Show and Tell

I have always liked show and tell in school.  You were able to see what other kids got as gifts; maybe see a pet or two (usually turtles or lizards) and hear stories.  I still like show and tell but now it is with fiber. We have show and tell in the quilt guild meetings, in our fiber artist group, and with the sampler group I belong to at our local quilt shop. It is a way to see what other people are working on and hear the stories behind their projects.

In our sampler group, I like to see how quilters arrange the same blocks I am working on.  It gives me an idea of how to arrange my blocks or even some blocks in a future quilt.  With any show and tell, I learn about new techniques or new patterns I might like to try. I am always learning about weaving styles in our fiber artist group.

And I love to hear the stories behind whatever is being shown.  It might be a funny one about how they started this or that years ago (like a baby quilt for a niece who is now having a baby of their own) or a project someone started in a class or at a retreat.  That always makes me want to take a class. 

I think though my favorite part is seeing the pride in the person’s face that is showing their work and especially if that person is a new quilter, weaver or artist and they hear the praise from other more experienced people.  It is such a vote of confidence for them. I tried to cheer louder for a newbie.  It takes a lot of guts to show your work when you are a beginner.

If ever you get a chance to show off your work to a group, do so.  You might be inspiring some one else and it is always nice to hear the applause.  And if some is showing you something they make, always applaud.  In showing what they are creating, they are showing you a bit of themselves.

 

©2020 Cheryl Fillion