The back office was turned into a sewing room when my mother-in-law retired. I remember a wall being removed in the process, so a bedroom must have also been converted. When I joined the family fifteen years ago she was a sophomore English teacher, usually sitting in her recliner beside a pile of papers. She could grade and converse at the same time. Her last four years working were spent as an assistant principal. That sounded like more fun. Now she’s full-time caregiver for her ninety-seven year old mom, a helping-out-a-lot grandma for several grandkids, and an intense quilter.
I used to spend hours drawing patterns on the backs of envelopes, and later on sketch pad paper. Time evaporated while I worked. I wonder if the same is true for my mother-in-law. Considering how many quilts she’s already made in a short time, I would guess the answer is yes.
The sewing room is covered in fabric, and well organized of course, because she is. It’s a happy space, too, surely full of good memories and more to come. I feel very lucky to have a quilter in the family, especially one who does good work and likes to give her creations to relatives. Here’s the one she made for our bed not long after we moved in to our house six years ago.