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Making Quilt Sense

I LEFT MY HEART IN AFRICA

Part 2
(Part 1 was presented in the May 2008 issue)

by Linda V. Taylor, Linda’s Electric Quilters LLC

Last time I told you all a little bit about my trip to South Africa to teach the Zulu quilters. I wish I had kept a diary while I was there but I didn’t; it went too fast. It was almost as if it were already orchestrated and we were just players on the stage. There couldn’t have been a more cohesive group of quilters and non-quilters. Everyone who went paid their own way and contributed greatly to this effort.

When we arrived, we were all a little apprehensive since none of us knew where we would be staying or what the conditions would be like. We figured we could all camp out if we needed to for a week and a half. However, our accommodations were previously arranged by our wonderful hosts, Rick and Elisabeth Barratta.

All of our team members stayed in beautiful homes with Rotary members. We were treated like Royalty -- and we came to serve them. Just getting to know our host members was such a treat. They taught us much about African culture and tradition.

They also taxied members of our group back and forth from the quilting center. In the evenings, we sat out on the veranda overlooking the game preserve, listening to the jackals, singing with Rick Barratta as he played his guitar and visiting about our day. During the day, we worked very hard teaching and communicating with the Zulu quilters. Last time I told you about a few of the members of our group; namely, Hari Walner from Loveland, CO, Helen Squire from Paducah, KY, and Roger and Laurel Barrus from Centerville, UT.

Here is an introduction to the rest of the team members and some of our accomplishments.

John and Carol Smith from Etna, WY
I met John and Carol Smith in Wyoming and because Carol is a quilter, we naturally started talking about quilting. I told her about the planned trip and she said she had never been out of the United States, but would love to go even though it was a bit scary for her. John is retired so he decided he wanted to go too. Carol designed and pieced a wall hanging to give the Zulu Guild while we were there. I quilted it and left spaces on the feathers for each of us to sign it and for each of the guild members to sign it. Some of them signed with an “x,” so we filled in their names. They were thrilled with the little quilt and quickly put it up on the wall of the quilting center.

While there, Carol taught a piecing class with my sister, Arline Jones. It was a very successful effort and all the students made pillows out of the block they learned. They were so excited about them and Carol told them they could take them home as a memento of the class. The Zulus told Carol they must sell them. The concept of making something just to keep as a memory is not something they understand. Well, needless to say, all the pillows were sold before our group went home.

John and Carol also accomplished a difficult task during their visit. They designed and painted the outside of the center with African motifs. They did this in the hot sun on tall ladders. I couldn’t believe it. Talk about dedication! It made a huge difference and was very inspiring.

Carol and one of her friends also spent many hours before the trip making 35 crocheted teddy bears. She contacted another one of her friends who makes wooden toys. He made 600 wooden toys for the Zulu children and sent them over to Africa at his own expense. It was delightful to see the look on the faces of the children as the treasures were passed out. Carol, John and all their friends were such a blessing to us all.

Louise Jorgenson from Salt Lake City, UT
Louise had all kinds of fun ideas to share. She, along with Laurel Barrus, taught curved piecing. As a psychologist, she also shared some of her basic learning ideas with the Zulus and sang songs. Unfortunately, Louise had to fly home after only two days in South Africa due to a family emergency.

Arline Jones from Murrietta, CA
Many of you know my sister, Arline, does all my piecing for me. She also frequently travels with me to help with my classes and keep me sane. Arline is also an experienced piecer, although she won’t admit it. She was really looking forward to this trip and had a great time teaching some of her skills to the Zulu people. She is retired now, but has spent her life as a nurse so it was comforting to have her along.

Georgia Sauter from McKinney, TX
Georgia is a good friend of mine and also works for Linda’s Electric Quilters. She just decided it would be educational and fun and she could serve in many capacities. She was very helpful and enjoyed getting to know the Zulus. She invited her friend Julie Matteson, also from McKinney, TX, to join us. Both Georgia and Julie really enjoyed the children and passed out gifts. They were also both great “teacher angels.” Julie is also a retired nurse.

Jane Sandercock and Kristyn McCoy from Canada
No trip like this would be complete without help from our friends in Canada. Jane talked to me about Africa last year at MQS. She said she felt like she had a personal mission to accomplish and wanted to go with me. It didn’t take long before her friend, Kristyn, was onboard as well.

There is not a person on the trip who will not tell you that Jane and Kristyn’s contributions were indispensable. First of all, they advertised that they were going and the Canadian people were very generous with monetary contributions, which helped with shipping the longarm machines and tables (the costs were enormous). The sister Rotary Clubs in Canada were also very generous with this campaign and we cannot thank them enough.

The enthusiasm and helpful attitude displayed by Jane and Kristyn were exemplary. Their cheerful smiles and pleasant interaction with the natives was really something to watch. They also carefully planned out a day of teaching on the longarms, which was put to good use.

I do not use the term “angels” lightly, when it comes to my praise of these two wonderful quilters and humanitarians. They really made it fun for everyone!

Rick Taylor from Etna, WY
Todd Fletcher from McKinney, TX
Well, Rick is my husband and Todd is my awesome son-in-law. They both went on the trip to set up the longarm machines, teach maintenance, and document the trip with pictures and video. And the job they did was incredible.

They are in the process now of editing all the tapes, but you can view the first two “episodes” for free on thequiltingschool.com They interviewed the hosts, the team members, the natives, and took thousands of pictures of all the goings-on. More episodes will be uploaded for your enjoyment as they become available.

At the end of the week, we attended a traditional African meal cooked by the Zulu women in the guild under a big tent. Their children performed for us with dancing and singing. It was very entertaining and I was impressed with the natural talent possessed by the children.

It was the trip of a lifetime and none of us shall ever forget them; never forget the people of Africa. The friendships and images are forever embedded in our memories and hearts.

Linda V. Taylor is a professional award winning quilt artist, master teacher and author. She is a frequent guest on popular TV quilting segments. She has produced ten instructional longarm DVDs, created hundreds of longarm patterns, and authored eight longarm quilting books including, The Ultimate Guide to Longarm Quilting produced by C&T Publishing. She owns and operates Linda’s Electric Quilters, LLC- a longarm learning center, thequiltingschool.com - internet classes on demand, and Quilting Online University. She is the host of the TV program called Linda’s Longarm Quilting on your local PBS station and on www.thequiltingschool.com. For more information or a free catalog, call 1-800-893-2748 or visit www.thequiltingschool.com

Reprinted from Quilting Now magazine, August 2008 .