Waving Towards Germany!

I am completely blown away by the number of quilters who sewed along with me today. Or cut fabric. Or cleaned a sewing room. Or cooked dinner while tuned in.

This was the first time where I planned it at a time that would work for those in Europe as well as for those in the States, and I’m SO happy it worked for SO many.

My apologies to those down-under – I know that it was bad for you time-wise, but I felt the need to shift things a little so that those in Europe aren’t making themselves set their alarm clocks for 2am ((!!!)) so they can join us.

I was told by more than one person though, that they were only joining in until Downton Abbey started, and then I was on my own. LOL!

Germany, France, Netherlands, England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand, India, Israel, Norway, Sweden ---and that is just off the top of my head, I know there are more places than I can count. You were all part of the 1400 views who watched me snap the thread on the treadle by sewing backwards yet again, and laughed along with me!

I got the best part of the deal – I got to visit with you AND sew and make progress on my project!

I wanted to share a bit from an email I just received and I wanted to share it with you because THIS is why I do what I do ---

I believe that quilting is a way to connect with others. We all go through many of the same things in life, the ups the downs the hard and the joyful ---and the quilting is the one thread we have in common.

Danijela wrote:

Dear Bonnie,

This was fun, I spent Sunday evening with you on QuiltCam!

On behalf of my old Singer Treadle I would like to say thank you! You made me taking her out of the corner where she was decoratively placed and dust her properly and trying out if she still sews. I inherited her from a very old lady who died in the age of 98 years and I know that still in her nineties she was sewing on this machine all her garments! So it should work.

That's me on Danijela's phone!  In Potsdam, Germany!

Well it took me a while to find out how to thread the machine and we still have "tension issues" no clue how to change the tension in the bobbin. Newertheless, during QuiltCam I completed a block which I here proudly share with you. Not bad for my first try and bad tension! In any way I had a lot of fun!!!

Not sure how old the machine is, the label says C46760.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you - although very late! - for last year's mystery. I will always remember each step of this mystery as it accompanied me when my life started getting down with a speed of a rollercoaster. In October I met my boyfriend whom I love very much and the first two weeks of the mystery I was feeling like on a honeymoon.

At the beginning of December my mother was diagnosed with cancer which we were told cannot be cured. I was devastated. Sewing the steps you gave us every week gave me the break I needed. I sewed my brain out and at least during those times I was not thinking about this terrible disease my mum was suffering from.

When the mystery was unveiled I was speechless. I so love this quilt pattern, and very often when I lay on this quilt I look at those little and tiny pieces.

During the summer mum went through a horrible chemo therapy, and I spend as much time as possible with her in the hospital. Over months I was just sitting at her side. And again, inspired by you, one day I brought some hexies and started to sew.

Thank you for bringing us quilters together even over continents! You are great!All the best and ganz viele Grüße

Danijela from Potsdam, Germany

THIS is why we do what we do.  How often is the simple act of sewing together pieces of fabric with needle and thread, or sewing strip sets together through the machine to hold the world at bay our means of SANITY until we can settle our thoughts and do what we have to do?  No matter how old we are, no matter where we are -- we all go through these things in our lives and the simple fact of having quilting in common with each other is a great equalizer. Quilting is a healer.

I know some cultures that carry worry stones in their pockets --- I prefer a thimble, needle, thread, and a few pieces of fabric in mine.

Thanks for sharing your story Danijela!

And a side note from me --- did any of you see that Danijela's machine is identical to my Tiffany?!? I can hardly wait to get the bobbins here so that I can try mine out too :c)