Yup, that’s me, at Quilt Festival in Houston, handcuffed by Lieutenant J.R. Johnson

At Houston Quilt Festival

of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. I met the Lt. in Janet Rice-Bredin’s  booth where we were chatting with Sharon Pederson during Quilt Market. We offered him chocolates when he wa sstrolling the aisles. He told us he was responsible for arresting the fellow who threw bleach on a quilt several years ago, an act that shocked the quilt world. ” Wow!” I said, ” That makes you a quilt hero! Can I get my photo taken with you?” “Sure.” said Lt. Johnson, in that gracious Southern way, “Will that be cuffed or un-cuffed?”

Besides the inspiring quilts and the great shopping what I relish about Quilt Festival is wonderful people I meet. I’ve been lucky enough to teach at Quilt Festival for 19 years and I’ve loved every visit. This year 5,000 students took classes from 138 teachers, and it seems to run like clockwork. You can see the stunning quilts winners here at www.quilts.com

Quilt of Belonging Canada’s monumental quilt installation dazzled and touched viewers at Quilt Festival this year. It was a star attraction. It was great to meet Esther Bryant who was presented with a proclamation from the Mayor of Houston, making October 31st “Quilt of Belonging Day” in Houston. It was a proud moment for Canadians in Houston. If you don’t know about this remarkable quilt, please check out the web site and order the book. Highly recommended!

New! On-line landscape quilt group
I love keeping in touch and connecting and sharing information so I’ve started a new chat group for landscape quilters.  Anyone interested in sharing information about the landscapes they have made is very welcome.   I’d love to hear from you. ( This group no longer exists)African Threads
I’m excited about my new small business that is near and dear to my heart. I’m importing hand-embroidered textiles from South Africa. My goal is to create economic activity for the women’s’ groups on a Fair Trade basis. In addition, I donate 15% of the profits to the Stephen Lewis Foundation to ease the suffering of HIV/AIDS Sufferers in Africa. In particular, I’m supporting the Grandmother-to-Grandmother Campaign. The Grandmothers in Africa are struggling in dire circumstances to cope with the millions of orphans left by the HIV/AIDS pandemic sweeping Africa. It is not unusual for a granny to be caring for upwards of 20 children. See the Grandmother link in the side column.

Visit www.africanthreads.ca for more details. To buy a gorgeous “Grandmothers of Africa” t-shirts and more, visit my new Etsy craft shop site for a variety of charming folk art textiles from South Africa. They make heartfelt Christmas gifts and are light to mail and support women in Africa.

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Oh, and should you happen to be in Mahone Bay on Sunday 2nd December for the Father Christmas Festival, drop by the Mahone Bay Centre and see my African Threads.

Creativity Coaching Course
My friend Mary Holdgrafer has a new online course Creativity Coaching for Textile Artists. I’ve known Mary for many years and know her to be a deeply compassionate and wise teacher. No need to travel; learn the skills to be a productive artist, all in the comforts of your own home. Mary has combined her own experience with extensive training to create a coaching course especially for textile artists. To learn more about the class and Mary’s expertise and to register (click here). While you’re at Mary’s web site, sign up for her newsletter Exploring Creativity for inspiring essays and great quilt artist’s profiles.

Carol Weibe is a mixed media artist Kitchener Ontario and we recently shared some correspondence. I really enjoyed Carol’s work and her interesting blog where I found this thoughtful quote from Annie Dillard in The Writing Life. It applies to all creative endeavors, including relationships, which really are the ultimate creative endeavour!

“One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. The impulse to save something good for a better place later is a signal to spend it now. Something more will arise for later, something better. These things fill from behind, from beneath, like well water. Similarly, the impulse to keep to yourself what you have learned is not only shameful, it is destructive. Anything you do not give freely and abundantly is lost to you. You open your safe and find ashes.”

–Annie Dillard

Blessed Holiday Season to you all.
Take time to just breath and enjoy good health and cheer.
Valerie