stop and think

I arrived home the other day and had one of those moments, a moment that made me stop in my tracks.  I opened the car door and for some reason found myself staring at this pitch fork.

It is a serious looking garden tool but here it is, standing still in the garden seemingly overcome by the vine. At first I thought how beautiful it looked but then I had to wonder.  What was I looking at?  Is this a symbol of my life? Am I surrounded by beauty as I work or stuck in the mud? Is someone trying to tell me something?  Have I dropped tools on important chores?  Has the garden of my life taken over and stopped me in my tracks?  Is this a good sign or a bad sign? Stand still too long and get grown over?

Anyway, this is it.  The last day of summer holidays for the youngest boy. The last day for lounging around, eating everything in the fridge, disappearing out the door with a bike, skateboard or pack of friends.  The last day for spontaneous slumber parties that mean laughs and music in the night before big breakfasts.

Isn't it funny how teenagers can't see what is coming?  Despite the reminders that it is time to wind back the sleep time in preparation for school nights he was still goofing around very late. I found this summer I spent a lot of time talking about consequences.  Can we actually teach them to understand why we, the boring, strict, stupid, nerdy parents say what we say?  How do we get credibility with these free thinking action seekers?  Is it fair to strip them of their spontenaity in exchange for responsibilities, rules, schedules and the rigour of routine?  I spent a lot of this summer playing tug of war in my head.  I like to think that reasonable conversation sinks in better than hard line but when they were bumping around at 2am this morning I had to wonder if I have failed.  Perhaps I should go honk the horn of my car at this early "responsible" hour...or maybe get that pitch fork and dig him and his friends out of bed.  Ok, I won't but I can enjoy the feeling of revenge for a minute more...

My biggest boy did yet another day of service to Material Obsession this weekend. (hence HIS overgrown fork at home I fear!)  It seems he is forever putting aside his own thing to help me.  I'd release him if I could but unfortunately I need him too much.  John is the glue that holds it all together in so many ways.  He puts up with more quilt talk than anyone I know so I try to feign an interest in cricket.  Except he doesn't care if I like cricket.  Oh well.  Anyway, he hung our quilt hanger this weekend so we immediately hung some quilts up which actually was really fun!

Here we have the lovely Liesel making her 2012 debut in the shop.  One Saturday a month simply isn't enough.  Here she is showing Signature Crosses...only instead of customary signatures in the crosses I used Brandon Mably's Babble print.  Quiet joke on my part.  Oh yeah, I crack me up.  The other quilt will soon be featured in Quilters Companion and called Almost Pretty.  Even though they are very different quilts I like the way they look together and especialy with Liesel.  It will be fun to have such a grand scale for hanging quilts now.

Yep.  Last day of holidays and classes start this week with Brigitte Giblin.  Brigitte's classes should be fun this year as her book comes out in April!!!! Yes,  Quilt Mania is publishing a book of 20 of Brigitte's patterns. More info Ccoming soon!

We have spent many hours this January setting up for the start of quilting season!  Most of the ducks are now in a row and we can hit the road running.  And run we will.  Here are a few dates:

Saturday 11 February:  If you are a NSW Guild Member, Material Obsession is the shop for the meeting.  I will be doing a demonstration on using a design wall, templates and contemporary fabrics.  I've also got a bit of a slide show coming together for my talk. 

17-21 April:  If you are in France I'll be doing a few template workshops at L'Amour du Fils...and releasing the new book with Quilt Mania...and on that note, a package of Quilt Mania magazines is on its way to the shop now for sale at last!!!

25 May - 3 June:  Wellington, New Zealand.  The Capital Quilters of Lower have a big week if workshops planned and then I am heading to Handmade for the weekend with some fun workshops.

Is it June yet? No vine will ever grow up and stop me.  Is that a good thing? k

Comments

[Chris jurd]

Congrats on the gig in Nantes. How exciting and can't wait to see your new book.
See you soon. Chris

[Liane]

Love your new quilt hanger. You are so lucky to have such a helpful man around!
I'm sure we all feel like we fail when talking to our teenagers - you are not alone!
You sound like you have exciting things instore for this year - as usual! Do you need an extra pair of hands at L'Amour du Fils?

[LoriD]

It sounds like you are full steam ahead, with nothing stopping you.
Love the way you can hang quilts now!!

[Martha]

Ha ha, you are in my brain with these kids, same, same. Except it's winter here! My view is that we have to keep pushing our words of wisdom and caution as they (especially boys)leap from the nest. They are only half listening anyway. The overgrown pitchfork in the neglected garden is no reflection of you I am sure. You have flowers and beauty and bounty with fabric instead. We can't do everything (tho Lord knows we try).

[Ailsa]

I just bought a copy of your book Material Obsession 2 and its brilliant, especially all the detailed instructions on how to piece! Its my new favourite quilt book!

[cardygirl]

I am also hearing you regarding slumbering sons...organisation, consequences...gentle prodding & support...and the occasional rant gets some reaction(most of the time) here! Looking forward to seeing both your book and Brigitte's.Love the display wall!

[carla]

It's so nice to hear our kids repeat something we've told them when we thought they weren't listening. AFter she went to college the parents weren't always so boring or stupid. LOL My daughter was and sometimes is still just like your boys but now that she's in her 20's it gotten much easier. It's amazing sometimes we the parents know something these days but that's not saying we still don't buck heads.

[Charlotte]

Could you show us a full view of the quilt behind the yellow rulers/templates in today's post. It is wonderful!