The Draw of Quilting
You know what has not been sustainable lately? The pace at my day job. Because of some extenuating circumstances, I have been working 12 hours a day in a room with others (oh, open space, you bastard!), going through a crash course on a topic that is complex. Plus the conference room where we are meeting is cold. You know I hate the cold.
So when I come home the last thing I want to do is be on the computer or deal with words. Yes – some days I have not even wanted to read. I feel drained and disconnected, yet know that creativity can help refill the tank. This is when I retreat into fabric crafts – quilting, sewing, even cross stitch can be included in this category for me. It is tactile and you can see the progress you are making.
And I know I am not alone in this connection. I love this plaque below from a quilt display at a museum near me. I want to create something that will speak to the recipient in future years. I certainly am not pretending I have an important story to tell such as racial oppression or gender inequity, but I am exhausted. By creating a quilt in my niece’s school colors I am helping to write a story she will tell her kids someday as well as actively resting.