the quilting festival is an event where grandma lingers.
Her friends are there – Mag, Charlene and Mrs. Fingers.
They try to pretend it is not a competition at all.
But they drag their secrets outside in the middle of fall.
Oh, my, I never saw that red and green one before!
Gram says to Mrs. McDiggins, the Irish gal next door.
McDiggins is grinning like a sailor who is in his cups.
I thought I had shown it to you she fibs to McGupps.
Their masterpieces on display, they watch everyone’s fingers.
Dirty nails and palms had better not stay to paw, touch or linger.
They want the oohs and aahs but they want their work pristine.
Gram comes home every year bragging she is the “quilting queen”.
Categories:
quilting, women,
Form: Rhyme
Janice set out a variety of fat quarter cottons
arranging and rearranging colors until she was happy
one brown she kept tossing out, then pulling back in
she loved making quilt decisions
she had a new pattern, old to many, new to her
have you started on it yet? Her sister asked.
sis did not sew, could not understand the delight in preparation.
Janice could not be hurried. This was a major project.
it would last her all winter. She was going to take her time.
almost done, she lied, to get her off her back.
Categories:
quilting, sister,
Form: Free verse
Laughter had subsided, but the stitches were coming faster and faster.
Not so large, honey, oldster said to the young one who was learning.
Quilters are particular about their stitch size, in case you did not know.
May, another quilter nodded encouragement to the young one.
Baby’s foot was dangling from the stroller' the puppy was snoring.
Tiny stitches were making the new quilt come together in a sweet way.
I think she will be excited! One said. Another gave a harrumph sound.
Some glared; they did not want to ruin their surprise for the young mother.
Categories:
quilting, women,
Form: Prose Poetry
It starts with a quivering lip
threads a touch from patches
to little swatches of fabric from
various phases various places of us
the first shirt you gave me
off your very back
was gray with a cartoon face
the hat from your kinky head black
and I use a piece of that
the jeans that romanticized everything
on that patch you asked
me to be your destiny
and on this very cloth
relic of the day we lost emotional innocence
the day we became familiar
it is peculiar we made love but never had sex
without emancipating clothing
we made love like a quilt
and it was my first strawberry passion.
Categories:
quilting, appreciation, cute love, destiny,
Form: Free verse
She sat for hours
Needle in hand
Stitching in silence
Inviting medleys
She stitched together
Hues happy and glad
Brilliant and vibrant
Inviting medleys
She threaded her needle
Gently with patience
Taking time to create
Inviting medleys
She laced each stitch
Careful, a caress
Against soft fabric
Inviting medleys
She pieced each square
Rectangle or triangle
Together with care
Inviting medleys
She gave her heart
To the pieces she sewed
Weaving hope with her thoughts
Inviting medleys
She held out the quilt
Sensational dreams
Blowing on souls
Inviting medleys
She gave them away
Pieces of her love
Graceful praise
Inviting medleys
She was always laughing
Alive with compassion
Filling her stitches with light
Inviting medleys
She wove love and hope
Into her quilts
Delighting spirits
Inviting medleys
''T'' Contest, New or Old Poetry Contest
Sponsored by: Constance La France
November 7, 2021
TAPESTRY THEME WORD
Categories:
quilting, family, remember, simple,
Form: Free verse
My stitches aren’t even;
My squares don’t line up straight
And if you want a quilt from me,
It’s years you’ll have to wait.
Yet every Thursday, there I sit,
My needle pulling thread,
With not a thought beyond that room
Carousing in my head.
I’m calm, relaxed and in control
And while my scissors snip,
I bask in camaraderie
And crafting fellowship.
My projects hang around the house
And in my grandkids’ rooms,
But it is in my quilting class
Where my composure blooms.
Categories:
quilting, happiness,
Form: Rhyme
Does Quilting Send You *****
by Bob Moore
Does Quilting send you *****, my wife buys lots of stuff
I say “look here my dear, you really have enough”
you never know, she says to me, that could be the bit,
I may need to use one day, so I think I should buy it
Her stash is growing every day, the cupboards are all full
draws difficult to open, weight makes them hard to pull
Fat Quarters and the Jelly Rolls, are stacked just everywhere
But she really likes her hobby, so who am I to care
she still cooks and cleans for me, and if I need her she’ll be there
and I’ll help her with advice, guess that’s only fair
now and then there’s quilting classes, and she goes away
it’s quiet when she is not here, and it’s such a real long day
Then she comes home, and in a minute, its chaos once again
with all the things she’s done that day, burned into my brain
“I learn a few new things today, the teachers really good
but some I would do better, I really think I could.”
Categories:
quilting, art, happiness,
Form: Rhyme
Gathering up the flowers
in the deep part of the wood
was a band of happy fairies
with their mission understood.
As they flitted to and fro
their tiny fingers dancing
they worked the patches and the prints
over their shoulders glancing.
Well into the night they sewed
their stunning masterpiece;
pouring love into each frame
of every little crease.
At break of dawn they laid it out
across the forest grass.
It sparkled in the morning dew
and shone like mirrored glass.
Then one by one they all stood back
and it was good they knew;
a gift fit for their fairy queen.
So off with it they flew.
* for contest "Fantasy Land"
sponsored by Debbie Guzzi
Categories:
quilting, fantasy, imagination
Form: Rhyme
I saw the quilting angel
as she quilted in my dreams.
She quilted with the weirdest things
Not just with cloth and strings.
I saw she added Furniture
Like antique beds and swings.
Baby cradles ~ rocking chairs
and dolls and children's things.
She Added in at least two men
sewing them each down tight.
I noticed all but one had come undone
Just before the dawns new light.
I had watched her quilt ~for hours now
As I slept the night away.
I decided to ask to see her quilt
before My dreams passed into Day!
Come and Look she sang to me
Before any words I said.
I am quilting up your life
from birth until you're dead.
I saw the swings and children's things
and knew how they would fit.
I saw the balls and bats and dolls
and even a catchers mitt.
I saw some tears But smiles as well
some kids and dogs and a tree.
I laughed and glowed as she proudly showed
what a mosaic my life would be!
Categories:
quilting, fantasy, imagination, life, mystery
Form: Free verse
be key to all seen
a morning feeling singing
may u stand firm
Categories:
quilting, adventure, confusion, devotion, faith,
Form: Haiku