eQuilter Newsletter - March 22nd, 2020
New Timeless, Kaufman, Elizabeth - Floral Fabric Sale

By now everyone knows that we are facing the great challenge of a pandemic that has swept the world. We hear terrible stories of people freaking out at the overworked cashiers at grocery stores, or Asian people being harassed related to the virus. (It happened to our daughter Sophie before her school was shut down.) But there is also an army of Big-Hearted quilters who are rising up to make face masks, from Europe to the US and around the planet. The N95 virus-rated masks and filter textiles are sold out, and the CDC has told nurses it is better to wear a bandana than nothing at all.

As many of you know by now, I've been working to compile an info-page for all of you who are anxious to help. A week ago we thought our homemade masks weren't good enough. Now we have hospitals, clinics and EMTs begging for PPE items. (PPE - personal protective equipment)

I've consulted with nurses who have give me professional feedback on this info-page, and I want to give a special shoutout to nurse Kathryn D. in Ohio who has been texting and emailing late into the night to get this initial page edited, up and running.

We already have a Boulder Mask Maker page up on Facebook, and you might think about organizing something similar in your town. I will be continuously updating this info-page, and we are encouraging you to make the masks with ties (not elastic) for the reasons described there. However we have found a supplier with 1/4" elastic and unless the governor shuts down the state, we hope to have that in about a week.

I've been in contact with quilters in Europe who are making the masks like crazy, and are in the midst of the worst imaginable conditions at the hospitals. Lets see if we can get out in front of this, and shower our medical workers with masks before they are inundated with patients.

I am hoping this will make it easier for you to 'shelter in place' if you know you are helping others. It is easier to self-quarantine when our hands are busy. If you have questions or suggestions for me, after reading the info-page, you can send me a personal email which is listed on that page.

We are providing curbside pickup for our local customers. If you live locally and wish to save on shipping but not get out of your car to pick up an order, just let us know when you will arrive and we will bring your package out to your car for a *quick* hand-off to protect staff and customer.

sharing your Passion for Fabric...
Luana and Paul

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eQuilter Classroom:
June 1-5 2020 - Paula Nadelstern - Kaleidoscopes & Quilts - Registration OPEN
July 20-23 Betty Busby - Transfer Dyeing
August 6-9 - Cindy Lohbeck Returns
Oct 5-9 2020 - Susan Carlson - RESCHEDULED

Luana's Travel Calendar:
May 14-15 - Quilt Market Cancelled
June 17-21 - Quilt Canada - Edmonton (Lecture 6/19)
June 26 - Intl Quilt Museum - Lincoln NE - Exhibit Opening & Lecture
July 29 - Aug 2 - "Love Your Mother" in Birmingham UK (Lecture 8/1)
Oct 16-17 - Visions Art Museum - San Diego (Lecture 10/16)