The Craft of Writing

 Mom, Grace Laverne, models her own design, 1958

I model my recycled, shibori dyed tunic and jacket, 2012

I title this poem The Craft of Writing even though it is about my mother making a quilt.  Ultimately it’s all the same when we are being creative.  All our works of art engage the principles of organization and design, and the elements of art.  Even as a hair designer and running a business.  I didn’t know it then, but looking back I can see it.  To be creative is to respond to each moment with lines and color, etc implementing rhythm, variety, etc.  I love that my mother sewed and taught me to sew.  She modeled her creations.  I modeled mine, including the recycled tunic and jacket that I shibori dyed.  She sewed clothing for me and I sewed for my daughters and they too, modeled.

The Craft of Writing

The quilt my mother made me

sent me in the mail

lays on my bed

a legacy

handmade

by Grace

1990

the tag in the corner says

The craft of quilting

she learned

all by herself

from Woman’s Day

and Family Circle

and The Ladies Home Journal

quilts seen in designer homes

dreamed in her own

directions cut

from magazines saved

scraps of polyester sewn

mine is cotton cool cotton

red and white

circles and squares

the red, dotted swiss

the white, muslin

slowly stitched together

my hand moves across the page

spreading words on white

©1990

Mom sewed my 1964

prom dress

I'm on the right

She sewed my wedding dress in 1965

I sewed for Dana and Danielle

and they modeled for me