tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88125913993771542802024-03-08T03:33:49.293-08:00Bill Stearman, Quilt Maker... I'm just a guy who likes to make quilts ... and tell stories. Every day is an adventure as I try new things. Like the rest of life it seems, what can be done in quilt making is limited only by my imagination. What an incredibly exciting journey!
This blog continues on from my farm blog ... willowgardenshetlands.blogspot.ca ...
email ... b.stearman@hotmail.comBill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-49085910118580087762023-03-21T13:05:00.000-07:002023-03-21T13:05:20.984-07:00SAFE WITH ME … It’s Taking Off<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Folks are asking if I ship buttons. My response is that I CAN ship quantities of 20 to 50 within Canada for the per button donation plus postage. But I’d rather not.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#sorrybutnotsorry </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#alternatively … find someone with a ‘button making machine’ and make your own. This project isn’t about me or me making money. It’s about getting the buttons out there! </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pGiYBq7CsgT8k7rbGKZwjumlpoxsPGTGSlIldsvRxbJGjw8WGCkJbKFYSXZDhnS2LICPzjZYlboyxhKTFCDqUPuvLfpyOR-R7T0AkxET6CaE6v4qLbMGRt-yF-cPezk9NUEJh7PH8EX6cZXvgEUBpGGofcqQYwA-fA-uHCb-JS99A6Rkekcwi3XU-g/s2185/D45C413C-971A-43FC-825F-ABEAF49ABEFC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2185" data-original-width="2181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pGiYBq7CsgT8k7rbGKZwjumlpoxsPGTGSlIldsvRxbJGjw8WGCkJbKFYSXZDhnS2LICPzjZYlboyxhKTFCDqUPuvLfpyOR-R7T0AkxET6CaE6v4qLbMGRt-yF-cPezk9NUEJh7PH8EX6cZXvgEUBpGGofcqQYwA-fA-uHCb-JS99A6Rkekcwi3XU-g/s320/D45C413C-971A-43FC-825F-ABEAF49ABEFC.jpeg" width="319" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#usemyimage #itsnotcopywrited </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#useit #igivepermission </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#forbigorders … contact me and I’ll authorize @sixcentpress to print buttons for YOU at your expense.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#nomatterwhatyoudo </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#donatetheprofit </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#itsnotaboutmakingmoney </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#andletmeknow #whatyoudo</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>All I ask is that ANY profit be donated to support queer folks in your community.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#safewithme </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#maybeitsamovement </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>#makeadifference</b></span></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-15061006209537018872023-03-21T13:01:00.002-07:002023-03-21T13:05:41.884-07:00Safe With Me Project<p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvf2dozwy3onmi_xE81PjD485jzjAbOzk_Z-RezOoN_OPYcGVRXIvD6pFfFHSrEcTo5xqO7eXfc6MoA9ic5ZgxhoT0Ffs1RnI7vXmt6i2PUl8oBbluNqSlhLnbXFAHAGA9DkCtsCUokV9Ayg_9nIf_8usk2ooQlzeEKUHs2GDAwNxqdBujIxE10xgR7A/s2447/03425EAC-CC46-45C3-83F5-CB78F0835A85.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="2447" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvf2dozwy3onmi_xE81PjD485jzjAbOzk_Z-RezOoN_OPYcGVRXIvD6pFfFHSrEcTo5xqO7eXfc6MoA9ic5ZgxhoT0Ffs1RnI7vXmt6i2PUl8oBbluNqSlhLnbXFAHAGA9DkCtsCUokV9Ayg_9nIf_8usk2ooQlzeEKUHs2GDAwNxqdBujIxE10xgR7A/w400-h346/03425EAC-CC46-45C3-83F5-CB78F0835A85.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /> LGBTQ2S+ folks often find themselves in uncomfortable situations. A designated ‘Safe Space’ helps a great deal, but moving into one is not always possible. This made me wonder … what if everywhere we went, we saw Safe People; people wearing ‘Safe With Me’ buttons? What if we always knew that we were safe because someone nearby would step in to walk with us, or sit with us, or just be with us if necessary? With that thought, my husband and I ordered 1000 buttons and I started this website!</span></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://safewithme.info">safewithme.info</a> is the website for this venture.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">@safe.with.me2023 is my instagram handle for this project.</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>safe.with.me@hotmail.com is the email address.</b></span></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-44255746238700685162023-02-20T17:18:00.005-08:002023-02-20T17:28:48.522-08:00A Recent Interview on CBC<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkJyEQivSoDjsGxvVK3lwsKzbFESGJQEBNkKlGrPG5I0Ilvrcc0KMF4OOdAsqDs5JkxJkxU4-OpGZKhD4wPXCe1jGSc-QuuB05E3r3P0avQYTJdgvZdV35fyxQJtApigciDIhMhEImPWnAkvwgh4DsgMXZAJhc5dUkIvrpm0FTImWXJcX-hszEmR5cQ/s299/IMG_3914.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkJyEQivSoDjsGxvVK3lwsKzbFESGJQEBNkKlGrPG5I0Ilvrcc0KMF4OOdAsqDs5JkxJkxU4-OpGZKhD4wPXCe1jGSc-QuuB05E3r3P0avQYTJdgvZdV35fyxQJtApigciDIhMhEImPWnAkvwgh4DsgMXZAJhc5dUkIvrpm0FTImWXJcX-hszEmR5cQ/w400-h225/IMG_3914.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Here's an interview that I had February 19th, 2023 on <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-193-fresh-air/clip/15967332-changing-world-craftivism" target="_blank">CBC with Nicole Martin on Fresh Air</a> .</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was great fun!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-193-fresh-air/clip/15967332-changing-world-craftivism" target="_blank">CBC Fresh Air</a></span></b></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-82576740494517244682023-02-18T17:02:00.003-08:002023-02-18T18:01:14.071-08:001971 … Before we could ask.<p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> ‘1971 … When we couldn’t ask.’</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">52” x 64” (irregular)</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Recycled denim, pieced with recycled polyester thread, organic cotton batting, Oeko-tex100 and GOTS certified cotton backing.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Quilted by @quintequilter </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Artist’s Statement</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was a different time. I was 21. Same sex relationships were newly legal in the bedroom. But to approach someone anywhere else, was not. The Hanky Code was invented so that we could recognize each other and know interests. It was a way to avoid police harassment, job loss, and public shame from names being published in newspapers. We can’t go back. Stay proud! Keep moving forward!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#gayhistory </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#mygaylife </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#wevecomealongway #werenotdoneyet </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#neverforget </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#historymatters </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#gayhistorymatters </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#muchofmylifeishistory </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#theresnogoingback </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#keepmovingforward </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">#gayquilter</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZTl3JPF8iz1ujyLSq3h6iA2GSomrJj3eh37RYuJdZlSHJun6wnnpbiaHYvTO9q7Tdo4cd7el_BcF1o0ba0thqtsh1q206OiiAOYebJ5XLJJplaT7l4oSdVvE3qURco-CZbLjUsc3tMu_lTLWxvhAqM3TIeHHVxt699NiSBNfQHsIw-6tG2OtWg9XSA/s1440/BB03C194-A127-4041-A32B-41D583664A49.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1030" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZTl3JPF8iz1ujyLSq3h6iA2GSomrJj3eh37RYuJdZlSHJun6wnnpbiaHYvTO9q7Tdo4cd7el_BcF1o0ba0thqtsh1q206OiiAOYebJ5XLJJplaT7l4oSdVvE3qURco-CZbLjUsc3tMu_lTLWxvhAqM3TIeHHVxt699NiSBNfQHsIw-6tG2OtWg9XSA/w458-h640/BB03C194-A127-4041-A32B-41D583664A49.jpeg" width="458" /></span></b></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA63UAZKzncX2GtsIpi6Qp5kumzk5pCfaymUfe-fBD6gt6CFZt6DxwmZpB--abzkXwd8Mn4EU_q05Cvr2GnN0ipYU5wafD6P7RNouK45ALgj3O_oHzL7Md7QPTv2lZf961q0RgQCXSbLf3cyAMYujbw9RAuWPdjmr9xoQcQ0QveqY47lTqAfM9dq_LLA/s1440/89920017-8A69-4DFC-95FC-EE8A3555BFB3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA63UAZKzncX2GtsIpi6Qp5kumzk5pCfaymUfe-fBD6gt6CFZt6DxwmZpB--abzkXwd8Mn4EU_q05Cvr2GnN0ipYU5wafD6P7RNouK45ALgj3O_oHzL7Md7QPTv2lZf961q0RgQCXSbLf3cyAMYujbw9RAuWPdjmr9xoQcQ0QveqY47lTqAfM9dq_LLA/w426-h640/89920017-8A69-4DFC-95FC-EE8A3555BFB3.jpeg" width="426" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj530gHXaHM6mA66ygOToONGWS017_73pCT4iDzRHWxikT1cuj0288B2O5QUaFvmlcGhyR1-l5fXFblRC5581PyA6Yb1841nXaSwBkCTPTTU66zBLw9ITSNO0QJCDqal8JfjfcUEr_sPbDwYgfo3eQkwxeBq0nhchgc8g6eDJc1Jx8iSZDzCJkmzTkv6w/s1440/B6F61B5B-F027-4960-B459-82EB1F5736A5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj530gHXaHM6mA66ygOToONGWS017_73pCT4iDzRHWxikT1cuj0288B2O5QUaFvmlcGhyR1-l5fXFblRC5581PyA6Yb1841nXaSwBkCTPTTU66zBLw9ITSNO0QJCDqal8JfjfcUEr_sPbDwYgfo3eQkwxeBq0nhchgc8g6eDJc1Jx8iSZDzCJkmzTkv6w/w426-h640/B6F61B5B-F027-4960-B459-82EB1F5736A5.jpeg" width="426" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iFfMiXMssy9UwvNb4Lid95Q6ztBkcQ901k_Dyuas-nZ4fMbpUWfYss3_Mlp9TaVU_nTPjVMj8SVQu_g2ww9nZtnS_EJYX9P5M02dm6ItVkqx8VaSh6iIVUUnT5-4eCmhVHCiikRraHneUry3pTNz5iXoH1qtkue58i7ts3cM6PvZVQ3SYttij5cCVQ/s1440/CA19EA14-B925-46E1-9574-05A3594BA89A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iFfMiXMssy9UwvNb4Lid95Q6ztBkcQ901k_Dyuas-nZ4fMbpUWfYss3_Mlp9TaVU_nTPjVMj8SVQu_g2ww9nZtnS_EJYX9P5M02dm6ItVkqx8VaSh6iIVUUnT5-4eCmhVHCiikRraHneUry3pTNz5iXoH1qtkue58i7ts3cM6PvZVQ3SYttij5cCVQ/w640-h426/CA19EA14-B925-46E1-9574-05A3594BA89A.jpeg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p><br /></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-74075900606666215942023-02-18T16:56:00.000-08:002023-02-18T16:56:49.960-08:00Maintain the Wave<p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> “Maintain The Wave”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">60” x 72”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Quilted by Deanna Gaudaur. quintestudios.com</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As an openly gay, married man living in small town rural Ontario, Canada, it is incredibly important to me that our rights and freedom don’t go backwards.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">So, as a nation, we need to maintain the wave, and keep progress with rights and freedoms moving forward!</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">ABOUT THE QUILT</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The top and backing are organic, Oeko-Tex100 certified, cotton. It’s pieced with organic thread and quilted with recycled polyester (Mara 100 rPET). Organic batting, dulled the white too much, so I used a bleached non organic cotton batting.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I’ve got a long way to go, but I am committed to becoming as sustainable in my quilt making as possible. And a HUGE thank you to Bridget O'Flaherty for being a friend, an educator, a role model, and an inspiration!</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdQl-89yuqrEOdxLkcwk91O00knFEGEZoz1RMhs845vLAK53oU3mxA3V9loOmUf2obUsDc6ejVIITYwv8uep1vur4Tp-G4-Rm3SYstIHkX2kFRKjSy7861G-vIgWFB2Zk-y1WIO-M7RBBJsL3-FH5WYbT7rXFrybkgvnlrFAoDsrhiap70gf5A2kHeA/s4335/20A673FC-5546-4A63-A363-3587CB81625D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4335" data-original-width="3694" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdQl-89yuqrEOdxLkcwk91O00knFEGEZoz1RMhs845vLAK53oU3mxA3V9loOmUf2obUsDc6ejVIITYwv8uep1vur4Tp-G4-Rm3SYstIHkX2kFRKjSy7861G-vIgWFB2Zk-y1WIO-M7RBBJsL3-FH5WYbT7rXFrybkgvnlrFAoDsrhiap70gf5A2kHeA/w546-h640/20A673FC-5546-4A63-A363-3587CB81625D.jpeg" width="546" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaIaSR-lh-1upyT1xEoLqp0rjDWBgiUpJn9p9Xb3MW_xOSfCMqOcBpxCi7uhWzIhebY2wep2ACeuyVIImoNa4vuADDxGzqRNrapSDN5k-zvET7KHqsjz7E8YH_rjWFhdRu4v3AHGqPlIY0tiDlSP4UuIkOtw_NGGI4488L_vkVUp-Z7dRUcWPo3KQ3Q/s2048/242CE197-84C1-4EAA-AC10-7B2DFF71A9F1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1568" data-original-width="2048" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtaIaSR-lh-1upyT1xEoLqp0rjDWBgiUpJn9p9Xb3MW_xOSfCMqOcBpxCi7uhWzIhebY2wep2ACeuyVIImoNa4vuADDxGzqRNrapSDN5k-zvET7KHqsjz7E8YH_rjWFhdRu4v3AHGqPlIY0tiDlSP4UuIkOtw_NGGI4488L_vkVUp-Z7dRUcWPo3KQ3Q/w640-h490/242CE197-84C1-4EAA-AC10-7B2DFF71A9F1.jpeg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Y4Krij-FheIUp5iN0BWRVtBnHhUfygfbWfnuaCE1tEAyHMm5JaEkab5BNRN__qX0obhDf3_Z3RWKDNV3PC0eBArFv3pX_-D4ePjj00BE3EG2VIwk7z0IEudvBrDBtGsLsYF9f45Rvb46xVjCoF8yxzE95qVnWPaaZMvRD9iKQR2OGUFrDYAS31AMg/s2048/5218B6CF-3F7D-48FE-B4F0-88EA3F35E277.