Earth Day!

Earth Day was established in 1972 by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. I've always felt attached to it as it is also my birthday. (Shameless comment thrown in to generate birthday greetings!) What Earth Day does for me is always make me think about nature and the renewable resources that are around us. In the days of gas price explosions, the idea of a very disposable society, and the fact that I just read that EVERY plastic bag that was ever made is still on the planet in some form, I think we quilters are true re-cylers.

Every time we cut up a piece of fabric, be it a new piece or something from our stash, we are converting something from one form into another. I have met many nice people who started out as strangers because of my addition to Postage Stamp quilts. These are the people who see me stitching by hand my little 1 1/2" squares into a bigger block. I have had people stop and ask me "What in the world are you doing?" and from there it always moves into a conversation about someone in their life who quilted or wanted to! I've actually had people send me their scraps...how wonderful is that???

So today, in honor of Earth Day, take a minute to re-cycle or "re-purpose" something in your fabric stash. Take something on your work table or desk and decide to re-make it into a new item and then, if you wish, share that item with someone in your life. It's amazing how something as simple as sharing can add a smile to someone's day---what a great "re-purpose" that feeling can be!


The photo next door to this post is Spring time in Wisconsin at it's greatest! Bruce took this photo yesterday while on a walk. Enjoy Nature today and every day!