Today I had the absolute delight of speaking to a 5th grade class – via Zoom – in California. A few months ago they read an article about my quilt “Rocky Mountain Poison” and decided to all write me letters about my artwork. I offered to respond to their questions, and today was the day we all met online. The message I gave them was this: Don’t ever let someone tell you that making art is not important. Sometimes art (which includes music, theater, dance, quilts, etc.) expresses our feelings and our message more profoundly than words. They got it! And they have a lot to say!
I have been worried about the fate of the planet since I was 14 years old. I started worrying about endangered species and pollution when I was in high school. These days I don’t worry. I take action. Our company donates 2% to a list of charities which includes the Ocean Conservancy, the Wild Foundation, plus others like the Endangered Species Coalition. In fact I met with the executive director of ESC while I was in Washington DC in March. Leda Huta and I have met a few times now, to brainstorm about Art/Activist collaborations.
Several years ago I just happened to be in New York for “Quilters Take Manhattan” when a huge Climate March was taking place. I joined 400,000 others, marching for Mother Earth, and all her precious wildlife and wild places. As a result of that experience we designed this Love Your Mother panel, which was the foundation of a quilt challenge and exhibit. But I use it as a colorful banner when I go to peacefully protest for climate justice and endangered species. I have also made prayer flags out of the smaller Earth block panel. Whenever I go to a gathering with my banner, I look for the young person who is most engaged, and I give them the banner or the prayer flags. When I tell them I designed the fabric, they are even more excited. The last one I went to was at the site of our city’s fire that burnt 1100 homes in a few hours.
April is Earth Month, and later this month we will observe Earth Day. We still have several different Earth panels/banners in stock, if you want to bring one to your local Earth Day gathering.
We are featuring the work of Barbara Lavallee, author of “Mama Do You Love Me?”, in this collage above. (And yes that is me holding one of our Love Your Mother panels.) I read Barbara’s book to our kids when they were little, and it was one of their favorite stories. I love the whimsical dancing Mamas.
When I go to these Earth Day gatherings, it is the Mamas and Grandmas who come out in force. But we love when the Papas and Grandpas come out too! How can YOU speak up for Mother Earth this month?
This e-newsletter is dedicated to Mrs. Mahar’s students. You are awesome!
This week’s Free Quilt Pattern captures sweet portraits of woodland creatures, in soft neutral tones. The central image of the newborn Fawn has particularly stolen our hearts.
To make this 52″ x 60″ quilt design (perfect for a new baby!) you will start with the 24″ x 44″ panel. Use the 2nd block panel to make the side sections. Then use the coordinating woodland stripe and Kona Solid “Doeskin” to create the border.
To make this extra snuggly, you might consider a Flannel backing.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
To start this splendid season of Springtime, we are celebrating with a lovely Free Quilt Pattern featuring a romantic walk in the rain, and the resulting burst of floral color, for all of you Francophiles….you know who you are.
There is also a soundtrack that comes to mind with this 42″ x 50″ quilt design, like “April in Paris”, “I Love Paris in the Springtime”, “Free Man in Paris”, of course the famous “Sous le Ciel de Paris” by Edith Piaf.
In this eQuilter exclusive quilt design, we’ve combined 2 wildly popular Parisian-themed prints, and wrapped them up in 3 tres chic colors of Hoffman Hand-Dyes. Whether you have poignant memories of a past visit to the City of Light, or you dream of visiting the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees, this quilt captures the imagination and spins a beautiful daydream. Allons-y!
* Please be aware – the Walk in the Rain panel is a special reprint we requested from the manufacturer. We consider this a collector item, because it sold out so fast the first time, and there is a limited availability in this precious reprint.
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Instead of making a lame April Fools Day joke, I am going to tell you a story.
Many people ask me how I was inspired to raise money for children in need. I have 2 memories that stand out from my younger years. When I was 10 years old, a new girl showed up in our classroom. I noticed very quickly that she only had 2 dowdy dresses, which were mended and patched. She was very quiet and seemed very sad. Nobody would talk to her. I found out that she was an orphan and lived in a group home out in the countryside. This literally made me burst into tears when I found out. So I sat with her at lunchtime and tried to be her friend.