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1810" data-original-width="2048" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Y4Krij-FheIUp5iN0BWRVtBnHhUfygfbWfnuaCE1tEAyHMm5JaEkab5BNRN__qX0obhDf3_Z3RWKDNV3PC0eBArFv3pX_-D4ePjj00BE3EG2VIwk7z0IEudvBrDBtGsLsYF9f45Rvb46xVjCoF8yxzE95qVnWPaaZMvRD9iKQR2OGUFrDYAS31AMg/w640-h566/5218B6CF-3F7D-48FE-B4F0-88EA3F35E277.jpeg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf22Ike0vbmKTAFQLBfjcBIotdnleu0KObszNrV-ZFNkmrGdajKt0G0kfDhY43s6NI_5f2RTgrnIqKLx56FB9sHu3LyBg6pvs8iO3PYRI9vZfjlyFbUvK9EzKe9q5WWUjd8Gzld4jMJOeyT8BSFfjrcGI87ynV46WmxygMB_HVXmH2ZziQbMqMfRC1Q/s2048/D173FA3E-03D5-4719-8F6B-4873F658FAA3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="2048" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwf22Ike0vbmKTAFQLBfjcBIotdnleu0KObszNrV-ZFNkmrGdajKt0G0kfDhY43s6NI_5f2RTgrnIqKLx56FB9sHu3LyBg6pvs8iO3PYRI9vZfjlyFbUvK9EzKe9q5WWUjd8Gzld4jMJOeyT8BSFfjrcGI87ynV46WmxygMB_HVXmH2ZziQbMqMfRC1Q/w640-h346/D173FA3E-03D5-4719-8F6B-4873F658FAA3.jpeg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><p><br /></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-13621701893537995912023-02-11T18:55:00.002-08:002023-02-11T18:57:47.455-08:00Toward Sustainability as a Quilt Maker<p> <b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Since my Art Show, I’ve stayed busy working toward becoming more sustainable in my quilt making.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’ve only just begun the journey, and the learning curve has been steep!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’ve completed seven quilts that I consider part of my shift toward sustainability. They’ll be photographed by Mike Gaudaur, <a href="http://quintestudios.com" target="_blank">quintestudios.com</a> next week. His wife, Deanna Gaudaur, my fabulous quilter, is finishing up quilting them. She’s available through the same website as her husband. I HIGHLY recommend her!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’ve put together a new presentation based on what I’ve learned so far.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSreGXbwBb-Y75AxL37sRlopMgvxe934yDzJzMaTcgoik2kyoGeUI_OoL5AJP7NRqtFclrIg6YFtLrAOpTjAdxbkNltHZWvwy2O7ZE9J-MqVwq5giAb0YL-MMXjoZNvs35-SjT_O6Pe_4jR07EUwjYWbmnGQftpOQt5rEzT79UkYdQmj6sl58c3pkIg/s1000/A2AB4E78-AA0D-4815-B13D-A0B872CC0FB7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSreGXbwBb-Y75AxL37sRlopMgvxe934yDzJzMaTcgoik2kyoGeUI_OoL5AJP7NRqtFclrIg6YFtLrAOpTjAdxbkNltHZWvwy2O7ZE9J-MqVwq5giAb0YL-MMXjoZNvs35-SjT_O6Pe_4jR07EUwjYWbmnGQftpOQt5rEzT79UkYdQmj6sl58c3pkIg/w400-h400/A2AB4E78-AA0D-4815-B13D-A0B872CC0FB7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin: 0cm;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.3); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: -webkit-standard; margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In this presentation, I’ll tell you what I found easy; what I found hard; what seemed impossible; and what I think I’ve learned. And I’ll show you some quilts I’ve made during my process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: -webkit-standard;"><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I’ll tell you about … I</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">ndustry standards and certifications; o</span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">rganic fabric and understanding differences; </span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">brands/manufacturers; </span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Canadian sources/shops; </span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">thread; </span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">dyes and dyeing; and </span></b><b style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">batting</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b style="font-family: arial;"><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">NOTE</span></u></i></b><b style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">: I am hugely influenced (indeed inspired) by the work of Brigette O’Flaherty, The Sustainable Quilter. I’m not an expert. But she is. Please follow her on Instagram and Facebook and read her articles in <i>Canadian Quilter</i> magazine.</span></b></p></div><b><br /></b></span></div>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-35265137065532296572023-02-11T14:53:00.004-08:002023-05-20T18:54:20.450-07:00The Quilt as Art // I will be silent no more.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>This is what took up much of my time in 2022. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>There were 20 quilts in the show.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Five of them sold.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The rest are still available.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Scroll through this post to see them all!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXH7BQv6A9QtNfrev5HFfPs7KLvzHxenUnAiG8QZmTqCjGgwr142ilVmHcluYb6AU__7l10taIqALfjyMermfq9URcSWjI4KRMVE1lfO-FZDfRC2pXkDPsYEywDogK9WCpkHjGh65s0E5DHX25thfc2AVelr3x5itkariaswYhEtAQ8AxNAaQjldo0Q/s2400/BILL%20STEARMAN_instagram_2022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXH7BQv6A9QtNfrev5HFfPs7KLvzHxenUnAiG8QZmTqCjGgwr142ilVmHcluYb6AU__7l10taIqALfjyMermfq9URcSWjI4KRMVE1lfO-FZDfRC2pXkDPsYEywDogK9WCpkHjGh65s0E5DHX25thfc2AVelr3x5itkariaswYhEtAQ8AxNAaQjldo0Q/s320/BILL%20STEARMAN_instagram_2022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Here are the quilts with their artist’s statements …</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V9SVMVb6jcfDB9XYW-4_kh_NuZag0KTAHuvY-1vAQNX1edvPZlFlB0DQwSBfkfr4EgCmNXIvtXJs-JnDAXlgWsufvLX_hQS1MpGqJ1uQUL2MwF8aUvgMUtgnG4OkMUMvTEmO7T6T_AJkSHMrHMNzB9tAxjJiSbT6qp47H11CdhGlfKYCWRjOLDJyew/s2500/stearman_reclaimingpride_agaybedspread_83x70_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="2066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V9SVMVb6jcfDB9XYW-4_kh_NuZag0KTAHuvY-1vAQNX1edvPZlFlB0DQwSBfkfr4EgCmNXIvtXJs-JnDAXlgWsufvLX_hQS1MpGqJ1uQUL2MwF8aUvgMUtgnG4OkMUMvTEmO7T6T_AJkSHMrHMNzB9tAxjJiSbT6qp47H11CdhGlfKYCWRjOLDJyew/w330-h400/stearman_reclaimingpride_agaybedspread_83x70_full.jpg" width="330" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Reclaiming Pride: a Gay Bedspread<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, cotton batik<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">83”h x 70”w<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>SOLD</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This is a ‘word quilt’, but the words are in Morse Code. My goal was to take hateful words thrown at me as a gay man, own them, and then turn them into something beautiful … to take away their power. This quilt simply and beautifully states … ‘Two f*gg*ts sleep here’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHS0hB5pcJGyzpsyN2tFS9HJRDM7M-3Zh4UTD4wopidXzBNJeSQ5on0SlRoE7oD32_Ri-2P_x1S663Ar7ELeGdc3KZNwg-vYT9PdEtT62Nv6R1ueTfbboRix4B-8IEDtyqR0R4_h3QKLl65qwjL4YdKQJ94r99OjatHuosSnBe-zHhHXoRBYyKo-CFQ/s4085/stearman_wordsfoundonthebackofapainting_63x59_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4085" data-original-width="3745" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHS0hB5pcJGyzpsyN2tFS9HJRDM7M-3Zh4UTD4wopidXzBNJeSQ5on0SlRoE7oD32_Ri-2P_x1S663Ar7ELeGdc3KZNwg-vYT9PdEtT62Nv6R1ueTfbboRix4B-8IEDtyqR0R4_h3QKLl65qwjL4YdKQJ94r99OjatHuosSnBe-zHhHXoRBYyKo-CFQ/w366-h400/stearman_wordsfoundonthebackofapainting_63x59_full.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><p><i style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Words Found on the Back of a Painting by a Non-binary Trans Artist</span></i></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, raw edge appliqué<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">63”h x 59”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A feeling of not fitting in, has been a factor for much of my life. I’m not Trans. I don’t identify as non-binary in a binary world. And I was born in my ‘right’ body. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To think about this ‘wish’ made by a non-binary artist, moves me to tears.</span> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOI3Mdp4KwmkNbBhik64INL17GcWTkdZjsnE3FqrfZP4iXnk67AR_-5OdQQuF-MzDTYCOId7PkRDkJAAX5XqPZeYTdwAQ2nLMF6LB7rAP273mKote6vrjSEKQofbHGyPojsMiOHR4UiYOuB-qGGb_h2k_bE4ZABEka208VQz4T7TkHr4wdDXG222xyw/s3588/stearman_january5th_52X54irreg_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3443" data-original-width="3588" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOI3Mdp4KwmkNbBhik64INL17GcWTkdZjsnE3FqrfZP4iXnk67AR_-5OdQQuF-MzDTYCOId7PkRDkJAAX5XqPZeYTdwAQ2nLMF6LB7rAP273mKote6vrjSEKQofbHGyPojsMiOHR4UiYOuB-qGGb_h2k_bE4ZABEka208VQz4T7TkHr4wdDXG222xyw/s320/stearman_january5th_52X54irreg_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">January 5th<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Recycled clothing, commercial cotton, acrylic house paint<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">52”h x 54”w<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>SOLD</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">On January 5<sup>th</sup>, 2021, my Doctor phoned to tell me that I had Liver Cancer. It was in the midst of the Pandemic. That was how things were done. I heard ‘Cancer’, but little else. My brain, my body, my being ceased to function for a moment, as if I had been slammed against a wall.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpqtzeOZtxkJmXZJcFF1MwvAPw6C4DvMKAuN2yjg8L3l71MyabfzmRCS9o7fDqdtqTzZwwBRzun2Z50Sxw0rDKDWYD_FsNFoJ4mKydTyEuy6C6mLF8dBQ7CJAH2jQn_cx1NDgi0RbpMTvSewCwzqB6dmw6w5LgcGZHQKP8c15eRb66_1MMWmDLsY5Hw/s907/68431D07-781C-42C5-932D-AAA1189D6B45.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBpqtzeOZtxkJmXZJcFF1MwvAPw6C4DvMKAuN2yjg8L3l71MyabfzmRCS9o7fDqdtqTzZwwBRzun2Z50Sxw0rDKDWYD_FsNFoJ4mKydTyEuy6C6mLF8dBQ7CJAH2jQn_cx1NDgi0RbpMTvSewCwzqB6dmw6w5LgcGZHQKP8c15eRb66_1MMWmDLsY5Hw/w331-h400/68431D07-781C-42C5-932D-AAA1189D6B45.jpeg" width="331" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">His Name is Clarence<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, cotton batik<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">72”h x 60”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When Doctors found a tumour in my liver, it almost took over my life, and certainly did my focus. To counter that negativity, and to take away some of its power, I named my tumour Clarence. I gave him a personality and let him bring humour into my life. He was soon zapped and mostly gone, but for a while, we had fun with him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ih_E8qCKJHE6lkFS3fhmLs3Kccpd69wrsFqz9Zt9ff0cWtBcuMQ9G8x_PywyTdLwZ7mFxrtxxEEPCFUEimKm7gj26_wdiUV8PUc2dIwj0IetEuqhCSj27xm-7y0WTz4sMUEKDysIG3fhmGC97odWwXWZHb3rl7hWhR4UmAWAqfKE5Pc4_7KaFlezmA/s4702/stearman_canadaday2021_72x55_full.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4702" data-original-width="3601" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ih_E8qCKJHE6lkFS3fhmLs3Kccpd69wrsFqz9Zt9ff0cWtBcuMQ9G8x_PywyTdLwZ7mFxrtxxEEPCFUEimKm7gj26_wdiUV8PUc2dIwj0IetEuqhCSj27xm-7y0WTz4sMUEKDysIG3fhmGC97odWwXWZHb3rl7hWhR4UmAWAqfKE5Pc4_7KaFlezmA/w306-h400/stearman_canadaday2021_72x55_full.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Canada Day, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, hand-dyed cotton, cursive writing quilting<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">72”h x 55”w </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Shortly before Canada Day, 2021, the remains of 215 children buried on the site of Kamloops Residential School were discovered. This was just the beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">On July 1<sup>st</sup>, I couldn’t bring myself to decorate the front of our house with the usual red and white. Instead, I displayed this quilt. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">It is 215 pieces of orange fabric, quilted with the text from the United Nations definition of Genocide.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">** A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this piece to support <i>All Welcome Here, PEC.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhuANRRwIyCadJQkyce3ksDlzvlORdVChbjQuwhqvkX0lFAMbuCYqLABAMFyHFN7Mnt_hcZvm3qtgNxSkufFWngoBgRP3XhtW0mkZd0pashJMOvulOQtoBKtL9qFK8shDRtX4hm0CloXgFkvKCC5JmlN73iLvO7DqWsfzbknwm1Y6tn0RSf1AXuTWbw/s1566/E1DD342B-FFB1-4B59-B7A5-A9B070C04394.