Finding Joy

When 2021 arrived, I wanted things to be normal or, at least, familiar. I hoped for a COVID-19 vaccination, for children to return to school, for businesses to re-open; the list went on and on. Little by little those things did happen. I now live in a “new” normal, and I am trying to find the joy in these unusual times.

As if a pandemic was not enough, Texas was hit with a mid-February winter storm unlike any storm seen since 2011. Nearly 5 million homes and businesses lost power. Ours was out for the better part of 2½ days. It was the coldest I had ever been while inside a building.

I tried to do several things to keep my mind off how cold I was. I picked up an on-going handwork project, that I will simply refer to as Hexagon Quilt #2 for now. I hope it will not take me seven years to complete. (See Hex on the Beach) But my hands were so cold I could not stitch.

I wanted to be productive so I decided to organize my sewing room. I found a dress I had started to smock and, for some reason, did not complete. I thought about who I could finish the dress for. As I went through my mind’s file of baby quilts I had made, I thought of Dana Reader’s granddaughter, Emery. Just look at that sweet baby. How can I not feel joy?

The first night we were without power I did inventory of all the blankets and quilts in the house. I had 18 quilts — I made those — and nine blankets — presents or purchases. Quilts are not blankets! I fell asleep that cold cold cold night with two quilts, two blankets and the comforter heaped on top of me and my husband, Rick. I did not move. I could not move.

I could and did think about having to downsize in a few years and the quilts I will have to rehome.

While inventorying, I came across a Block of the Month quilt I made during my early quilting days in Arizona. The background of each block was machine sewn while I hand stitched the appliqued pieces. Immediately I knew who needed to be the quilt’s new owner.

One of the things I love about my job is the people I meet. Over the years I have been honored to work with Rev. Kay Eck. Kay and I work together on the committee that manages the process for those coming into ministry. Kay’s darling daughter Ellie had a piece of my heart before she was born July 1, 2019. I volunteered to make Ellie’s Christmas dress this past year, and I knew that sweet girl would love on and use the appliqued quilt. It was certainly a joyful afternoon when I was able to deliver the quilt to Kay.

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People that know me well, know that I have a fascination with the French Macaron. Yes, the little colorful cookie. They intrigue me.

I even took a class on how to make macarons. It is not easy. The delicate pastries are temperamental. Every time I think I will try again to make the delicacy, it is raining. Humid weather is not a macaron’s friend. I have a macaron apron. I have a macaron clipboard and a macaron tape measure. Whenever I visit a new city, I look up two things: pastry shops that sell macarons and quilt shops.

Imagine my reaction one evening while quilt and recipe perusing when I come upon a quilt pattern for a MACARON QUILT. I believe my words to Rick as I picked up my laptop to show him were, “my worlds have collided.” The Macaron Quilt immediately moved to the front of my quilting queue.  

I set out one afternoon in late February to buy the Fat Quarters I would need. Fat Quarters are pre-cut fabric that measure 18 inches by 22 inches. One of my favorite local shops, Stitched with Love in McKinney, has an annual Fat Quarter sale on Fat Tuesday. This year that sale was delayed because of the snowstorm. So, on the rescheduled day I bought all my macaron fat quarters.

I wanted my macarons to resemble some of my favorites and some that are traditional. One of the things I find fascinating about macarons is the cleverness of flavors. I find joy in giving a box of macarons as a gift. To me, choosing the flavors the recipient may enjoy is like choosing fabric for a quilt.

The Macaron quilt came together quickly. I cut the pieces one afternoon and sewed them together the next day. The difficulty was in deciding the layout. Julie Johnson to the rescue! Sometimes I text Julie a picture of the layout, and she will offer suggestions. Other times, we look at it in person and move the fabric pieces around until we agree the colors flow. Julie has a gift of seeing something I do not when it comes to the layout of a quilt.

Just as I have my favorite quilt shops, I also have my favorite macaron shops. And one of those in the Dallas area is JOY macarons. The tiny colorful cookies are beautifully displayed. They even have Macaron ice cream sandwiches. That is culinary joy.

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As I reflect on the past year, I realized that my way of dealing with the pandemic was to stay busy. I moved from one sewing or quilting project to the next or cleaned out a closet that was long overdue.

I would like to think that I handle stress and change rather well, but the last several months have provided a level of stress I have not experienced in quite a while. Being a firm believer in “I can only control certain things,” I knew I needed to find ways to relax – because I can control that.

So some evenings I sew. Some evenings I relax by looking for new recipes or quilt patterns. And sometimes, if you are lucky, your passions collide.

Stay safe, take care of each other, and find your joy.

Thanks to @joymacarons on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, for allowing us to take pictures.