Sacred and Abhorrent

Last month I volunteered at the Sacred Threads Quilt Show.
There were two separate exhibits.  The first smaller exhibit was titled - OURstory Quilts - Human Rights Stories in Fabric.

I am sharing a small sample of the quilts from each. The picture of the quilt is followed by the maker's description.

Anne Smyers is in my quilt guild.  I remember when she was working on this quilt and mentioned that the base fabric was just two colors.  That is such an inaccurate representation of us because we are not just black and white. So she dyed the individual faces to create all the complexions. It is like the International Sisters are dancing in the Garden of Humanity.

I do still believe that most people are good at heart.  Only if we listened to our hearts...and not the hate.

If we know now that 1957 was a huge mistake then how can we sit quietly as the current prejudices are perpetrated?


Forgive the poor quality of the pictures. It is difficult to see properly through tears or hold the camera steady while sobbing.

The main exhibit had 240 quilts is six categories - Joy, Grief, Inspiration, Healing, Spirituality, and Peace & Brotherhood.  In addition there was the Eye Contact exhibit. I took several pictures but the link shows a video of the exhibit.

Here is a small sample of quilts from the main exhibit.

Just like Ann Bertorelli, I am horrified by those who perpetrate such torture on innocent children. How is this not a human rights violation? 

This quilter was also inspired by the movie Coco.  Such a fun quilt and so very different from my simple interpretation in Poco Loco.

This must have been such a difficult quilt to make. One does not just remember the abuse one relives it. I find it remarkable also because Arlene Wagner chose to display it not under GRIEF but under HEALING.

Of all the quilts I saw that day this one haunts me the most.

Between the time I saw this quilt and the time I could share these pictures with you, there were mass shootings in El Paso, in Gilroy and in Dayton and we need to make more hearts.

How can we make hearts when our hearts are breaking?

I know how I feel. I feel extremely saddened. I feel angry and I feel violated.
I don't know how to process it all. I don't know how to put it to use.

Paul: You can donate to the cause
Me: Already done
Paul: You can make a quilt
Me: I am thinking about it
Paul: Don't you have to sketch it?
Me: Yes, I will
Paul: You can send it to Sacred Threads next year
Me: I looked up. I stared at Paul.

Yes. Yes, I will.  I need to make a quilt to honor the victims and make sure they are not forgotten.
I will send it to Sacred Threads exhibit.


Quilts have to be made and delivered and there are works in progress.

work in progress

And I will get back to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

Blues for RSC 2019 - August

For now, I am tidying up my fabric room. I hope that as I sort fabric and arrange them by color, I'd be able to sort my thoughts too.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar.
I'd feel so strengthened to hear from you.

Quilters Unlimited Show 2019

The Quilt show was May 30 through June1, 2019.
I went to the quilt show with two of my non-quilty friends - Patsy and Sandy.  I know them from yoga classes and they are not quilters. This fact is important to the story that follows.

When we got to the "Trees of Life" quilt, I requested Patsy to take a picture of me with the quilt.
You know because a selfie would just not do it.

As I handed off my phone to Patsy, I noticed a couple of women walking towards us.
I went to stand next to the quilt and Patsy turned around and remarked to these women - My friend made this gorgeous quilt.
I blushed. The woman smiled, nodded and moved on.
My color deepened when I realized that Patsy had just addressed Jinny Beyer. It was just another day at the Quilt Show.

There is  something magical about the show.
I have made the quilt, photographed it and blogged about it but when I see it at the show, my heart skips a beat. Does this happen to you?

Here I am beaming with the "Fire Pit" quilt.

Here I am with "Mixed Feelings", happily reporting that all feelings are upbeat now.  The pain has receded into the dim caverns of my memory.

And lastly with Lo and Behold. Princess Bonniebella can be seen just over my shoulder and the Christmas tree plugged into the sunflower is just northeast of the princess.

If you have not, you have to see the full quilt and read the whole story here.

Here are some of my favorites from the show. The credits immediately follow the quilt picture

This looks so Indian to me with red and yellow which are considered auspicious colors and are used to clothe the Goddess, as well as the patchwork design reminiscent of the Rangoli patterns.

I love the bicyclist and the teddy bear in the doorway. Fun details.

Susan is in my guild and her work never fails to impress.

 

Delicate flowers to depict the mighty elephant - who would have thought?

 

So cute. Made me smile.

Spectacular. How do they make everything fit?  I am sure it is the magic of paper-piecing. Well-behaved paper-piecing, I guess.

 

I have seen this pattern before but not in solids.  I believe it is the black/white bands that add extra oomph.

 

The simplicity and straightforwardness of this quilt was very attractive to me. Fabric choices are important.

 

This intrigued me. I remember standing and staring it for a while to find all the embellishments she used.

 

And this small quilt was the show-stopper (in my opinion)

I returned from the show super happy and super exhausted.

Paul: Babe, are you ok?
Me: Yeah, why?
Paul: You seem subdued.
Me: The quilt show was fabulous.
Paul: And that has depressed you?
Me: No. Yes, in a way.
Paul: How so?
Me: Well, there are so many quilts to make and so little time
Paul: Ah OK. Well, are you going to finish this (pointing to the Trinket flimsy) one?
Me: I am not feeling it.
Paul: Whoa, What, Why?
Me: I completed every step, posted on Instagram religiously, sent an email for the finished top...
Paul: And?
Me: And I did not win.
Paul: Nothing?
Me: Absolutely nothing. I got oohs and aahs, nods and appreciation from other quilters but I wish I had also won something.
Paul: Was this like a lottery or a competition?
Me: Both. Well, first it was a weekly lottery and then it was the Grand Prize.
Paul: So who won?
Me: Bunch of people won. Not me.
Paul: Who won the grand prize?
Me: One very spectacular quilt - monochrome of blue and white. And another one had this very special layout where she made a picture or a landscape with these blocks.
Paul: So better quilts won.
Me: Some were better than mine. But mine is up there with the rest of the fancy ones.
Paul: Don't you have to finish this?
Me: Yes, but not this minute. It is not like I will get a prize for finishing it.
Paul: How about I give you a prize for finishing it.
Me: I am listening.
Paul: Gift Card to the Spa.
Me: I promise to complete it before the end of the month. But I want to play with my sisters now. They will cheer me up.
Paul: Good. Because I do not want a grumpy date. 

The rest of the exchange between Paul and me is redacted :-)


The new month had begun. The RSC's color for June is blue and I dived into my blue stash/scrap pile to make my blocks.

Blues for June

Complexions

in the works

Almost there

 And here they are - International sisters for the month of June

Her face glows and the dress too

Perfectly placed rose in the headdress

Oh yes I will dance

Me too

Did someone say dance?

Princess of Whimsical Seas

Wait for me

Oh yes, I must finish the Trinket quilt so that I can get the gift card to get the massage that I can definitely use :-)

I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the side bar.
As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.