What I Learned This Week

For a short work week, I sure learned a lot.   Here are some tidbits.

Quilt Donation Organizations Need Quilts.   Well, DUH.    But the light finally went on when I was finishing off the Project Linus quilts I brought home from the last chapter meeting.   These are pretty basic quiltts, just square blocks of fun fabrics sewen in diagonal lines (each patterned fabric one line diagnonally).   That's it.   Two of them were thin enough to machine piece with a simple zig-zag pattern.    Finished quilting both quilts in less than an hour.   As compared to my friend's quilt I made for his wedding that took 11 hours to handquilt.   Here I have been planning these elaborate quilts, when what they need is QUILTS.   They need the actual item more than they need me showing off my piecing skills.    There are lots of simple patterns using strips or blocks that can still make a beautiful -- needed-- quilt.  

Of course, any blocks made through donations will still be something pieced to make a pretty patterned quilt.  

People Need to Be Listened To.   Got this one driven home HARD this week.   First I met with a new client.   He was just so grateful I heard his story out and didn't treat him like he was crazy for even thinking of trying to get custody of his kids.   He thanked me for just listening.    But the real lesson came at clinic on Thursday night.   It was NFL kickoff.   I wanted to get through the cases and get home.   I was trying to explain to a very nice man what he needed to do to respond to the papers he had been served.   He kept interrupting me to try to give me the background.   At clinic, we don't need much background.   It's a general advice clinic where it's more "Oh you got served, here's how you answer, here is what the court process is like, here is how you get a pro bono attorney."   Not a lot of detail.   But he kept trying.   Once I got through explaing how he answered and counter claimed, then I talked to him a little more about the case.   We would up talking for quite a bit of time.   Turns out he had a horrible domestic situation.   I mean terrible.   He was trying not to cry while telling me.   I told him it was fine to cry.   But screw football (blasphemy I know), this guy needed to tell his story.   So I listened as long as it took.   Then I told him he wasn't wrong to act as he did, he wasn't crazy, and his feelings were normal.   I didn't lie and say the court process would be easy.  But just getting through his story to me will hopefully make it a little easier the next time he has to tell it.   I hope I helped.   And next client, I will be a little more patient when they are interrupting me.   Well, I'll try okay?

September is Blood Cancers Awareness Month.    Yep.   So make a donation to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Soceity this month.   Help them fund research to eradicate cancer.   Because cancer SUCKS.   Don't forget to let me know of your donation so I can make your quilt block.