Well its not tomatoes, but the more flowery fruits of my own labor. I so enjoyed reading through the tomato love and all of your fancy ways of consuming them. I am thoroughly stuffed, and feel like we all shared a big meal. Food and love. It is something isn't it? I've been thinking about it for a few days now, how we have favorite ways to eat things, and the memories that a simple fresh vegetable can conjure. Its not just the memory of how you ate it and what it tasted like or how it was prepared, but more, its the warmth of the loved ones that grew it, cooked it or shared it. Its the comfort of being provided for in the most simplest form. Feeding the soul through the mouth.
I went out in the garden today to photograph this quilt and was entirely too distracted by the flowers and felt more like photographing them. I eventually found myself to be taking pictures of the same thing as the quilt, really. The palette was the same. And though this blessed Tennessee soil helped along these blooms, each frame was like another piece in the patchwork of my garden in August. And so I made a new quilt.
And in these thoughts of flowers, fabrics and foods, I found truth in this: offering one's work and toil is one of the greatest forms of love. And whether you are mingling oil and tomato in the kitchen, thread and fabric on your lap, soil and seed in the ground, the gesture of doing your best to provide is the same.
I recently read this quote from a Texas quilter named Mary White, that I think sums up the simplicity of making that is so dear to me:
"You can't always change things. Sometimes you don't have no control over the way things go. Hail ruins the crops, fire burns you out. And then you're just given so much to work with in a life and you have to do the best you can with what you got. That's what piecing is. The materials is passed on to you or is all you can afford to buy....that's just what's given to you. Your fate. But the way you put them together is your business."
good weekend, xoxo,AM
hi Anna Maria, I just wrote down some other truths in my journal and feel full of gratitude and love for all around me too, have a lovely weekend in Tennessee!
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely sentiment. SO what I needed on this day. And both of your quilts are just perfect!
ReplyDeleteOh Anna, just looking at your flower's photos I thought of your fabrics. Lots of inspiration there, isn't it?, lol...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Both of your "quilts" are lovely!! You have a great eye for color. I guess that is stating the obvious, though!
ReplyDeleteI get so many compliments on the bag I made using your Garden Party fabrics! It is one of those pieces that people feel the need to touch as they compliment it!
Oh and you are in a blessed and beautiful state! I love Tennessee in all it's greenness, pretty blooming colors, and tall, tall trees. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law live in Centerville. I love to visit and wallow in the beauty of that gorgeous place. It makes me sooo happy! I'm sure you draw a lot of inspiration from it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletelovely lovely, the photos, the quilt, the quote...all of it!
ReplyDeleteAnna Maria, this was a wonderful post. A very good
ReplyDeletenote to close out a week. You could give this one when
you are called on to do a motivational speech. It has
a little bit of it all and Mary White in her simple
way of speaking really says it well. Thanks for putting
in all together so well. It is good to see someone so
young realizing how all the "connections" are made
to family and friends and acknowledging it.
Thanks for sharing.
Ms. Dale in Ms.
Anna Maria, I love, love, love your new quilt! Just like what my daughter and I had in mind for her college dorm bed. Girlie but bold, just like her. Can't wait for your new line to come out. Will you be having kits to make this quilt? Thank you, Mona
ReplyDeleteWow. That's powerful. I was enjoying the flowers, loving the quilt, and then...that quote. Wow. I just love it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great piece of wisdom to share. Most of your flower photos look like nothing I have in my yard. It's fun to see what other folks have in their yards/climates.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing how the things around use influence us with out us really noticing. The quilt is beautiful and the connection with the colours of your garden wonderful.Hope you are still enjoying your tomatoes, we have also had a huge harvest this year. Making soup and roasting them with garlic and olive oil to have with pasta mostly. There really is nothing so gorgeous as the smell of home grown tomatoes is there?
ReplyDeleteYou expressed the piecing together of our lives so well. I'm going to be thinking on that all day. I love the garden quilt of your blooms and the fabrics are such a beautiful echo of the rich colors.
ReplyDelete~Lallee
I love what you said about work, and how you said it, so much, it made me cry. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI thought your post and the quote to be "lovely." Funny how we all came up with the same word to describe your sentiments. Lovely. What a wonderful word. It strikes a soft chord within the soul, like resting one's head on a soft place. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, lovely post! I needed to be reminded of a few thing morning and that sure got my head in a better place!
ReplyDeletebeautiful pictures...and i love the quote. thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDelete(looking forward to your book being available...i can't get enough good sewing books these days...if only i could pick up and start a sewing project as easily as i can pore through books about them :)!)
Anna Maria, you are a very gracious young woman. After getting to meet you at Portland market, I have told many people that very thing.
ReplyDeleteThe quote you found of Mary White's is how I like to think I live my life. To hear someone as young and celebrated as you are value those things is wonderful.
Love the quote and the new quilt! Your pictures are fabulous as always! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteCaroline
Beautiful flowers, fabrics, words. Brought much-needed color to my day!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDelete...for the flowers
...for the quilt
...for the quote
thanks for these images. The first one makes me remember my childhood, because i used to pick those flowers from my grandma's garden. They are so gorgeous as is your quilt. And the quote is touching. Have a nice sunday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quote and beautiful post. I'll sit here looking at your pictures and try to forget that my garden is in a shambles. I just can't bring myself to weed in this heat...