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1566" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhuANRRwIyCadJQkyce3ksDlzvlORdVChbjQuwhqvkX0lFAMbuCYqLABAMFyHFN7Mnt_hcZvm3qtgNxSkufFWngoBgRP3XhtW0mkZd0pashJMOvulOQtoBKtL9qFK8shDRtX4hm0CloXgFkvKCC5JmlN73iLvO7DqWsfzbknwm1Y6tn0RSf1AXuTWbw/w384-h400/E1DD342B-FFB1-4B59-B7A5-A9B070C04394.jpeg" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It’s All About the Journey<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2300<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Recycled fabric, recycled quilt top, commercial cotton, cotton batik<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">64”h x 62”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A friend gifted me an old, faded, and somewhat ragged quilt top. It had obviously been made with love using recycled fabric, but it had never been finished into a quilt. I knew that there was more to its story; its journey. And as I worked with it, its story began to include me. Now, it’s about our journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBa5BbVOtt6GvMjVlgQzAlnQJ4L-AwX_AU8lxvpis-8yPHQeFpzptD3iXTP76JA5jeuK_sVT6cuGuF79UH0z-13OsZFbrFecsLFQ8VKex_k9rNI8syyP9T5eOlaW0aS6-b6KyMw5qs5wOU1pM-Wkp83-vRsesPWBLGLD87_yN-qkka3tDry8o_CdFQw/s1673/700002E3-EE1E-438F-BE6B-2FABE9831BE3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmBa5BbVOtt6GvMjVlgQzAlnQJ4L-AwX_AU8lxvpis-8yPHQeFpzptD3iXTP76JA5jeuK_sVT6cuGuF79UH0z-13OsZFbrFecsLFQ8VKex_k9rNI8syyP9T5eOlaW0aS6-b6KyMw5qs5wOU1pM-Wkp83-vRsesPWBLGLD87_yN-qkka3tDry8o_CdFQw/s320/700002E3-EE1E-438F-BE6B-2FABE9831BE3.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Finding Comfort in the Unknown<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Japanese yarn dyed cotton, commercial shot cotton, linen, silk, commercial, cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">66”h x 60”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the two weeks before my transplant, when I needed something to occupy my head, my heart and my hands, I pieced this quilt. I used primarily Japanese yarn dyed fabric that I knew would soften and fray, and a technique similar to Boro mending. While my daughter and I were in our surgeries, my quilter quilted it. Indeed, washing softened and frayed it perfectly. There is comfort in this quilt.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqBVWe4ubrbtUC9VoBIY2VYbc63eB6Qykcr8U7SWHehInl2HsXY0eyH6-IAesxtczFQJOaKyUfr2E9sEI2Qz-5s6vOCn5RPyBHxlW4Lfp5K4mcXdMpjjj4a9E2mVDvkQkFu3PE4vuLgZqYeF97JsoKPxy_UOuIDNULcC0Fr5zubjDVzQxrEZVGHbfeQ/s1664/3F169AC4-4B55-4199-96B2-453E10DD7A71.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1664" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqBVWe4ubrbtUC9VoBIY2VYbc63eB6Qykcr8U7SWHehInl2HsXY0eyH6-IAesxtczFQJOaKyUfr2E9sEI2Qz-5s6vOCn5RPyBHxlW4Lfp5K4mcXdMpjjj4a9E2mVDvkQkFu3PE4vuLgZqYeF97JsoKPxy_UOuIDNULcC0Fr5zubjDVzQxrEZVGHbfeQ/s320/3F169AC4-4B55-4199-96B2-453E10DD7A71.jpeg" width="288" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Finding Comfort in Dying<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Japanese yarn dyed cotton, commercial shot cotton, linen, silk, commercial, cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">67”h x 61”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I used my head and my heart to calm my emotions during the weeks that I lived with a terminal diagnosis. While calming, they also brought me to a place of comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have loved, and been loved. Generously.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have cared and nurtured, and I have experienced the same from others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have been kind and giving, and I have known the kindness of others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In my life, my focus has been on creating positive energy, and positive people have surrounded me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I have laughed lots, and I have made others laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 36pt; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2FI3KIoezR3YxOSPR5xHjLiH8AelWE3_qCLPRtf-k4ZDjeK9oe98LjEXP5RkdCUTbAtxWQsxMRInoiC3gi32ZTTZG_hCW3Wa6iJKuJ9AsrszHfPrM8ayOaUN5TKHJ5-KjMh0iJ_7l4JInfIOxMm7t954b3HokSaYClnNfwY5qOPcGHEX5nPK7uWh_A/s1250/1B78B211-8B1C-4D21-A7BE-A61CB7AF4BAF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1250" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2FI3KIoezR3YxOSPR5xHjLiH8AelWE3_qCLPRtf-k4ZDjeK9oe98LjEXP5RkdCUTbAtxWQsxMRInoiC3gi32ZTTZG_hCW3Wa6iJKuJ9AsrszHfPrM8ayOaUN5TKHJ5-KjMh0iJ_7l4JInfIOxMm7t954b3HokSaYClnNfwY5qOPcGHEX5nPK7uWh_A/s320/1B78B211-8B1C-4D21-A7BE-A61CB7AF4BAF.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial fabric, hand-dyed cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">31”h x 31”w (irregular)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>SOLD</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2021. A year that I’ll never forget. Covid. A terminal diagnosis. Glimmers of hope. A generous gift. Life saving surgery. Growing hope. Reclaiming love. Reshaping my life. Always with gratitude.</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SvWBFdz0NyD1MEdsgSocbEBqs4LgzqRJxnrNL133eNV4BEQr-Dli4tr4EZbkOItOWr4mU6fRIRmhBUENHb0jzYBFxMKvvx4g2ZgY89x1NRv6tMPE5wMnXZrlqgMQz80No1G3vtGwWV3bUX5GVV1rbDP8XKDcVMpFvz4yevX5QN7oeH4i2mpreQgGFA/s4148/stearman_nothingfitsanymore_30X40irreg_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3084" data-original-width="4148" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_SvWBFdz0NyD1MEdsgSocbEBqs4LgzqRJxnrNL133eNV4BEQr-Dli4tr4EZbkOItOWr4mU6fRIRmhBUENHb0jzYBFxMKvvx4g2ZgY89x1NRv6tMPE5wMnXZrlqgMQz80No1G3vtGwWV3bUX5GVV1rbDP8XKDcVMpFvz4yevX5QN7oeH4i2mpreQgGFA/w400-h297/stearman_nothingfitsanymore_30X40irreg_full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nothing Fits Any More, But I’m Still Beautiful<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, shweshwe cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">30”h x 40”w (irregular)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My beauty is about so much more than my body shape and size and the clothes that it fits into. I thank you for <i>seeing</i> just my beauty, and not what society has taught you to see.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyw0p3Q1frUPg4QFR_l-1U8mTwyU_8ZK6LfOifblMC2IkhdumcJxW7OElnvVpHuPKiMkLjKMwvoJSvgfLSXSKZ2OrQimWal8AFWbWkNeBw5cO6duIr7PW_LOePsD1XFxLezeD5WjTUl3WKcyRERPXgzeY0D_pW2tbe7SxTP-ZnsXPMpmIVtUr9JCOZw/s4252/stearman_flip_agaybedspread_116X100_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4252" data-original-width="3716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyw0p3Q1frUPg4QFR_l-1U8mTwyU_8ZK6LfOifblMC2IkhdumcJxW7OElnvVpHuPKiMkLjKMwvoJSvgfLSXSKZ2OrQimWal8AFWbWkNeBw5cO6duIr7PW_LOePsD1XFxLezeD5WjTUl3WKcyRERPXgzeY0D_pW2tbe7SxTP-ZnsXPMpmIVtUr9JCOZw/w350-h400/stearman_flip_agaybedspread_116X100_full.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">FLIP: another gay bedspread<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2850<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, hand-dyed cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">116”h x 100”w (a generous queen size)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I had so much fun working on this quilt. It is a word quilt using Morse Code. One side of the bedspread says TOP. The other side says BOTTOM. The word VERSATILE stretches across the top and the bottom borders. Flip the quilt lengthwise on the bed and TOP and BOTTOM are flipped as well … on the quilt. </span><span face=""Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">😉</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And I love that it turned out to be a ‘generous queen’ size!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzBNvaaPyTEVVHAJ6N_C096NDlEliv25qwg0eKJEZzbhC7k9V6rb9dSHfUCKU6EvXDxVgqgLh8_owJ7Y8dg40O_l5jcgzu6Ej3I9i3p7tVvDPDOQA5EJ8_pyYoDkXzym5btoU5hVp3PBSW9V9YyunqQjOGgEJOnERSYqDBTokuEaWVt7EoxIl2mdjuw/s4426/stearman_peoplehavethepower_62x53_full.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4426" data-original-width="3720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEzBNvaaPyTEVVHAJ6N_C096NDlEliv25qwg0eKJEZzbhC7k9V6rb9dSHfUCKU6EvXDxVgqgLh8_owJ7Y8dg40O_l5jcgzu6Ej3I9i3p7tVvDPDOQA5EJ8_pyYoDkXzym5btoU5hVp3PBSW9V9YyunqQjOGgEJOnERSYqDBTokuEaWVt7EoxIl2mdjuw/w336-h400/stearman_peoplehavethepower_62x53_full.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">People Have the Power, eh!<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, cotton batik<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">62”h x 53”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As I observed the loss of what I see as basic human rights and freedoms south of the border, I became filled with terror at the thought that this trend might spread to Canada. In the midst of this feeling of terror, I watched a video of Patti Smith singing, ‘People Have the Power’ (follow the QR Code). This song reminded me that stopping the trend; protecting our Canadian values, is up to us all! We have the power. Let’s use it!</span><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C2_bL1V25dDH7aRPw41ScXwi-wFR442wIxIQqCiTJULQlLKCQWKXiGy-SWM80JzcPM0kFvN7L3piODg6Pv8aqnNz8V3RYsDUGhRrOZHIjXhvPPDd7ywaYFBRHiHmEUlTL3NCGAdm7zGub0XGsH21Opnb_pNYt40ytVcpqWO4pJwi0nAK9hAub4oFLA/s3887/stearman_notdrowning_63x56_front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3887" data-original-width="3471" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C2_bL1V25dDH7aRPw41ScXwi-wFR442wIxIQqCiTJULQlLKCQWKXiGy-SWM80JzcPM0kFvN7L3piODg6Pv8aqnNz8V3RYsDUGhRrOZHIjXhvPPDd7ywaYFBRHiHmEUlTL3NCGAdm7zGub0XGsH21Opnb_pNYt40ytVcpqWO4pJwi0nAK9hAub4oFLA/w358-h400/stearman_notdrowning_63x56_front.jpg" width="358" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Not Drowning<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, hand-dyed cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">63”h x 56”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Sometimes, my bouts with depression bring dreams of drowning; the sensation of drowning. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">I actually feel myself sinking deeper and deeper until there is barely a glimmer of light at the surface. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">And it just feels right.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">But only until my lungs swell and I think they’re going to explode.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Then terror sets in. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">At what seems like the last minute, I am drawn to the light and I swim toward it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">First one kick and then another.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">The kicks come faster as the light gets brighter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">And I break the surface gasping for air, sputtering out far more water than I thought I had swallowed. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">Always it is just in time. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">And always I am glad to be alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is about that feeling of NOT drowning; of floating in the light instead.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;">I know that I will sink again. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #050505; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl-Hn8r01-0prxAWfMWpeIUKcuX0_yaRG2cG6QKcDwG4zwx8V_q7mcKg_tDskG1HbNa_2NnGAxlVm6RCFR4Bc4YASYgBQqtNuD5PLvAx6M2bp9USiKGjkzALCt_Am6lmDxHkUM2ViaCDgaczt_tLpKUGbnboeT3p0BabSuV2I0bFfM0v_Z29YhcjyVA/s4137/stearman_jokesonthem_64x55_full.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4137" data-original-width="3657" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl-Hn8r01-0prxAWfMWpeIUKcuX0_yaRG2cG6QKcDwG4zwx8V_q7mcKg_tDskG1HbNa_2NnGAxlVm6RCFR4Bc4YASYgBQqtNuD5PLvAx6M2bp9USiKGjkzALCt_Am6lmDxHkUM2ViaCDgaczt_tLpKUGbnboeT3p0BabSuV2I0bFfM0v_Z29YhcjyVA/w354-h400/stearman_jokesonthem_64x55_full.JPG" width="354" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Jokes on Them<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">64”h x 55”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is based on Brandi Carlile’s song, ‘The Joke’. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">My own life experience bears out the words from its chorus … ‘<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">I have been to the movies, I've seen how it ends</span><span style="color: #202124;">, a<span style="background-color: white;">nd the joke's on them’.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is dedicated to the multitudes of us who made it … in spite of the teasing, the name calling, the put downs, the harassing, the bullying and the beating that we received growing up … just for being different; just for being us. