Bad News | Good News
This month has been a rollercoaster of emotions personally and professionally. At the beginning of the month I got bad news from my doctor. I suffered a spinal cord injury over twenty years ago and my body is asking me to take it easy. Because of the injury, I have weakness and balance and posture issues. After years of pushing myself and trying to do everything on my own and live life like I have no disabilities, my bones and joints are needing a break. It is hard because a voice in my head tells me that if I just sit around and not do what I normally do, I’m being lazy. I don’t want to depend on others to do simple things like laundry and shopping but I need to start to let others do things for me so I can maintain the physical health that I have and not make it worse.
“I never thought I would be sad because I can’t do laundry. ”
I have been falling a lot lately and I’m not getting any younger. Someday one of those falls could be bad and I can hurt myself so I’m trying to be as safe as I can. I’m starting to use a walker more around the house and sometimes a wheelchair when I’m out. The other day I fell against my sewing table and the sewing machine fell and it broke! I was sad after talking to the doctor but losing the sewing machine made me really depressed. Then I went online to see posts of happy quilters at QuiltCon. I felt I couldn’t do anything! I moped around the house for a couple of days. Had a talk with my mom and she told me “You need to buy a new sewing machine immediately!” She was right. Moms always are. That day I went online and after some research and bought a Babylock Allegro that I’ll get delivered in a few days. I can’t wait to start creating with it.
It seems that that was what I needed to get out of the funk I was in. I’m starting to accept my new reality. I’ve started to do more proactive things about my health. I applied for an art grant. I have been talking to the local library about showing my Frederick quilts and I have been getting a lot of good news.
Good News # 1
My quilt Uniting States of America was accepted into the virtual show Dissent at Gallery 44. It is an incredibly thought-provoking mixed media show. Very different from the exhibits that I’m usually in but the kind of show I want to participate more on. In the website you can see a virtual catalogue of the show. Grab a cup of coffee and sit down to read it. It is very moving. The catalogue is for sale online.
Uniting States of America in the Dissent catalogue
Good News #2
Like I said before, QuiltCon is going on this weekend and while it was sad not to be there, my quilt American Gradation was there and it got so much love online that it made me feel all warm inside. Many people posted about it on the social media so I know it made an impact. It means so much more coming from quilters that know what makes a good quilt. I made the quilt in collaboration with Julia Triman and was happy that she was there to see her first quilt in a quilt show and not just any quilt show but the biggest international modern quilt show.
Good News # 3
Saving the best for last. My quilt American Gradation sold at QuiltCon! This is such good news. Artists make art because they love making it. Whether it sells or not, they will still make it. But the fact that someone wants to spend their hard-earned money in your art and have it in their house means so much. I found out that the buyer is a quilter. That fact that she bought it at QuiltCon where there where thousands of other beautiful quilts for sale is amazing. I just want the buyer to know that I've been having a hard time emotionally and physically. I have been feeling like I couldn't do anything but sit around and watch the days go by. This news meant so much to me. It brings me joy and makes me feel that there is a lot that I am capable of and many more special things are coming.
If you ever feel down, it is ok. Cry about it, complain, scream, eat ice cream, feel sorry about yourself. For a little while. After a few days, pick yourself up. Do something to look forward to. Think positively and good things will happen.
