Mask or Raid by Joanna Campbell Slan

Author:Joanna Campbell Slan [Slan, Joanna Campbell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-22T23:00:00+00:00

As per Patty’s request, Clancy had scheduled the crumb quilt sessions for dates close to Christmas. It came as a pleasant surprise that we were forced to schedule two sessions to accommodate all the folks who wanted to learn this new quilting technique.

I’d expected Patty to show up early, get her materials organized, and settle down before she started her class. Five minutes in advance of showtime, Patty still hadn’t graced us with her presence. I was nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking horses. The students were restless, too. Maybe they picked up on my mood. I did my best to chat with the customers, and I tried to seem unconcerned, but Patty’s late arrival rattled me. I kicked myself for not telling her to show up early. Three minutes before the scheduled start, Patty came breezing in, flustered and jittery. I held my breath as the class started. I’d never seen Patty teach. I had trusted her to be prepared—and she was. Actually, she exceeded my expectations.

When a student struggled, Patty soothed the crafter and offered helpful tips. She didn’t rip the project from their hands. Instead, she explained her directions using different words. That’s a common flaw with most instructors. Rather than find a new way to explain something, an inept teacher will repeat the same directions over and over as if the student has a hearing problem. It’s rarely that. Most likely it’s an understanding problem, an inability to conceptualize what the instructor is asking them to do.

Like most of our classes, Patty’s crumb quilting session used simple, easy-to-find materials in a unique manner. I love that! Adding machine tape was transformed into both a pattern and a backing for the quilt pieces. Using the paper tape as a guide, the quilter selected a “crumb,” a small bit of material, with one straight edge. Next, she sewed the crumb onto the paper. To this, she added another crumb, slowly building a quilt block from tiny pieces. After the session ended, I took photos of the students and their class projects. I love recording that moment when a student beams with pride and thinks, “I learned something new!”

“Let me take you out for dinner,” I told my sister-in-law after the last student left the store. The choice of restaurants was up to Patty, although I did remind her that we’d need to get back to Time in a Bottle in time for her second session. She chose St. Louis Bread Company, which all my friends call “Bread Co.” I applauded her decision, as I had a craving for their shredded barbecue chicken sandwich.

After we placed our orders and sat down, I hoped to prod Patty so I could hear more about her sister Ginny’s situation. I started by asking, “What’s new with the Detweiler clan? How is everyone? Gosh, we all get so busy around the holidays.”

Patty chewed a potato chip thoughtfully, took a sip of her green tea, and said, “Ginny’s having an affair.

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