eQuilter Blog

Today Sophie started a new season of gymnastics at our city Parks & Rec program. It is an 8 week class and she takes it a couple times a year. My boys took this same class, and the highlight of the hour is always the same – running and jumping in the Foam Pit. (A swimming-pool sized hole in the gym that is filled with large squares of foam) Sometimes they swing on the rings like Tarzan (or Jane?) and drop into the pit. Sometimes they run and jump off a spring board into the pit…but the result is always the same. The biggest smiles and giggles you've ever seen or heard. Pure Joy. Even I look forward to the foam pit. Vicariously.

As I watched the kids, I thought – "That's the way it should be when we start a new project. We should be willing to bounce off the spring board (the inspiration), fly through the air (leap with no expectations), smile and giggle like crazy when we land in the squishy swimming pool of foam. (try something new and enjoy the process, no matter what the outcome)

Why don't we do this more often? TIME.

We are all so busy that we think every creative effort has to be productive. We curse the time wasted when we experiment with something new and it doesn't turn out perfect. We plan everything out with obsessive efficiency and sew blocks like we are a factory worker making 500 shirts a day. Why do we do this? Quilting is supposed to be FUN!

Well ok, I know some of you are saying…'I don't do that!' … so I am speaking to those of you who are productivity oriented, and you know who you are. *smile*

There was a great article in the NY Times this last week, about the importance of play.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/garden/06play.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=children%20play&st=cse

It was about children, but I think it really applies to all of us. My creative time is my playtime, and if I don't get it regularly, I really go nuts. Repetitive quilting is my meditation time. When I am working out a design problem, I seem to be working on other subconscious problems at the same time. I come out of my studio after a few hours, feeling like I have accomplished and solved so much more than just a quilt. Do you know what I mean?

…and just for grins, here is a photo of the ceiling of that same National Assembly room. Can you just barely make out those 2 golden figures in the far upper corner of the grand gothic ceiling??

Wherever I go, I am always looking for the evidence of how we embellish and decorate… how we add ornament…and how we layer design ideas to make a visual impact. When I travel, I especially enjoy seeing art and design that was made by a creative person perhaps hundreds of years ago, which is still relevant and exciting today.

Here is an image of 3-dimensional and 2-dimensional decoration that was tucked way up high in a corner of the ceiling, in the Lower House (National Assembly chamber) of the Hungarian Parliament building. The room had so much ornament, so many murals and sculptures and gold leaf, that one could just be overwhelmed and take it in as a whole. I am so glad I had the presence of mind to use my telephoto lens to its maximum potential, and capture this little slice of heaven way up in the far corner.

Often this is how we find our creative inspiration. It is always there, waiting to be discovered, but we have to pause for a moment and let our eye be drawn to the small detail that can become a big idea.

This reminds me of a scene in the movie Peaceful Warrior,

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438315/

– when the young novice meets the teacher in the park, and complains that there is nothing going on… nothing to see. The teacher replies that there is never nothing going on…and suddenly the young novice has this powerful experience of seeing all of these things that are going on around him, that he was incapable of noticing until he just stopped and looked in a Zen-like way.

We may experience this when we are in front of a blank white sheet of paper, or in front of a stack of different colored fabrics. When we are anxious, when we are distracted, when we feel rushed to start without a plan or an inspiration, we may not do our best work. It can be fun to work spontaneously without a plan, but when you are working with high quality fabrics you might want to do the experimenting on a piece of paper first!

Sometimes we have to spread out the fabric, and walk away. Then we come back the next day and we see something that wasn't there before. When we look at it with a fresh eye, the lightbulb goes off. This is why painters will often work on several paintings at once, and why quilters have so many UFOs! We get tired of looking at one piece, and we have to go away and look at something else for awhile, before we can return with a fresh eye.

I have posted more images on my photo page –

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

– and tonight I am sharing pictures of the interior of the Hungarian Parliament building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Parliament_Building

I saw lots of beautiful design inspiration inside this historic, HUGE structure, and perhaps you'll find your next big idea in these images…

Setting Goals for the New Year
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I am not really into New Years resolutions. I mean, they were meant to be broken, right? I really admire people that can make a New Year resolution and stick to it… but most of the people who crowd the gyms this week will be gone by February.

