So far this year I have had the great honor to travel to Japan, Mexico, Switzerland and France to see quilt exhibits and meet quilters. I love to see the quilts of other countries, to see how their culture, crafts and colors are expressed in their quilts!
As I mentioned in Saturday night’s newsletter, I got “stuck” in Washington DC on the way home from Geneva due to the blizzard in Denver. I walked the Cherry Blossom Festival, visited a couple museums, and my 8 day trip was stretched to 11 days…so I am still processing my experience in Europe.
My trip to Mexico last month was a great inspiration, and I loved seeing how Mexican art quilters are developing their fiber art, inspired by the colors of their country. So tonight I wanted to share a photo collage of images captured in Mexico City, because I found these colors so full of joy and life!
When I travel, I don’t watch the news or TV, so I can totally immerse myself in the cultural experience. Because the Syrian peace talks were going on while I was at the United Nations, it was very hard not to be aware of the terrible news from Brussels. However being around people who are trying to make the world a better place, was comforting as the news unfolded. As our opening reception celebrated World Water Day, we could not ignore the news from Belgium.
Whether we are dealing with stress in our own lives, or trauma in the world news, our quiltmaking and our shared love of stitching, is a gift that helps us to stay centered. Creativity is a way to work through life events that just don’t make any sense. Sitting down to make something, is sitting down to reconnect with ourselves. When the world has gone crazy, making something with hands and heart, is the best way I know to stay in the moment and clear my head.
Our May trip to Cuba is full… our November trip to see the Polar Bears is filling up!…and on Saturday I’ll announce the details for a new trip to Cuba in September. If you’d like to receive advance notice of this new trip, send an email to customer service or give us a call.
Here’s to the Joy of Life!
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