eQuilter Blog

Desert Colors.
Sunset in the Southwest.
Red Rock Canyons.

We conjure up images of red and orange, copper and gold when we hear these words…

But if you've never experienced the Southwest in person, the realities of the colors here are pretty amazing when you see them in person.

As I flew into Las Vegas Sunday late afternoon, I was able to snap several photos through the airplane window. I wanted to share this one with you because it has a color that we often forget when we think of these Southwest colors – deep vivid turquoise!

This is an aerial photo of one of the "fingers" of Lake Mead. What makes this so striking I think, is the natural white outline of the deep turquoise water, caused by the rise and fall of the water on the red rocks.

It has me re-thinking my own personal palette of Southwest colors, as I see how the gold, orange, copper and bone colors play off of the complimentary aqua, turquoise and teal.

I take reference photos wherever I go, never knowing when an image will spark creativity. Now I am itching to take a road trip through the 4-Corners area. It has been a long time since I went to Sedona and the Grand Canyon.

In the meantime I'll have fun revisiting all of our Southwest themed fabrics at eQuilter!

Today one of our customers came in to pick up her order, instead of having it shipped. You see – her house burned down in the big fire here this week – no place to send the package.

You can imagine how our hearts went out to Diane. Nobody can imagine what it feels like to evacuate in a hurry, then lose your home and possessions. She is a REAL quilter – her sewing machine was one of the few things she grabbed on the way out…and whatever quilts she could grab.

The community is rallying together to help out the fire victims, and just today I received 3 notices from groups that are gathering donations for the families. I just posted a link to an article that tells about various organizations that are helping these families. We are hearing so many amazing stories of generosity – families opening their homes and wallets to help other families who have lost their homes.

For those of you wanting to help, visit this link

http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_16009614

and I'll share whatever other information I can about the relief efforts.

Here is a picture of Diane when she visited our office today. I don't think either one of us has slept this week. If we have any other eQuilter customers who have lost their homes, we would like to know who you are so we can potentially match you up with those who wish to help out.

The fire is still burning but hopefully nearing containment. We are still waiting to hear if Sam's best friend's house is still standing.

lots of prayers and hugs going out to Diane and those who are evacuated from their homes…..

Fourmile Fire: How to get help / How to help

http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_16009614

A victim assistance center, staffed with mental-health counselors, has been set up at Boulder County's Sundquist Building, 3482 N. Broadway in Boulder. Its call center can be reached at 303-441-3560.

A storefront, where fire victims can come and get clothing and other donated items for free, has been set up and stocked with community donations. The store is on the west side of Boulder Ski Deals, 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder. It will be open from 9 to 5ish.

An incident call center has been established to assist residents affected by the wildfire and evacuations. Residents are asked to contact the center at 303-413-7730 instead of calling 911 or the city and county dispatch lines unless there is a new emergency to report.

The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the YMCA at 2850 Mapleton Ave. in Boulder. People should bring identification, medications and items to occupy small children. Food will be provided. Small pets are allowed at the shelter. The pets will be housed away from people, but pet owners can visit their pets.

HOW TO HELP:

Take your donations directly to the following location. Volunteers are on hand to assist families in need.

Four Mile Relief Community Store (next to Boulder Ski Deals)
2525 Arapahoe
Boulder, CO

* Please have all items bagged (easier to transport)
* Non-perishable food only. Home canned goods will not be accepted.

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management asks that people who want to make donations or volunteer dial 211 or call 866-760-6489. The city can not accept perishable or prepared foods, and asks that residents not drop off donations at local fire stations.

A donation drop-off site for clothing, unused personal hygiene items, diapers and school supplies, has been set up at 3111 28th St., Boulder. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
To donate fire-fighting equipment call 720-564-2924.

The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help support Fourmile Fire evacuees. To contribute, visit northerncolorado.redcross.org or call 303-722-7474.

