Sewing in the time of COVID-19 – Week 50
As we approach the one year mark of the start of this pandemic and shutdown, we are also starting to make real progress towards a ‘new normal’ for the coming months. Yesterday it was announced that next week here in Colorado, those ages 60 and over will be eligible for the vaccine, which means that Paul and I might get our 1st shot just in time for eQuilter’s 22nd anniversary on March 10th. Our employees have been wearing masks and social distancing almost a year now, to keep each other safe and to keep our business running. Our buying department has worked long hours to restock our shelves, and our customer service department has fielded calls and emails to keep you sewing through the worst of it all. We are almost there.
Last weekend I was so energized by QuiltCon. It was so amazing to see the joy, the creativity, the LIFE that was expressed in the quilt exhibit. There were plenty of emotions and opinions expressed…directly and indirectly…about how the last year has affected us all. A few of the artists were VERY prolific with several quilts accepted into the virtual exhibit. Many artists pushed the boundaries of the Modern Quilt definition….which happens every year at QuiltCon! As creative quilters branch out using more diverse techniques in their Modern Quilts, we may see the edges between Modern Quilts and Contemporary/Art Quilts blurred even more. I think that is fine. What matters is following and exploring the creative path that unfolds when you are in the process of making a new quilt. I am so excited by the expansion that is taking place in the Modern Quilt movement.
A couple days ago I went to photograph the Quilt Nihon show at our Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden, Colorado. When I opened the door and peeked into the gallery filled with those gorgeous Japanese quilts, it just took my breath away. The first time you walk into an in-person quilt exhibit, when this is over, I bet you’ll have the same visceral reaction.
Seeing quilts over the internet is definitely far better than nothing at all, but the art and craft that we share is so tactile, and when we are standing in front of a wall of quilts, we can FEEL them. Even though we won’t touch them, it is still a kinesthetic experience. It is hard for me to explain….it is like looking a picture of a herd of sheep…vs. being in a field full of sheep. You know what I mean?
with hope for the future,
Luana and Paul