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And it is a reminder to those going through it now that it gets better!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jk57tipwwxXzzrEJWqJ4mIQcoHW2DiOy-d_6Qydaj8m-AW38EnYPIOm8S0a909xracZ3jJQWuuZ3UplVxP5nH2G2NXQQwpclreTpScIcRv2HPN1P-k5eAospNRmthkbYkG8LgS54BvkQCmp07JK7e6y3eYft6SzlpWGnOgwfwVnnB9e4Ii07DqOaMg/s1660/E3DDB769-4C58-4D0C-A107-03F1C4A82206.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1660" data-original-width="1500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jk57tipwwxXzzrEJWqJ4mIQcoHW2DiOy-d_6Qydaj8m-AW38EnYPIOm8S0a909xracZ3jJQWuuZ3UplVxP5nH2G2NXQQwpclreTpScIcRv2HPN1P-k5eAospNRmthkbYkG8LgS54BvkQCmp07JK7e6y3eYft6SzlpWGnOgwfwVnnB9e4Ii07DqOaMg/w361-h400/E3DDB769-4C58-4D0C-A107-03F1C4A82206.jpeg" width="361" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Before I Made Quilts<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Unfinished quilt top, recycled work clothes, commercial cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">65”h x 607”w (irregular)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The events of 2021 gave me a sense of just how brief my own life is in the continuum of time. I needed a context; some history to put my apparent insignificance into a bigger context. I had started this quilt some time ago. 2021 convinced me to finish it.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The centre blocks were made by my Grandmother in the 1960s and early 1970’s. Each piece sparks a memory; a story. My part comes from adding tattered work clothes from my days as a sheep farmer. Some ancient Japanese fabric gifted by a dear friend adds even more depth.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I am just a tiny part of something so much bigger. And it’s important for me to remember that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RfRo5exnf57PFb4P815c3QqlBCPUun6ctS0CrVzf-_JlcblHNPzagXL8jEK23sren89dXHBTNJXmMFv8gUw9Exf6G9kBL1xQLkNZ-S_fKZfOYUWFA2pGLq8RRFy0HEoequqgIejx0dBHgpgIzZBHP4mhgdK86hlMXVWfoxLcN46VxgWE7CdYhxD2Rw/s1500/609DA25D-316C-4BE7-ADA7-8475369ED705.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1500" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4RfRo5exnf57PFb4P815c3QqlBCPUun6ctS0CrVzf-_JlcblHNPzagXL8jEK23sren89dXHBTNJXmMFv8gUw9Exf6G9kBL1xQLkNZ-S_fKZfOYUWFA2pGLq8RRFy0HEoequqgIejx0dBHgpgIzZBHP4mhgdK86hlMXVWfoxLcN46VxgWE7CdYhxD2Rw/w400-h399/609DA25D-316C-4BE7-ADA7-8475369ED705.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thirty Dead and Counting … Systemic White Racism in Canada<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2020<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Hand-dyed cotton, silk, linen, wool, discharged fabric, marker, commercial cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">72”h x 72”w </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I will never again accept ‘tsk tsk’ from Canadians responding to racism in the US. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Racism is alive and well in our own country, and we need to talk about it!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">When I started this quilt, I knew that I wanted to address systemic racism, as I began my own education as a privileged, gay, white, male. I knew that I needed to learn, and I needed to change. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In order to get a better sense of the Canadian reality, I purchased the Audible version of Desmond Cole’s book, ‘The Skin We’re In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power’. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As I listened to him reading his book, I wept openly. Somehow, as an apparently well informed Canadian, I had no idea that this is reality in my own country. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This quilt, and my shame, grew as I worked and listened to Mr. Cole’s words.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Written on this quilt, are the names of the last thirty Black, Indigenous, and People Of Colour (BIPOC) killed by police, or who died while in police custody in Canada. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">In the bottom corner is a link to Desmond Cole’s blog where the names are listed, with individual links, so that you can read their stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Above that is a link to a CBC documentary by Charles Officer and Desmond Cole, ‘The Skin We’re In’.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please follow the links.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#saytheirnames #knowtheirstories #blacklivesmatter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">** A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this piece to support <i>All Welcome Here, PEC.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1_HL9Ui6i4NJe-woZoL0ieZPAfH0rAl0Sj7F_JaY2Tu46ZDeFc-cwJGn8amP7klTqOl8FhMhJajqHjWo2QddbKcOcri-p8xD5A3TNpDxQaM2YXRbD1uSwHT3ZPJt7to4of4bxXZr_URDYsT7qRfeNzV7B12GsNevUidh1465NhSt17iqbD2fRK3gBw/s1260/4D1191F5-7C9F-4FC1-8093-FBAA37E55B38.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1258" data-original-width="1260" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1_HL9Ui6i4NJe-woZoL0ieZPAfH0rAl0Sj7F_JaY2Tu46ZDeFc-cwJGn8amP7klTqOl8FhMhJajqHjWo2QddbKcOcri-p8xD5A3TNpDxQaM2YXRbD1uSwHT3ZPJt7to4of4bxXZr_URDYsT7qRfeNzV7B12GsNevUidh1465NhSt17iqbD2fRK3gBw/w400-h399/4D1191F5-7C9F-4FC1-8093-FBAA37E55B38.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I Can’t Keep Quiet. For Anyone. Not Anymore.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton, raw edge appliqué <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">59”h x 59”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is inspired by a recording of Milck singing her song ‘Quiet’ with 1300 voices in a Choir, Choir, Choir YouTube video (follow the QR Code). The song deals with coming to terms with past sexual abuse; speaking out about it. Healing from it. Listening to this inspired me to tell my own story. Through telling my story, I learned to see myself as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, after years of feeling a victim. Talk about it folks. It might help others. And it will help you.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiOToX6uPRKWG5bGnqWs6RIQpEUB_xk0uw9zZKsPw1uemDItxF7xe_VK9wxi7QNqkSr1tHUmKTb5LDkUhB1lTQp4RtzEIwgOWz4DgA0avcW0JSqsfRRWPWJeJgCuCXzhWkmC8hjCRgcOSH1I-8iqPwm57WyHspp0oZneEG_WDthQp706vJjvXY5iyaw/s900/02E79D60-EE6B-44C7-89DC-776216F4B9BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiOToX6uPRKWG5bGnqWs6RIQpEUB_xk0uw9zZKsPw1uemDItxF7xe_VK9wxi7QNqkSr1tHUmKTb5LDkUhB1lTQp4RtzEIwgOWz4DgA0avcW0JSqsfRRWPWJeJgCuCXzhWkmC8hjCRgcOSH1I-8iqPwm57WyHspp0oZneEG_WDthQp706vJjvXY5iyaw/w400-h400/02E79D60-EE6B-44C7-89DC-776216F4B9BD.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The Power of One: Gender Fluidity <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2019<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Commercial cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">63”h x 63”w</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is one large double disappearing nine patch block. It is about the power of one and the responsibility to speak your truth, even if your voice shakes; to make a difference.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 14pt;">It also speaks to the rights of trans folk and the fluidity of gender.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 14pt;">Trans folk are among the most 'at risk' individuals in our community. Your voice can help that change. Speak up for trans rights. Be inclusive in your language. Challenge transphobia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 14pt;">It matters folks. It really matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQI6vbkWRGOT54ytAkwNMbIomvma6Y1JwTmeVy5gdt0SCd7yWEwnEir0ToQ0rXvkuU6M7SoO2Sm2rYGjQXM_8WuGhQOtkzWX1Oz-K5vgKxYlc6WtX_0KGs2AsYYOr21UIo3uZZXvGd9K3ScVV64KyTJwVhdwa8kBhzwvCBca8fyakiGDBXLImCEcTPg/s4311/D8138A64-F77D-4238-92E4-61F5634475E9.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="4311" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQI6vbkWRGOT54ytAkwNMbIomvma6Y1JwTmeVy5gdt0SCd7yWEwnEir0ToQ0rXvkuU6M7SoO2Sm2rYGjQXM_8WuGhQOtkzWX1Oz-K5vgKxYlc6WtX_0KGs2AsYYOr21UIo3uZZXvGd9K3ScVV64KyTJwVhdwa8kBhzwvCBca8fyakiGDBXLImCEcTPg/w400-h348/D8138A64-F77D-4238-92E4-61F5634475E9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A Celebration of Pride<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Cotton shweshwe fabric<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">80”h x 71”w<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>SOLD</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">This quilt is constructed with fair-traded, traditionally made, Shweshwe fabric from South Africa and uses a variation of a double disappearing nine patch block in its construction. It is rugged, straight forward, and beautiful … just the way that I like my men. And it makes me smile with pride!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierukuyo8UszhqA4zKg-4A5cPl1PLCKx97jyiLv2hTFT0ZMZ3r6ke9rdxTpSW1-_qeqYmTvA9MxDAv1pP5BNErCNOhJ1X0XSPJXXHhxRAs-Qn2E6oGtSePauHu589iei1dgy5jDLE2dq-oDWMS-1oeVJNQ_RZcfb76DiMJBew3x4S5zP1D_Z29wmLB2g/s4640/763AD6EB-353F-45B8-A7CF-886F604E6568.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4640" data-original-width="3774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierukuyo8UszhqA4zKg-4A5cPl1PLCKx97jyiLv2hTFT0ZMZ3r6ke9rdxTpSW1-_qeqYmTvA9MxDAv1pP5BNErCNOhJ1X0XSPJXXHhxRAs-Qn2E6oGtSePauHu589iei1dgy5jDLE2dq-oDWMS-1oeVJNQ_RZcfb76DiMJBew3x4S5zP1D_Z29wmLB2g/w325-h400/763AD6EB-353F-45B8-A7CF-886F604E6568.jpeg" width="325" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>Be the Pebble. Make the Wave.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">Cotton<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">72”h x 60”w<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #201f1e;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(32, 31, 30); font-size: 14.6667px;"><i>SOLD</i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is my new mantra and what we all must do when we see social injustices!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 108pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0cm 72pt; text-align: start; text-size-adjust: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-82266777285372316862023-02-11T09:16:00.006-08:002023-02-11T10:38:26.430-08:00Loyalist College Student Video<b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am pretty proud of the young folks, students at Loyalist College, who put together this video.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It does a decent job of telling who I am.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Click on the picture to be taken to a live link for the video.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMfvMKW-1PpSMUAie4T-y35Coh15wf_2zPZ0G3-DSv3SsYdg5toVTmfsMcB0Qf0QPFapKBnp84t7-G5AVTeRLWsBycr6MpkcFvkMj9-ZHCkGrd3aDroZe3G8aLpd6hagKCA40x3Tq3MG43PrG6DFBnVaPwsvP25ptbnqtrtdG-rvdyn12WYC9nSRMaw/s2387/DF072F9C-BF3E-420C-8C10-2AABCFE2264F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1337" data-original-width="2387" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMfvMKW-1PpSMUAie4T-y35Coh15wf_2zPZ0G3-DSv3SsYdg5toVTmfsMcB0Qf0QPFapKBnp84t7-G5AVTeRLWsBycr6MpkcFvkMj9-ZHCkGrd3aDroZe3G8aLpd6hagKCA40x3Tq3MG43PrG6DFBnVaPwsvP25ptbnqtrtdG-rvdyn12WYC9nSRMaw/w640-h358/DF072F9C-BF3E-420C-8C10-2AABCFE2264F.jpeg" width="640" /></span></b></a></div><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG5cw_B0yOc&t=11s"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG5cw_B0yOc&t=11s</span></b></a></p><p><br /></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-23398932892676057452022-05-26T10:05:00.001-07:002022-05-27T05:13:48.586-07:00‘The Part Where I Tell a Story That Used to be a Secret’ … Wind & Water Writing Contest Entry … and now a quilt<div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7n8ntSklK8wf-QjQr-4kvVa2hPCtRyBuV89k8m_eHG1zcT2LPAlkR4_6NVqPpBQDjU3ZklkAAFyX8ZMZz1SEJMC5x8cY2STlSU_LHkxcz4Dg1YsgTn4ThJbXb0ss5Tuzg_mv9W9E0M93puggpM_hDbX5v9p-RNoEm2nMxB2kO_Bg_vaam7_fmn6yJw/s3801/DB0D1A41-994A-4756-9BB9-DE13C1887E87.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3732" data-original-width="3801" height="628" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7n8ntSklK8wf-QjQr-4kvVa2hPCtRyBuV89k8m_eHG1zcT2LPAlkR4_6NVqPpBQDjU3ZklkAAFyX8ZMZz1SEJMC5x8cY2STlSU_LHkxcz4Dg1YsgTn4ThJbXb0ss5Tuzg_mv9W9E0M93puggpM_hDbX5v9p-RNoEm2nMxB2kO_Bg_vaam7_fmn6yJw/w640-h628/DB0D1A41-994A-4756-9BB9-DE13C1887E87.jpeg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgV7GWqOgX8A9q3o2xZHmikGyvCLTEYjm5I9Nn731r_fV02N8q9sNnxte2K8glg06nVeD3bxBmj4XKP-qCQsN22GIu_X_1D0Cgnk7tNrDDjwCH9mYaCe0PpYSGNk4QrWKgyzOZAIzmmLCMZuUQyGhnSrqK772a7E1JE-TkJ5CpaH2u4ERTk0Gr5ek5w/s742/DB784EF1-E87F-4F09-80BB-7C289D4B8B2D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="742" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgV7GWqOgX8A9q3o2xZHmikGyvCLTEYjm5I9Nn731r_fV02N8q9sNnxte2K8glg06nVeD3bxBmj4XKP-qCQsN22GIu_X_1D0Cgnk7tNrDDjwCH9mYaCe0PpYSGNk4QrWKgyzOZAIzmmLCMZuUQyGhnSrqK772a7E1JE-TkJ5CpaH2u4ERTk0Gr5ek5w/w200-h198/DB784EF1-E87F-4F09-80BB-7C289D4B8B2D.