Where the cool kids hang out: Part. 2

 I was fortunate enough to join the Bear Canyon hand quilters a few more times before they wrapped up their group for 2023.   In December,  John brought bread pudding bars, which were delicious (this man can do it all, I tell you!)

I met Theresa, who had just come back from Portugal, where she did a pilgrimage walk.

There was Barbara, who came to New Mexico in the early 2000s from Massachusetts, and lived a time in Florida before she returned to NM.  We talked about finding your people in quilting, be it a guild, group, or just a few close friends.  Some groups are clique-ish, some are too big and impersonal.  Find your people.

Janet brought one of her "Encouragement Quilts" - I learned about these when I interviewed her in July of 2022 (see blog post)  She continues to make small quilts and hand them out to those in need.  How do you know who to give to?  I asked her.  She puts her hand on her heart and says "God tells me.".  

John sharing his bread pudding bars

Unrolling a quilt

Janet

Evelyn's table runner

I look forward to seeing more of the 'cool kids' in 2024, and am grateful they let me 

hang out with them.

Where the cool kids hang out: Part. 1

I took myself to the Bear Canyon Senior Center on a Tuesday morning to visit the weekly group of hand quilters.  A few regular Hip Stitchers participate and it's been on my radar for quite a while to pay them a visit and see what it's all about.  It was well-worth it and I can't wait to go back (hence, the 'Part 1' in the title of this post)

First of all, I love to be in a room with folks wiser than me.  Don't get me wrong, I love the energy and knowledge that comes from being around younger folks too, but wisdom and life experience have their own attributes in this world, and when I'm with elders, I want to soak up every bit of the lessons from the lives they've lived.  They've been through the angsts of life that we all have to trudge through.  They've seen it and done it and witnessed it - the drama, the history, the losses and wars.  They GET it.  (see previous blog post on Janet, who is part of this group)

Now?  Just a weekly Tuesday morning of hand quilting.  A bit of community, a bit of meditative time spent in the quiet company of others.

There was John, the lone male in the group.

As I chatted with him, he went for his phone and started showing me pictures of his creative endeavors, of which there are many.  He served in the Air Force, and now has the time to explore:

*Nålebinding:  heard of it?  Neither have I. Incredible!

*Clothing for Para Dolls/Japanese Anime dolls.  

*Cosplay costuming

*SCA costuming

*Turnshoes (this will blow you away)

*Quilting

And I'm sure there was more, but I had to rest my brain after taking in the enormity of his talents, which seemed to just come naturally to him through curiosity.  He's quite the Renaissance man.

Then there's Evelyn:

While living in Washington DC she became involved with Quilters SOS - the largest oral history collection about quiltmakers in the world.  READ THAT LAST PART AGAIN.

Did you know about this organization?  Read all about it HERE

Evelyn interviewed quilters with Daughters (& Sons) of Dorcus in D.C. - the oldest group of African American quilters.  Read more about them, and Evelyn, HERE

(Evelyn told me she made her 1st quilt in 1968, by the way - the year I was born.)

In the above picture, she's hand binding Hanukkah table runners she's making for gifts for family this year.  We talked about the joy of making gifts that are appreciated by the recipient.  I've talked with numerous customers over the years about this.  What a difference it makes to give to someone who knows what went into the making of a gift.

Also in this group were Janet, Jane, Doris, Lois, Carol & Barbara. 

I'm grateful for the time they gave me, sharing and answering my many questions and taking pictures and video.

And I'll be back to visit more - I'm quite enamored by them all.