The Longmont Humane Society, 9595 Nelson Road, is asking for donations to support pets of evacuees. The shelter needs machine-washable blankets, towels, canned dog and cat food, pet toys and cash donations. To contribute, visit longmonthumane.org or call 303-772-1232.

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley needs blankets, towels, cat litter, canned dog and cat food, 6-foot leashes and cash donations. Visit boulderhumane.org to donate online or text "pets" to 50555 to add a $10 donation to your cell phone bill. Items can be dropped off at 2323 55th St. in Boulder.

The Boulder County Fairgrounds is seeking donations to support livestock evacuated from the fire areas. The fairgrounds needs hay, horse feed and other services. To help, contact Boulder County Parks and Open Space at 303-678-6200.

The Foothills United Way is accepting donations to support fire evacuees. To contribute to the Fourmile Canyon Fire Relief Fund, or for additional information about available resources, visit unitedwayfoothills.org or call 211 to connect with the United Way hotline.

The town of Gold Hill is accepting donations for fire victims through Paypal, at goldhilltown.com.

The Boulder Jewish Community Foundation has opened a special fund to assist those affected and displaced by the Fourmile Fire. To contribute, mark your check "Fourmile Fire Relief Fund." Checks can be mailed to: Boulder Jewish Community Foundation, P.O. Box 20338, Boulder, CO 80308

Volunteer Connection is establishing a volunteer list. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

Sparkplace is setting up an online clearinghouse of offers to help those affected by the Fourmile Fire. For more information, visit sparkplace.com.

The Boulder Canyon Firefighters Donation fund has been set up at Guaranty Bank, 1650 Pace St. in Longmont, for the firefighters who lost their homes to the Fourmile Fire.

We have had several inquiries from customers who would like to help those who have lost their homes.

Since we are still focused on friends and family with homes in or near the fire, we will post this information:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/24922395/detail.html

Victim Assistance Center Opens

Boulder County has established a victim assistance center for people affected by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire.

The center is located at Boulder County?s Sundquist Building, 3482 N. Broadway in Boulder. A call center is also operational there and can be contacted at 303-441-3560.

The victim assistance center is not a shelter. The emergency shelter is located at the Boulder YMCA, 2850 Mapleton Ave, and is being managed by the Red Cross.

The victim assistance center is offering the following services to victims of the fire:

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Mental health
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Food and basic needs assistance
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Longer-term housing options for people who have lost their homes
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Insurance claim advice
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Medical case management
?
Senior services for those age 60 and older
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Coordination with local nonprofit organizations to provide clothing and other basic needs

The center is being staffed by Boulder County, the Red Cross and the Mental Health Center of Boulder County.

A public call center for people seeking information about the fire can be reached at 303-413-7730.

How You Can Help

Here's how you can help the fire victims:

The Red Cross is accepting donations at www.coloradoredcross.org . It is not accepting volunteers at this time.

To find out how you dan donate through the Mile High United Way, call 211 or visit www.unitedwaydenver.org .

The Salvation Army is serving hundreds of meals to evacuees. You can donate online at www.denversalvationarmy.org .

Colorado Friendship has a trailer at the Boulder YMCA, delivering food and clothing to evacuees. They tell us they are in need of new socks and underwear. You can deliver those items to the to the trailer at the Boulder YMCA.

http://thequiltershalloffame.blogspot.com/

There is perhaps no more quintessential icon of the late 20th century quilt revival than Bonnie Leman, founder and editor of Quilters Newsletter Magazine.

The quilt world lost a great friend Sat Sept 4 with her passing. One could easily say Bonnie Leman was THE HUB of the quilt world for almost 30 years. She appeared on the scene in September 1969 with her first issue of Quilters Newsletter and soon left her tracks around the world*. With grace she passed on the baton of leadership at QNM to her daughter Mary in 1996.

I never met Bonnie in person, but I feel like I knew her through her daughter Mary, and Quilters Newsletter. In 1990 when I left the fashion industry in NYC and moved back to Colorado, I was looking for a new direction. I found it when I picked up QNM on the local grocery store newsstand and felt a chill go up my spine. I remember thinking "This is IT! This is what I've been looking for!"