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>This quilt is a response to a story that I used to keep secret … and a QR Code that will take you to the YouTube video by Choir! Choir! Choir! And Milck. This recording of the song, ‘Quiet’, gave me the courage to tell my story.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The story below was shortlisted as one of five finalists in the Wind & Water Writing Contest (Fiction/Non-fiction).</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Part Where I Tell a Story That Used to be a Secret</b></div></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The summer before I started Grade Six my mother finally agreed to let me take bagpipe lessons. I’d wanted to do that for a long time, but my father said that I’d just lose interest and it would be yet another thing that I started and didn’t stick with. I was sure that he was wrong. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I loved the sound of bagpipes, and I had a fascination with men wearing kilts. I imagined that wearing a kilt felt much like it did to wear my sister’s skirts when we played dress up; all elegant and swishing around my legs as I walked. And, I could wear a kilt for real; not just for dress up.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>So, on Tuesday nights, my mother drove me to the Pipe Band Hall. When we arrived, the Pipers would all be sitting around tables practising on their chanters. My teacher, Robin, would take me to a separate table and we’d work there. My mother would sit nearby, knitting, and smiling. She liked Robin. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I liked Robin, too. A lot. He was fresh out of high school and saving money to move to the city. He spoke with the same Scottish lilt that my Nana had, and I loved listening to him talk.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>His hair was a dirty blonde colour and he had a full untrimmed beard. His hair was too long and always tousled. Most days, he looked like he just got out of bed. He ran his hand through his hair a lot and he played with his beard when he listened to me play. His dark brown eyes sparkled when he laughed. And his smile made me smile.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I heard my mother tell my father that Robin was handsome, but rough around the edges. She also said that he was charming and polite. I think that she liked him a lot.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I was glad that I’d started my music lessons in the summer. It gave me something positive to think about as I returned to school. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Up until Grade Six, school had been pretty discouraging. Every day was the same. “Sit still.” “Be quiet.” “Try harder.” “Boys don’t do that.”</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I hoped that things would be different in Grade Six. I’d have my first male teacher. Mr. Griffith, the Principal, said that I could turn over a new leaf if I wanted to because Mr. Fyfe, my teacher, was new to the school and would know nothing about me.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I quickly discovered that a new teacher was not going to make any difference. The other teachers must have told him all about me, because by the fourth day, my desk was in the farthest corner of the room, and I was back to hating pretty much everything about school.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>But the part that I hated most was recess. Recess was torture. I was always the last one picked for games, and I was constantly poked at and called names. In the lineup at the end of recess the favourite game to play was ‘Monkey-in-the-Middle’ with me being the Monkey trying to get my hat back. Even the teachers laughed. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Since there was nothing about recess that I liked, I avoided it. I’d dawdle so that I was the last one to leave the classroom. Instead of going outside, I’d hide in a washroom cubicle until the bell rang. Then I’d hurry up the stairs and be the first one back in my desk.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>One Monday, someone came into the washroom where I was hiding and walked straight to my cubicle. His hand, appeared on the top of the door, and he tried to tug it open. I heard a man’s voice say, “Sorry mate,” as he entered the next cubicle. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>He did his business quickly. “Got caught short on my way home, so I snuck in. Glad it was a school day. Otherwise, I don’t know what I’d have done,” he said. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>As the bell rang, he kept talking. “You don’t need to worry about me. I used to hide in here at recess too.”</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I recognized the lilt in that voice. It was unmistakably Robin. I didn’t know what to say, as I scurried out for class, so I blurted out, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’d meant that I’d see him at the Pipe Band Hall tomorrow, but the next day, Robin was there waiting for me at recess, as he was most days after that. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Robin said that we couldn’t tell anyone about our meetings because he wasn’t supposed to be in the school. He was neither staff nor student, and he said that we’d both be in trouble if anyone found out that he was there. We also agreed that we’d never talk about these private times, especially at music lessons, because someone might overhear us. And no-one was ever to know.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I looked forward to seeing Robin every day. Some days it wasn’t safe for him to sneak into the school. Those days, I always felt disappointed. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>We talked a lot. Robin seemed kind and gentle, and he made me feel safe and comfortable. We talked about being teased and called names, and feeling like we didn’t fit in. We talked about being different. We talked about changes that happen as a boy grows into a man. We talked about my fears. He seemed to understand. About me.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>One day, I asked him if it was true what my Nana said about Scotsmen not wearing anything under their kilts. He smiled and said that I’d have to find that one out on my own.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The next day, Robin was waiting for me. Wearing a kilt. <br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>He told me that before I could see what he had on under his kilt, he was going to check me over first. I wasn’t sure about this, but I didn’t say anything. He often touched me, and I just closed my eyes and imagined that he was Fess Parker from ‘Old Yeller’ and I was his little boy and it felt good.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>This was different. When I closed my eyes, I didn’t see Fess Parker. Usually when Robin touched me it was a hug or a pat or a rub, and on top of my clothes. This time, he reached up under my shirt and rubbed all over my tummy and my chest. He said that he was looking for the start of my hairy chest. He took his time. He reached around and rubbed my bum all over and squeezed it, but not hard. Then he undid my fly and played with my penis for a bit. He assured me that I was progressing nicely.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>When he was done, he stood up slowly and lifted his kilt. With a smile, he announced, “See! Nothing on”. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My eyes went wide. I’d never seen a man’s penis before and something about this whole scene terrified me.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>His penis was big and hard, and it had skin that he was moving back and forth as he stroked it. He wanted me to touch it. Fortunately, the bell rang just in time, and I hurried back to class.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I started going outside for recess after that.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>A few weeks later, Robin appeared at the playground fence, and we talked again. I’d missed him. He was so easy to talk to and he reminded me that we’d been friends for a while. Our talks at the fence were short though. As soon a teacher turned the corner, we had to stop, and Robin had to move on.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>One day Robin invited me over to his house. He lived beside my favourite Saturday hiking trail. I knew that because I’d seen him standing in an upstairs window and we’d waved.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The next Saturday morning I headed out for my hike as usual. As I neared Robin’s house, I saw him at the window motioning for me to come over. He met me at his door, wearing a heavy wool Greatcoat. He said that it was his dad’s from the war. I followed him upstairs to his room and he shut the door behind us. I was shaking. Maybe it was the cold. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>In one sweeping motion, Robin opened his coat, wrapped it around me, and pulled me into him. He said that he’d warm me up. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My face was buried in his chest hair, and I realized that he was naked under that coat. I tried to pull away, but his arms held me tight. He told me to be quiet or I’d be in trouble. <br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>He undid my pants and pulled them down. He pushed me onto his bed with my bum bare to the cold. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I felt his weight on me; his hand on the back of my head, forcing my face deeper into his pillow. I heard him spit a few times, and then I felt him rub my bum wet with that spit. He told me that if I needed to cry, to do it into the pillow. <br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And then I felt his full weight on me. He was still wearing his coat.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I didn’t cry. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>When he was done, he cleaned me up with Kleenex and left a wad in my bum crack to catch anything that he might have missed. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I pulled up my pants and left quietly to finish my hike.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It would be 15 years before I would let a man touch my body again.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It would be 60 years before I would cry, and tell this secret as a story.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And I still can’t play the bagpipes.</b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-28107103230668090992022-05-25T04:41:00.001-07:002022-05-25T05:20:41.230-07:00It’s Not About Their Bits<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbtAeMU2FdXbmk61CekLTZg6kTrFAHqVzNGxB2qfTdLNHQxCLC97c0XGDF-LMrVOBBzmRqnG2OhIvZIxJ3Jjt3KatfFUvBQvRI2GyklKllBhrPkeg6e2Mwl_OcVl8LNHFe0QHQ7VokU9mAfGzYU1GVlFS0GjBwYy4wsdhN5CgLSJ9pQdCNhJCV98-RA/s679/43392B00-C36A-4FCB-86A9-C3190EAB265E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="679" data-original-width="665" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbtAeMU2FdXbmk61CekLTZg6kTrFAHqVzNGxB2qfTdLNHQxCLC97c0XGDF-LMrVOBBzmRqnG2OhIvZIxJ3Jjt3KatfFUvBQvRI2GyklKllBhrPkeg6e2Mwl_OcVl8LNHFe0QHQ7VokU9mAfGzYU1GVlFS0GjBwYy4wsdhN5CgLSJ9pQdCNhJCV98-RA/w626-h640/43392B00-C36A-4FCB-86A9-C3190EAB265E.jpeg" width="626" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Here I am, all set up and ready to greet people at the Wellington Farmers’ Market. This was week one and it was such a great time!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I can’t say enough good thing about the men who own The Eddie Hotel and Farm! They are young, energetic, capable, kind and positive. They were everywhere, offering help with set up and tear down, and checking to see if folks needed them to watch their stall while they had a washroom break. Between them, and Naz Karsan, who is the manager for Wellington Farmer’s Market, no detail went unattended.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>There was ample parking and access to parking, and lots of room for the crowds that came. Everyone was just in such a great mood.