The Healing Power of Fabric Arts

A wonderful article about an artist to be featured in the next exhibit at the New England Quilt Museum.  Dr. Michele David has quite a story – and a marvelous talent.  You just want to grit your teeth at such an overachiever, but you gotta love her.  All that talent, brains and spirit in one woman – WOW!

A Healing Art by Sandra Lawson

Homage to my Sherpa

Now That's a Bear! Created By: Debbie Janes Photo by: Jeff Lomicka

Deborah Janes is my sherpa.  I have the very good fortune to work with this talented woman and I learn from her every single day that I do.  In addition to being one of the most talented quilters I know (click on the above picture)  she has an endless supply of patience.   Seriously.  I know I sometimes ask the most basic questions of her and she manages to look thoughtful (like she has never been asked that before) and give me an answer that in no way makes me feel like an idiot.

I think I am most in awe of the latter – someone with her skills and abilities could easily take the high and haughty route but she does not. Heaven knows there are enough **QB’s on the planet.  She demonstrates such a genuine love for what she does that it becomes contagious.  I’ve seen people in the museum shop watch her, ask her questions, and she draws them in to whatever she is working on and always tells them, “Oh yes you CAN do this,  it’s fun!” and they walk away shaking their heads in amazement….and encouraged by her infused energy.

I am inspired by Debbie  for these and other reasons that go beyond what can be discussed here.  She has faced major battles in her life and she meets them head on.  I try to remember her example when I am asked questions (not about quilting) by tourists in my husband’s store, by people who think working at a quilt museum is (tilt your head to the side) “sooo cute!” and who generally exhibit a disregard for personal property.  (I honk the hell out of my horn when I see someone throw a cigarette butt out their car window.)  I think we all have knowledge and gifts that we need to share with others even if we don’t realize it ourselves.  I hope before I leave this earth I have been a sherpa to someone, or a whole lot of someones.

**QB’s  =  Quilt Bitches.  We all know a few….. make sure you aren’t one of them.

Ever Get the Slows?

I am a slug.  I have achieved some sort of house-sitting-non-vacation nirvana and I don’t feel even remotely productive.   That is unfortunate because I still have 2 jobs, still have to go to work, do laundry, the whole nine yards.  It is some sort of limbo not being fully in one place or the other. It  is fascinating – I’ve never had this sensation before.  I’m fully convinced  I will  show up at work in clam digger pants and one of my husband’s old shirts, and on a day I can be house sitting I’ll get up, shower, do the hair and make-up bit and go sit in the living room and make applique grapes (don’t  ask) for the next quilt  project taking shape in my head.

This summer’s best-selling t-shirt at Joe’s store says, “Say no to pot!”  Next to that, there is a cartoon of a lobster pointing to a boiling pot of water.  It’s pretty cute.  Last night there were 3 lobsters that said YES to a  pot. We steamed them, then took them out on the front porch and cracked, dunked, poked and inhaled their buttery goodness. It was delish.  Not to be wasteful, we put all the shells and bits of legs into a zip lock bag and in to the freezer.  Next time we are wanting some shrimp scampi, we’ll pull the bag out of the freezer and use the shells to make a lovely broth.  Being married to the son of a fisherman has its perks – the man does things with fish that make my head explode.  It’s a good thing he can because all of his bad habits at home are starting to show up at the house-sitting-house, including his unexplainable penchant for leaving cupboard doors wide open in the kitchen.  It makes me NUTS.

I wish I could go back to house-sitting-house and take a nap.  I even brought one of mom’s quilts over there to crawl under and just bliss off to sleep.  I take the BEST naps over there.  I am a slug.  I have the slows.