September/October 2001
View from My Window
When I arose Tuesday morning this week and turned on the radio, I knew
our world had changed in a major way. I couldn't stand to watch television
for very long at a time, as the images were too devastating. So I spent
the next two days sewing furiously all day and late into the night, listening
to National Public Radio the entire time, going to the television only
intermittently. 
The first group of participants and leaders in the "Healing Stitches" seminar; at right is Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer, and next to her, Wendy Huntington, the seminar leaders.
Though the shock of what happened this week has not abated much, I am so heartened to see that our country did not sink into despair or into red "eye for an eye" anger and search for vengeance. Somewhere recently I read "an eye for an eye only leads to blindness…" I hope that the resolve and prayerfulness, spiritual unity, and strength this country is now exhibiting last through the coming difficult days of sacrifice. Let us all encourage each other.
Two quilt projects have come across my email inbox, and I'd like to share them. The first one, "Wrap Them in Love" is based in Arlington, Washington; this organization is working directly with the Red Cross. The quilts will be primarily for children, but will be going to people of all ages. Wanted: new or like-new quilts, approximately 45 inches square to 45 x 60 inches. Contact: Lynn Williams, (360) 668-6622 or by email at slynnw@aol.com.
The second one is the call for quilt blocks for the WTC Memorial Quilt, which will be similar to the AIDS quilt project. The website is http://www.future-heirlooms.com/stcprint.html.
Before this came up, my summer had been one of digressions and diversions
in addition to some traveling to teach. I started private watercolor lessons
(so that I could squeeze them in between trips), and attended two artists'
retreats, which opened up a whole new world to me. The first was called
"Healing Stitches: How Your Art Imitates Your Life". It was
led by Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer from Edmonton, and Wendy Huntington of
Tacoma, WA. 
Alan Blackman demonstrating lettering styles, it became clear during the week that his favorite color is dayglo pink…
It was a week of exercises designed to put the students in touch with their creative spirit, and to work through blocks to creativity in general; it was truly a life-changing experience for me. It was held on Gabriola Island, British Columbia, in a place called Haven-by-the-Sea. This is one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth I have ever been. "Haven" is an educational center which offers a wide range of courses for personal and professional development, run by an organization called P D Seminars ("P D" stands for personal development). Hence, we were one of several groups attending different programs the same week. Each evening all conference participants gather at the edge of Taylor Bay for the playing of Amazing Grace — what peace that memory gives me this week.
One of the refreshing aspects of "Healing Stitches" this retreat is that though quiltmaking did occur during the week, not everyone is a quiltmaker who attends. You may be shoulder to shoulder with painters, ceramists, stained glass artists, weavers, writers, or blacksmiths! What a refreshing view of the creative process that provides! The quilt I generated that week is unlike any quilt I've ever made; it is the most honest reflection to date of who I am in side, and I cherish it for that very reason.
The next Healing Stitches Seminar will be held on Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, 2002, and with the Canadian dollar exchange being what it is, this is truly a bargain for U.S. artists!
Then late in the summer I drove across the Cascades to Plain, WA (near Leavenworth) to a place called the Grunewald Guild. I took a class called "Spontaneity in Handwriting and Lettering" from a calligraphy master from San Francisco by the name of Alan Blackman.
I had never studied calligraphy before, so this was quite an experience! Alan is known for the hundreds of envelopes he has created, in which the calligraphy of the address relates ingeniously with the motif of the first day cover commemorative stamp which graces the same envelope. We were so privileged to have him bring his entire collection of envelopes — and the creativity exhibited there was mind-boggling!
The added benefit of Grunewald was that the sense of a community was
as important as the content of the classes themselves. Community started
for me at 5:30 every morning, as some of us took hour-long hikes in the
beautiful mountainous surroundings along the Wenatchee River to start
the day.
While we were working on our collages, our teacher Alan Blackman worked on a series of ten pieces, all with the same theme: "I am the Light of the World". How touched and overwhelmed we were when at the end of the week, he gifted one of them to each of his students…
For further information on either of these workshops, you can email me your address and I will be happy to send you a brochure, or contact the appropriate people at the following addresses:
Healing Stitches
Mary Sullivan Holdgrafer — mshold@interbaun.com
Wendy Huntington — Wendy03@aol.com
PD Seminars — registrar@pdseminars.com
Grunewald Guild — grugild@televar.com
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