I think it starts from viewing the kitchen as a work area. Rich people didn't go in there, so whatever the builder-architect specified was fine. Looking at Thomas Jefferson's kitchen is interesting - partly because it was advanced for its time and partly because its stripped of the affectations of the main house. Even though its spread across multiple rooms - it matches. The woods, the flooring, the simplicity of having only enough to do the job at hand, etc. So, I think the matchiness comes from the builders vision of what a kitchen is, with a little practicality sprinkled on. Plus, who has ever wanted to go 15 different places for their "work area" storage. Right now, I see two things. Other than matchiness has a long, long history - particularly in dining rooms. The first is that the matchiness can be soothing to the eye. It looks better in small environments where a collected look can quickly turn into a jumble. It can visually expand space by simplifying line and color and unifying the presentation of a small space. Sometimes, I think people who choose monochromatic color schemes are drawn to the almost zen feel that matchiness in monochrome can produce. The second is that two colors is fashionable right now. As anyone who has ever seen pics of 1970's decorating can attest, fashion is a strong force. I like some matchiness. That's partly cultural - I grew up in a time when matchiness was prized (I'm sure it will be again). And part is the touch of the ocd fairy - my eyes try to sort jumble - which is how a table for 12 where every chair is different and all the place settings are different appears to me. In a kitchen, I think matchiness (or unity) is the background for the focal points where you are directing people's attention.

I am very new to this site but I absolutly love it. Everyone seems so nice and open hearted. I have not started to really quilt as of yet but I will be starting shortly. When I was 13 (16 years ago, I am almost 30 now ) I decided I was going to hand sew fabric together for a quilt for my niece who at the time was 5. I did and to this day she sleeps with it every night, falling apart and the batting all at one end of it LOL. She is expecting her first child in October and she is calling me everyday for a handmade quilt for her baby. I can't say no. I can not think of a gift for her or the baby that would be more from the heart and soul as that. But I want to make my first real quilt right! And the second quilt I want to be an upgrade for my niece. My love and admiration for quilting came before that. From the time I was 2 I slept with a quilt from my great grandmother that was hand quilted and I wouldn't sleep without it. Even after coming home from the hospital after being in acoma for 3 weeks I was carrying that quilt in behind me because my mother faught the hospital on not letting " personal items" in ICU. I slept with that quilt until it was too raggy to keep in one piece. Anyway I think the love of quilting did come from my roots. My mothers family made quilts from only scraps and what ever they had availible and the quilts were either made heavy or light depending on the need. I have always admired them and even though I don't sew regularly or knit I am so motivated to finally dive in and learn this that I can't wait.

Hello people here is the story that is currently unfolding as of 6/12/17: My 72 year old mother was telling me during a Mid June phone convo that her allergies had gotten the best of her. Headache, chills, nausea, bones hurting, etc. I told her, "mom that really doesn't sound like allergies." She then said, "well maybe I have the flu then?" I told her it would be really strange to be getting the flu in the middle of June. Mind you, just a few days before this I had read a news article online about a little girl who died from Rocky Mountain spotted fever and the rise of the powassun virus due to tick bites. I warned mom about prevention since she is always out in the woods and became a bit paranoid myself about those creepy little black legged ticks. I saw her a few days later and she was still out of sorts : fatigued, couldn't eat dinner, sunlight bothering her, and a bit loopy. I told her she better go to the doctor asap. She was now claiming that she must have gotten food poisoning. I asked her if she noticed any ticks on her lately and she said yes but the bite didn't have a red ring around it so she was not worried. I told her I was worried because the symptoms she was suffering from seemed a bit out of the ordinary even for the flu or what not. I told her how she was feeling sounded a lot like Lymes disease and she sort of agreed. I saw her the next morning and she seemed really out of it and had developed a red rash on her legs. I begged her to go to the doctor that very minute but she gave all kinds of excuses like....have to take a shower, have to sort my pills, etc. I told her I would call her in 2 hours and if she was not already in the waiting room i was gonna call the paramedics on her ! (but that was just really a joke to show how concerned I was and that she really needed medical attention) she went to the hospital, got her blood tested, received negative results, and they sent her home saying she probably just had little virus or something. she said she was feeling a little better next couple days but still fatigued and could not eat. I told her she better go see another doctor because there was clearly something amiss and I had heard too many stories of people thinking things will be just fine if they wait it out and end up really needing help. we live on a reservation so she decided to go to the IHS for a second blood workup... this time the doctor clued into the tick info and sent out for a bunch of additional tests. Results : she has had anaplasmosis for at least 2 weeks now and just started taking antibiotics. It is a serious tick borne disease and people can die from it (very few do but still very scary) morals of this long winded minimally punctuated re telling of my poor mom's run in with a disease carrying tick: 1. If you are feeling sick for more than a couple days with all kinds weird intense symptoms and you got bit by a tick: GO TO The Doctor ! And tell them you were bit by a tick! 2. Just because the word "hospital" seems to carry more clout than the word "clinic" don't believe the hype. Sometimes smaller is better. Always ask for a 2nd opinion if you are not feeling comfortable with the diagnosis or lack of diagnosis. Healthcare professionals in all environments no matter what background can misdiagnose even if they mostly give stellar care. Find a doctor with a good reputation and one who cares more about you than the ten minute rotational schedule or fiscal parameters they are forced to navigate due to a broken American healthcare system.

I started sewing in the 7th grade. I would stay at my grandparents in the summer and my grandmother helped me make my school clothes. When my kids were little I made clothes for them. I also did alot of crafty things with fabric but not quilts. I would make covers for furniture and pillows, curtains, car seat covers, just about anything. I started making quilts about 8 years ago. My husband passed away and he had 50+ t-shirts from where he worked, volunteering, places we had been, schools, etc. I couldn't throw them away. A friend took me to a quilt show and I was hooked. I saw a t shirt quilt there and knew what I had to do. I made 2 quilts from his tshirts, then made each of my boys a quilt from there old shirts, and then I got interested in wall quilts, and other types of quilts. I've lost count. I also crochet, my great grandmother taught me when I was young. I never accomplished knitting. I love to grow things, always have a veggie garden. Also have several fruit trees and grape vines. Pick wild blackberries and like to make jelly. I don't think of myself as creative- I have to look at pictures and copy. I'm a science teacher so I'm probably more logical. My DH now is very creative, he loves to draw and plans out the garden. He has encouraged me in making quilts and likes to help with the colors.