What I meant was that I didn't remember if I first heard the distinction of what constitutes that definition of "a quilter" on the mailing list or on the newsgroup.
I loved the fiber arts mailing lists I was on when I first got on the internet. I remember the very-proliferative knitting mailing list where lots of the members were also spinners, and there was this one story a lady told about buying a fleece from someone in the UK, I think it was
-- a very small fleece that had belonged to a lamb who had died young, and the lady was very loath to part with her last remembrance of that poor, poor little lamb. The lady took the fleece home and spun it very fine to make a knitted-lace shawl that was so fine she could pass it through her wedding ring. Then after she was done, she went back to the home of the lady she had bought the fleece from to show her what an object of beauty she had created out of that fleece, and the lady was so happy that she cried. It was almost as if it was a fitting tribute to a young life lost too soon.
The trouble is, I don't know when I am ever going to finish this (hopefully before she graduates LOL -- she's a first-semester freshman right now) and I just didn't feel like I wanted to post there because of that. And I follow here lots more than I look there, so I figured I would post where I participate.
Oh, you are so thoughtful to suggest that, but seriously, I want to do it myself. After all, I did buy that package of fat quarters for half the price I could find anywhere else that they are the perfect colors for her. And not only that, but I think it would mean more to her, since she is my more precious gem, my one and only daughter who understands how hectic my life is, if I did it all myself, because she would appreciate what it took for me to do it myself. (And I am *not* saying it because this particular child's first sentence was, "do by self," LOL, but rather because I don't think it would mean as much to her if a bunch of people she didn't know made the blocks than it will if her mom made the whole thing.)
Besides, she deserves *my* best. Let me explain -- My [now prodigal] husband used to come up with original, handmade Valentines every year, whether it was a drawing -- the first year when we were just friends, it was a drawing of Yosemite Sam with both guns aiming out and saying, "Be my Valentine, Melinda, or I'll blast ye!" to one year he made booklet with a half-dozen crossword/word search/word scrambled/etc. puzzles, and the year he was taking electronics courses when he made me an electronic Valentine's schematic with Valentine's expressions that were all electronics terminology puns, etc., and the year we were about to turn into a nuclear family explosion, even though he said he was trying to work on our problems I didn't get an original Valentine, and it wasn't the fact that it wasn't handmade as much as it was the expression (or lack of), feeling (or lack of), or whatever you want to call it that it was given with that spoke volumes. (and it was the first time in 20 years that he hadn't done this)
Anyway, I don't want her to think that now that she is away from school that I have written her off and she doesn't mean as much to me as she did when she was here. I hope that makes sense and that you aren't upset/offended/whatever by my saying, "thanks for the thought, but I dont' think it will work."
I am going to try to get organized and make myself do at least half of block a week (the 7 x 12 inch block is divided into one large and two smaller parts), which I will have plenty of time to do on Sundays between church services now that I'm not on call on the weekends any more, and at that rate it will take me (checking on spreadsheet where I have fabric requirements and such all charted out) and it's going to take 32 blocks. And if I tell myself I am going to do half a block a week, it should be easier to do more. The biggest obstacle will be finding a place to permanently leave the sewing machine out so I can work on it easily. And maybe I could interest my sons in helping with some of it at times (they both sew), and to be that would be acceptable, because it's still coming from her family who knows her, warts and all, and still loves her. Does that make sense?
Melinda, that makes perfect sense to me, although I had thought you might ask for help on some of the blocks and had already checked some of my stash, too. Emily
and Mel> Oh, you are so thoughtful to suggest that, but seriously, I want to do
Geeze louise! "Just say no!" :)
...Sundays
You got rid of one big impediment, sounds like, so use DH's former space for the SM.
I like the idea of brothers helping make it. And having done lots of deadline-based projects, try picking her b-day or Xmas or Sal Mineo's b-day later this year or next, and get it done by then. Depending on your climate, she might not want it for spring break.
Note that major sewing projects for warm stuff tend to take a vacation in the summertime. Also note that a kid who's just gone off to college is likely well aware that the family hasn't written her off.
HTH
--Karen M. who has a woven afghan with a book motif
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