Back from Quilt Market : :

It's so difficult to sum up the experience of sharing your work at Quilt Market, to do a recap that does this adventure a justice. The truth is, it might take weeks for me to know and feel all the ways it has changed, inspired, motivated, and shifted me. Last year I left with tears flowing down, looking back at the city buildings as we drove away, feeling so many emotions and completely overwhelmed with the knowing that my own dreams were coming true. Of course it wasn't without some adversity. I left feeling on top of the world, but was very sick and returned home to what would become some of the most challenging times I've ever had. It took me months to get back on track and a lot of hard work, but this dream has been worth fighting for. A year later I felt in a much better place, things were going so smoothly and when some very unexpected family complications hit us a few weeks ago I had decided I shouldn't make the trip. Then my kids spoke up. They shared with me all the reasons they felt I should and could do this. That conversation is without a doubt the single, most powerful highlight of it all for me. As a mom who tries so hard to do it all but never quite feels like I'm doing good enough, there have been plenty of times where I've laid awake worried my kids would look back and see too many times where I was busy, tired, unhealthy, preoccupied. But what they shared with me, an emotional plea that they wanted to see me do this, all the reasons they are proud of me and excited to be a part of it. I wasn't expecting it and had no clue how much I needed to hear what my kiddos shared with me.

My greatest wish & hope, the best possible scenario, of course, has been that the three of them will look back and see how badly I want them to be proud of me. To know & feel how much I love and credit them for inspiring me more than they could ever know. How dreams really do come true, with hard work and lots of passion. They gave me validation and so much more, a conversation that I carried with me to Houston and will cherish forever.

While at Quilt Market just a handful of people asked me about my collection name, Fleet & Flourish, and it's significance.
   
fleet verb

1. to move swiftly; fly.  always changing

flourish verb

1. to be alive.  to grow, thrive, blossom.  to curl, twist, & coil.

It was impossible for me to create anything this past year that wasn't intertwined in grieving the loss of my dad, in my efforts to heal and build myself into something better around that loss, in accepting all that would be changed, and in deciding to live a healthier, happier, more passionate, love-filled life. These words fit perfectly and when I receive my yardage I plan to share more in detail. The theme for my collection and my space at Quilt Market, more than anything, is growth. I am really proud of what I created and I hope you enjoy these beautiful photos my friend Jayme Christensen took for me, plus a few of the special moments I was lucky enough to capture quickly.

Be back to share more soon! ♡ Maureen