Channeling Gwen Marston

The anti-dote to template piecing (see previous post) is a heaping cupful of Gwen Marston’s liberated process.

I LOVE this book. Even though I have had it for simply ages, I always notice something new each time I sit down with it. This time it was her analogy (page nine) to conventional quiltmaking being like traveling on an expressway. “Nothing new to see and traveling on the same wide straight road with multiple lanes with everyone else becomes wearisome. The only choice for lunch is fast food…” Then she talked about taking road trips as a kid on the two-lanes—no end of things to see, going slow enough to see them. Fun and adventure along the way…that is what liberated quiltmaking is all about! And Process—making your own creative decisions, reflecting your joy. Wise woman, that Gwen!

I am caught up on all three BOMs and not ready to work on my other projects, so I spent a little time in the sewing room yesterday just playing. Just enjoying the Process. Gwen’s house blocks Process is just plain ole’ fun. I hadn’t made any for a long time so these first six were just to get back in the groove. After sewing six, I am ready to be a bit more creative. I want to construct a whole neighborhood—and I won’t even have to deal with City Hall to obtain permits!

Speaking of road trips DH and I will be leaving bright and early Monday morning for a little much-needed excursion of our own. We are heading for Tennessee. First we’ll hit Chattanooga, then on to Great Smoky Mountain National Park and sites thereabouts.

Hopefully we’ll get to travel a few of those two-lane slow and easy paths. See you soon.