A few months later she stopped coming to class. It took about a week of asking and investigating, to find out that she had been riding a horse on that country highway, and had lost her life in a horse-car accident. I was devastated. My heart was broken – for her short sad life.
Later, when I was 22 and living in Hong Kong working as a fashion designer, I was assigned to a project at a factory out in the New Territories. Once a week I took a train out to this area, then walked to the factory to meet with the patternmakers and samplemakers. The train station was next to a shanty town and I had to walk through the slum to get to the factory. There were refugee children who would follow me and ask for money and food. So I began to bring bags of treats to give the kids, and I befriended one skinny dirt-smudged little boy who had the most beautiful smile.
One week, as I walked through the cardboard and tin shacks, I noticed this boy was missing. When I asked, the other children hung their heads and said that he had died. That was when the weight of their plight hit me like a giant sledge hammer. Was there something I could have done to save his life? I’ll never know, but it made me think about being more conscious and most importantly…to not look away when there was an urgent need staring me in the face.
We are getting very close to a very big number – we are just shy of $1.98 million raised for non-profits. This is an accomplishment we can all celebrate together, because we could not have done this without your support of our family business. The non-profits who are saving children’s lives – Mission of Love, Doctors Without Borders, Engineers Without Borders, and Altrusa – have told me time and again that due to our support we have saved not hundreds, but now thousands of lives. You are part of that story, and I would like to express our humble gratitude. Thank you.
Travel/Quilt Calendar: April 18-26 – Pour l’Amour du Fil – Nantes, France (Apr 20 – Art & Activism Lecture) April 27-30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands May 27 – Dairy Barn, Athens OH – Quilt National – Art & Activism Lecture June 8-10 – Quilt Canada – Halifax, Nova Scotia August 18-24 – Bear Camp in Alaska
Share Post:
Posted inActivism, Charity|Comments Off on Once Upon a Time…
1. A mythical horse with a single straight horn projecting from its forehead.
2. Something that is highly desirable but difficult to find or obtain.
These days the pop culture meaning of the word ‘Unicorn’ has taken on a special significance (see #2 above) which gives us double the excitement to offer this fabulous Free Quilt Pattern. We love the combination of Fantasy and Sci-Fi, in this surreal image of a wild unicorn, a distant magical castle, sparkling waters, a rainbow and starry sky, with a looming planet on the mountainous horizon. Something for everyone…sort of a mashup of Harry Potter and Star Wars.
To make this 52″ x 60″ Nap/Lap quilt design, you will start with the incredible artwork in the 36″ x 44″ digital-printed panel. Then piece Starry Skies, Rainbow Nebula, and Opaline Brushstrokes to create the corner blocks and border. Hang it on the wall, or use it for naptime…for enchanting dreams.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
This week we have 5 planets lining up in the sky, visible just after sunset. The last two weeks have seen once-in-a-lifetime blazing Northern Lights which have been seen all over the world, even here in Colorado, and as far south as Phoenix. I know because I have been following the #aurora photographers who have been staying up all night around the globe, to capture these amazing images. They have even captured time-lapse videos and uploaded them all over social media. On top of it all, astrologers have been buzzing about Pluto going into Aquarius. It has been quite a cosmic month!
On the other hand, if you are watching the news, it seems like humanity is on another rollercoaster ride. But you know, in the grand scheme of things, we are here just for a blink of an eye compared to the timespan of the galaxy. I think the Aurora Borealis spectacle has somehow come as a message to make us stop, look up, and contemplate our existence. We are all made of stardust, and in the grand story of the Universe, we will return to stardust. That is part of the story of my Stardust Mothers quilt, which has just arrived in France, and will be part of the quilt exhibit in Nantes next month. I am also thrilled to have just learned this quilt will be in a prestigious venue in Washington DC next year. So I am very grateful that my message about the generations of women who protect the planet and each other…will be seen by more people over the next couple years. I hope you are also making quilts to express your deep feelings. It is my form of art therapy, for myself, and for my viewers.
