Thank you for supporting our family-owned business.
Together, with your help, we have raised over $2 million to help those in need.
A little less than 20 years ago, on election night, I was at the awards ceremony in Houston. Outside passions were raw and votes were being counted, but inside the auditorium we quilters all sat together under the red and blue streamers, and we laughed and cried and cheered and clapped as one. When it was my turn to get on stage to give a major cash award, I said a few words. Maybe some of you were there that night. I talked about the unity and peace that we find in the presence of the quilting community, when the world outside seems to be impossibly divided. It is still true today.
Tonight I share with you this quilt from the QuiltCon exhibit, that expresses this thought so eloquently without words. On the left is blue, on the right is red, but the intricately pieced Capitol Dome is bathed in shades of purpleand pink. That is the place where we come together. I really admired the skill and patience it took to draft, design, and construct this piece of textile architecture.
The quilt was designed and constructed by Aynex Mercado, and quilted by Julia Triman. I see this quilt as a prayer for unity in this difficult election year. Aynex belongs to the Washington DC Modern Quilt Guild, so she is ‘in the soup’ as my mother would say.
Although the piece speaks for itself, I do want to share these words from the Artist Statement:
“We hope quilting the U.S. Capitol…in these shades of purple, offers a counterpoint to red vs blue portrayals of American politics, culture and society…Our hope is that instead of arming yourself in your team’s color, recognizing connections between our beliefs and values might strengthen the resilience of the American Gradation.”
Well said Aynex. There is so much we all have in common, and it is expressed in our quilts. Love, comfort and healing are all part of the quilting tradition….in America and around the world. There is more that unites us, than divides us.
My quilt “Mothers of the World” has been hanging at the Peace Tech Lab, in the U.S. Peace Institute in Wash DC. It is now traveling with the founder to a new non-profit in Zurich, and I am so honored that he plans to hang it in his new office. We never know how our work will inspire and comfort others.
Every stitch is a prayer, and I pray for Peace every day.
Will you join me?
Sharing your love of fabric…
Luana and Paul
* The collage image above is made with eQuilter fabrics, and Aynex Mercado’s quilt “American Gradation”, photographed by Luana Rubin at QuiltCon 2024.
Visit eQuilter’s Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok pages for Color and Design ideas.
Follow Luana’s Flickr Photo Pages for quilt & travel images, review our blog, or follow us on Facebook.
Check out our Video pages for interviews and show reviews.
Subscribe to Luana’s Artist Website blog for more creative inspiration.
Travel/Quilt Dates:
March 6 – Canadian Quilters Association – Zoom Lecture “Intl Quilt Trends”
March 10 – Guatemala Panel – Rocky Mtn Quilt Museum
March 14-16 – Washington DC
April 7-12 – Allegre Retreat
May 1-7 – London UK
