Wow, I am on quilt overload! (In a GOOD way.) I am still processing all the information – visual and otherwise – that I took in on my trip last weekend.
Between the 19th century quilts in the DAR Museum archives, the labyrinth experience of the Sacred Threads art quilts, the quilt images at Not Fade Away, and the SAQA artwork for the Andover fabric collection… not to mention the Punk Fashion exhibit at the Met's Costume Exhibit, my mind is still boggled!
So what did I come away with, after all of these quilt/textile experiences? That we are in the process of making history with all of our current quiltmaking and textile collecting. As much as we love to look backwards to catalog and contemplate the fabrics and patchwork of the past, we are busy making history right now with everything we sew, photograph, and discuss.
AND…there are more fabrics, quilts and fiber art to discuss now than at any time in history! AND…the exponential amount of images and information available via social media and the internet in general, is more than one person could review and digest in a lifetime!
So when someone admires, studies and creates within a narrow focus, they are likely to be very productive and efficient. I will never forget when I heard Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) speak here in Boulder. She is one of the most talented and successful women in the world, but she said her success was due to the fact that she is only good at ONE thing: writing. She said if she had multiple talents and interests, she would be distracted and could not have written that book.
So what I got out of this trip is that I need to keep narrowing down and focusing on what I want to accomplish. I bet many of you can relate to this – often I have more on my plate than I can finish. I like to say "yes" which means it is hard to say "no". I mean, sometimes a girl's gotta sleep! So I am reviewing my priorities and trying to get my studio, my To Do List, and my schedule reorganized before my heavy travel schedule starts up this Fall.
What about you? Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you reorganizing and re-prioritizing?
How do you stay focused on the GOOD stuff?
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Sacred Threads 2013 Closes Sunday July 28th!
Please help us to help Libby Lehman!
Upcoming Quilty Trips:
Aug 8-10 – Birmingham UK Festival of Quilts
Sept – Textile and Photo Tour of India
Oct 11-13 – CQC Fall Retreat
Oct 26 – Nov 2- Houston Quilt Market & Quilt Festival
Nov – Color Marketing Group Conference and Visions Opening – California
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Check out our eQuilter Facebook page!
(Sneak peeks of new collections throughout the week)
Hi Luana, I have just watched your video with Kaffe and Brandon and it was really wonderful– so much passion and enthusiasm, can’t wait to buy the new book.
Also I was extremely interested when you spoke of The Modern Quilt Movement, –is there somewhere where i can google or similar to see more of what this is about.
I am a good e quilter customer, but my interest has always been in modern/contemporary, rather than traditional, but as I live in Australia I do find it hard to get much inspiration from the web generally.
Any tips or advice you could pass on would be most appreciated. Thank you and travel safe Corrie .