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This month we celebrate CHILDREN’S DAY. We already have a Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and a Grandparents’ Day. Why should we have a Children’s Day? Don’t we give the young ones enough attention in everyday life? We cater to their needs, give up needed sleep and relaxation so we can spend quality time with them. The media exalts their deeds, whether good or bad. They are featured in magazines, books, newspapers, and on television. So why a Children’s Day?
Those of us who are truly blessed with children can attest to the fact that they are never clones of ourselves. Surely, on more than one occasion, we wish they could do some of the things we did as children, or enjoy some of the games, hobbies or interests we had. We even encourage this with gifts of whatever we liked, or the dreams we pursued. Somehow they manage to go on their merry way, and leave us standing in the dust to hope that they will be happy with the lives they have chosen. If you have more than one child, then multiply these feelings by just as many.
The world is run by adults. We make the laws and we enforce them. We create the products and we market them. We decide who does what and when. We tolerate some behavior and condemn others. We judge, decide, and act as adults.
Now enter the world of a child. It is as colorful as a box of crayons, as bright as the sunshine, and as warm as a favorite quilt or blanket. In the heart of a child lives hope, dreams, goals, ambitions, and destinations. These heart-held attributes change with time and sometimes when these children reach adulthood, these hopes and ambitions are totally changed, sometimes by choice and sometimes not.
Look into the eyes of a child and you have a glimpse of the destination of the world. Take them by the hand and you place yourself at the mercy of sweet smiles, bear hugs and moist kisses. They may smudge you with dirty hands yet those fingerprints leave a mark of confidence that the world will continue to turn and there is a chance that it will get better.
Whether you have children of your own or have the opportunity to be friends with the children of other people, don’t miss out on the challenges they freely give and the dreams they will paint your life with. Children use imagination if given the chance, and opportunity if you open the door. They dance with the wind and skip through the raindrops. A child always sees the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, where as adults we may even miss the rainbow. They listen to our tales, and they go on to create their own. The little ones will sit with us by a quiet stream and while we take a much deserved nap, they dream of what will be and how they will make it happen.
A child is a mixture of generations before them and yet they have their own distinct impact on the future. They may be small in statute but they are giants in creativity. They can fly on a magic carpet as easily as we drive a car. They can spin tales of delight, while we lament the past. Children climb the ladder of life and hope to reach their castles in the sky. They are clever, original, and have a vision that they carry in their souls.
Where is the point that we change from being the miracle of a child to the practical, down-to-earth, adult that tolerates no nonsense, is too busy to watch a firefly, and misses the delight of a spider spinning his web? I don’t believe everyone attains this transformation at the same time. Some blame it on life while others point to their parents, environment, or even their heritage. If we find that we can no longer sit down and find humor in a misshaped clay figure, or realize that the crayon marks are not “outside” the lines, but that they are only an expansion of what could possibly be, then take a child by the hand and let them lead you back into a realm where anything is possible and everything is probable. Enter the land where everything lends itself to be transformed into whatever you would like it to be.
So, why do we have a Children’s Day? Could it possibly be because we realize that we are children for such a short time and we are adults for the rest of our lives? Do we feel in our hearts that we have to step back into a world where color, sparkle, and enchantment allows us to reclaim dreams, renew our hopes, and a small hand will help us find ourselves? Are we really celebrating children or does the world need to realign its visions and build better castles in the sky? Isn’t Children’s Day really a day for the whole world to appreciate life and really see what it has to offer? Are we finally beginning to realize that we carry our childhood in our hearts and that when we rekindle our acquaintance with what we were, our steps are a little lighter, our smiles are brighter, and our world resembles a box of crayons.