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And for me, the best part was getting to chat with so many folks about my work, but more importantly about gender and gender based stereotypes. It was a dream come true!</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I hope that I get to see many of you at the Market next week, and every Saturday morning, right through to October 29th!</b></span></p><p><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(32, 33, 36); color: #202124;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">15786 Loyalist Pkwy, here in beautiful Prince Edward County.</span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4f7NjtdaPTvK7HNxSWT2xtBbymaL4U6T9rlf6o52Rmzz29yUTLGQrIoAsY82sanSn466PT6zPtjYBNBeDSSdHNtmZamX-H2PCK1dISyA8YJzrqJyC1PZAOooKvAUaXK-gkOU-jNGJIxjfxjbAuPsk8YB_HvxuBlPlCV2R0QkXO_LODR7eYWmY3-bfQ/s4032/9BB55381-61EF-4FEE-A3A8-23D29825D000.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4f7NjtdaPTvK7HNxSWT2xtBbymaL4U6T9rlf6o52Rmzz29yUTLGQrIoAsY82sanSn466PT6zPtjYBNBeDSSdHNtmZamX-H2PCK1dISyA8YJzrqJyC1PZAOooKvAUaXK-gkOU-jNGJIxjfxjbAuPsk8YB_HvxuBlPlCV2R0QkXO_LODR7eYWmY3-bfQ/w480-h640/9BB55381-61EF-4FEE-A3A8-23D29825D000.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxeb7hoC0p9aSEeqw4kz77-CpAJhUO6MygY9v9uTs6piPJMflrz7so7SlmP1FwrlUy_uzZ7lqS9z5hE2AK2pbEHJddCJPBlwuNQ3j-3mzBWLyD_g-GLUP4hUaFT4DC9jcMKT3bXTDbyptP6JeCend5gy_YDgP1-IoHFaEzrY_xbs5v3voUjorCpgGwA/s1794/875C1F10-D24D-471A-AB65-870FBECA1CD1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxeb7hoC0p9aSEeqw4kz77-CpAJhUO6MygY9v9uTs6piPJMflrz7so7SlmP1FwrlUy_uzZ7lqS9z5hE2AK2pbEHJddCJPBlwuNQ3j-3mzBWLyD_g-GLUP4hUaFT4DC9jcMKT3bXTDbyptP6JeCend5gy_YDgP1-IoHFaEzrY_xbs5v3voUjorCpgGwA/w514-h640/875C1F10-D24D-471A-AB65-870FBECA1CD1.jpeg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-67369371212714657452022-05-02T04:45:00.000-07:002022-05-02T04:45:11.307-07:00The Men’s Show at Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BVjXTCfAuX580Fiwmfn3CfAFrodexz6csIZ_D07nLx4Sc6jdy2bskJbVXUi-cAXRanzOxnq9mhYXK9kL9m7JRdZK4iuRL1gNoWlda6A2kr__QOk0oqbB_D4uhjIx_8YDdNgrV9PtfeVxHrq1nMDZT-SBMeuNS6f1l9qmdYp6DMLl3UvBb2sRO0E1Dw/s4032/70528738-A8BB-411F-926C-571F331D82F9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BVjXTCfAuX580Fiwmfn3CfAFrodexz6csIZ_D07nLx4Sc6jdy2bskJbVXUi-cAXRanzOxnq9mhYXK9kL9m7JRdZK4iuRL1gNoWlda6A2kr__QOk0oqbB_D4uhjIx_8YDdNgrV9PtfeVxHrq1nMDZT-SBMeuNS6f1l9qmdYp6DMLl3UvBb2sRO0E1Dw/w400-h300/70528738-A8BB-411F-926C-571F331D82F9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>These two quilts arrived home over the weekend. They were juried into the biennial Quilts By Men Show at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, in Golden Colorado and spent a few months there.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>That’s always one of my favourite shows and I’ve had at least one quilt in each show since I started quilt making.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>But as much as I like to get quilts into shows, I am always so glad when they arrive home safely. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>‘Reclaiming Pride: A Gay Bedspread’ and ‘His Name is Clarence’ will be displayed somehow for a bit before I tuck them away on a shelf.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It’s all good.</b></span></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-82487273354848991412022-04-17T09:33:00.000-07:002022-04-17T09:33:08.135-07:00Recent Newspaper Article<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Bill Stearman has discovered the power of quilting</span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlBn9bunfIDjqS6aVIstgFbGHWhbtAwEinlp5ndaE0TzTYUOw7VzNV-lK246Nh04meglmYuXpo_8eOkLxJb6Y5nn6k5wYyg6OKBxvOkJ7FZhiGZFCpYeV_Ju8ne4rm5Rnyt4uEEpo37hIUUE_7P9b7aWLB_FqxJaVu2QV5LZkwBPKfetCgz9twLR7KQ/s1080/64DD9683-88D8-4BBA-90E4-93865BE74F3B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlBn9bunfIDjqS6aVIstgFbGHWhbtAwEinlp5ndaE0TzTYUOw7VzNV-lK246Nh04meglmYuXpo_8eOkLxJb6Y5nn6k5wYyg6OKBxvOkJ7FZhiGZFCpYeV_Ju8ne4rm5Rnyt4uEEpo37hIUUE_7P9b7aWLB_FqxJaVu2QV5LZkwBPKfetCgz9twLR7KQ/w400-h400/64DD9683-88D8-4BBA-90E4-93865BE74F3B.jpeg" width="400" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">FIONA CAMPBELL</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">QUINTE ARTS COUNCIL</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For our most recent Umbrella magazine, the Quinte Arts Council dedicated the winter issue to celebrating the Art of Craft and how the lines between the two often blur in innovative and exciting ways. We profiled 12 Quinte-based craftspeople who express their art through their craft; the ninth in this series is Bill Stearman in Picton.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bill Stearman struggled with storytelling as a way to make sense of his life for many years. And then he discovered his voice in quilt making.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In March of 2014, he had a serious leg injury that left him in significant pain and medication that “killed his brain.” So he threw away the pain meds and sought another solution.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">“I have no idea where the notion came from, but I decided to try quilt making as a way to deal with the pain. I bought a $100 sewing machine, ordered some fabric online, found a few YouTube videos, and started to make a quilt,” says Stearman. “What I quickly discovered is that when I am working on a quilt, I don’t feel pain. Every sense, every part of my body, every corner of my brain, even my heart, is focused on what I’m doing. Close to 200 quilts later, I get to call myself a quilt maker.”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">He adds: “I am a quilt maker, but I am also a storyteller. The two go hand-in-hand,” says Stearman. “The stories cover topics not usually associated with quilts. And often these stories are not ones that folks expect, or want to hear talked about.”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">For example, his Canada Day 2021 quilt, is made with 215 pieces of orange fabric and quilted using text from the United Nations definition of genocide; in his “Reclaiming Pride” he uses braille and morse code to present the hurtful names he was called growing up gay, “to take words that were thrown at me as slurs and present them as something beautiful.”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Stearman has a formidable belief in the power of one voice, and the obligation to call out what he sees as inappropriate or unjust. “The power of my one voice can inspire another and another to join in until there is a chorus, and then, change is possible. That notion influences every quilt that I make; every story that I tell.”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Even the fabric he uses tells a story: “My goal is to primarily use fabric designed by folks I know, or fabric that I have dyed myself. But I am also drawn to fabric that has history; that is made using time-honoured, traditional techniques. Japanese yarn-dyed fabric,</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">South African Shweshwe fabric, and Tanzanian fair-traded and hand-made batiks are current favourites.’</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Stearman is quick to give credit to the woman who does most of the quilting on his work: Deanna Gaudaur of quintestudios.com. “While I design the quilting for my pieces, it is Deanna who executes those designs so beautifully through her hand-guided, free-motion, long-arm quilting.”</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">billstearmanquilts.blogspot.com IG @bill_stearman</span></b></p><div><br /></div>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-62871992075506616992022-01-30T04:48:00.002-08:002022-01-30T07:21:22.715-08:00Just Another January<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Like every January, once I finished what I had in progress, I sat, in depression, having lost every bit of creative moxie that I had. And like every other January, I looked for a mindless pattern or technique, and some bright coloured fabric so that I could climb back out of my depression.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>This year I chose a technique … ‘stack and whack’ … ‘one block wonder’ … it goes by many names.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Basically, it just involves selecting a printed fabric and stacking six repeats of the fabric on top of each other. Precisely. The you just cut six exactly the same pieces of fabric to arrange into hexagons. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I added lots of solid hexagons to my version, using a Free Spirit solid in a cranberry-ish colour. My Granddaughter, Anna, selected the colour. Left to me, I’d have used black, which might not have lifted my funk! </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>The floral is a Kaffe Fassett design, from Westminster Fabrics. There is a large piece of what remained on the back of the quilt.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’m pretty happy with the end result</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRbhH4xG_gwWp8QrozdbMqeEUNBlQ_O5Vcp89tzP9zQDBuL766EWsuWe7Btov_CQEoi1_bNvHgqBuQYmzU-9q00kNzZph_3w2azRiww9C12mp-m4WoX5MbrH51wxl_YMpfw0i0P9KT_i330TLuuTTdP7NyU4i8V7o7WUSMOIjnlEWtEewc_Lz7eNp1RQ=s1608" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1608" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhRbhH4xG_gwWp8QrozdbMqeEUNBlQ_O5Vcp89tzP9zQDBuL766EWsuWe7Btov_CQEoi1_bNvHgqBuQYmzU-9q00kNzZph_3w2azRiww9C12mp-m4WoX5MbrH51wxl_YMpfw0i0P9KT_i330TLuuTTdP7NyU4i8V7o7WUSMOIjnlEWtEewc_Lz7eNp1RQ=w359-h400" width="359" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijzLO_yoPrwFgm01NSGC8GFOdqZxklX9WrFjCi0aUeu7ImFPdDXFJdGRHRlonglwENQRwM0W00yOomhTFd7pMK7V2n2wrsUP-en5hcL8MqjdRNnZKUeOfiQ_B8qBjJRAgSoBoRz458BZA-7VZw9K0SW1V1hbDgNLy0vYWhwqRu8bsZ67N1wn9TtJp5_Q=s1602" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEijzLO_yoPrwFgm01NSGC8GFOdqZxklX9WrFjCi0aUeu7ImFPdDXFJdGRHRlonglwENQRwM0W00yOomhTFd7pMK7V2n2wrsUP-en5hcL8MqjdRNnZKUeOfiQ_B8qBjJRAgSoBoRz458BZA-7VZw9K0SW1V1hbDgNLy0vYWhwqRu8bsZ67N1wn9TtJp5_Q=w360-h400" width="360" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-5127521793213112302022-01-24T09:05:00.000-08:002022-01-24T09:05:08.881-08:00Playing with the Log Cabin Block<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>2021</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It was a pretty strange year for most of the world, but I think it might have been a weirder year for me than for most others.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>This is my interpretation of the year.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It is a bit under 36” wide. The bright coloured fabric is my own hand dyes and the rest of the fabric is by Libs Elliott.</b></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEBUg_oWzmuh3_TsowVZ8oVWe3HyQt0FULjneyAFChW6EjP2RntwKEQTWrL1nMSjV5ULcPCCxZEk60u9JspXd7cqGLd6DToPxSmpHRSJ3Wj4fobhdNprXUh4DWEmVUVZ3ngayqjLN7tu8UoOGkXqyLHDROqHo07y6u351V3Ux3SfdNv6J0HcQqrvh4g=s1440" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1440" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieEBUg_oWzmuh3_TsowVZ8oVWe3HyQt0FULjneyAFChW6EjP2RntwKEQTWrL1nMSjV5ULcPCCxZEk60u9JspXd7cqGLd6DToPxSmpHRSJ3Wj4fobhdNprXUh4DWEmVUVZ3ngayqjLN7tu8UoOGkXqyLHDROqHo07y6u351V3Ux3SfdNv6J0HcQqrvh4g=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Nothing Fits Anymore, But I’m Still Beautiful</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>As I have aged (matured?) my body has ‘evolved’. My clothes may not fit like they once did, but I remain … beautiful!!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>About 36” wide. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Background is white shweshwe from Meerkat Shweshwe.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHiuXrOllhtzvbTtY4jv5HCwa68STB7kFmyAikwarcLda2VWGmS96l4h1DZtPzyqDqUQJH98S0SQPKfuKUEUji1wHNV05shvWDJQYmnH8E0zVHhtwHS3l6vJBWZpAcyPaE089ZtS0UrrjFRRR27WM27_RUnyYvbbiXNDWCLgyddW_wX8fyP-1X6ee-tA=s1440" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1440" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHiuXrOllhtzvbTtY4jv5HCwa68STB7kFmyAikwarcLda2VWGmS96l4h1DZtPzyqDqUQJH98S0SQPKfuKUEUji1wHNV05shvWDJQYmnH8E0zVHhtwHS3l6vJBWZpAcyPaE089ZtS0UrrjFRRR27WM27_RUnyYvbbiXNDWCLgyddW_wX8fyP-1X6ee-tA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-6159676962740507172021-12-01T05:22:00.000-08:002021-12-01T05:22:09.657-08:00Busy Hands<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoadlH6d8wSe_vRA1AItTtzXvyH1_iZB-jYuS2dN-jBGFDwL9d3_Y-ErNSdOd6mPX_Otm5ct5ixpHZ0RN78KqPzgDHcYlP0oOI96LijXMXCwAljBMDrPwqOErTxadfbnOWFnkBXS6llK3/s1181/250358638_4798075623556157_6151475554381973076_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="1181" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoadlH6d8wSe_vRA1AItTtzXvyH1_iZB-jYuS2dN-jBGFDwL9d3_Y-ErNSdOd6mPX_Otm5ct5ixpHZ0RN78KqPzgDHcYlP0oOI96LijXMXCwAljBMDrPwqOErTxadfbnOWFnkBXS6llK3/w400-h213/250358638_4798075623556157_6151475554381973076_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Here's where I will be selling my fabric!