Anita Shackelford
Contact me  
  • Home
  • Digitized Patterns
  • Short Arm Patterns
  • Made by Hand - Books, Templates, Needles
  • Needles
  • For sale
  • Quilt Rescue
  • Statler Tutorials
  • Red and Green Quilts
  • Kids at Work
  • About Anita
  • Contact
  • What's New
  • Store

A Gardener and a Quilter

1/8/2021

1 Comment

 
Picture
Below is the first article I wrote for American Quilter Magazine in 1992. I find it surprisingly insightful, considering the state of the world today. Over the years, my focus on gardening has increased and I have added several new approaches to my quilting, but I still try to find a balance, spending time on both of these things. 
Enjoy, Anita
 
"I am a gardener and a quilter. A good combination, I think. Both give me the same pleasure and sense of accomplishment. They satisfy my creative needs and provide something tangible for my family. There is order, pattern and color in each one. Both are long term projects and I enjoy watching them grow.
 
I like to think that growing our own food gives us a little bit of self sufficiency. That if the world suddenly changed, I could still put food on the table. There is comfort in that.
 
Quilting may be even more important than food to me.  Reflecting on this idea of self sufficiency, I thought if I were suddenly cut off from civilization, I could still quilt. I would miss my goose neck lamp, but natural light is really the best anyway. Since my work is almost all done by hand, I could live without my sewing machine. All I need is my needle and thread.
 
But what about the needle?...and the thread?...and the fabric? What would I do if I could no longer buy those wonderful fabrics and my favorite little betweens? I know that it is possible to spin and weave, but after all of that, would I really cut it into thousands of pieces to be sewn back together again? How could I make all of the quilts still waiting inside my head? It made me thankful for all of the people who make these things available to me.
 
I will continue to garden, to work and wait and watch it grow. But I feel lucky to be able to buy, at a moment’s notice, anything I need to make my quilts. If the grocery stores close, I can still feed my family, but without my quilting, my soul would surely starve."

​Wishing you a new year of abundance and gratitude.

1 Comment
Junk Removal Santa Monica link
8/9/2022 02:24:07 am

Loovely blog you have

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Anita has a long background rooted in traditional handwork and quiltmaking, which she still enjoys.

    Often, these days, you'll find her digitizing patterns for the Statler Stitcher and other computerized longarm quilting machines. 
     
    Her summer days are spent in the garden and she loves finding new ways to prepare good veggie-based meals.


    She's always in search of a way to balance all of those activities and find time to share with others who are passionate about the same things.

    This page is a sneak peek into what's happening in her world right now.

    Archives

    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020

    Categories

    All
    Binding
    Christmas
    Country Living
    Handmade
    Kitchen Garden
    Landscape
    Meatless Monday
    Pottery
    Quilting
    Quilt Rescue

    RSS Feed