Written by Karen D. Swim
The other day I pulled the Fall linens from their storage place to begin the seasonal preparation. Soon it will be time to replace the lightness of summer with the heavier textures of the new season. I smiled as I touched the soft quilts recalling seasons past and the memories they held.
I am particularly fond of the handiwork of quilts. In many cultures, quilts serve as a historical and culture reference. They tell stories about the lives of those that created them and times in which they lived. Harriet Powers, a freed slave made appliquéd quilts that illustrated biblical stories. Hawaiian quilts often record the stories of families or honor the memory of loved ones.
Our lives are very much like a quilt. Individual blocks of fabric are sewn together creating a rich picture of our total experience. Some blocks may be unremarkable when viewed alone but when combined with the other blocks it becomes an integral part of the story.
Quilts may be thick and uniform or dense with raised areas that stand out. Our lives start out uniform but as we continue to add blocks, there are events, moments or memories that stand out from the others.
Some quilts reflect the handiwork of multiple artisans. Quilting bees are when groups of women come together to make a quilt. In the mid nineteenth century it was a popular social gathering, as women shared gossip as they quilted. Today, volunteers will often get together to make quilts for various causes. The individual contributions form a communal quilt that is much different than had it been made by the hands of one.
Our lives also reflect a collective effort. Parents, teachers, friends, mentors, and others impact our lives, creating a square that reflects their involvement. Their squares join the whole of our life creating a quilt that reflects not just one life but the influence of family and community.
Faith Ringgold, known for her painted story quilts, combines storytelling, painting and quilted fabric. She has noted that some look at her work and try to figure out the stitching when in fact is a painting. Just like Ringgold’s painted quilts our lives cannot always be figured out by dissecting the whole into individual parts. Our life is best viewed in its rich entirety without pre-judgment about how it was made and what it should be.
I pull one of the quilts from its summer hiding place and wrap it around me inhaling the fragrant scent of softener that still clings to the fabric. I relax into the warmth as I smile with anticipation about the blocks that will be added in this new season. I am excited to keep writing my story, and adding depth to the quilt of my life.
What does your life quilt look like – is it thick or dense with raised areas? Is it uniform or filled with blocks of different sizes and colors? Tell us all about it in the comments. It is your turn at the mic.
Karen Swim says
Hi Kyra,
I visited your site and your art quilts are beautiful. I love the beauty and celebration of heritage and these quilts always make a nice gift. We’re also now connected on LinkedIn so I look forward to lots of future sharing!
Kyra says
Lovely essay. Harriet Powers’ quilts are quite impressive to behold. Thanks for sharing. Do stop by and visit other art quilts at my blog, if you’d like: http://www.BlackThreads.blogspot.com
NaTuRaL says
I love the analogy. My quilt would be like a roller coaster i guess, a few ups and downs….busy and exciting at times, boring at others. It wouldn’t be too colorful but more earthy or natural….browns….colors of fall
Alex Fayle says
My mother makes quilts by hand – from cutting to piecing to quilting – nothing done on the sewing machine. My own quilt has pieces of shirts that I used to love when I was a child. It doesn’t get used often, but I love it dearly and it was one of the few things that made the trip over to Spain with me when I moved here from Canada.
Alex Fayles last blog post..Trapped in the Day-to-Day: Urban Panther Interview Part 1
Karen Swim says
@Joanna, thanks for the lovely comment and Stumble. 🙂 I love the squiggly bits, I think they add interest and a richness. Don’t you?
@Footyman, a quilt for all seasons could be another post! As I think of not changing the pattern or adding to it but freshening it by washing and loving it more as time ages it, finding comfort in the warmth and memories, ah just beautiful. Thank you for sharing that thought Footyman!
@Brad, oooh I like that, the sharply contrasting colors that represent the various parts of your life. My gosh that is beautiful as is your choice of colors to represent those components. Brad, you are a circle my friend. 🙂
@Steph, as I read I could see your quilt filled with swirling colors, different shapes and textures when viewed through a narrow lens you miss the breathtaking beauty, ah but when you step back and behold it you see the contrast of each piece enhances the others making the colors brighter as they play against the light. Yes, my friend, I see your quilt and it makes me smile.
steph says
Right now my quilt is also made up of the things I want to be rid of…and thinking of it this way doesn’t make me feel so much animosity toward those things, but rather that they have helped shape who I am, but now I don’t really need them and they no longer serve my purpose well. Just as a quilt gets ragged or holes, I will unstitch some of these worn patches, and replace them with new things I learn and experience now that I’ve made room!
🙂
stephs last blog post..Making a List and Checking it Twice
steph says
What a lovely analogy! My quilt would be made up of so many different colours and shapes and patterns! And thinking about all the people in my life who have influenced me and all the passions and events that have helped shape who I am, I am inclined to think that my quilt is also huge!
This is a really great way to point out, too, how much I have to be thankful for.
Thanks!
stephs last blog post..Making a List and Checking it Twice
Brad Shorr says
Karen, my quilt would have lots of sharply contrasting colors. My “business side” would be blue, my “creative side” would probably be green or orange … like Joanna’s mine would be be comprised of random shapes, and I would prefer a circle to a rectangle or square, like the trunk of a tree, with concentric rings marking the years.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Are You Transparent or Translucent?
Footyman says
Here in Singapore we don’t change our quilts (that doesn’t mean we don’t wash it!) because we have only one season all year, SUMMER!
Great reflections there, Karen. My quilt used to tell me how I could have done things better in the past. But now I make my quilt tell me how I could change things now to achieve better for the future 😉
Footymans last blog post..He Started Singing with One Word
Joanna Young says
Karen, what a lovely piece with much food for thought. My quilt has a definite absence of uniform blocks! Lots of squiggly bits 🙂
Lots of room to add intriguing new parts of the story.
Joanna Youngs last blog post..How To Write About Hot Issues