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May
(An excerpt from Celebrate a Child by Arleen M. Kaptur)
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Author: Arleen M. Kaptur
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Timely help for quilt stencils
About Quilting You'll have fun with the wonky log cabin quilt block pattern. Make the blocks from structured fabrics if you like, or grab strings from your stash and go entirely scrappy. This quilt block is one of the easiest you'll ever make -- its patches do not have to be cut to exact sizes and its seams can vary -- angle the strips this way and that to increase the design's wonky appearance. Blocks in the photo were stitched to resemble a wonky version of one traditional log cabin layout -- the pattern includes tips to help you change the look. Follow About.com Quilting on Facebook Photo © Janet Wickell Wonky Log Cabin Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 07:45:55. Permalink | Comment | Email this Oriental Attic Windows Quilt Block Pattern I really like Asian themed fabrics, but sometimes I have a hard time visualizing blocks that fit the look. But I love this Oriental Attic Windows design. Each quilt block is made from three pieces of fabric -- and sewn together with only two seams. Yes, the block has a mitered corner, but the easy sewing method will erase any fears beginners might have about tackling miters. I promise, it's simple, and a really important skill to learn. Give it a try! Oriental Attic Windows Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 06:00:47. Permalink | Comment | Email this Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern The Domino quilt block finishes at 9" square, with small units that are a nice size for baby and toddler quilts, but perfectly fine for a bed-sized quilts, too. The Domino quilt block pattern includes instructions for making a single quilt block, for those of you who like to go scrappy, plus directions for 20-strip pieced Domino blocks. The 20 blocks can be used in the Domino baby quilt shown on page 4 of the pattern, or in another quilt of your own design. Before beginning, new quilters should make sure they're okay with sewing a quarter inch seam and with rotary cutting long strips of fabric. Domino Quilt Block & Quilt Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012 at 06:00:00. Permalink | Comment | Email this Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern Lost Ship is the ninth quilt block pattern for the Scrap Happy Sampler Quilt, but you can use it for any project. Two versions of the block are shown, one more scrappy than the other, but each variation helps you practice making half-square triangle units -- a good thing since those units are probably the most commonly used patchwork configuration. You might notice that the design is similar to the Rocky Glen quilt block -- the overall layout is basically the same, but Rocky Glen contains more half-square triangle units. Like other blocks in the sampler series, the Lost Ship quilt block finishes at 12-inches square. Lost Ship Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 07:50:44. Permalink | Comment | Email this Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts The 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilt gallery is up and running now, and illustrates the wide variety of layouts that quilters developed when designing their projects. The quilts in the gallery are a wonderful representation of the work that went into these projects, but there are many, many more quilts and quilt tops out there, and I'd love to feature them all in the gallery. Please email your photos to me at quilting.guide@about.com. Quilt by Neralie Pictures of 2012 New Year's Day Mystery Quilts originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 06:00:59. Permalink | Comment | Email this Quilt Photo Gallery Updates I updated quite a few of our quilt galleries this weekend, and am now pretty much caught up (temporarily, as usual) with the photos you have submitted. Once again I do have forms without photos and photos without forms -- all of those go into a 'check these' folder until I can find time to write (mostly about missing photos). When you submit the form, please remember that it is a 2-step process -- photos must come to me by separate email. Galleries Updated Photo is Shattered, a quilt by Sewtherequilts in memory of her sister. Quilt Photo Gallery Updates originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 18:01:08. Permalink | Comment | Email this Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern Flock of Geese is a traditional quilt block, but its name is a bit misleading. Take a look at the block and you'll see it does not include those popular flying geese units that we often use. Instead, the 'flocks' are made up of half-square triangle units, kind of like geese flying in formation. You can adjust the color value of your patches to make the block appear very different from mine, and you can choose a structured look or go very scrappy with the layout. The Flock of Geese block is fun to play with -- try varying the look from block-to-block in a larger quilt, because I think you'll like that, too. Flock of Geese Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 12:16:15. Permalink | Comment | Email this Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns Quilting Forum members designed this 6" patchwork heart quilt block for a 2008 swap, and are using it again this month. The design is a natural for a Valentine's Day wallhanging and makes a lovely baby quilt. The heart block is assembled with quick piecing techniques, so it's super easy to make. For the swap, a different focal fabric was used in each half of the block (two pinks or two reds), but choose another combination if you prefer. You'll find instructions and yardage for a small heart wallhanging on the last page of the pattern. Photo © Sophie Patchwork Hearts Quilt Block & Quilt Patterns originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Saturday, January 28th, 2012 at 06:00:22. Permalink | Comment | Email this Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern This vibrant Snowball quilt block is assembled with a white on white interior and purple tips. A red heart is appliqued to the center of the 6" (finished size) block. If you're already into applique, the gentle heart will be a breeze, and beginners will find that it's a perfect first applique project (read my Needleturn Applique Basics for technique how-tos). The block is from a 2009 Quilting Forum event, where it was sewn by numerous members. Heart Blocks by Sandy Heart in a Snowball Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 06:00:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern The reverse version of the Capital T quilt block isn't seen as commonly as its counterpart -- where dark fabrics create the diagonal T-shape at each corner. Both blocks are assembled the same way, it's just the color values that are flip-flopped, but the two versions are unique enough that I felt a separate pattern would be a good option for the quilt block shown here. I've included instructions to make the block's flying geese units in a couple of ways -- both are quick-pieced but one technique results in no fabric waste. Choose the method that works best for the fabrics you have on hand. I saw some examples online recently of quilts made using this value layout, but can't locate them now -- the blocks looked wonderful placed on point. More T Blocks Reverse Capital T Quilt Block Pattern originally appeared on About.com Quilting on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 19:22:19. 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