2020 - The Year of Cancelled Events

     Just two weeks ago,  I was in the hustle and bustle of planning a quilt show!    We were two to three weeks away from displaying 300 plus quilts in a new venue.  Our 46th Annual Festival of Quilts.    
  
      The news of the Corona Virus in China was in the news,  and we were watching on the news about cruise ships  having multiple cases on board.   

      The terms "Social distancing"  and "Flatten the curve"  were most likely only known to those who study epidemiology.     While I watched the world begin to go into shutdown mode  in Italy,   the thought of what that might look like here at home was still vague.  

      "Protect the folks at higher risk",  "make your own best judgement",  "we will honor your decision to take care of yourself and your family",  were all phrases being used within my own circle of friends and contacts.   That was just a week ago!  

      And in a matter of 24 hours we went from that mindset to  one of maybe we should cancel our show.    Beginning to think about what the ultimate cost would be if even one person who attended being  exposed by someone who wasn't feeling any symptoms.  We decided to cancel the show we were ready to launch.    Refund checks were written to all of our vendors, and our supply vendors and venue were notified.   Just hours later,  our governor  announced an immediate shut down of events with more than 250 participants for the next four weeks.  

     This COVID-19 virus is new.  It has never been seen in the human population before.  No one has any immunity.  There is NO  history of how it works,  how long it lasts on surfaces,  how long it takes to run it's course.   No history of vaccines that may have given the general public a step ahead of seasonal changes.  Just how long can someone who is asymptomatic  run through the public exposing the unsuspecting?   There are so any variables.   

     I'm not one to panic.  I usually approach most problems by  seeing the glass as "half-full" rather than "half-empty".    We have tackled Polio in the 50's.  We haven't seen small-pox in years.  Measles were essentially gone until recently.   I have faith that we will see results along those lines with this as well.    Those positive results above did not happen overnight. 

    Until then,  I'm hunkered down here at home.  My husband is one who is at higher risk.  We have cancelled birthday plans with friends and have  purchased groceries to cook at home rather than eating out.   

    I have plenty of fabric,  our TP supply seems to be sufficient, the weather is sunny today and I may decide to go pull weeds in my flower beds.  Netflix  has binge worthy series,  and my hubby has some projects he can work on in the shop.    We are keeping up with friends and family by phone and social media.  

     I am hoping that for those of you who follow my blog, that you are able to remain healthy,  optimistic,  and can find enough projects to feel productive while we work together to slow down the  spread.   Please remember to keep washing those hands!  

February progress

     I could show you all the work I've been doing to get ready for our quilt show,  but paperwork and planning for a show is not exciting blog material, I'm sure.   Needless to say,  our show is 19 days away.  I'm excited.  As President of our Guild and the Show Chair this year,  it's been one task after another.    We have a new venue this year, which means new floor plans,  measuring and double checking those measurements... taking pictures from different angles etc.   

     I have attached all the sleeves to my entries,  so those are ready to go.  I also finished my "Monarch" project.  This was really fun to do,  and I challenged myself to do more than use the color orange. 

•   I did a reverse applique with wool and cotton
•   I dyed my background fabric 
•   I used some new threads for the embroidery
•   I did some big-stitch quilting
•   I learned how to attach a facing rather than a binding
•   I figured out how to make the butterfly 3-dimensional.  

 Here are a couple of pictures of the finished project.  It measures about 16" x 16".  

     I also made some items for our guilld's gift boutique at the show.   These little tool holders are made on Dollar Tree  acrylic picture frames.  I made some that are 5 x7  and some 8x10.   

I also made some of these fabric buckets.. they are about 4 x 4".  

All in all... it has been a productive month....  I'm really looking forward to having the Quilt Show behind me,  and then our quilting retreat where I can get back to normal stitching.