"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might;.....
The beginning of this scripture verse could easily have been my mother's motto.  Not to change the scriptures, but she would have also added "and do it right".  Using pins to hold paper patterns cut from newspaper or brown paper bags, she would accurately cut fabric by hand with scissors.  Whether machine piecing or hand piecing, the edges and corners aligned perfectly.  If not, it was an opportunity to rip it out and try again!  Quilt making takes time, patience, and skill.  

Love Bacon?  Me, too.  So what does bacon and sewing have in common?  Well, I love both!  But, the same principles regarding the clipping of curves in sewing collars, for instance, can be applied to bacon.  When bacon begins to curl, use your KITCHEN SHEARS to clip the "curve", and the bacon strip will flatten out.  

This quilt became what it looks like today because of a mistake I made.  Originally I was going to make an attic windows quilt.  All the squares would be facing the same way.  Take a look at the upper left hand square.  All the squares would be lined up horizontally and repeated line after line.  But, when I went to sew two squares together, I unknowingly turned one upside down.  I was not thrilled about having to rip the seam out.  The more I studied it, the more I liked the combination.  So instead of horizontal placements, I changed my thinking and began to work vertically.  The second column starts out with the upside down square which creates a "pairing", thus the name of the quilt.

As I reflect on my trip to Louisville, Kentucky, and the Churchwide Gathering, I think of my mom.  She is no longer on this earth.  She lived with us and we spent the last 14 years of her life together.  She saw me design and complete The Joshua Quilt©.  Yay, a completed project!  Quilters often have so many UFO's (unfinished objects).   I know she would be so proud of me taking the quilt and sharing it with Presbyterian Women from around the world.  Thanks, Mom, for loving me and teaching me to sew.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Carry out a random act of kindness with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.  Princess Diana

With regard to quilting and cooking, my Aunt Gladys always said you couldn't do both.  She would rather quilt than cook.  That is why my mother always planned ahead and brought a crock pot when they spent the day together quilting.  

If my life is like a quilt, then surely God is the Divine Quilter.  How lovingly he gathers up the scraps and remnants and leftovers of my experiences, my brokenness, and my joy.  With the skillful needlework of grace, he stitches it all together to make a wonderful whole.    ​From Quilts From Heaven​ by Lucinda Secrest McDowell