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I will also have some of my earlier quilts there for sale at VERY reduced prices.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I'll try to post pictures of what I'll be selling later today, or tomorrow.</b></span></div><p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-34379402652991896522021-12-01T05:17:00.000-08:002021-12-01T05:17:16.445-08:00My Hand Dyed Fabrics!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQOHkEUpifa_wpGkBX7NMyslvNDHYRf_kCp2csuvY_BP4o_RqYfv4KzkxFh_rMNib7LJ9fFvqa9D49jT_u7t8YrWFVWeDEvspIOmnVYzg86J3Gm-yNZeOPMpWBFJMSuJtHv4ItRHXP9h7/s1280/IMG_2257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQOHkEUpifa_wpGkBX7NMyslvNDHYRf_kCp2csuvY_BP4o_RqYfv4KzkxFh_rMNib7LJ9fFvqa9D49jT_u7t8YrWFVWeDEvspIOmnVYzg86J3Gm-yNZeOPMpWBFJMSuJtHv4ItRHXP9h7/s320/IMG_2257.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I've been busy dyeing fabric! The quilt top above is made entirely of hand dyed fabric created last week. I'm still ironing it this week ... about 60 metres of it!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Below, are three of the rinses sinks. I think I filled the three sinks four or five times!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I'm loving the results though!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJCKzogbzgCZ0EUnxtpcPgI9jo_uh_zKsuy-FtSZJVf37tCBlikyBh4lA4QC1UaxpYH5OCv8nyrUWTs7KQQORT5jSNtTJJQVzfmkoLAQ5V0e3uLn3hGdGlTGNh7Pvu1HiV13SfKhGO3fk/s1440/DBECF73F-A5C4-4E9B-94EC-B94739844429+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJCKzogbzgCZ0EUnxtpcPgI9jo_uh_zKsuy-FtSZJVf37tCBlikyBh4lA4QC1UaxpYH5OCv8nyrUWTs7KQQORT5jSNtTJJQVzfmkoLAQ5V0e3uLn3hGdGlTGNh7Pvu1HiV13SfKhGO3fk/s320/DBECF73F-A5C4-4E9B-94EC-B94739844429+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrACst1DMPn1NHXruFgzY-kINYjUwJiWNeoIseqDCCI_CTR9AXeTjZqNzLxbXQ0dshWZeXCcXokkNpRF64TTkIHPbQsR8UapqkpVGf6O9yNIlileJB7pftqycVCwqQyYxtUSQ2lPJ-HNP/s1440/11B5DE5A-F7C0-41F6-9FA2-B7C743990D81+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1086" data-original-width="1440" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrACst1DMPn1NHXruFgzY-kINYjUwJiWNeoIseqDCCI_CTR9AXeTjZqNzLxbXQ0dshWZeXCcXokkNpRF64TTkIHPbQsR8UapqkpVGf6O9yNIlileJB7pftqycVCwqQyYxtUSQ2lPJ-HNP/s320/11B5DE5A-F7C0-41F6-9FA2-B7C743990D81+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSodRg-JL02UhAAYBUsRlHEYimbwUHdP3iU1TltFqvChbL4biP2zyWvPRC_x1_Aw1veJsjG0wd8CzmFukR7iwu7KNRPq9Tj9Oe6bC9fRvuKltds4DKq9OtNVCZ6pkaDQYy7_gekH58ftCQ/s1440/B249DFE7-9142-4EBB-B66E-AD44EA26B860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSodRg-JL02UhAAYBUsRlHEYimbwUHdP3iU1TltFqvChbL4biP2zyWvPRC_x1_Aw1veJsjG0wd8CzmFukR7iwu7KNRPq9Tj9Oe6bC9fRvuKltds4DKq9OtNVCZ6pkaDQYy7_gekH58ftCQ/s320/B249DFE7-9142-4EBB-B66E-AD44EA26B860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-86285031686518275302021-11-17T05:51:00.001-08:002021-11-17T05:51:40.018-08:00Finding Comfort in Dying<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>At the moment, this is still a work in progress. Today, it will go to my quilter, Deanna Gaudaur ( <a href="http://quintestudios.com/quilting/" target="_blank">quintestudios.com </a>).</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Soon it will come home and go through a regular cycle in the washing machine. It will fray and soften. Then, this quilt will tell the story that I want it to tell.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw4CRVpW59dfMB-Y3nY_zFNi3ZctAHB4tdCJ9G9Sp6K8FgdbQYsVBidll2QYgxHcw3MMnKiFCRA1KDqXuHXM8GF4kA4bhkJGnBnuIs_ovDBa6fPqYuX5fL7-GQActBwNFrD0OZjel7Vt3/s2048/7BB2C3F2-3135-41B7-BCA9-FC3A6F8614A7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFw4CRVpW59dfMB-Y3nY_zFNi3ZctAHB4tdCJ9G9Sp6K8FgdbQYsVBidll2QYgxHcw3MMnKiFCRA1KDqXuHXM8GF4kA4bhkJGnBnuIs_ovDBa6fPqYuX5fL7-GQActBwNFrD0OZjel7Vt3/w354-h400/7BB2C3F2-3135-41B7-BCA9-FC3A6F8614A7.jpeg" width="354" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>In early January, I was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. At the time, the prognosis was pretty bleak because of my age, and talk centred around treatment to keep me comfortable and to extend my life for as long as possible. Generally, the expectation was two to five years.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My head and my heart went to some interesting places during the weeks that I ‘lived’ with this diagnosis. My emotions were wild, but my head and my heart calmed me and brought me comfort.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have crammed a lot into my seventy-one years. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>For the most part it has all been good. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have loved and been loved. Generously. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have cared, and nurtured, and been kind and giving. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have experienced that same goodness from others.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>In my life my focus has been on creating positive energy. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And positive people have surrounded me.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have laughed lots. And I have made others laugh.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I smile whenever I can. And many folks smile back.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I have lived a happy life and I think I’ve made others happy.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>There are folks who will remember me. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>They’ll smile as they tell my story. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My quilts will trigger memories for a very long time.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I will be remembered.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I will live on.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I will be ‘eternal’.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And I am comfortable with dying.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Now … my prognosis changed drastically once I met a Doctor who convinced the transplant team that while I may be over 70 chronologically, I am significantly younger physiologically. That got me onto the National Transplant List.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>And my fabulous daughter, Kate, stepped forward and became my liver donor.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My prognosis now is twenty years. And I am so grateful for those extra years.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>But I’m also thankful for the few weeks when I was able to find comfort in thoughts about my own death. Because of those weeks and that process, I look at life and how I need to live it … differently. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It’s all good.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-47749936457071424682021-10-22T10:12:00.001-07:002021-10-23T06:24:19.318-07:00A New Home for 'Surviving January'<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_WlcR-fI8SBrNZkyfbRkMBwdpUnzig3jk-c-Kv8YXNPScgmKxFsP89blbg2L_7VeZgVc7O81hrYX6hzghEdM0t5we7Dis6ZiF9kNMt_gPPap3-Ag3FvGvA3mhiA3u9ikX8t7FfHAJx37/s2016/Eddie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_WlcR-fI8SBrNZkyfbRkMBwdpUnzig3jk-c-Kv8YXNPScgmKxFsP89blbg2L_7VeZgVc7O81hrYX6hzghEdM0t5we7Dis6ZiF9kNMt_gPPap3-Ag3FvGvA3mhiA3u9ikX8t7FfHAJx37/w480-h640/Eddie.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I recently sold my Surviving January quilt to the folks at the <a href="https://theeddie.ca/" target="_blank">Eddie Hotel and Farm</a>, here in Prince Edward County.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>This is it, hanging just inside the front door.</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I couldn't ask for a better home for it ... or a more stunning setting!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>It looks fabulous there!</b></span></div><p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-54266851718680386872021-10-07T11:13:00.002-07:002021-10-08T06:46:22.764-07:00MY NEW BACKPACK SHOW … ‘I Have Something to Say: speak your truth, even if your voice shakes’<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I am back to taking bookings for my Back Pack Show!!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Yeah!!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>My Doctors have given me the go ahead, since there is no actual travelling involved. </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>So far, I have been booked for Halifax, NS … Lethbridge, AB … Orange County, California … and maybe Haliburton School of Art and Design (if it runs next summer).</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’ve revamped my Back Pack Show and added many of my newer quilts. After the year that I’ve had, my quilts more than ever, seem free to speak my truth … :-)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I’d love to visit your Guild, Shop, or group!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Cost is just $250 and you are free to invite as many paying guests as you'd like!</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Contact me at b.stearman@hotmail.com</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCY1CXsDUFXgBtwiEG96WbWcYTK22xoXV4DI6Ejz32xEMtbU5xr5nuKHV8kE0VbThbYiwFTLSOQXnAhRujImSbRTN9BonPNO1D6-xuLVIGViWZWL1UbNoyr931V6ryR2IHQ_DYetBa6ud/s2048/F94BD24B-B5E2-4064-952B-FD9040451363.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1965" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCY1CXsDUFXgBtwiEG96WbWcYTK22xoXV4DI6Ejz32xEMtbU5xr5nuKHV8kE0VbThbYiwFTLSOQXnAhRujImSbRTN9BonPNO1D6-xuLVIGViWZWL1UbNoyr931V6ryR2IHQ_DYetBa6ud/w400-h384/F94BD24B-B5E2-4064-952B-FD9040451363.jpeg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce7VsrgA3VJqhCLxX6zeB4TLF8HcfD08JGOMg5dqYSbMN3kWI9_HFfnRDwlkuXv7TZCaUmSv8AB_hyphenhyphenp5mv5E4jQk_87RegUyu5LoHUTsjARJntSqMUbELqU9dKuD1g9T9N5fVr_wEetwC/s2048/18F79569-B4DA-48B1-AC6F-909AE7AC80E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1705" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhce7VsrgA3VJqhCLxX6zeB4TLF8HcfD08JGOMg5dqYSbMN3kWI9_HFfnRDwlkuXv7TZCaUmSv8AB_hyphenhyphenp5mv5E4jQk_87RegUyu5LoHUTsjARJntSqMUbELqU9dKuD1g9T9N5fVr_wEetwC/w333-h400/18F79569-B4DA-48B1-AC6F-909AE7AC80E0.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink5QLQ6YZo3yxib-Wo3HmP1ziWMkDFF8hp4VUFUGpTstx2YqTaacCnC_g2kX-oH41FeJFcR_N_AcABSYbZTvyxSrL7xVybU6eFiSJZ57QNbi739Mfg95QHMznlFLgIFmvkc-2RfPNmXK1/s2048/960E0871-C336-451B-9FA1-4DB37FC3F636.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2041" data-original-width="2048" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEink5QLQ6YZo3yxib-Wo3HmP1ziWMkDFF8hp4VUFUGpTstx2YqTaacCnC_g2kX-oH41FeJFcR_N_AcABSYbZTvyxSrL7xVybU6eFiSJZ57QNbi739Mfg95QHMznlFLgIFmvkc-2RfPNmXK1/w400-h399/960E0871-C336-451B-9FA1-4DB37FC3F636.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></span><p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-18813643986670582172021-10-07T10:57:00.000-07:002021-10-07T10:57:09.073-07:00Quilts=Art=Quilts 2021<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I am beyond excited that this quilt, ‘Finding Comfort in the Unknown’ was one of 72 works, out of 328 entries, selected for the 2021 Quilts=Art=Quilts show at the Schweinfurh Art Center in Auburn, NY.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">You can find more information about this show <a href="https://schweinfurthartcenter.org/quiltsartquilts-2021/" target="_blank">here.</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdsIhwP-kVdMdO8s6AGwoRTTTrKfSpQTemM3xMwCJNW7aRt28RJe1D3NEL4b4lGiixhLvwyFHkYCnS2zVN5kiJJTGIqA50_FS_vS8bLw7-HANTGywD8R0_zmSMOS76L1ksMoPM-Fbqp0n/s2048/A2116FC8-3223-4983-96D3-F6AF91F646B2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdsIhwP-kVdMdO8s6AGwoRTTTrKfSpQTemM3xMwCJNW7aRt28RJe1D3NEL4b4lGiixhLvwyFHkYCnS2zVN5kiJJTGIqA50_FS_vS8bLw7-HANTGywD8R0_zmSMOS76L1ksMoPM-Fbqp0n/s320/A2116FC8-3223-4983-96D3-F6AF91F646B2.jpeg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlsml-et1wWO4wj46Tp6W6n7koRpTbP_bdblDhxv08DJXCOdEnNcPyqGQYkGX99xt0DCOik58qhM4WHc5vjor3lpMC2j81304FJGPD12P7cONEkodHR_SP6wKxn5pRS4GwFTVVwBW6Mgu/s2048/69861098-6842-47A0-AB3F-4EF4CAC13BD4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjlsml-et1wWO4wj46Tp6W6n7koRpTbP_bdblDhxv08DJXCOdEnNcPyqGQYkGX99xt0DCOik58qhM4WHc5vjor3lpMC2j81304FJGPD12P7cONEkodHR_SP6wKxn5pRS4GwFTVVwBW6Mgu/s320/69861098-6842-47A0-AB3F-4EF4CAC13BD4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-25228255958370876412021-10-05T07:15:00.001-07:002021-10-05T11:48:43.708-07:00I Have Something to Say!