Her friends at the quilting bee were all either Amish or Mennonite women, proficient in the art of quilting. I recognized quilting as part of my cultural heritage and wanted to learn all I could about this process, believing that someday I too would be creating my own work of art and transmitting my knowledge and skills to the next generation. In soft, intimate tones, Sarah told me the story of her first quilt. This quilt was not only to cover her bed, but one to dream under, to provide comfort, to lovingly pat into place each morning as she faced another day, and to mirror her life. While life is full of hope and promise, it's not all pleasant.
Some days are dark and gray when hope and joy are but distant memories.
Consequently, Sarah knew her quilt needed both light and dark shades. Sarah decided that the log cabin quilt pattern which incorporates both light and dark colors would typify her life. This pattern consists of contrasting light and dark strips and a small center square to pull together the light and dark colors. Though undecided exactly which design she would use to eventually join her log cabin squares, Sarah chose her fabric pieces. Fabric for the center square of each block was a warm, solid-colored, bright mauve to represent the warmth of family times at home and the fellowship of friends so commonplace in Amish circles.