The Art of the Quilter
(Dedicated to the Waterford Quilters Guild of Loudon County, VA)
She shoulders a bolt of muslin.
So much to be gathered!
Picking through the fabric store scrap bin,
frets while seeking a landscape…
Shallow buttercream border,
bursts of color will drop into place.
Her mind dancing with images, blends,
patterns, plotting her design.
The group assembles for another quilting bee,
one of the longest-running circles in the country.
Someone topples a lamp and is
laughingly forgiven, since she brought goodies.
As with hula hoops and wedding bands,
this circle will never be broken:
The dedicated members of the
Waterford Quilters Guild, Virginia.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Possessing a gift for words and music but none for needlework, I am forever in awe of the quilts my sister has made for me and for others over the years. Every stitch is done by hand; a labor of love. To see some of the fabulous quilts created by the members of one of the longest-running quilting circles in America, visit this link: http://waterfordquiltersguild.org/Gallery.html
This was done for Brenda’s Sunday Whirl: The words to be used were: shoulder, gathered, causes, broken, shallow, drop, topples, dancing, bolt, burst, fret, hoops, forgive.
Sharp Little Pencil 
christine
I agree, quilting is an art form. I have been to a few shows and they are breathtaking works of art. The link was awesome.
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m so pleased you visited the link! She is a master of the art and has the patience of Job. Aren’t these works of art lovely? Thanks, Christine, peace, Amy
brenda w
Oh Amy, the quilts are beautiful. Your sister is a blessing to you, and you to her. Your words bring honor to the Waterford Quilter’s Guild.
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda, so happy you visited the link and saw their handiwork. My sister is indeed a blessing! Love, Amy
Renee Espriu
I so agree with you , Amy. Your words certainly give us a look at the quilters who gather to make their beautiful pieces and what that entails. Like many forms of art it is a passion you have to have. My grandmother could so make them and everyone made with love.
Sharp Little Pencil
Renee, so many hours. My sister says a baby’s quilt does not actually belong to the baby until he or she barfs, drools, or pees on it!!! And then comes the hand-washing…! Your grandma was a wonder, too! Love, Amy
vivinfrance
That’s one after my own heart!
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, I knew you would be especially touched by this poem. Hope you visited the link to see their work! And, as I said, I am hopeless with handicrafts; fortunately, a gift for words compensates. Amy
Debbie
Amy, you work with the words given, weaving and stitching them in like a quilt! The quilts are so beautiful. I would love to try to do something like that . . .someday! 🙂 Thank you for sharing.
Sharp Little Pencil
I would love to try it, but I have neither the patience nor the dexterity to do quilting justice. It’s my sister’s thing! Amy
Poetry & Icecream
I love this!!! As a quilter myself I can relate. I love the second stanza especially this line “bursts of color will drop into place”.
Sharp Little Pencil
You’re a quilter, too? Wow, the many facets (and toppings) of Poetry and Ice Cream, LOL. Glad you liked what I did with the Wordle!
coalblack
i am not a quilter, and yet i am fascinated by it. nice tribute!
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, I’m hopeless with handiwork, but my sis is a wizard with the needle and thread! Thanks, Shay. Amy
kaykuala
Amy,
I too have great admiration for those who could come up with fantastic hand-made items. The hours spent were dedication at its best. It is not for any financial gain. Sometimes these are given away free. Beautiful verse!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, all the quilts my sister has made have been for family and friends. I doubt she’s ever made a dime. Like her four children, it’s a labor of pure love! Thanks for leaving your link to your blog this time, Hank, it really saves me time so I can visit you!! Peace, Amy
coalblack
hey, thank you for adding me to the links on your side bar! if i had a link list at mine i would add you forthwith. (hey, that’s fun to say…forthwith forthwith. ha!)
Sharp Little Pencil
Forwith! Thou flatterest me with thine fancy-ass language, ha ha ha. Yeah, I love your stuff, so I put you on there. If you get a bunch of my bizzarro friends commenting, I apologize (grinning) in advance…! Amy
Kim Nelson
It is as if I was in the room, feeling the love and support, connecting with sisters in a cause. Lovely, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kim, that’s a lovely image you’ve put in my mind. And yes, it is a sisterhood of sorts. Like the “family one makes.” Thanks so much, hon. Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Amy, this poem reminded me of my Grandma’s quilts, likely made through the Depression to keep her kids warm. They were practical ones, not the works of art some quilts are. I so wish I had one of them now. I so enjoyed this poem.
Sharp Little Pencil
Sherry. one of the quilts my sis made me is threadbare from nursing Riley on it, from tumbling about with Lex on it, from cats napping upon it… and no matter how carefully I hand-wash it, it’s still missing some squares. It’s my absolute favorite quilt of all she has made me. Velveteen, you know? Love, Amy
liv2write2day
Between you and Viv I keep telling myself I want to learn to quilt. But the reality is…I don’t have time now for all I want to do! Good use of words, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m with you, Christine. I don’t know how to keep up with marriage, church, home, out-of-town daughter, mental health, and blog. But remember, just as every good singer needs an appreciative audienece, so our friends who are great with handwork need those who will stand slack-jawed before their sheer talent. That’s us, my friend! (Hope Viv sees this, too!)
Madeleine Begun Kane
A lovely tribute to that group!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much. My sister said they are getting lots of hits on their website, too, so hooray for the Internet! Amy
Jae Rose
This was full of busy hands..hearts content..occupied..comforted..makes me want to join a quilters bee..in a garden..under a swing..Jae 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
Now, see, that’s a nice meditation, huh? I’d better store up more for the grey days ahead! A
laurie kolp
Amy- What a lovely tribute to these ladies who spend hours on their work, each stitch like the words we put down on paper.
Sharp Little Pencil
That was what I was going for – some of us found that parallel as well. Art is art is art, right? Thanks, Laurie. Peace, Amy
Buddah Moskowitz
Like warm apple cider – cozy, sweet and delightful – bless you, Ameleh!
Sharp Little Pencil
And YOU, my dear, are like a cool frosty Tres Equis con limon en un dia mas calor – refreshing, brisk, and you tickle my nose! Incidentally, Lex thinks your pen name is EXCELLENT and wanted me to tell you that! Tu hermana, Ameleh
pmwanken
I loved reading about the quilters…I could absolutely picture it. 🙂
Here’s my hoop story: http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/first-dance/
~Paula
Sharp Little Pencil
Paula, I can always count on you to leave the all-important direct link! I enjoyed every moment of imagining my sister and her friends at work. Peace, Amy
wolfsrosebud
loved the patchwork piece you put together here… i have piles of fabric waiting for a throwdown… but my layers of paper come first
Sharp Little Pencil
Someone commented that we quilt with words, an apt description!
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