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.