Perfection…” the quality of something that is as good or suitable as it can possibly be.”
Yes, I looked it up on the computer and that was the definition that I got. I like the ‘being suitable as it can possibly be‘ part.
As I travel around, teaching quilting to people, mostly women, I notice more and more the need to be perfect. Some will actually pick out so much that the piece doesn’t even resemble the shape that they started with. Life is a bit like that. We want our lives to be perfect and they rarely are, our relationships to be perfect and how about those family members? Man, are they ever perfect! Let’s pick at them.
You see a pattern here?
When looking at a ’store bought’ quilt or bedspread I see imperfections.  Most things that are sewn are not going to be perfect because rarely is anything, truly perfect.
I guess what really amazes me is THAT is what I find so wonderful about making a quilt. There will be flaws and yet it still works. The design is sometimes even better than I thought it would be and it still keeps me warm at night. So, imperfect isn’t so bad. 
Ok, I looked it up in another dictionary and got: the quality or state of being perfect: as a  freedom from fault or defect : flawlessness, maturity…  the quality or state of being saintly.
I don’t really think I like that as much as ‘being as suitable as it can possibly be‘…at least I have a chance at that one. Maturity? Please. Really?  What does being mature have to do with perfection? Just because one is older doesn’t mean one gets better or more perfect at things. That is more like wine or some cheeses. And who is to say that acting perfectly immature isn’t the most fun there is?
Not too long ago in class there was a woman who had a glorious time and was fun and happy. After a day sewing and having a good time she called me over to her table. I sat down next to her and we chatted for a little while. Then she told me that she really enjoyed the class, that I was not like her last teacher. I, of course, asked her how I was different. “You didn’t make me cry” was her response. Ok. I never thought that was an option. Why would anyone want to see another person cry while in a quilt class? Everyone wants to be perfect, but because I am a teacher of some things it really doesn’t mean that my quilts are perfect or that I am going to have some magical powers that will make you perfect. It means I am going to give it my best shot, but some of it is up to you. And if you set the bar so high that you can never get there what is the fun in it? So I like to show you a way to do it like I do it and then set you free. If you don’t even try to do it my way I am still ok with you and won’t make you cry. Years ago I made a quilt for a class. It has so many stories and some of them you will just have to see me in a lecture, with that quilt, to get all of them, but I want to share  one of the stories with you. First let me say that this past fall I had the quilt with me and there were people in the audience who took this class years ago and remember it well. I have witnesses to this event. I can get them to tell you how true this is…and just so you know, I do this sort of thing for a living!
The story goes…I went to teach the class, my most popular class, “Let Me Surprise You!” in Ann Arbor, MI. As I handed out the kits I realized a quiet had taken over the room. Normally there is excitement or some talking of some kind, but nothing. It turns out the quilt was in Ohio State colors. They were playing them that day. They were playing that day against Michigan, that very day. Oh, did I say we were in the same town as U of M? Oh, yeah, there was that. I gave Michigan people a red, black and gray quilt kit…well, not really gave it to them, they paid for it. It was perfectly awful. Not the quilt, the day. I am happy to say that there was no tar or feathers involved. Considering that the corners of that quilt don’t match nor do most of the points it is miracle that I got out of there alive. You see, it was pretty good for me and all of theirs, if they finished them, would be better than mine. The bar was set kinda low that day, I admit.  I want you to see that without the story you would see a wonderful quilt. You don’t notice the flaws right off the bat. You notice that it is a red quilt, with buttons on some of the points (covering the points that don’t match) but most of all you should notice that it is finished.
Ok, I looked up the word perfect… “To make perfect; to finish or complete, so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to anything all that is requisite to its nature and kind.”
Finished, I can do that! 

Right now I am working in Pigeon Forge, TN. What a great show and the people are so friendly and great to work with.