The news from Nashville yesterday is devastating, and because of this I was thinking about the community of Uvalde, still recovering from a school shooting. I was thinking about our contact there – Diana is a retired teacher from Robb Elementary who has organized a distribution of quilts to those affected by the tragedy – which honestly is the whole community since it is a small town. She contacted me today to express her thanks for all of you who sent quilts to Uvalde. They have received and distributed several thousand at this point, and the recovery is ongoing. We have successfully sent them a giant group hug.
Just remember when the world is unfathomable, we can put all our love and caring, and prayers for peace into the stitches of a quilt. My heart is broken, but this is still the best way I know to heal 2 broken hearts: by giving a comfort quilt selflessly to a stranger who has suffered such a loss. Keep your hearts open and remember that every single day is a gift.
Here is a letter (and other media) from a Mission of Love volunteer, just back from a mission to Guatemala. (Mission of Love is one of our 7 main charity recipients.)
Mission of Love video;
Some people think of community as their neighborhood or city. Others span the word to their country or even the whole world. This March, a prayer was answered and I embarked on an eight day medical Mission Trip to Guatemala through the Mission of Love to help serve their community. After raising money by selling cookies around my school, I packed up and flew to the heart of the Americas. Doctors, nurses and other volunteers worked together performing cleft palates surgeries, free of cost. The first day I felt useless compared to the life-changing surgeons, but little did I know that the next day, everything would change.
The next morning, the non-medical volunteers went to another location that required painting and light construction. We arrived at “Casa de Dios,” a small house that served as a temporary home for families with sick children who could not afford hotels while receiving treatment. Walking into the non-profit charity home, the sky-blue painted walls served as a cheerful backdrop to the bright-eyed children: some bald, some sleeping, and one without a leg. A nervous rush overcame me; I was unsure if the children would like me or understand my Spanish. I had taken four years of Spanish, but I doubted my ability to communicate. I smiled and waved to a small girl quietly sitting alone, wearing traditional Mayan clothing. She grinned, despite her cleft palate. I sat down in the empty chair next to her and gently greeted “hola.” Soon we were making progress speaking Spanish. Her brother had joined us, along with other curious kids. Soon we were sprawled out on the floor, coloring, talking, and laughing at my attempts to pronounce new Spanish words.
The next day we painted the sticky, hand-printed walls. The kids, happy to see the Americans had returned, watched in awe as we painted. I snuck back into the kitchen to ask if they had any extra paintbrushes. When I walked back into the room gesturing that they could help too, they eagerly rushed over and grabbed the brushes. Before I knew it, I was brushless! The kids were overjoyed to be part of the excitement, painting in every-which-way. When a child had to leave for their appointment, they reluctantly put the paintbrush down and walked out of the home, gripping their mother’s hand. Eventually they would return weak and tired, but smiling.
Before leaving on the last day, everyone from the home sang us a song in Spanish. As I looked at the children’s smiling faces I was overcome with emotion and love. The cook hugged me and whispered, “it is okay. They have changed your life and you have changed ours.” I realized what she said was true: a small change in someone’s life was made by taking a chance, experimenting with my Spanish, and offering a paintbrush.
Throughout the week, we travelled to different parts of Guatemala to help other people in need. I learned so much by watching Kathy work her magic and achieving the impossible through her gentle words and open heart. When I returned home, my mind was always preoccupied with the thought of the children living in such a poverty-stricken and suffering world, yet their attitudes and hearts were above anyone I had ever met. In my everyday life I think of the children and how they were always smiling and laughing.
Imagine if everyone was as joyful and pure as these children; how different the world would be. There is no cost; no labor involved. All we need to do is smile to a neighbor or offer a helping hand. The kids from Guatemala were able, even if they had no shoes. Kathy and Bob Price were able; always with an inspiring attitude that changed the world one smile at a time. In my own small way I think that I am able, and I believe that you can do it too.
