Qualities of a Good Tailor

I was browsing through my Uganda photos this evening, and came upon a photo of a page from Alice's notebook. Written when she was attending tailoring school, it outlines the qualities of a good tailor. I thought you would enjoy reading it too. I especially like the one that says that a good tailor is always "smart". In Uganda this means "classy", or "well-dressed", as opposed to clever. But there are a few other points we might take from this too. Alice certainly is the model of a good tailor, from everything I've seen. (I hope you can read this!)

Home Again, Home Again (Jiggety-Jig)

For those of you who have been following this blog, and who have been wondering if we just vanished into thin air when we left Uganda, let me reassure you that yes, we are home, but it has taken much longer to get our feet on the ground than expected. I must remember for next time that jet-lag has as much to do with a sense of place and purpose, as it does with a sense of

time. For the first few days, I wandered aimlessly from room to room, wondering what it was exactly that I do when I'm here. I looked out my window and there were no people in evidence anywhere. I went outside, but the chilliness of this world chased me inside again pretty quickly. And I didn't want to unpack. Something in me didn't want it all to come to an end, so I delayed and delayed. But then this last weekend, I attended a quilting retreat, and that was just the ticket I needed to get myself back home. So here I am again, in Comox, BC. This marvellous quilt pictured here is by Judy Morningstar, and is called Stitching Bright Tomorrows. It captures the energy and fun and determination of the Bitengye Designers in Judy's inimatable style, and is surrounded by actual bags and placemats made with African fabrics. It's Judy's entry in the Turning the Tide exhibit, the sequel to the hugely successful Seeds of Hope exhibit, a fund raiser for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. I love it, love it, love it. And am so thankful for Judy's generosity in first making the quilt, her support for the Bitengye Designers, and for letting me post the photo here on my blog.