The cards had already been assigned, and I had selected two cards; however in my personal "card of the day" study, I kept getting the Two of Cups. After getting it four times in as many weeks, I unconsciously began designing a quilt. When I started sketching the quilt, I realized that perhaps some magic was at work. I contacted the woman who had chosen the card originally, to see if just maybe she wanted to give it up. When she agreed it seemed as though I was meant to have this card.

This also coincided with the beginning of a new relationship in my life, one that allowed me to feel free to really be myself without compromising who I am, one that felt good and comfortable and whole. Now that I've had a taste of that kind of contentment, I know that I will be a bit more discriminating in the future.

The quilt seemed to design itself in pieces. I worked intuitively from the center out, designing the elements separately, but keeping an eye to pulling the whole piece together. I believe this is the least "color-coordinated" quilt I've ever done; I would never put several of these fabrics together deliberately, and yet it seems to work together as a whole. Relationships can be like that, too, where two unlikely people can come together and complement each other in unexpected ways. The whole process has been incredibly joyful for me. I was beginning to think that I could only make quilts when I was unhappy or troubled, and this quilt has shown me what I can do with joy and contentment.

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Postscript: I guess this one will get moved to the "End of Relationship" quilts eventually, because, of course, this one ended too. Now I just gotta finish the quilt anyway. I learned an awful lot during the making of this quilt--both about quilts and relationships, even if some of it was based on incorrect assumptions--but now I need to finish the quilt and continue onward. (June 2001)