Holy smokes, am I stoked! I got to see the cover of my new book for the first time today. My latest quilting book, “Quick Little Landscape Quilts,” makes its debut this fall. In fact, I’m so happy, I feel like doing cartwheels across my lawn. I said I feel like doing cartwheels, not that I will do cartwheels. Hell would freeze over and pigs would fly if I attempted a cartwheel at my age.

Seeing the cover of my new book got me to thinking about my “Thursday” quilting group. Without them, the cover quilt for my new book, “Dryer Lint, Etc.,” would not be in existence.

You see, my funky little “cover” quilt, is constructed primarily from dryer lint. Call me crazy, but I like to use “found” stuff in my quilts – anything that imparts realism works for me. Lucky for me, my Thursday “pals” save their colored- and felted-wool dryer lint for me. (Note: I have enough to last me for centuries so no need to send me yours.)

We “stitch and bitch” together every other Thursday and we know each other so well, it’s like we have formed our own support group, minus the shrink. Through “the best of times and the worst of times,” we are there for one another. If one of us needs technical advice on a quilting project, we are Johnny on the spot with multiple solutions!

When I first attended Thursday group, I used to sit next to my dear friend, Ivy Tuttle, and watch her hand-quilt. Ivy is one of those rare quilters who “crab” quilts, meaning she can quilt any direction with precise, teeny-tiny stitches. Although I never mastered “crab” quilting, with Ivy’s tutelage, I eventually became a decent hand-quilter. A long-time Kent resident, Ivy is one of the most creative and talented quilters I know.

The other day, she showed up at Thursday Group, with a huge pile of original hand-appliquéd quilt blocks. Ivy is creating what she calls a “Journal” quilt with blocks depicting every-day occurrences in her life for an entire year. These meticulous blocks portray incredibly happy, joyous themes as well as sad occurrences.

Studying Ivy’s blocks, I laughed and cried and was amazed at her ability to represent some her daily experiences in cloth. I count myself fortunate to have Ivy as my friend, as well as all of my other “Thursday” friends. Thank you, dear friends, for your friendship!

If you are a solitary quilter, think about starting your own group with like-minded quilters. You’ll be surprised with the long-time friendships you will make as well as all of the other “perks!”

Happy stitching!

Joyce Becker is a Kent resident, longtime quilter, quilting author and a columnist for the Kent Reporter. Let us know what you think! Send your comments to Editor Laura Pierce at lpierce@kentreporter.com