What I AM good at is setting yearly goals. I also like to set 5-year goals, and give serious thought to 10-year goals. Last New Years I was coming out of a very difficult year dealing with my stepdad's Alzheimer's, moving him into a nursing home, helping Mom sell her house, and a year ago in January she moved into a condo 10 minutes away. Stepdad passed away this last May and Mom just now got the last few pieces furniture to make her new condo a real home…just perfect for her.

One year ago, I was determined to set a realistic goal, which I worked on all year in 2010. I felt like all my creative time had been sucked away, so I needed to set a goal that was truly possible. That goal was to write every week, and focus on my photography. Well, if you get our Midweek Creative Nudge, you know that I did manage to accomplish that goal. With 1200 photos online and over 100,000 visitors on my photo page, I think I will tick that goal off the list! (And wow, have I had fun going after that goal!)

A few days ago, as I was rather grumpily complaining about how I still don't have enough time to make art, Sophie chimed in and said "Yeah, me too! I need to spend more time making art!" So we decided to make a New Years goal of making art every day. Or perhaps in the broader sense, to do something creative every day.

One thing I have found over the years is – to successfully reach your goals you have to make a list – include several things that you know can actually be accomplished – and then add in some zingers that are a little over your head. I have a good friend with whom I share my annual goal-setting, and we exchange our emailed lists for the year.

I share this with you because I am sure you have the same kinds of challenges – Life, Family and Work often get in the way of our Creative Time. No matter how much time I spend in the studio, I always feel like it is never enough, so all I can do is set those goals, sign up for some projects with deadlines, and find a couple creative partners with whom I can pursue those goals.

When you are a "Creative" (which is now a noun to describe a creative person – not just an adjective) – that fiery spark has to be expressed and released regularly just to keep one's sanity. Sometimes it has to be temporarily rerouted but the true Creative is compelled to make art, craft, music, dance, prose, or whatever their medium….because it is as necessary as the beating of their own heart.

Wishing you a Creative Year, and the Time to enjoy your stash and studio/workspace.

The New Year is a special time for many of us, because we pause to mark our progress in the year that is gone, and set our goals for the year ahead.

It doesn't have to be as tangible as –
"I will make 10 quilts in 2011!"

Perhaps it might be something like….
I will spend 5 hours sewing on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I will celebrate my progress as an artist, and not denigrate my own work.
I will share my creative inspiration and knowledge with someone who wants to learn my craft.
I will study with a teacher or author whose work I admire.
I will learn a brand new technique this year, and then use it in a project.
I will donate the supplies I no longer use, to a school or class, or young person.
I will keep a journal of my creative process this year.

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you've seen the links I've posted for articles and videos about Creativity. I truly believe that everyone should have a creative outlet, and that being creative is a healing process, that makes us whole beings.

One thing we forget and leave behind as adults is the magical wonder of our childhood. The ability to dream, and to believe that anything is possible, is a great gift. That's why many of us are drawn to spend time with children – so we can have a few moments to experience the wonder and playful imagination of the child.

Tonight I took Sophie to ZooLights – our local winter light show put on by the folks at the Denver Zoo. Families wander through the grounds of the zoo, wearing layers of colorful hats and mittens, sipping hot cocoa and enjoying the sheer pleasure of moving through the colorful lighted landscape. Everyone is so happy, and the mood is so dreamy, that it is like we all agreed to come together and have this beautiful dream together.
(Today's photo is from our night at ZooLights)

The best part of course was seeing the sparkle in Sophie's eyes, and sharing the pleasure of her discovery. Experiencing her joy of riding the carousel, and the little train that makes a little loop around the duck pond, was the kind of simple pleasure that comes from sharing holiday traditions.

My New Years Eve is a simple one – I like to stay home, watch the ball drop in Times Square (although this year Snooki will be in the ball?), sing Auld Lang Syne (and get a little teary-eyed at another year gone by) and then share a toast of sparkling cider with whichever kid is the right age to (a) still be awake at midnight, and (b) still be young enough to be home on New Years. That would be Sam (13).

I hope you spend New Years Eve in the way that makes you happy, and I hope you have time to make some plans for your Creative Play in 2011.

See you next year!

Beauty is all around us, and although our eye is drawn to Beauty, often we are distracted by gimmicky blaring Beauty, instead of quiet pure Beauty.

During the holidays we search for Beauty, for Peace, and for small moments of pure Joy. We are not always consciously aware that we are yearning for these things, as it is easy to get sucked into the bright lights and the loud holiday soundtrack…. but deep inside all of us is the child that recognizes a moment of magic…like when a perfect snowflake lands on our nose and the moment is frozen in time.

