Have you made Friendship stars?
Many of us have sewn or received
friendship stars. When Trondheim Quilt Group in Norway arranged the general assembly for
the Norwegian Quilting Association NQF in 1995 we all received a quilted friendship star.
It hangs on the wall of my sewing room as a fond memory of a great weekend and of new
friends there. It occurred to me this fall that more and more of my friends and people I
send E-mail to are those I've had the pleasure of knowing through quilting. This hobby has
led to more than quilts and cushions in beautiful patterns. Nowadays you can see patchwork
made to friends who have fallen ill, you hear of quilting friends bringing their men along
for a camping holiday together while others meet on the Internet in chat groups for
quilters exchanging ideas or making a Round Robin.
Friendship is tied among women in
different countries, yes even from other continents. Many of us travel to the US more than
once to attend workshops and culture tours in connection with quilting. We enrich our own
lives and gain a surplus for those at home, and furthermore we get inspiration to continue
our creative work. And in all of these places and sites we meet "quilting
sisters" with whom we tie ribbons of friendship across language and culture
differences. How lucky can a quilter get!