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>I am SO excited to be doing a version of my NEW BackPack Show as part of this event.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Of course we will follow all Covid Protocols, but I’ll get to see you in person … and you’ll get to see and <u>touch</u> quilts!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>Here’s hoping that at least a few of you are in the area and able to attend!</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>😊 </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UbeDbeTvA9vmLEbXBmmRRvLcyLmg4RvkB2kX7ZNDjIXTs6QOmEds9f7_slblhtarZKKBdj6Ggiztnk5lJ3Ft-nXQzsD7BARHh9sqtTcJb1Q1sfKpFTDglhLGrldZhhRfUS58UxfxqI0T/s1799/B39A40BC-8835-4AE5-BFFC-688A3F2DB52F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UbeDbeTvA9vmLEbXBmmRRvLcyLmg4RvkB2kX7ZNDjIXTs6QOmEds9f7_slblhtarZKKBdj6Ggiztnk5lJ3Ft-nXQzsD7BARHh9sqtTcJb1Q1sfKpFTDglhLGrldZhhRfUS58UxfxqI0T/s320/B39A40BC-8835-4AE5-BFFC-688A3F2DB52F.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-81715052919118346752021-10-05T07:07:00.000-07:002021-10-05T07:07:15.694-07:00The Soulfood Art Event @ The Eddie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiisCU5IG0rxYLAgZXbdj0PklcGodx2G6BYFh_akZJEmP9Wq7L0xmhxrv26gBZ7RU0RKrFZXv2SUothQVNaj0-1v-Ui81qZdvEvX4sC0vw5UbdfOLqUElhNi1qelXVwrV-tOyClYiaY92/s2048/E1783D6F-80DE-47A7-A24E-02A7BD1B7911.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiisCU5IG0rxYLAgZXbdj0PklcGodx2G6BYFh_akZJEmP9Wq7L0xmhxrv26gBZ7RU0RKrFZXv2SUothQVNaj0-1v-Ui81qZdvEvX4sC0vw5UbdfOLqUElhNi1qelXVwrV-tOyClYiaY92/s320/E1783D6F-80DE-47A7-A24E-02A7BD1B7911.jpeg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1nNrFJWOzp1f8j2asDzM7Pj92BbefscWXiNsiJineRc667zjy3Eld6QWrL93gJQU8V9D0k0Ayz3cEW0oigYqIhpgqeQp1H089QVb4TYHS7RHQc-d9KwFRM9TuFTZTQfJb1-OzKjiyd02/s1799/C0AE1C36-4397-45F1-84EE-8FFC921EC4D1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1nNrFJWOzp1f8j2asDzM7Pj92BbefscWXiNsiJineRc667zjy3Eld6QWrL93gJQU8V9D0k0Ayz3cEW0oigYqIhpgqeQp1H089QVb4TYHS7RHQc-d9KwFRM9TuFTZTQfJb1-OzKjiyd02/s320/C0AE1C36-4397-45F1-84EE-8FFC921EC4D1.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1UQyVfhi6T4BaeluNkz-oztY1h_6p02KJ8h2YiV24bfKMhyhaobWObbv9fetI8cDZ8A0Hg2w5iU9KHiX3adXqeLopKeXJ-CBfdFofu0bk4Zi46bK4ZOuf_bgn9l4PPbiZ1tt-Sy7rAi4/s2048/75D3FADB-1770-48AE-8186-E93872A2E56E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1UQyVfhi6T4BaeluNkz-oztY1h_6p02KJ8h2YiV24bfKMhyhaobWObbv9fetI8cDZ8A0Hg2w5iU9KHiX3adXqeLopKeXJ-CBfdFofu0bk4Zi46bK4ZOuf_bgn9l4PPbiZ1tt-Sy7rAi4/s320/75D3FADB-1770-48AE-8186-E93872A2E56E.jpeg" width="247" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>These quilts will be on exhibit, and for sale at this show.</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeIWSQbP1A2ypFTS0RZ75pSg3cbd9lxqzfFEoCek3CNtehP7OU8CD1yLGojYCz7MK_7te727PsDi59tjItS028GUEgt2UO0feHbkY_Y_WbeZzGOQHdShb2fFQdn92FCVMdNjkLBOo5_ze/s2048/3F6B5EFC-1408-42AF-8CC3-D3079761F5FF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeIWSQbP1A2ypFTS0RZ75pSg3cbd9lxqzfFEoCek3CNtehP7OU8CD1yLGojYCz7MK_7te727PsDi59tjItS028GUEgt2UO0feHbkY_Y_WbeZzGOQHdShb2fFQdn92FCVMdNjkLBOo5_ze/w338-h400/3F6B5EFC-1408-42AF-8CC3-D3079761F5FF.jpeg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1efw5Af196Iiz_JSca0ORrl8ueYTajdoUaYKEwVgpk7nYly_v9ThRcRbt-9Mw384ijWLaIS-DQIclWFL2edJ1sGzxOzNWnn3yd8zlweFXZFyzabECyoBAxKwHJtxhgVoePHh5d2MPKw_/s2048/A11DC39E-6564-4C65-AA3E-1759EBD38E53.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1efw5Af196Iiz_JSca0ORrl8ueYTajdoUaYKEwVgpk7nYly_v9ThRcRbt-9Mw384ijWLaIS-DQIclWFL2edJ1sGzxOzNWnn3yd8zlweFXZFyzabECyoBAxKwHJtxhgVoePHh5d2MPKw_/w300-h400/A11DC39E-6564-4C65-AA3E-1759EBD38E53.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Bv4r0tAfYSy0ERzqwlhQDfe6C_Tf6jqXkn14w95YTNFPe6AkdRnGfpONGCvJE1LBkl1vhBgL7CXPgL-mQnSYewqJDKU16-k1PuAPvzTJ2OWT-Rf4wVEkmiXAzpz2jm7ysaOR4yKCbWm/s2048/FF556AB0-6403-439B-9C0C-2408C0EFD5C7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1705" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5Bv4r0tAfYSy0ERzqwlhQDfe6C_Tf6jqXkn14w95YTNFPe6AkdRnGfpONGCvJE1LBkl1vhBgL7CXPgL-mQnSYewqJDKU16-k1PuAPvzTJ2OWT-Rf4wVEkmiXAzpz2jm7ysaOR4yKCbWm/w333-h400/FF556AB0-6403-439B-9C0C-2408C0EFD5C7.jpeg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhEnElq48vUPt47EZUMVhXwU1ks6yYtkLwg0SyxayE7GQDxGfbVRU_aUtoj9gZZNcCWHSOKKqsks0NcdqKVwjb322nHB2-q1z0HzKeusCMN58ZyzSFFq0fSumCudnxP8GVjowwNx2GjnN/s813/FF6062FA-BE93-49BF-A10B-3F3E88F5C4D3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhEnElq48vUPt47EZUMVhXwU1ks6yYtkLwg0SyxayE7GQDxGfbVRU_aUtoj9gZZNcCWHSOKKqsks0NcdqKVwjb322nHB2-q1z0HzKeusCMN58ZyzSFFq0fSumCudnxP8GVjowwNx2GjnN/w344-h400/FF6062FA-BE93-49BF-A10B-3F3E88F5C4D3.jpeg" width="344" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-58857859689635729682021-10-05T06:29:00.005-07:002021-10-05T11:52:47.003-07:00Canada Day 2021<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">*215 pieces of orange fabric </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">*Quilted using text from the United Nations definition of genocide, entered into force in 1951</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>“Genocide means any of the following acts committed with </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>such: </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>(a) Killing members of the group; </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>physical destruction in whole or in part; </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.”</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht63igmCKNezMuReLlMfhxk0IVxKsAL6yaopx-yx8CVUYjo0pGmHTRL-Q-W8y7gE6kITuyI-eZqmm3WYFcyqGBFSnhyphenhyphenCUM2uOVh3oGfy-ae7bcFR9NddnKpwaEGFNNqKgsp-zfs4VnbmmL/s2048/4D57E9FF-04E9-4B75-8C15-F5AB5670B17E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht63igmCKNezMuReLlMfhxk0IVxKsAL6yaopx-yx8CVUYjo0pGmHTRL-Q-W8y7gE6kITuyI-eZqmm3WYFcyqGBFSnhyphenhyphenCUM2uOVh3oGfy-ae7bcFR9NddnKpwaEGFNNqKgsp-zfs4VnbmmL/w300-h400/4D57E9FF-04E9-4B75-8C15-F5AB5670B17E.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCw9Oxbliay0LYyBjFZrRtvw-GTqqqPFoKJTYQZ-3gPlxhbK8siVUuds0t1CmX21s5KtFrzUieiZcqFWGcUZJa7Kw5Vlb2eh2mChVsw8Q0sHZLI8GgMYIC3J40zJUDbgtLAJ75Dkrh6M1/s2048/2E8AE0EC-3730-4668-A56B-46EA9570E1E2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSCw9Oxbliay0LYyBjFZrRtvw-GTqqqPFoKJTYQZ-3gPlxhbK8siVUuds0t1CmX21s5KtFrzUieiZcqFWGcUZJa7Kw5Vlb2eh2mChVsw8Q0sHZLI8GgMYIC3J40zJUDbgtLAJ75Dkrh6M1/w300-h400/2E8AE0EC-3730-4668-A56B-46EA9570E1E2.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyE0HaG2ofTWi92kHcTZtP_GKjSe-EWX5uddR975JKCIItWQvrQhB7hW9H3zdurQJjiovChprCPuW9z89A6QfxDuMrC1zlmlOO0RPV6c2IeEhxVFfO-ki48map91k-PSqAvYl-bUyLiaj/s2048/1F5869BD-0C87-4D05-A05B-5F178CC9FE78.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2048" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKyE0HaG2ofTWi92kHcTZtP_GKjSe-EWX5uddR975JKCIItWQvrQhB7hW9H3zdurQJjiovChprCPuW9z89A6QfxDuMrC1zlmlOO0RPV6c2IeEhxVFfO-ki48map91k-PSqAvYl-bUyLiaj/s320/1F5869BD-0C87-4D05-A05B-5F178CC9FE78.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcrm1loNkwtPEXumP4dMkv2p8HQjY6CR3jMno-LUZTL1wbHPoXlRhBxk3Bhyphenhyphen8hiAwHpn9UBNn9P6ywmBH0J-6G-rf5vZILUgm5C01qnlEb7lCZOHJpEEUSM2EZkTNO6zm889T12gZr3VD/s2048/A8E7B09B-C439-4F8A-B321-67E4AFE4F5CB.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvcrm1loNkwtPEXumP4dMkv2p8HQjY6CR3jMno-LUZTL1wbHPoXlRhBxk3Bhyphenhyphen8hiAwHpn9UBNn9P6ywmBH0J-6G-rf5vZILUgm5C01qnlEb7lCZOHJpEEUSM2EZkTNO6zm889T12gZr3VD/w300-h400/A8E7B09B-C439-4F8A-B321-67E4AFE4F5CB.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <p></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-28906868352244140382021-08-21T17:32:00.001-07:002021-08-21T17:32:29.358-07:00More Kind Words From Someone Who ‘Gets Me’<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHDoiCBkWpgoJ2YnZ82yhhVt9XEezFRPVIZSNyBxy9EvMSmQeGg_f9hjNqhnXj-9sQhesHCtn1cQ9SwhUzQGV0BOAjBHQDDwDc3a3_FzOcoMgUFHi0C8KCtvGB0-dOi131RJwd4cQg00V/s3591/A966CA94-F3E8-4EBF-BDBD-7B6FA0E575D4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="3591" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHDoiCBkWpgoJ2YnZ82yhhVt9XEezFRPVIZSNyBxy9EvMSmQeGg_f9hjNqhnXj-9sQhesHCtn1cQ9SwhUzQGV0BOAjBHQDDwDc3a3_FzOcoMgUFHi0C8KCtvGB0-dOi131RJwd4cQg00V/w400-h98/A966CA94-F3E8-4EBF-BDBD-7B6FA0E575D4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>I just LOVE the fact that these words came in a handwritten Thank You Note!</b></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><b>The young woman who penned these words is a favourite of mine. She’s one of those young folk who help me believe that all is right with the world, because someday, this woman, and folks like her … will be in charge!</b></span></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8812591399377154280.post-20073376059329693652021-08-16T17:16:00.002-07:002021-08-16T17:16:49.422-07:00Finding Comfort In the Unknown … the finished piece<p> <b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">I started piecing this quilt to keep my hands, my head, and my heart busy during the two weeks leading up to my Liver Transplant. I was filled with so many thoughts, feelings, emotions, scenarios and I just decided that I needed to find a way to be rid of all of that, and to focus on finding comfort.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">This piece brought that comfort, and continues to fill me with comfort.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">It is non-conventionally pieced using traditional Japanese yarn dyed fabrics. I didn’t use traditional seamed piecing because I wanted the quilt to fray and soften and have the comfort of my oldest and softest blue jeans.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">While I was in surgery, my quilter, Deanna Gaudaur ( <a href="http://quintestudios.com">quintestudios.com</a> ) quilted it for me. </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">As soon as I got home I washed it, dried it, and then spent the night wrapped in its comfort.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;">It is perfect.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl_jOOOPabV3XSP2lPnZqG51j_ocsJQIGrCR6_y8WlEvh1U79nl3sWyLhmTjak2Ydiu3uMtVabhI3yk3mbD52ljQVBNos5rgCybd_kagyF2kyWF8cidTOZ_6PIf2xeDhIHxFB0RZYYzxL/s2048/4E6B627E-FD82-41CE-9D4C-46EA73D9EEC2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1823" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl_jOOOPabV3XSP2lPnZqG51j_ocsJQIGrCR6_y8WlEvh1U79nl3sWyLhmTjak2Ydiu3uMtVabhI3yk3mbD52ljQVBNos5rgCybd_kagyF2kyWF8cidTOZ_6PIf2xeDhIHxFB0RZYYzxL/s320/4E6B627E-FD82-41CE-9D4C-46EA73D9EEC2.jpeg" width="285" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdusumBE0jW_2zYqyuXgG7z73vdKvQp3-tfFnAXPjfgKqL6qJddpxBPkojpCjcSQa9LjYji3X-x4o8CH1EUt4-h1Bj6FtUjN8I4dRVp5eGcqG2Id8usBgA27dsjuMWrt-KZUvUBnAiwdKX/s2048/ABDCF2C6-BEDB-49C5-9F45-4F4493A9F782.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdusumBE0jW_2zYqyuXgG7z73vdKvQp3-tfFnAXPjfgKqL6qJddpxBPkojpCjcSQa9LjYji3X-x4o8CH1EUt4-h1Bj6FtUjN8I4dRVp5eGcqG2Id8usBgA27dsjuMWrt-KZUvUBnAiwdKX/s320/ABDCF2C6-BEDB-49C5-9F45-4F4493A9F782.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QxSMp-DdDxYYYQlAwYV9FmtSzVw_2uzwbkFMqLpgfi_N8KBoD_aU-UTzx7Wkb553CoUvcKGhjDJl0oNFhm0M9ry83LZE97sM3PpfaZKuvFZ_-39Ks7P1zhQg6kJ3tFr38xebpwx0phyphenhyphenC/s2048/CFDC1DA1-4DA2-4919-840E-6675747A7EE1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QxSMp-DdDxYYYQlAwYV9FmtSzVw_2uzwbkFMqLpgfi_N8KBoD_aU-UTzx7Wkb553CoUvcKGhjDJl0oNFhm0M9ry83LZE97sM3PpfaZKuvFZ_-39Ks7P1zhQg6kJ3tFr38xebpwx0phyphenhyphenC/s320/CFDC1DA1-4DA2-4919-840E-6675747A7EE1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei5jHVsppMq_0Kkhm6vNtfAGPHQkT9uCCT0Bx4J-jj4_8uGxr_omJYSWIq7x1biKTrwZG-BTmYn8A3GwsErQc1AFgDYNQvrElfQw1XTtS-_5MangJXv-TxqgF7pLzgK2u2PzNS23hUdZl/s2048/D6AFEA30-91DC-4009-9B31-A23E7D4E87B6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiei5jHVsppMq_0Kkhm6vNtfAGPHQkT9uCCT0Bx4J-jj4_8uGxr_omJYSWIq7x1biKTrwZG-BTmYn8A3GwsErQc1AFgDYNQvrElfQw1XTtS-_5MangJXv-TxqgF7pLzgK2u2PzNS23hUdZl/s320/D6AFEA30-91DC-4009-9B31-A23E7D4E87B6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_yjStoRdHrgj3xWKjLrMg64tyWu7ShyHLFGxHVk7Z55XLeH7UiQKY0hIGe1OP775M8MkMOjVAbfUg8SYaDmdXm-WXsMW21AMei8uhEfCnBJtmFphN4Z4IK9U4miqwqlFbM0Mv4Y1yDhv/s2048/D23E9051-3D14-4B86-8D70-78AB37E4B88F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_yjStoRdHrgj3xWKjLrMg64tyWu7ShyHLFGxHVk7Z55XLeH7UiQKY0hIGe1OP775M8MkMOjVAbfUg8SYaDmdXm-WXsMW21AMei8uhEfCnBJtmFphN4Z4IK9U4miqwqlFbM0Mv4Y1yDhv/s320/D23E9051-3D14-4B86-8D70-78AB37E4B88F.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bill Stearmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13292802053691385938noreply@blogger.com0