This holiday season I have done most of my gift shopping online. When I have had to go into town, I've been just blown away by the intensity of the busy shoppers in the parking lots, cashier lines, and on the road. Then I go back home and breathe a sigh of relief. Wow, holiday shopping options have become so intensely polarized in the last 10 years!

Today was our Winter Solstice (longest night of the year), and the Summer Solstice for our friends Down Under. With the Lunar Eclipse, it seems like a very magical and auspicious time. Every year the commercial frenzy seems to become more intense, and every year the world seems to need a little moment of Magic, a place of quiet and peaceful reflection, and the sharing of Joy… more than ever before.

For those of you celebrating Christmas in a few days, I hope that this week you can slow down and enjoy the season. Perhaps you will catch your breathe as you see the magic in a child's eyes, or maybe you will have a moment of clarity and healing at a midnight service on Christmas Eve.

Do you remember those bumper stickers from many years back, that said "Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty"? I think that is what quilters do – we make these incredible gifts of love and beauty – and give them to those in need of comfort. In the end, I think those of us who make and give quilts, benefit more than the recipients.

Every quilt we give away shares a piece of our heart and soul with the world – and makes us more present in our loved one's life. That piece of our heart transcends time, and can continue to give comfort and healing into the distant future.

All of us at eQuilter wish you a beautiful holiday with your loved ones, and we are honored to have shared in the gifts you make and give.

I bet you feel the same way that I do this time of year – I love to give to others – and this time of year is a great opportunity to show love, respect, appreciation and admiration to all the people who add color and Light to my life.

Sam and Sophie have a holiday music recital tomorrow – Sam playing ukulele and Sophie playing violin – and I know we'll really get in the spirit of the season after hearing all those kids play their Christmas songs!

Today we had brunch up at Chautauqua and I took photos for our holiday photo card with the snow-dusted Flatirons in the background. (Yeah I know, I am running a little late, but I was tied up last week…) We picked up a tree from our local farmer on the way home, and there were packages on the front porch this evening. I suppose the logical next step is to bake some gingerbread cookies tonight…and oh I almost forgot we are invited to a Cookie Decorating Party tomorrow morning!

Tonight we'll decorate the tree, and unpack all those ornaments collected over the years. We'll tell the story attached to each ornament as we unpack them and hang them high enough so the cats can't knock them down…then we'll turn on the lights and admire our work… gotta have a mug of hot cocoa in hand when we flip the switch!

We hope that you are having a wonderful week of holiday traditions, leading up to Christmas and New Years, or perhaps you are celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the Winter Solstice. Watch for our Winter Solstice newsletter midweek, and hope you find lots of good stuff in our big sale this week!

The Holiday Season is upon us, and many of us are happily crashing in exhaustion after some power-shopping and partying! Through it all, we search for the true meaning of the holidays, and look for ways to give to others with an open heart and open arms.

Quilters are one of the most giving groups of people we have ever met, and we know that you are probably putting the final touches on a one-of-a-kind gift for someone special in your life. We are happy to have contributed to that process, and there's a little bit of eQuilter *Love* that is tucked in when you make a quilt or fabric gift, and send it off to your own loved ones.

By the end of the year eQuilter will have raised $850,000 for charity, and that is a BIG hunk of love that is sent all over the world to those in need.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/Charity.html

We thank you for contributing to our charity efforts, and now we are giving a big THANK YOU back to you for your business and friendship this year – our eQuilter Yearend Giant Closeout SALE!

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=40

Last night I got home from my trip to Vienna, Prague and Budapest. I have just finished posting photos from the Matthias Church in Budapest, which is an absolute *jewel* of art and patterned design … not only on every interior surface of the building, but also the colored tiles on the roof are in a pattern!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Church

I just couldn't help but think of all you quilters when I walked inside this gorgeous building. There was SO much design inspiration and truly unique color combinations that I was just snapping away like crazy with my new camera. My present to myself for my birthday was a camera with a high quality lowlight sensor, and a combination wide angle and telephoto lens, so I could quickly switch back and forth from taking in a big wide angle scene, to zooming in on a distant detail. (like the patterned artwork on the ceiling of this cathedral!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625476989025/

Take a look on my photo page or my Facebook page and you'll see what I mean. You can't help but see quilt blocks and applique designs when you look at these images!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

http://www.facebook.com/luana.rubin

One of the colors that really stood out for me on this trip was a deep rich yellow-gold. I was traveling with my friend Beth Hayes (Editor-in-Chief of McCalls Quilting Magazine) and she pointed out that there were so many houses painted this intense shade of yellow, as we traveled through the countryside! We also saw this color all over Sch?nbrunn Palace in Vienna. The color 'Sch?nbrunn Yellow' was a favorite of the Emperor Franz II/I, and so the whole place was repainted this color around 1818. I wonder what the neighbors thought….?

