. In the past, I have volunteered to organize several Hug Quilts -- it was my idea so I said I would do this -- for ladies in the group who have had serious stuff in their lives. The quilts are usually a group project but I organize a sew-in at my house; make sure there is enough fabric; cut the pieces for the blocks; provide snacks; provide batting & backing; pin baste the sandwich; do minimal quilting; attach the binding and finally add the label. I wash the quilt and take it to the next meeting so that everyone can help to hand tie it giving those who don't sew the chance to be involved in the quilt making process. I enjoy doing this and never in a million years would decline to organize this type of project if asked to do so. My problem is that this recipient was pretty much guaranteed a Hug Quilt by someone who has never been involved in actually making one. Then she had the audacity to tell me she had done this but never once asked if I would organize the project. She and everyone else just assumed that I would do this. I hadn't volunteered up front to make the quilt because I knew I didn't really have the time. I would be gone all of May and half of June then home for less than 3 weeks before leaving again. I told everyone that I couldn't do anything about a Hug until the end of June and then I would have only about 2 1/2 weeks before I would be gone again. Everyone thought this was just fine and dandy -- that I have a whole 2 1/2 weeks at home and I should spend about half of that time organizing and working on this quilt. The sew-in was on 29 June and I will say that I had the largest volunteer group every. There were ten women besides myself and four of them sewed while the rest took turns pressing seams or getting the rest of us snacks or drinks. Several of the women even volunteered to bring snacks so that I didn't have to worry about that. And yes, the one who told Claudia she would get a Hug was there to help sew. I'm just really irritated that no one ever bothered to actually ASK me if I would organize the project -- that thought never crossed anyone's mind. There are several other quilters in the group but none of them has ever volunteered to organize a Hug Quilt project -- I wonder what the group will do when I have moved back to Lizard Land next summer? I LOVE making Hug Quilts but it would be nice to actually be asked to do so instead of having everyone just assume that Tia Mary will do it. In the past, making a Hug Quilt has been my idea and I was the one to suggest it to the group so I did the lion's share of the work and certainly didn't expect anyone to ask if I was willing to do the work. I purposely didn't volunteer to do so this time because I knew I didn't really have the time for such a project. Obviously no one picked up on that fact even after I told them I would be gone so much and didn't have a lot of time. VBS, it's not like the ladies don't appreciate the work I do on Hug projects but it would be nice if they didn't just assume that I am willing and able to put in the time and effort required when making a Hug Quilt. To make matters worse, I won't even be here when Claudia gets her Hug at the next meeting the end of this month! OK -- rant over. I feel better for having "spilled my guts" -- LOLOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at