It all comes full circle
I left Kansas City three
years ago and next week I'm heading back.
I don't call it home because right now Chicago is home. Kansas City will be home again, but it's
going to take some time.
When I arrived in
Chicago, I was scared. It was a new
place, a huge city, an unfamiliar environment and I didn't know a soul. My husband, because of his job had a built in
circle of colleagues and soon to be friends.
I was alone in my little room with my sewing machine, but not for long. Before I even moved from Kansas City I
received this email:
Hi, I'm
Beth, the current president of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild. Sarah let
us know that you are moving to Chicago. How exciting! I've lived here 14
years now and love it. If I can be of help in any way with your
transition, let me know. I am a stay at home mom for the next year and
have some time on my hands. I know you were in town looking for housing.
Do you have an idea of where you will be living yet? I'm looking forward
to meeting you when you get settled. Again, if I can help in any way, let
me know.
When I
arrived in the city I received another email from Beth inviting me to lunch
with a few other members of the guild. I
said yes and Chicago was no longer a very big lonely place. I joined the guild and those women were my
first friends in the city and though I haven't been a very good member of the
guild (or friend) since I work on weekends and we meet on Sunday afternoons, but I've
made connections and have been supported by my guild in more ways than
one. I've missed more meetings than I've
attended but it doesn't seem to matter. I've
met some amazing folks and I'm grateful to each of them for being a part of my
Chicago experience.
Thank
goodness our apartment didn't have enough storage space. I illegally put the giant box that my Bernina
820 was packaged in, in the front of our car in our parking space in the
garage. My friend Tricia, who parked a
few spaces down in the garage spied my Bernina Box and reached out and asked
if I sewed. I did. She did. I invited her to guild and the rest is sewing
history. I'll miss her terribly.
The other
day I received an email from the current Chicago MQG President, Sarah, asking
if we could meet for lunch so she could say goodbye. Again, I said yes. We talked family, quilty things and guild
business. It's like I saw her yesterday.
I reminded her that years ago she asked
me to come teach in Chicago and we couldn't work it out because at that time
the guild was so young with not much cash on hand for speakers. She was the Sarah that told Beth I was coming
to Chicago.
It's
always amazing to me the difference that one small gesture can make. We say it in Kansas City, "the modern
quilt guild changed my life." It
did back in KC and it did again in Chicago and I have a feeling it will again
back in KC.
Thanks
Chicago. Hello Kansas City!
What a great story!
ReplyDeleteMeeting with and working with you, and gaining you as a good friend has certainly changed my life. Have I told you I'm excited for you to be back here in KC?!!?
Lauren and I joked about needing "quilt guild changed my life" t-shirts. Maybe we need to finally make some.
Guild sure has a wonderful influence on my life and I loved reading how it has influenced yours. I'm sad to see you go but i know that KC will be such a great home for you again! Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteI'm sitting here crying at my work computer as I will miss you greatly and I'm so proud of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild and so proud of you and what an amazing quilt community you generate just being yourself and sharing your world.
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ReplyDeleteG! I read your comment in my email. I'll see you soon, but you'll need to come find me. It's hard sometimes in a big group. Let's make it a great place together.
ReplyDeleteTruer words have never been spoken.
ReplyDeleteI may be in your shoes when our husband will move us from northeastern Wisconsin to Louisville next year. I'm not involved in any guilds now but am looking to my hobby to form the friendships I'll be missing from my lifetime home. It will be good to find "my own people" in a common hobby. Good on you for making Chicago home. Good on you for making Kansas City home again!! P.S. I LOVED your straight line quilting class on Craftsy! I'm inspired!
ReplyDeleteA great tribute to the Chicago MQG, quilting and you.
ReplyDeleteAww! Sending you bug hugs for your journey back. The modern quilt quild has indeed changed my life too. There are so many friendships and happy memories - and surely many more to come! Safe travels Jacquie, youll always have a home with us in chicago.
ReplyDeleteFabulous story Jacquie. I am excited to have you back in KC.....you, as the president of our fledgling MQG changed my life and the guild continues to enhance what began with you. What am impact you have made on so many lives.
ReplyDeleteWe will miss you at CMQG! See you at QuiltCon!
ReplyDeleteQuilters are the nicest people. So willing to welcome, share and help in any way they can.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing the connections we make through quilting, blogging and guild meetings. My experience has been so positive as well. Thanks for sharing and reminding us how small gestures of friendships can make such a difference in our lives.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful story. Yay for quilter's everywhere!
ReplyDeleteGreat photo! I remember that directional sign at our first guild picnic. We just had our "urban picnic" this last weekend in downtown KC. Glad to hear you are coming back to the area!
ReplyDeleteI wish you best of luck with the transition!
ReplyDeleteLucky you to be moving back to where you have already established connections! I love your positive account of moving to Chicago, and making new friends through the guild. Unfortunately, I've found that to be a lot harder after my move from my move from Atlanta. But then I moved to a very small rural town, if I'd tried to branch out to the nearby larger city of Lexington, KY, I'm sure I'd have better luck. Instead, I sew on my own, visit my own guild as often as I can, and have gotten involved with a lot of dog rescue work. Happy sewing in KC!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice story. So inspiring. KCK or KCMO? I loved KCMO. Such a great place. I was only there a short time, but 5B & Co became my all time favorite candle maker. Safe travels and enjoy being home.
ReplyDeleteAw, you have me in tears of joy! Quilt guild has certainly changed my life as well. I'd been quilting for fifteen years before I founded the Vancouver MQG, but I didn't have any quilting friends. Now I have friends near and far!
ReplyDeleteGreat Story! I live in Kansas City and would love to know what Guild you may be a part of, etc? I have not been able to be very successful at finding some open KC Guilds... I'd also love to welcome you back to KC! Look forward to one day meeting you possibly! You do lovely work!
ReplyDeleteMegan,
ReplyDeleteThe KC Guild I'm returning to is the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild. Just google them and you'll find their blog and the schedule for the meetings. Some great ones coming up. Looks like the first time I'll be able to make it is in September. Hope to see you there!
Jacquie, you have a great outlook! Can do with quilting, Can do with LIFE and change. I have a deep belief that we are always in exactly the place we should be for new and hopefully positive life experiences. Always moving forward… or backward. But, there is a good reason.
ReplyDeletePretty amazing, Jacquie! Good luck getting settled and happiness in getting reacquainted your KC friends. Know that wherever you go, that you too, are changing lives - you are an inspiration to so many of us.
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