The result is eQuilter.com, and the design work I have done for Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Bernina Fashion Show, etc.

Thank you Bonnie for inspiring me to join the Quilting Industry.

Wherever I travel, my eye is always drawn to the work of artisans and designers. Having been involved in the production end of design for so many years, I can't help but think about the person who dreamed up a hotel lobby's beautiful design, the craftsmen/women who brought it into being, and then I think about where the money comes from to create monumental works of art and design.

In prior eras, it was royalty that commissioned artwork and were patrons to brilliantly talented artists. Then as the industrial age grew, there was a new kind of "royalty" – the industrial barons who amassed great wealth, and then commissioned or collected great art.

This week as I spent yet another business trip in Vegas (this time with several thousand designers and photographers at Photoshop World) I really thought about who is employing the artists of our day. Vegas is a very surreal place and it is hard to spend more than a few days on the Strip, but you can't ignore the monumental art and architecture that has been built there.

Our convention was held at Mandalay Bay, which has a lot of tropical themed art throughout the property. Because the convention lasted a few days, I had a chance to really take a good look. When I say "art", I am including the inlaid marble floors and intricate cornices in the lobby, the realistic elephant head sculptures that form an outdoor fountain, the large scale banana leaf wallpaper, the stained glass/crystal chandeliers, the gigantic headless statue of Lenin outside the Russian restaurant… you get the picture.

I am not a gambler, but in this case I couldn't fail to notice that this is Art for the People, paid for (albeit indirectly) by the People. Yes there are ultra wealthy people who own these monuments to gambling wealth, but you and I can walk through the lobby and the public areas in and around the property (don't forget the amazing gardens and waterfalls out front!) and enjoy the designers' and artisans' work for free. With the water issues, who knows what Vegas will be in a hundred years? – but if you keep your eyes on the surroundings instead of the slot machines – you just might find an inspiration there for your next project! (see photos on my photo page)

Hope you are enjoying your long holiday weekend!

I am writing to you from the 34th floor of my hotel on the Vegas strip, where I am attending the Photoshop World conference. I don't have a tripod, but I couldn't resist trying to capture the flashing madness of the Strip down below…and then play around in Photoshop with the results.

That is exactly what Creativity is about ….
PLAY.

If I thought about someone judging me while I was playing around with my photos, then I'd get intimidated and maybe just post a link to
some Vegas themed fabric.

http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/st_main.html?catid=43

Fortunately when I write my Creative Nudges, I try not to think about our big list of subscribers. Instead I think about the individual quilters and fiber artists I've met over the years, and I think…. "what a cool image to share with my fabric friends!"

On the flight over here today, I took several photos out the window, of the
colorful desert landscape. The gentleman next to me commented "what a great shot" and then as we began to chat, it turned out his wife across the aisle was a quilter, and they were on their way to the same conference!

Quilters are everywhere. We collect fabric, colors and friends. Aren't we lucky?

I am posting some photos from the flight on my photo page too. The abstract patterns are fascinating!

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

sharing your Passion for Fabric…
Luana

People around the world are slowly realizing the magnitude of the floods in Pakistan. This week when you check out at eQuilter be sure to choose Doctors Without Borders and your charity dollars will go to an organization that is putting an immense relief effort into this devastated country.

If Angela's story in our midweek Creative Nudge touched your heart, you can support this week's cleft lip/palate surgery trip by choosing Mission of Love at checkout. (or donate directly to MOL)

http://www.missionoflove.org/

This week I'll be at Photoshop World in Las Vegas, and at least one evening I am going to check out the Pure Spanish Horse show to take photos and admire those gorgeous animals.

http://www.missionoflove.org/

I'm also working on my keynote Trend presentation for the International Textile Expo on Sept 13 at Bally's in Vegas. This not open to the public – wholesale trade only – but if you are going to be at the show please come to my trend report at 9 am Monday!

