Quilts: Warmth, Love, Smiles

Memories are like a patchwork quilt, each section is sewn together, to be wrapped around us for comfort and warmth in the years to come. Author Unknown

Yes, with temperatures dipping to -30 degrees, I'm thinking quilts. It's one way to take the shivers out of our extremely cold winter days. I love quilts anyway - curling up under one, reading books with a quilt woven into the story and seeing patchwork quilts on display. It's true, quilts signify comfort, warmth and love; three things we all enjoy and thrive from. Every human being has the right to feel safe and loved.

Which reminds me of the refugees moving to Canada and other countries to begin a new and better life. What a blessed opportunity for them and for the people who are supporting them. I've heard some heartwarming stories about how much these people appreciate and enjoy their new home, and the friendships that have blossomed between refugees and their sponsors. They're making memories that will bring smiles and feelings of well-being for many years to come. By offering people from war torn countries a safe place to live, we're sharing with them comfort, warmth and love. It saddens my heart when I hear of political leaders closing the door to people in need. They somehow fail to remember that there's most likely an immigration story in their own family's history. Someone opened a door for their ancestors, a door which they're now slamming shut.

From Swatches to Quilt

We are a nation of immigrants, a quilt of many colors, and we've managed over more than two centuries to create a way of life that allows for a reasonable degree of upward mobility, that prizes individual liberty, promotes freedom of religion and genuinely values equal rights for all citizens. Jay Parini
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jayparini743241.html?src=t_quilt

We are a nation of immigrants, a quilt of many colors, and we've managed over more than two centuries to create a way of life that allows for a reasonable degree of upward mobility, that prizes individual liberty, promotes freedom of religion and genuinely values equal rights for all citizens. Jay Parini
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/quilt.html

We are a nation of immigrants, a quilt of many colors, and we've managed over more than two centuries to create a way of life that allows for a reasonable degree of upward mobility, that prizes individual liberty, promotes freedom of religion and genuinely values equal rights for all citizens. Jay Parini
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/quilt.html

Another quilt story can be found in one of the chapters in my book, Hutterite Diaries. It's about lap quilts we make for Alzheimer patients each winter. Here's an excerpt:

Sewing lap quilts is an ideal project for Hutterites for a number of reasons. Hutterites are avid sewers; consequently, there are always lots of leftover pieces around that are “just too good to throw out.” What better way to use them than in quilts! Furthermore, we were in the middle of winter, where there’s more time for indoor activities like sewing. There’s just something warm and cozy about a few women getting together to create quilts with the wind howling a sub-zero song outside. Most importantly though, this is a very worthwhile project and benefits residents of senior homes for years to come.

When my book was published a few years ago, one endorsement was especially heartwarming and fits with this post:  

Linda Maendel’s  clear vision and her loving heart wrapped me in a fine quilt of story as I read. Of all of the books on Hutterites that I have seen, this is the one that I cherish.” —Joe McLellan, author, the Nanabosho series

I scrolled through previous posts and found quite a few about quilts. I've added them here, in case you'd like to read some of them again: 

• Simple Pleasures 
• Long Arm Quilting (Selma Maendel, the guest blogger of this post passes away a few years ago and has since been inducted into the 2016 Agricultural Hall of Fame.)
• From Swatches to Quilt
• Warmth, Comfort and Smiles 
• A Tapestry of Secrets
• Blessed are the Piece Makers

Do you have a quilt or refugee story to share? I'd love to hear it!