Someone sent an old quilt to Maria, they sent it to the Round House Cafe and the staff held it for us there. Several times a week, someone from almost every part of the country sends Maria something old and beautiful. Maria washed the old quilt and hung it on the line to dry, I think she already has some idea what she wants to do with it, she never talks about that, she just goes ahead and does it.

Gifts used to be a problem for me, people sent me all kinds of things I couldn’t use and had no room for, it became a problem. That stopped, and the occasional gifts that come now to me or Maria are thoughtful and beautiful, and I seem to love them all. I can’t really account for this change, in the gifts or in me.

(I don’t really need any more books on dogs or animals, thanks, I don’t like to read other people’s dog books, I want my ideas and reflections to by my own. Best send them to somebody who can read them.)

But even I can see the beauty and meaning in an old and lovely quilt like this. I love seeing it hanging out on the line.

Women have a keen sense about old discarded things, often from their mothers and grandmothers, they want to see them loved and shared. Maria loves to do that. Once in awhile it’s a problem, we get huge boxes of things, but mostly the gifts are wonderful, and Maria makes wonderful use out of them.

Her art is founded on the idea of making art out of discarded fabrics, as the Gee’s Bend quilters do. It’s a beautiful idea and we are both happy to be a part of it.