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like I'm just one of many who was touched by this post. I had a terrible week of dealing with a "friend" who I've spent the last year doing things for, only to have it taken for granted and left me wondering what happened. After reading this I feel good about what I did, whether or not it was received the way it should have been. If expressions of love had their value only in the recipient's response, it wouldn't be worth it. But it's not... the value is in the giver's heart. I realize that now. I think God sent your message to me in the perfect moment.
ReplyDeleteNow I understand where you get your inspiration from ... your gorgeous garden. Thank goodness for the rest of us that you have such a garden :)
ReplyDeleteLove,
Jodi
Hi Anna,
ReplyDeleteI love the finishing on this quilt. I've tied many quilts, but I'm not sure what you've done here. Did you make knots at the back? I'd like to give this a try in a these colours and I'd love a stylish excuse to not quilt it. Can you explain it?
Thanks for the inspiration - Carolanne
WOW...I need to print this out and read it some more. Right to the heart of the matter...thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous quote! Thanks for posting it. It's beautiful and so true.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos and quilt and what lovely words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna :)
Anna, this is probably one of the most beautiful blog posts I have ever read. Love how the colors match with your flowers. I like the little meditative quote at the end. I am going to copy it in my little notebook of quotes so I can ponder on it more deeply later. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou've a great blog. I love your motifs.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog. You inspire me to want to create the most amazing thing I've ever created... and do it with a love and compassion that I often forget relates to sewing for loved ones. What seems like simply a project is really something deeper... something more meaningful. You remind me of that. Thanks for another wonderful entry :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post... your photography...your thoughts... your quilt...all so very lovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the quote! How true. We can't always choose our lot in life, but we can always choose how we react to it. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteGlad your garden is thriving. Here in Houston mine just gave up the ghost, sputtered and died. Oh well, there's always next year. You have to be an optimist to be a gardener. :)
~Elaine~
Your flowers are so lovely... and your quilt reminds me of you beautiful garden :)
ReplyDeleteWhat could be better than flowers for inspiration? Just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy friend is building a new house and I was asking her nine year old daughter if she had any ideas for her bedroom. She didn't have any yet so I showed her the Garden Party fabrics. That really got the juices flowing and now she's got bed linens and draperies planned using all Garden Party. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
This comment has nothing to do with the post. Sorry! I just finished a pillow case dress for my daughter, using your "over the back fence" directions. It's awesome! Thanks so much. I admit that I didn't use your fabrics because I didn't want to cut into them for an experiment, you know? Now I just need to find the perfect case for my favorite Garden Party fabric!
ReplyDeleteJust what I needed to see today in the midst of the stormy Florida weather. What a bright spot!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is just heavenly!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wonderful blog and fabric! I enjoy checking your blog out so much I nominated you with the Brillante award on my own blog. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteLOVE YOUR BLOG!!!!!!!! Giving you a BRILLANTE WEBLOG PREMIO - 2008!! Pass it on!!
ReplyDeletei love this post. i was curious, do you ever sell your quilts?
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the most beautiful quilts I have ever seen!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, you have so much color in your yard! How lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat an eye!! Love the quote!!
ReplyDeleteThe minute i saw the flowers I instantly thought of your fabrics. Lovely post. The quote is thought provoking!
ReplyDeleteI just received your fabrics in my shop and I love them we have had 2 ladies come in with the cutest skirts made out of it. I am doing a craft segment on a local TV show and one of my projects is made out of Garden Party.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Nadine
the material girls quilts
Attitude is everything--we have control over how we handle things---thanks for the quote, pictures and thoughts!
ReplyDeletelove the quote!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your blog, although I've used some of your fabrics for tunics. I love the shower of cheerful colours here.
ReplyDeleteSmiling Hello:)
ReplyDeleteVery pleased to come across your journal, and... I am speechless! Creative, as stands creative and reflects all the colors of life. The quote is so true. Although we can't always change things, I believe we should give an effort to do so. Even small thoughtful changes might make our/others day. In fact, I am on this way.
Anyway, I shall come again to read you very soon.
My best,
~N in Istanbul
I haven't been by for a while... what a lovely post to come back and visit you on. Very thoughtful words and profound thoughts. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous - the flowers, the quilt and the words.
ReplyDeleteAnna Maria, come back to blog world!!
ReplyDeleteAnna Maria, I hope all is well with you and your family and that you are enjoying the end of summer together. But we miss you!
ReplyDeleteWOW! Beautiful colors! I wish your garden was in my yard.
ReplyDeleteLovely lovely inspiration, wonderfull idea and work.
ReplyDeleteHi Anna
ReplyDeleteYour quilts are just perfect!
Anna Maria, I love your quilt!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is how shall I say.... A product that I would most definitely love to have around the house, I mean it is beneficial.. Am I right or Am I Right?! Whether some may agree or not, it doesn't bug me to enjoy the company of one of these :)
ReplyDeleteIf everybody has them, I think I should have the opportunity in luxuriating myself with the presence of making this my present! Gotta say, its mainly because how well you've explained everything
It's a great gift except for sometimes, but hey it surely does re-coupe and make up for boring and lost times..
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