Happy May! ….one of my favorite times of year here in Colorado.
This week I had a meeting with the director of the Wild Foundation. (One of our 7 main non-profit recipients.) We had a long talk about the current situation regarding poaching of endangered species. China has passed a law that punishes those who market endangered species parts, so the market has shifted to Vietnam. Poachers in Africa who are raising money to buy arms, are chased out of one country, only to take up residence (and destruction) in another neighboring country. There is an overlap with the issues that Engineers Without Borders, and Doctors Without Borders are dealing with on the continent. The more I talk to those fighting these issues, the more I learn, and the more I see how they are all interconnected. The victims are wildlife, children, mothers, those living in poverty. This is why we have a commitment to a variety of non-profits that are interconnected in ways that might surprise you.
You may recall that I was scheduled to speak as an Artist-Activist and Activist-Curator at the World Wilderness Congress in Jaipur last year, but the event was cancelled due to Covid. However my work on this topic continues, and I’ll have some more news in the next week.
I am sure you are feeling the same way that I do, with regard to the terrible Covid news out of India. We have many quilter friends in India so we are sending you blessings for health and safety during this difficult time. Last year I gave a presentation to the India Quilt Festival, and there was so much joy and creative talent expressed in their online quilt exhibit. If you attend one of my online “International Quilt Trends” lectures later this year, you’ll see images of many of those beautiful Indian quilts.
Next weekend is Mothers Day here in the US. If you are a mom, or if you have a mom, I want to remind you that eQuilter gift certificates make a great last-minute gift! They can be sent by snail mail, or sent out immediately by email! That way Mom can pick out exactly what she wants. Feel free to drop hints by sending this link to your beloved children.
I will finish by saying that the Jacaranda Egret and Blue Heron art panels at the top of the newsletter, are two of the most gorgeous things I have seen in the last year. It is a collector piece. These days it is not always guaranteed that a collection will be reprinted, so I remind you that if you see something that captures your heart, order before it runs out to avoid disappointment.
Sophie would like to send out a special thank you to everyone who contributed to her graduation quilt which was just delivered to our front doorstep this week. (She graduated from high school a year ago.) The purple school colors and the music theme, and the embroidered details are just beautiful! Thank you!