Here is active link of our International Indigenous Mission of Love yearly newsletter;
Thank you for supporting our family business, and being part of this story of helping others in need. Sharing your love of fabric, Luana and Paul
Travel/Quilt Calendar: April 18-26 – Pour l’Amour du Fil – Nantes, France April 27-30 – Amsterdam, Netherlands May 27 – Dairy Barn, Athens OH – Quilt National June 8-10 – Quilt Canada – Halifax, Nova Scotia August 18-24 – Bear Camp in Alaska
This week’s fantastic Free Quilt Pattern features the work of a favorite artist – Janet Frisch who creates unique vintage-flavored collections that remind us of our grandmother’s scrapbooks. The sketchbooks and botanic illustrations were the foundation of 19th Century naturalists, and their precise drawings and paintings described the birds, flowers and insects before photographs took over documentation of species. In many ways these precise illustrations are more descriptive and accurate than photos, which is why we still love this style of rendering of an image.
To make this 65″ x 76″ quilt design, you will cut up 3 different panels, then piece together with Solid Black Kona sashing, to make the central patchwork section. Then add the delicate Butterfly/Moth Journal Stripe, to create the black and white border.
This is a striking quilt with an eclectic mix of illustrative styles, which has become the hallmark of J. Wecker Frisch’s work, and the foundation of her worldwide fan base.
PLUS – you’ll receive Free USA / 50% off INTL shipping when you order the fabrics for this exquisite quilt pattern (orders $100 and over, no coupon needed).
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
If you have grown up on a farm or spent any time around horses, this image will bring back a flood of memories….the scent of freshly-mown hay, the sounds and smells of horses in a meadow, the gurgling of a stream and the whispering of leaves. Depending on where you live, or where you grew up, it may bring memories of the Springtime songbirds…like the Meadowlark.
To make this 63″ x 49″ quilt design, you will start with the central 30″ x 44″ scenic panel which features an old red barn, weathered by time, with a “Barn Quilt” art panel up on the side. A stream meanders through the green meadow, with a green tractor and rusting old red truck to complete the rural scene. We’ve added 4 colors of Hoffman Hand-Dyes to create the borders, including the Star-Block corners.
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
Early Spring is one of our favorite times of the year, when Tulips, Daffodils, and blossoming fruit trees fill the air with their fragrance, and fill the sky with dancing petals. Having just returned from Washington DC and Peak Blossom week, I want to make sure you are aware of all the Cherry Blossom products we have in stock right now!…including collectible Cherry Blossom tea towels from Washington DC. I am partial to the Godzilla chasing tourists in the Tidal Basin with the cherry blossom backdrop.
I was really lucky to be in town for the Member Preview of the ‘AfroFuturism’ temporary exhibit, now opening at the National Museum of African American History. The costumes, design elements and sci-fi/space themes were wild…and Chadwick Boseman’s iconic “Black Panther” catsuit was reverently displayed.
So much of the color and design echoed the fabulous Dutch Wax Prints that we are stocking now. (from Julius Holland and Vlisco) There is an article about these special fabrics in the new issue of Simply Moderne, which is published by QuiltMania in France. They also are organizing the Pour l’Amour du Fil quilt festival in Nantes next month, and I’ll be there as a speaker, artist and sponsor.
With the arrival of Spring, that means our seasonal Chocolate department will be closing soon, so be sure to add some Artisan Chocolate to go with those spools of Organic Thread!
Travel/Quilt Calendar: April 18-26 – Pour l’Amour du Fil – Nantes, France (Lecture on April 20) May 27 – ‘Art & Activism’ Lecture @ Dairy Barn, Athens OH – Quilt National June 7-10 – Quilt Canada – Halifax, Nova Scotia August 18-24 – Bear Camp in Alaska
Share Post:
Posted inMuseum, Travel|Comments Off on Cherry Blossom Season
To make this 49″ x 49″ quilt design, you will start with the 24″ Garden Fairy panel, add the allover Fairy blocks with night sky print and Hoffman Hand Dye, and then add the eQuilter exclusive night sky outer border. This makes a fabulous a Nap/Lap Quilt, or a dreamy, magical wall hanging for a children’s room.
“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear….” – William Shakespeare
Order the pattern as configured, or customize it to your liking with any of our thousands of fabrics. Just place your desired fabrics in your Wish List, and these fabrics will appear in the Fabric Selector below the pattern.
