People Say

There is a common thread to many of my recent conversations. Multiple times a day, in work meetings, with friends and family and out in public spaces, I hear commentary on how fast this year has passed by. I get it, I too cannot believe that the date on the calendar is real. (And don’t get this curmudgeon started on the barrage of Christmas junk and tunes that appeared on November 1st.) I’ve mused before on how fast time passes and that sentiment feels extra relevant as 2023 winds down.

I am a naturally reflective person and as such, I muse on the past while working diligently to stay in the present. So now seems like as good a time as any to quickly peek back on the year. I do not gravitate toward big New Year’s resolutions, instead I set a few reasonable goals/intentions around my birthday in mid-January. Birthday goals are larger and more personal, while NY resolutions lean toward small and practical actions. In 2023, I once again decided to rerun an oldie-but-goody NY resolution – to keep our coffee and dining room tables clutter free. So, how is that going? Well the current piles on both surfaces would make interesting still life paintings. It looks like someone has a 2024 NY resolution ready! And ahead of schedule I might add…

Goals and resolutions can be important motivators. Certainly in my work life, I am professionally known for achieving, and often exceeding, goals. Good old perfectionism. I believe my job description could be whittled down from its current paragraphs to one sentence: meet essential deadlines and pay excessive attention to detail. But really aren’t those the requirements for all jobs? When it comes to my creative pursuits, I struggle with deadlines and perfection. In my free time, I like, well freedom. However some of my dearest creative pals thrive with deadlines and challenges so I recently experimented to see if this too could benefit me.

This quilt’s journey began as part of the month-long Quilt Disrupter challenge on Instagram. My dearest Amanda asked me to join her in the project. In spite of the fact that the challenge required weekly deadlines, it sounded fun and her enthusiasm is infectious, so sure, why not. And who can pass up an opportunity to go a little rogue? The first week’s task was to sew up a little quilt. I want to incorporate more curves into my work and this is made out of leftovers from my space quilt curtain. This original design came together over the course of an album and is completely inspired by the tunes on my stereo. Unfortunately I saw an image in the overall finished shape that I just couldn’t shake, even though others only saw the resemblance once I pointed it out. Because of this silly bias, I was more than happy to take on week two’s task to cut up the original quilt and rearrange the design. Disrupt! While it sounds intimidating and scary to take a rotary blade to something you’ve made, it is incredibly freeing and one of the best ways to create a truly unique design. Ta da, now this is something I totally dig. Then life got complicated, deadlines were missed and the remaining disruption ceased. The fact that I didn’t finish a commitment momentarily bothered me, especially my pesky inner perfectionist, and then I stepped back and realized that it really didn’t matter. The relief is similar to acknowledging that you don’t have to finish every book you start, even if it is beloved by many. The purpose of my quilting (and reading) is to enjoy my time. It really is that simple.

Now I may not have disrupted my quilt with applique or embellishment within the designated time frame, but I didn’t want to leave this piece unfinished. Since the curves in the quilt are the highlight, the quilting itself needed to emphasize, not detract from the design. Fall in the Pacific Northwest brings spawning salmon, and witnessing this annual event is very powerful for me. (The above picture are spawning coho in Icicle Creek near Leavenworth, WA.) A hope was to somehow honor this natural journey in the quilt. My initial idea was to create a rippled look through small, dense stitching. Now this fabric is all batik and not conducive to small needles, so once I embarked upon the idea, the actual stitching was unpleasant. While I typically enjoy the texture of dense stitches, in this instance, it did not amplify the quilt. So I ripped out every stitch and started over. Less is more here. To finish, I marked free form curves and utilized a bigger needle with thicker thread. Exhale, the hand stitching flowed with ease.

I mentioned earlier that the tunes on my stereo were integral to this quilt. The day I started sewing, I also learned of the passing of an incredible musician. Russell Batiste, Jr. was the drummer in several legendary bands, including The Funky Meters. In his honor, I grabbed my Funky Meters Live at the Fillmore album, these leftover curved pieces and got crafting. The grooves on my stereo were crucial to this quilt. Personally there is such joy in being completely absorbed in an album and a new project, just hanging in my sewing room and letting the music guide me along. This quilt is named for the song “People Say” by The Meters, which is just as poignant today as it was in 1974. The chorus to “People say, people say. Have I got a right to live?” is applicable to all of our current woes, from the wars, to racism, to climate change to vast inequality. (Full lyrics at the end of the post.) I’ve always believed that if folks listened to more music by The Meters, Allen Toussaint, The Neville Brothers and Dr. John, and took action from their powerful lyrics, the world would be a better place. For now, all I can do is listen to these artists, immerse myself in their words, make quilts and be a good person.

Now that this quilt is finished, it will help me uphold my current and future New Year’s resolution. If I put this quilt on a table, then I will want to see it and not let clutter pile up. Seems plausible, right? Although I set out with a different intention for the Disrupter Challenge, in the end the quilt will help me resolve something which has vexed me for years. So actually this quilt is more like a Challenge Disrupter. Ha, get it? The quilt will disrupt the clutter problem! Remember friends, it is never too late in the year to meet your resolution, even if just by happy accident.

Lyrics to People Say:

Powers of today
So pretty darn confused
Giving everybody
In the world the blues

Food is getting high
And the fuel is getting low
The rich are getting richer
And the poor are getting poor

People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?
People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?

People say, people say
(What the people say?)
(What the people?)
Have your share and my share
And your share is my share too

Your eyes are blind folded
And your mind controlled
What the powers do to you
Destruction is in the air, oh yeah

And when is it going to quit
Somebody end the madness
Gettin' sick and tired of it

People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?
People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?

People say, people say
(What the people say?)
(What the people?)
(What the people say?)
(What the people say?)

(What the people say?)
(What the people say?)
(What the people say?)
You gotta listen to 'em
(What the people say?)

Robbing and they're stealing
And they're breaking in your home
It's getting a little dangerous
To walk the street alone

Somebody better get on the case
Real thing
(Real thing)
And you got no time to waste

People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?
People say, people say
Have I got a right to live?

People say, people say
(What the people say?)
(What the people?)

-1974 by Arthur Neville, George Porter, Jr., Leo Nocentelli & Joseph Modeliste