Finding Focus

It’s been bitterly cold, with a biting wind that leaves my cheeks and lips winter chapped, but this little Downy Woodpecker was focused on foraging for whatever he could find under the bark of my chokecherry bush. He lingered long enough for me to grab my camera and shoot some photos, but not long enough for me to switch to my telephoto lens. By the time I got back, he had flown on to another garden, hopefully finding something delicious to feed on.

I’m an avid birdwatcher all year round but in the winter it’s most fascinating and inspiring to be a witness to the persistent survival instincts of these little creatures. We try to help them as much as we can without disturbing the fine balance of nature, but it is still a small miracle to see them survive a harsh Saskatchewan winter.

Activities such as birdwatching and gardening are common to quilters, and I believe they are all closely linked to each other in the sense that each activity inspires and enhances the others. The birds teach me to be patient and watchful, to be persistent, and to be resourceful, all valuable skills to a quilter.

Since last July, I’ve been teaching quilting classes to a small group of ladies from around my community (I’ve just realized this moment that not one of them lives right here in town) and we gather in the church basement twice a month for a few hours of fabric fun. The blocks featured above are the ones I’ve designed and presented for each lesson I’ve taught, and include all sorts of techniques like strip piecing, half square triangles, dresden plates, curved piecing, applique, and flying geese, just to name a few. This Sunday we will gather to make the final two blocks in the series and then each student will proceed to designing their own setting for their quilt top.

I’m focused right now on getting my final sample blocks made in time for our meeting and then I can also begin to put my quilt top together in time for our third annual quilt show in May. Even though we are only a small group of quilters, the show is amazing, and I’m always blown away by the efforts of my students. They, too, are resourceful, persistent, and extremely inspiring. I can’t wait to see the results of all their hard work.

until next time,

happy stitching,

love carol xox