Inside The Box. . .

Last Thursday's Inspire Me Thursday theme was "The Best of 2007". It took me a while. 2007 was an eventful year. And when the inspiration finally hit, the problem became how to show it.

So, first things first, I'll tell you about my "best of". My son Andrew never asks for anything. OK, rarely. And when he does, it's usually something electronic or a book. He supports my art by being good company and by knowing when I need privacy. Other than that, he'd rather do something athletic, play video games, or read. So when he came up to me one day early last January and said, "Mom, you're always asking me what I want for things like Christmas or my birthday, and I'm always telling you nothing. But there is something I'd really like. You like to sew things, so maybe you could make me a quilt." It was a little emotionally overwhelming.

He was 13 and he wanted something I would make. This was a better compliment than anything from the most accomplished, famous, artist. My son has enough love and faith in my work to want something I'd make. And he told me to design it myself, "Just make sure it's soft and warm." In Greek, they'd call this my "axios". I received my indelible stamp of universal approval, for all time and all ages.

Of course I said "yes". But quilts are what I've done, not what I do. At least not the sleeping kind. I'm an outside the box kind of person with some inside the box skills. So I summoned my left brain, and my daughter, and went fabric shopping, deciding on flannels beforehand. Andrew loves pale blue, but is a really masculine kid, so I knew I had to find a way to incorporate the pale blue into a "guy's" quilt. And I had to do it with what was commercially available. Don't get me wrong now, but "commercially available" to me is like eating pasta out of the box without sauce. Not "bad" maybe, but boring. And not me. And Andrew would expect to see "me" in this quilt. Otherwise, he would have asked me to buy him one. If you're not already asleep, then please read on. . .

. . .The shopping story goes like this: We got to the store, found the red plaid flannel, loved it, it wasn't light blue, so we kept looking, found the brown plaid flannel, it went well with the red plaid so we kept it, then we discovered the plainer brown flannel and kept it. But the only pale blue had tiny white flowers. Andrew would gag! . . .Amy found a wild-life flannel print, with all the colors except red! Yay! Red's the accent and we've got another plaid, so it works! The print consisted of blocks of different wildlife scenes, so I cut them out individually. Too small. Wait, I'll applique them to larger blocks. . .by hand. . .simple embroidery, not boring sewing stitches. And I'll frame some and lay others on top. And some will be circles and others squares. And none of the vignettes within the blocks will be the same size. And I won't "mathematically" design any of it, except the size of the blocks. . .My in-the-box is finally going outside. . .so it's mine! And with an eagle on top, the pale-blue-with-white-flowers works!

I warned Andrew that with everything else going on, he'd probably be getting this for his 30th birthday. He said he'd already figured that before he asked.

Comments

[m. heart]

that is so sweet, and the quilt will be something he'll treasure forever. when my mom comes to visit my house (which is full of all sorts of things she's made for me over the years from quilted pillows to watercolor paintings) she says, "i see so much of myself here," and i think it makes us both feel better about living in different states.
can't wait to see pics of this finished quilt (someday)! happy 2008!

[Shelley Jones]

Love your story... tickles my heart.

[Miscellany Mom]

How fun! The squares look great! I hope my kiddos will ask for handmade when they are teens... that's a gift in itself! Thanks for your comment!

[Peggi]

What a great story. Having three boys myself, I can imagine your joy at that request. I like the way the stiches are visible and kind of "rough" looking, so boyish. I'd love it when it's all put together. Good luck.

[DebraAnn]

I loved this story. I love that Andrew wants a quilt and you are going to make him one and that you are not an artist in a box. I can relate and he will love the quilt forever because you made it and he will tell his children and his grandchildren. I love handmade gifts because they live on forever

[Paula]

Great story! I like when the kids request things (other than food, clean clothes etc) Our kids love their quilts - but I am looking foward to when they are old enough to ask for and appreciate the work/meaning as well as the end result

[Gail]

OMG I can just feel your emotion!

My five year old son has claimed a lap quilt I made an elderly aunt years ago. When she died I asked for the quilt back. It has hearts in five inch squares. As soon as my son saw it he said he wanted it. He's of the age where he 'hates' everything girly. Yet there that little quilt sits, on his bed, which as anyone with a five year old knows, is a prominent position. Every time I clean up his room and tidy his bed I can't believe he loves it. But I'm so glad.

Well done for you. If you had bugged him for years to make one for him he'd likely have refused, or ignored it all together. It's like when parents bug their kids about their computer games or activities that parents don't agree with. They miss the exploration part and having an interest in something you've identified with. Your son has seen beyond the activity to what it means to you.

Oh I'm rambling...but I just think that's such a cool thing.

Way to go mom.