There's a Reason for the Delay

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"Embers" was completed back in January and I'm just now getting around to sharing it! Better late than never, right?

šŸ˜¬

This project began back in October 2024, as I was getting ready to take a trip east for the Schweinfurth exhibit in Auburn NY. (https://creativelifesampler.blogspot.com/2024/11/qaq-2025-opening.html) I coupled some black scraps with a wonderful, glowing inspiration fabric in this improvised composition. It reminded me of walking through piles of leaves in the crisp, cool temperatures we were anticipating and vibrant fall foliage against dark, wet branches. I brought it along as a portable appliquĆ© project. ("Always be productive,"- that's my motto.)  

The appliquĆ© work continued through Thanksgiving and moved into the quilting stage as temperatures dropped and winter settled on us. It was turning out to be a dry season for Southern California. Then we rolled into January 2025 when the wildfires ignited chaos in our area. 

It's not like we haven't dealt with the powerful combination of wind and fire before. Though our family was fairly removed from the most impacted areas, a whiff or plume of smoke, the sound of first responders, night glows of fire in the distance, and precautionary power outages reminded everyone to stay diligent. Things can change rather quickly. 

Out of a sense of wisdom, one quickly gets accustomed to checking the fire map before leaving the house or going to bed. Once you've pulled out the solar emergency lights and made sure the "go bag" is close at hand, you seek a sense of normalcy through everyday activities. This quilt became a welcome respite from the heartbreaking news of SoCal residents loosing their homes and the hyper alert state everyone experienced. The calm of handwork is a solace. 

So, while this project was meant to commemorate a fall trip to New York, I can't look at it now and not see glowing, almost pulsating, embers awaiting a strong gust of wind to spread community destruction. My dearest hope is that this composition doesn't hint at what future fire maps will look like.

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