By Heather Johnston
Reading through Facebook tells me that the weather has been snowing well in Kenai- which makes a great time for staying in and sewing. We are just getting into cold weather here in Arkansas, I finally unboxed my long coat yesterday but didn't seem to pack my gloves or hats in the same box.
For the past 7 years Seward had a UFO Contest going and this last week it turned out to be a great thing for me. One of the baby sized quilts I finished in the contest has finally found it's forever home and is out of the house. That is just one amazing happenstance of being a quilter. You see fabric you love (or have in the stash that you need to use) and have enough to make a quick project for a retreat (baby quilts can't be any quicker) and then it lays folded on the shelf until just that right moment comes along, and it is gifted out. There was no real plan, I had no specific person in mind, but it was a project that gave me pleasure to do, fun practice to quilt, and gladness in the binding finish. And then it was ready when needed for a next day baby shower gift.
Life is much like that- we can go through many days without specific goals, we learn new things, and then one day something comes up and just that new thing you learned turns out to be the best thing you can do.
I'm learning that with my house. It has been a long journey and nowhere near done, however with all the things that I've learned working on my house I've been able to help others do. Be it patching a hole in the sheetrock, changing out receptacles, or installing low light LED's on a motion sensor in the bathroom so they don't have to turn on the lights in the middle of the night.
No learning is ever wasted- no matter the subject. Somewhere, at some time, it will be needed. Then we get to step up, take it off the shelf, and teach our skill to someone else. Just like getting a handmade quilt for their little girl to be, I know it will make that person’s day. So, finish out those quilts and set them on the shelf to make someone's future day.
Heather Johnston