http://www.textileshows.com/ballys2010/

I decided that Sophie should take some sewing classes from someone besides me, so today she took her first sewing class at a local Bernina shop. She spent this morning picking out a really cute Ice Cream themed flannel print, then went to class and made a pair of flannel pajama pants! She was absolutely thrilled and of course now she wants to sew on my big Bernina, which is what she used in their classroom. That little Bernette she used in her Quilting Arts TV segment is super cute, but I can see already she's got her eye on those embroidery stitches…

http://www.youtube.com/user/quiltfairy#p/a/u/2/kog9JrdXQ74

Something very special is happening this week – thanks to eQuilter customers who contribute to Mission of Love. (One of the 7 charity choices on our checkout page)

Right now in Guatemala, 2 plastic surgeons have donated their time to fly down and do 25 cleft lip and palate surgeries for children who otherwise would not have access to this procedure.

You may have noticed that in the last few weeks, our total given to charity has topped $800K.

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

One of our major recipients is Mission of Love,

http://www.missionoflove.org/

… and this week we are supporting their medical trip to help the children at the orphanage Casa Guatemala and from the surrounding villages.

35 cases were identified but the local contact had to make the difficult choice of which 25 children would receive this amazing gift….this time.

As you may guess, our charity program is my favorite part of our business. We raise money for breast cancer research and environmental organizations, but there is a special place in our heart for the organizations on our list that help orphans, families and children affected by disaster, and those living without basic needs like clean water.

Getting involved more personally with these groups has brought a truly precious gift to me – incredible Gratitude for what we have, and our ability to share that with others in need. In fact Gratitude is often what fuels my creativity, especially when I am designing or creating art to benefit others.

I share with you here a photo of Angela, who is receiving this surgery this week. She is 16 months old, and hopefully she will not even remember the pain and stigma of this condition when she grows up.

If you would like to directly support Mission of Love's medical trip to Guatemala this week, be sure to click on them when you finalize your order, or better yet give them a direct donation.

In the meantime, as I work this week, I'll be looking at Angela's picture and dreaming of seeing her healed face and her smile in the coming months.

Our thanks to Dr Abdu and Dr Obeng, and to MOL director Kathy Price for making the trip to Guatemala this week.

Thanks for supporting our eQuilter Charity Program!

Luana

In my nostrils still lives the breath of flowers that perished twenty years ago."
Mark Twain…on Hawaii

"Somehow, the love of the islands, like the love of a woman, just happens. One cannot determine in advance to love a particular woman, nor can one so determine to love Hawaii." -Jack London

" We are the rainbow kids…In each of our hearts beats a rhythm that makes all of us Hawaiians." -Kenny Brown

Last week I was visiting Paul's parents on Oahu, and I'd like to try to
share the colors of Hawaii…for those of you have never been there.

It is hard to separate the colors from the fragrances of Hawaii. When I smell the floral melodies as I walk along the beach or the streets there, I can't help but connect the perfumed air to a particular color.

It is not just the flowers that have color and fragrance – the salty spray and the blue-green waters have a smell that hangs in the air and intermingles with the gardenia and the plumeria.

Then there's the smell of the light orangeish mangoes, the wafting cocoa butter fragrance that evokes a cocoa brown feeling, and crisp white smell of freshly laundered beach clothes.

Layer on the sounds of the waves, the birds, and the happy chatter of those playing at the beach, and it is a total sensory experience. The light is somehow soft and bright at the same time, and one easily slips into the casual dresscode of those mesmerized by the slow passage of Island Time.

Then of course there are the beautiful Rainbow Children, born from an amazing melting pot of cultures…golden children who are a mix of Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Haole. (Caucasian) Novelist James Michener's "golden people" of Hawaii live in a racial rainbow.

I posted several photos from my trip last week, and in particular I want to share the COLORS and visual inspiration of this beautiful place. Check out my images on my photo page.

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

Wondering if I bought some tropical themed fabrics while I was there? Well of COURSE I did! *smile* You'll see them over the next few months.

Aloha…