February, 2025

Love; exhibits; Jokic; hair care; QOV Log Cabins; Encyclopedia; and more

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Greetings quilting friends,

If love is white, fluffy, and falls from the sky, then it will be in the air later this week where I live. 12-15 inches in two storms from Wednesday to Saturday is the latest forecast. On that “happy” note, let’s get this thing started.

Love

In this season of Valentines, what does love mean to 4-8 year old kids? The question, “What does love mean?” was posed to a group of 4- to 8-year-olds. Here are some of the answers.

“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy, and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.” Danny, age 8

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.” Robert, age 7

“My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” Clare, age 6

“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Melody, age 5

“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.” Taylor, age 4

Valentine’s Day

As it was a common name, there are many St. Valentines. The one for whom we celebrate a day of love in the middle of February might actually have been two or more men whose details may be consolidated into one legend. It is said that he was a cleric and a healer in 3^rd century Rome who cured the blindness of a judge’s daughter.

He was imprisoned for evangelizing and for illegally performing Christian weddings. Before he was to be martyred by decapitation, he sent a letter to the judge’s formerly blind daughter whom he had befriended. He signed the letter “your Valentine.” The day of his martyrdom was February 14.

Many of you know Steve and I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day. We feel love isn’t found so much in the splashy gestures made with chocolatiers, florists, and jewelers whispering (or shouting) in your ear one day out of 365. It’s found in the small things that you do for each other every day. For me, it’s found in Steve planning all the meals and doing all the grocery shopping; or attentively caring for me when I’m sick or convalescing; or backing the car into our curved driveway when I have to take it out after dark; or something simple like squeezing my shoulder when he walks by as a token of love or solidarity. In those things and many more, I know he loves me. With all that, I don’t need anything special on Valentine’s Day.

One incident from when Will was in Little League has stuck with me. We were in the bleachers when Steve said he was going back to the car to get something, I don’t know, a sweatshirt or sunscreen. He asked me if I needed anything brought back. When he left, a mother sitting by me was dumbfounded. “My husband would never ask me if I needed anything!” Then it was my turn to be dumbfounded. I couldn’t imagine living with someone so selfish and thoughtless. I have no idea which of us has the more typical marriage, but I know I have the better one. She and her husband are divorced. I’m not sure flowers and a fancy restaurant on Valentine’s Day would have changed that outcome for them.

Anyway, happy Valentine’s Day. Try to celebrate it every day.

Rocky Mountain High

Twice in three weeks during January, I drove 12 hours to Denver (and 12 hours back, of course). First, it was to deliver quilts to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum for their Judy Martin Stars Over the Rockies exhibit. The second time was to attend the opening reception for the exhibit. That was the fun trip!

At the museum I was blown away by how well the quilts were displayed and lit. I don’t know how others felt, but it allowed ME to see and appreciate them in a way I can’t when they’re on a table in my sewing room or being held up at a lecture I’m doing. I’m grateful to have gotten that opportunity. Everyone from the museum deserves credit for mounting a first-rate exhibition and staging a wonderful reception.

I had the opportunity to talk to many relatives and old friends (I lived in Denver for 14 years.) and new acquaintances. It was magical for me. I hope many of you will be able to pass through Denver before April 19 to see it for yourselves.

Take Me Out to the Ballpark Museum

Our trip wasn’t limited to quilts. Will and Lauren flew in on Thursday for Friday’s reception. That first day we visited the National Ballpark Museum, curated by Bruce Hellerstein, a baseball friend of Steve’s. For weeks Kate had been dropping reminders we needed to go there because she had seen Bruce being interviewed on an episode of Mysteries at the Museum. The museum is dedicated to the classic ballparks built between 1909 and 1923. Bruce asked me to sign a giant bat and write about my father being a classmate of Ted Williams, one of the greatest hitters who ever lived. And in case you were wondering how my publishing company got its name, these photos offer a clue!

Hoops (Though Not Quilting Hoops)

After the Ballpark Museum, we headed over to Ball Arena to see the best basketball player in the world, Nikola Jokic, and the Denver Nuggets. What a game we were treated to! Jokic, a husky 7-footer, is an excellent 3-point shooter. Plus, he’s unstoppable under the basket. His passing is otherworldly, and he’s a rebounding machine. Jokic is in the top 3 in scoring, rebounds, and assists. That’s never been done before.

