Give Me a Q!

Q can be a queer letter. Rarely will you see it without its companion – u. And there aren’t that many words beginning with it. That’s probably why it’s worth ten points in Scrabble! But let’s not quibble; just get in the queue for these q words.

Quilting

I love quilts, but I never made a real one. I always collected fabrics, swearing I’d put in the required time and effort, but I never did. I even purchased a rotary cutter and measuring board, but they’re still in my cabinet! I had an aunt who loved to quilt and she made some for my babies. They looked so cute, and I knew I could accomplish one, but I just never seemed to find the time. We have a store here that devotes itself to all things quilting, and I love visiting there. Most often, one of the owners is working on a new design, and I’m amazed at the beauty of the finished product. When I go to JoAnn’s Fabrics, I also find time to stand before the wall of cotton prints which are arranged by color. There are also packaged squares for smaller endeavors. I still have some of those packets, but alas no finished quilt. A while ago, there was a show on HGTV that featured quilting, and I learned about making actual pictures with quilt pieces – huge flowers, houses, and landscapes. Recently, my SIL made a quilt for my grandie – she’s in a quilting guild and makes many to be given as gifts. This particular one was all pale blues and yellows. It involved several borders, then an interior of ducks dressed as little boys. It’s truly something my daughter will treasure forever.

Quilling

No, that’s not a misspelling of the same topic. Quilling is a paper craft. My girlfriend took classes in it when her kids were young, and she used it to make some beautiful pictures. Then a teacher I knew took it up, and we were wowed by her creations. It’s not a difficult craft, and I wish I had done it while I still had workable hands. The craft is also known as paper filigree and it involves the use of strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. The paper is wound around a quill, or manicuring orange stick, to create a basic coil shape. The paper is then glued at the tip, and these shaped coils are arranged to form flowers, leaves, and various ornamental patterns similar to ironwork. During the Renaissance, nuns and monks used quilling to decorate book covers and religious items. In the 1700s, upper class ladies used to practice the craft, and today, many people find it to be an art form they can appreciate.

Quixotic

Not necessarily a complimentary trait, but I do believe it can be applied to me at times. I tend to shy away from the realities of a situation, and live with dreaminess instead. That’s to say I fantasize a lot – I have waking dreams. For me it’s an escape; I don’t have to deal with my true life situations. I can feel calm when I think of myself as really healthy and whole, but just lying in a declining body that will soon disappear. Silly? Definitely! But it helps me cope. I do the same when I start to worry about our financial situation. It’s like sticking my head in the sand, I know, but it also helps me avoid depression which is always hovering at my doorstep.

Quiet

I still enjoy having no sounds around me. While I enjoy music and lively conversation, I still want peace and quiet at times. Noises set off my nerves, and I need to escape to where it’s quiet. Right now? The only sound here is the click of these keys. Ahhhh, so peaceful!

Peace,

Muff