Piecing a quilt invites Spirit. You must believe in harmony, that all those varied fabrics can be united ochres and persimmon, sienna, burgundy, citron, jade a meditation of sorts, a stillness of mind while hands measure, align shapes, and pin triangles, squares, rectangles. The sewing machine hums OM A quarter of an inch too short and you’re buying more fabric an inch too long, and you’re ripping out seams. Stitches, like words, work best following the creator’s pattern Finishing a quilt is a prayer bound together, top, middle, bottom, folded in warm layers gifted in hope received in grace
Kim Ellis began her writing career with a red crayon under her parents’ coffee table. Now, as a retired teacher, she is still scribbling away, producing the Karakesh Chronicles, a middle grade adventure fantasy series (from Handersen Publishing), as well as keeping her blog (www.tangledmagic.blog) supplied with poetry, reviews, and other musings. Her poems, stories, and articles have appeared in Cricket, Stinkwaves, High Five, Hudson Valley Parent, and Chronogram magazines. She has worked as a teacher consultant with the Hudson Valley Writing Project, a writing group leader, and editor. Kim lives with her husband and Bengal cat beside the Wallkill River in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Lightwood 