On this particular night, he put up a stat line unseen since Wilt Chamberlain: 35 points, 22 rebounds, and 17 assists, all well above his lofty season averages. Oh, and then there was this casual toss to end the third quarter:

Best of all, Nikola Jokic plays the game with humility and grace. He doesn’t showboat or taunt opponents. He deflects all praise back on his teammates. He doesn’t care about stats; he only wants to win. In many respects he is like Caitlin Clark. I feel fortunate to have seen him at his very best.

Hair Care

I saw this online. I won’t vouch for any of it. Use these tips at your own risk. Personally, I have my doubts about all of it, but it’s interesting.

Budweiser beer conditions the hair.

Cool Whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes.

Mayonnaise will kill lice, and it will also condition your hair.

If you want shiny hair, use brewed Lipton Tea.

Quilts of Valor Log Cabins

Two things that are close to my heart are patriotic quilts and Log Cabins. I’m pleased to report that this year’s block at Quilts of Valor is the Log Cabin. If you click on the link, you’ll find patterns for blocks and quilts you can make to support this worthy cause.

I’ve been including patriotic quilts in my books for decades, culminating in 2022’s Red, White & Blue Star Quilts. And Log Cabins are one of the things I’m most known for. My very first book was Log Cabin Quilts in 1980. So you can see why this year’s QOV block hits home for me!

Here is a photo of a Log Cabin I’m particularly proud of: Main Street Log Cabin. It was in Extraordinary Log Cabin Quilts.

Encyclopedia

One of the things I’ve been hard at work on is updating of my 2021 e-book (only available for download) Encyclopedia of Judy Martin Blocks & Quilts. I don’t know how many people would pay for something like that, but that’s irrelevant, as I feel it’s important to publicly document what I’ve done in my career. I’ve been working in the quilt industry for 46 years, so there’s more past than future for me!

The 588-page Encyclopedia features 957 original block designs shown in drawings and 1029 original quilt designs shown in 247 quilt photos, 197 quilt drawings, and 585 setting variations. It also has 16 original, full-size quilting patterns with sketches showing how to arrange them for blocks and borders. I have added photos for every design that was presented with a photo.

It's both an historical reference and a study in design progression and development. It can also be an idea and inspiration book for your own designs, quilt choices, or color choices.

Spreading the Joy of Making Quilts

At Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to assist my nephew’s 6-year-old daughter in making a crazy quilt for her stuffed dragon. She picked the fabrics; I cut the pieces; she stitched the seams; and I put on the binding.

I was most impressed with her color and fabric sense and with how evenly she sewed her seams. She didn't let the machine run away from her: She kept it at a nice steady speed. This young lady is going to be a quilter one day!

She was as proud as she could be. And I was thrilled because I played a part in passing on to a new generation some of the same joy I have felt for the last 55 years. I don’t have much hands-on experience in doing that, but I found it extremely gratifying. I’m sure many of you know from personal experience just what I’m talking about. In a few weeks I’ll talk to a class at the local high school about my career in quilting, alerting them to options they may have never thought existed.

On the Road Again

Over the next 8 months I’m going to be logging a lot of miles in route to various lectures. Perhaps I’ll see you!

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Des Moines Area Quilters Guild
2 lectures/trunk shows: 1:00 and 6:30 pm
One is Log Cabin quilts; one is star quilts. I’m not sure which topic will be at which time.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 6:30 pm
Ankeny Area Quilter’s Guild
First United Methodist Church
206 SW Walnut St., Ankeny
Log Cabin lecture and trunk show

Thursday-Saturday, July 17-19, 2025 (I don’t yet know which date I’ll be scheduled for.)
Quilter’s Hall of Fame in Marion, IN
Celebration for 2025 Honoree, Laurel McKay Horton
One Quilt Leads to Another lecture and trunk show

Saturday, September 20, 2025
Sac County Quilt Affair
Sac City, IA
Sac County Fairgrounds
Log Cabin quilts lecture and trunk show

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Northern Lake County Quilt Guild
Meeting at 1625 N. Deep Lake Rd., Lake Villa, IL
Not sure of the topic as I write this, but we’ll have it all aced long before then.

Holy Moses!

These are taken from student essays.

Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the Ten Amendments.

Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread, which is bread made without any ingredients.

Moses died before he ever reached Canada.

That’s it for now. May you all live long enough to see Canada! (After college, I spent several weeks canoeing in Ontario. It’s a beautiful place with wonderful people.) Until next time…

Judy Martin
http://www.judymartin.com/
https://www.facebook.com/QuiltingWithJudyMartin
info@judymartin.com