Q is for Question Marks, Quilts, and Quests
Posted by lindamartinandersen on April 19, 2016
A Writer’s Playground–a place to find wordplay, writing prompts, reasons to celebrate, and monthly calendar activities for kids and those young at heart “Q is for Question Marks, Quilts, and Quests” by Linda Martin Andersen
This month I’m sharing photos and blog posts from A-Z. I’m excited about trying something new. I hope you’ll stop by often throughout the month.
Check out the participants for the April (2016) Challenge. There are plenty to choose from http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/
Q is for Question Marks–and with that comes lots of questions
Some Q & A activities, just for fun…
- Walk around your house with a question in mind. Can you answer the question before your walk is complete? For example: What items in my house or yard begin with the letter “Q?” I thought of quarter, quilt, and flowering quince.
- In what class or classes at school would you expect to see a lot of question marks? Give an example.
- What written language uses inverted question marks? How did you find the answer to this question?
- What animal(s) is sometimes described as having a curly Q tail?
- What is a good study skill habit that centers around questions when reading nonfiction?
- What “W” questions and one “H” question are good to ask when writing a story?
- Do you ever question your ability to do something? What helps you build your confidence in situations like this?
Q is for Quilts
Years ago, I bought a quilt rack to display some of my oldest quilts. Another special one was a gift from my mother-in-law. Nice gift. I also have commercially made quilts. (See the photos below). On our first Christmas as a married couple, my husband gave me a handmade quilt. I was so excited. I received a baby quilt for one son when he was born. The other son received a crocheted blanket. I have featured a quilted apron at this blog. You would think with this love of quilts and handmade things that I would quilt, but I don’t. I’d rather admire someone else’s handiwork. How about you?
Commercial quilt–larger view. Copyright 2016. Linda Martin Andersen
Q is for Quests
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/quest
I used to work as a school counselor in elementary schools. When I taught classroom guidance, I often used a resource called “Lions Quest Skills for Growing.” Years later, I met a former student who told me he remembered me coming to his class and teaching lessons, and he remembered getting to hug Quinton the Bear–Q Bear, the program’s mascot. He went on to say I was one of his favorite teachers. It didn’t hurt that he got to hug Q Bear too. 😉
What are you on a quest for?
What “Q” words come to mind for you? I hope you’ll share why they’re special to you.
Thank you for visiting “A Writer’s Playground.” Come again soon and bring a friend. Please leave a comment. Remember that children 13 and under need an adult to comment for them. For more fun, sign up to follow my blog. Thank you!
A Writer's Playground 
windowcolquhoun810 said
I’m with you on ‘admiring’ the handiwork of quilters but I don’t quilt either. I visited an Amish lady’s house to see her exquisite handmade quilts and asked her how long it took to make a full Queen-sized quilt and was amazed when she said it took her only 6 weeks. And, as most folks know, the majority of the work is done in daylight hours as the Amish don’t have electricity and she admitted, it is hard to see the stitching in lamp-light. 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Quilting takes skill, an artist’s eye, and lots of patience. Good lighting too, I’m sure. Only six weeks and how many hours to make a queen-sized quilt. Maybe this lady can quilt in her sleep. 😉 Thanks for sharing the story of your visit to an Amish ladies’ home and her quilt making business.
Nilanjana Bose said
The only words that come to mind are Querulous and Quandary and they are not special 🙂 The Quest for the perfect Q word is on.
Here from the A-Z and wish you all the best for the rest of the challenge
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
lindamartinandersen said
I second the quest for the perfect Q word. Even better, we can co-lead it. Thanks so much for playing along. I’m heading over to see what you’ve shared.
Kathleen said
A quilt memory I have is the one my friend help me to make for my daughter. I kept her baby blanket,favorite shirts, PJs, sweatshirt from her elementary school, from cross country running in high school. My friend helped me to cut fabric, she did most of the piecing, and helped me sew it. The day my daughter got her first college acceptance letter, I surprised her with the quilt! She loved it and brought it to college with her last fall😊
lindamartinandersen said
Kathy,
What a great story and a touching gift. I love that your daughter took it off to school with her. Quite a compliment and a sign of deep, deep love! Thanks so much for sharing that precious story! Made my morning!
sarahsbookreflections said
Kathleen, you aren’t old enough to have a college-aged child!
lindamartinandersen said
Kathy, will always remain forever young.
Donna Welch Earnhardt said
Q words… this is a hard one. I think of QWERTY. Not a real word, I know. But they are part of my laptop and therefore… some of my most used things! 🙂
I also think of Quinoa. Hard to say and hard for me to cook correctly.
lindamartinandersen said
Donna, I’m okay with invented words. I give you creative freedom to do just that. 😉 Cooking is tricky enough without food words being hard to say too. I love you and and your fun self. Thanks so much for commenting.
Carol Baldwin said
I love admiring other people’s quilts too. Q is also for NOT being a Quitter. Can’t do that as a writer, right?
lindamartinandersen said
Agreed, Carol! NOT being a Quitter! No matter what! I’m glad you appreciate and admire quilters and their handiwork too.
In my own words said
I started a quilt in 2010 and then picked it up again this December. I’ve made progress but it does take sooooo long to complete one. I can’t imagine the fortitude of those that create many in a lifetime. If I finish this one, I will consider it a lifetime achievement, like a Grammy or something 😉 Nice pictures with good detail. I’m enjoying reading your blog!
lindamartinandersen said
Wishing you well on getting that grammy winning quilt completed. Does your quilt have a theme? I’m glad you are enjoying my blog posts. Thanks so much for letting me know and for playing along.
Bee Halton said
Q is a difficult one but I found out about the quoll and I love those little critters 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
So glad you learned about quoll and told us about them too.
sarahsbookreflections said
I’ll have to check quoll out. Our older daughter’s maternal grandmother made Susanne a wedding ring quilt for her gift. It was beautiful.
Other Q words that come to mind are quail, quahog, quintessential, quietude and query. This is such fun.
lindamartinandersen said
Thanks for more great Q words to think on. What a terrific wedding gift and reminder of wedding vows and much love. You are thinking hard to come up with this many more Q words. I especially love to hear quail and boy do I need to send more queries.
Tracy Campbell said
Linda, you came up with a lot of great ideas for the letter “Q” which wasn’t easy. I’m not surprised one of your students thought you were his favorite teacher. I bet the whole class thought the same thing. I love your quilt. I love quilts too. Many years ago, I quilted. 🙂
lindamartinandersen said
Tracy,
It was a big compliment from a former student any educator would loved to have heard. I’m glad you liked my q choices. I bet you made some lovely quits when you were a quilter! Thanks for saying you like mine! Also, thanks for playing along!