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Making Quilt Sense

I LEFT MY HEART IN AFRICA

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

In January of this year, I traveled to South Africa, along with 14 other wonderful people, to help teach the Zulu women how to use the longarm machines. It was the trip of a lifetime and I would love to share some of our experiences with you. I felt like I was bringing all the good wishes of my friends and students with me on this trip, as I know many of you contributed to this wonderful cause with money and goods. I also know some of you would have jumped at the chance to go with us had we been able to accommodate a larger group. And I want to thank you for your prayers in our behalf.

Here is an introduction to some of the team members:

Hari Walner of Loveland, CO:
Hari arrived a couple of days ahead of the rest of the group to check out the domestic sewing machines. She also raised funds from her local Rotary Club to help out with the cost of extended tables for the machines (which she said were vital). The tables were shipped in plenty of time to arrive before we did. Each machine was carefully tested out personally by Hari to make sure it was conducive to machine quilting. She wanted to make sure the quilting experience on the machines was as trouble free as possible. Her efforts were greatly rewarded throughout the week. The Zulu quilters loved Hari and delighted in the projects she taught them to do. Two days into the week, Hari was dancing with the natives. Her quick wit kept us all in stitches!

Helen Squire of Paducah, KY:
Helen is always fun to be around and is such a lady! The first day we arrived, she organized setting up the new quilting center. She has such a good eye for marketing. She also set up her own classroom for choosing quilting designs and shared her expertise on hand quilting with the Zulus. She worked very hard every day she was there. Helen also raised money for shipping longarm machines and brought lots of quilting related goodies from the American Quilting Society, Prim-Dritz and other companies she contacted. A huge thanks to the Paducah Rotary Club for their generous monetary donation.

Roger and Laurel Barrus of Centerville, UT:
Laurel was a huge contributor to this trip. She not only procured a complete Handiquilter system for the Zulus, but also managed to collect and ship all the items donated from the many wonderful companies willing to contribute to this cause. Several pallets of supplies were shipped and she is still shipping supplies that we determined were needed while we were there.

Laurel taught longarm quilting every day she was there and made sure every one of the 35 guild members got the chance to try their hand at longarm quilting. She brought gel pads for the natives to practice their freehand. What a good idea since paper is in short supply.

She also bought and sent many school supplies, which were handed out to eager children’s hands. It’s nearly overwhelming when you are involved with handing out these supplies. All the hands are reaching toward you at the same time and it’s hard to choose which hands. You see it on TV, but the real thing is life changing. Something about their eyes -- all hoping their hands come back with something in them.

A big thank you to the Handiquilter Company for their generous contribution.

Linda V. Taylor, that’s me!
I cannot adequately express my thanks to the Gammill folks for donating two longarm machines and a 12-foot table. And they made all the arrangements for the shipping, which is no small task. Linda’s Electric Quilters also donated a 10-foot table, so that made two complete longarm units.

I don’t really know what my expectations were. I just wanted to help Elisabeth Barratta in her efforts to make a difference in the world. What happened? Well, I think the Zulu quilters made a huge difference in my life. The quilting techniques I taught to them are nothing compared to what they taught me about life. They have nothing, really, and yet they sing and rejoice. They would break out in song every day in gratitude and praise to the Lord. They were always concerned about how I was feeling and what I thought. They were eager to learn. They dressed up all week in their best clothes. I don’t know how they got their whites so white and kept them that way. They do their best with what they have and with very little education. Nearly all of them spoke English and Zulu. I only speak English. “I” is not part of their culture. It is “us” and “we.” They are all for one and one for all, not selfish and self-serving. They are the most spiritual people I have ever encountered. Their children were clean, well behaved and respectful.

They don’t have the concept of “practice pieces.” Everything they do is for sale. It feeds their families. They are truly serious quilters. Seeing and hearing about their struggles made me a better person. And to think this “quilting” brought us together from two sides of the earth is amazing to me. I shall never forget them; never forget Africa. The friendships and images are forever embedded in my memory and especially in my heart.

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Linda V. Taylor is a professional quilt artist, master teacher and author. She is frequent guest on popular TV quilting segments. She has produced eight instructional DVDs and authored seven longarm quilting books. She owns and operates Linda’s Electric Quilters, LLC and www.thequiltingschool.com. For more information or a free catalog, call 1-800-893-2748.

Reprinted from Quilting Now, May 2008