With our sub-zero storm in the rearview mirror, I got out for a couple fun activities in the last 24 hours. Friday night was the opening reception of the Men’s Quilt exhibit at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden. I was the juror for this show about 7 years ago (not exactly sure – the pandemic has wrecked my sense of time) and it is a delight to come back to see old and new artists alike. It is so great to go to a room full of male quilt artists, and match the sartorial style and stylized facial hair with the piece hanging on the wall. Our Colorado-based male quilter celebrity Ricky Tims was in attendance (fellow Bernina Ambassador) and as a sponsor, they let me say a few words to the crowd. It was a splendid evening full of smiles and hugs. Maybe a couple mustache tickles on the cheek. Bravo to the boys!
Today I went to a local farm to take a class on planting seeds for pollinators. I’ve been paying attention to this issue about pollinators being wiped out by pesticides and herbicides. It is not just bees and butterflies that are being lost, but also birds! Did you know it takes 6000 to 9000 caterpillars to raise one nest of chickadee hatchlings, for instance? Did you know that seeds sold by commercial nurseries are coated in pesticides, that spread into the plant and can kill the visiting pollinators? So I wanted to learn about chemical-free seeds & native plants for migrating and local pollinators.
My last quilt was made for an exhibit about Endangered Pollinators, in the Boulder Library Canyon Library. It just came home from the Animalia show at the New England Quilt Museum.
Well, by the time I left the farm, I had discussed not only our honeybee and bird and fruit and vegetable fabrics with the farmer’s wife/partner, but had stepped into their steamy mushroom incubating pods, tasted their honey, patted their massive ginger cat (invited them to join my Fabriholic Kitty Club on Facebook), and joined their weekly Mushroom Club!
I am sure you have noticed that we carry a wide variety of categories, with thousands of themes and motifs. I tell people, basically we sell art on fabric. I know that you have a variety of interests, as I do. My parade of creative passions, including gardening, baking, travel, pets, wildlife, astronomy, sci-fi/fantasy, books, having tea/coffee with friends, museums, costumes, and kids in music and soccer…..have led to this huge collection of novelty fabrics that hopefully will supply designs for any quilt ideas you all can dream up!
But like Ms. Farmer and other crafty makers, you may also be making hot rice packs, aprons, curtains, children’s clothing, or funky Aloha shirts with our crazy inspiring collections of Art-on-Fabric. We know that whatever you are sewing and making, you will smile when you unwrap your next package from eQuilter.
sharing your love for fabric,
Luana and Paul
Travel/Quilt Dates:
Jan 26 – SAQA NOCO eQuilter Tour
Feb 21-24, 2024 – QuiltCon in Raleigh, NC – eQuilter is a GOLD Sponsor.
March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends”
April 7-12 Allegre Retreat
Visit eQuilter’s Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok pages for Color and Design ideas.
See Luana’s Flickr Photo Pages for travel images, comment on our blog, or follow us on Facebook.
Check out our Video pages for interviews and show reviews.