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/wissenswertes/tour-of-the-palace.html

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/wissenswertes/palace/baugeschichte-iii.html

I will be posting photos all week, so be sure to check my photo/Facebook pages in a few days. Also, if you missed my enewsletter Weds night, check out the photos posted from the Czech Republic.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625545354406/

Sunday, my last day in Vienna, I saw the Lipizzaner horses, Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss", and a Verdi opera at the big historic Vienna Opera House. I'll be adding more Vienna photos later this week!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157625419734961/

We're all crazy-busy getting ready for the holiday season, but I know you are all secretly sneaking down to your stash and planning projects for the winter months…so I hope these images will give you some design and color ideas. I have had an absolute blast taking these photos and sharing them with you all!

Wow, what an amazing week this has been. Visiting Europe during one of the biggest snows and longest cold snaps….at the same time as the holiday season…. has been a unique experience to say the least! This weekend it is snowing and windy (i.e. bitterly cold) again in Vienna, but we have tickets to indoor events such as Mozart/Strauss concerts, the Spanish Riding School, and I am meeting someone from the local quilt magazine today at the Museum of Applied Arts!

http://www.viennaconcerts.com/

http://www.srs.at/index.php?id=265

http://www.quiltjournal.com/

http://www.mak.at/e/jetzt/f_jetzt.htm

It has been very interesting to learn about the local versions of Art Nouveau – i.e. Jugendstil and the Secession movement. But perhaps what was most interesting was to travel through former communist countries, and hear what life was like before the Berlin Wall was taken down in 1989 …before the Velvet Revolution in these countries. After traveling through the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary, I have a much better sense of history in Eastern Europe. As a kid we really were not taught much about this part of the world, that was under the Iron Curtain at the time.

Vienna is full of music, which is absolutely delightful for me. Yesterday we took a "city tour" riding around the Ringstrasse on a bus, then out to see Sch?nbrunn which is the most popular sightseeing in Vienna. It is here that the Vienna Philharmonic gives summer performances in the vast gardens (similar to Versailles' gardens), and it was here that Marie Antoinette grew up, one of 16 children birthed (of which 13 survived infancy) by Empress Marie Theresa, who were then married off to various royals all over Europe. It is also here that the last Habsburg emperor abdicated in 1918.

http://www.schoenbrunn.at/en

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardens_of_Versailles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habsburg_Monarchy

If you've seen the movie "Young Victoria", you saw the scene where young Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg is at his family palace in Austria – and you can see that palace in oldtown Vienna.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_of_Saxe-Coburg

Although the monarchy is long gone in Vienna, you can see and hear the still-vital products of their prodigious patronage of the arts here, from the monumental embellished architecture, to the decorative arts that are literally everywhere, and the music that seems to pour out of every building. One can't help but think of the many movies that have been made about the flourishing of the arts here, " Amadeus" being one of the most obvious! The director of this movie was Milos Forman, who grew up in Prague after becoming an orphan when his parents died in Auschwitz.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086879/

My 2 favorite activities in Prague were visiting the Alphonse Mucha museum, and cruising the Danube at night with snowflakes falling and Strauss waltzes on the sound system while admiring the illuminated architecture.

Prague was rather difficult to tour, because of the heavy snow that occurred while we were there. Budapest on the other hand was one of the most stunningly beautiful cities I have ever seen, with its illuminated Buda palace up on the cliff overlooking the river, and the incredibly decorated interior of the Matthias Church. I am sure it is going to take a long time for me to process everything I have seen, but in the meantime I am posting photos of this trip on my photo page, to share the incredible art, color and design inspirations that I gathered in this so-called "Golden Triangle" of Vienna, Prague and Budapest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Buda_Castle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Church

http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/

So that is my holiday gift to you – to share all of my best images from this trip – and to share my thoughts about the incredible history of the creative force that flows through these cities – a vast unending source like the Danube River that has inspired centuries of beauty and art – and is entering a new era of contemporary creativity in which we can all participate.