ELAINE QUEHL, Quilt Artist, Teacher, Dyer, Designer

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Elaine's Back

Greetings my long lost blog followers. It's been one year and 10 months since I last posted here. I became one of those blogger ghosts. I used to wonder why some people started blogging and then disappeared, or started a web site and then didn't update it for years. Without going into too much detail, I had a year of ill health: a very severe depression in fact, that had me hospitalized twice, for a total of 8 weeks. But I think the anxiety I suffered with it was worse than the depression. I had absolutely NO IDEA how bad a depression could be. While I had suffered one in my 30's, it was nothing of the magnitude of this one! All of this happened just before Covid hit. To say that Covid has been difficult would be an understatement, but I feel as though I am making progress and getting glimpses of myself again. For most of the last year I have been busy making practical things like knitting socks, crocheting rugs, making a jelly roll rug, sewing three large quilts. Only recently have I started a new series. My daily walks, distanced visits with friends, making things, and setting small goals have helped me cope.

I am happy to share the first in my new series called "Conversations Over Coffee". Conversations over coffee with a friend are one of the things I most miss about these strange and isolating times we live in. I spent many years travelling to teach and travelling for pleasure, and I have photographed the coffees I have enjoyed in many locations. I have always loved collage, but never seemed to find the time to try it. In the process of trying collage I have fallen in love with commercially printed fabrics again. I love the whimsy of polka dots and swirls and squares, and in this turquoise cup below there is even a cat face near the bottom centre. I am not sure if this will be the background I will settle on. I plan to wait until I've made several cups before I decide. I would like some common feature in the background to pull all the cups together.

The cup above was inspired by a cup of coffee I enjoyed in Vancouver. Next I'm going to do a collage inspired by this orange cup of coffee I enjoyed in Strasbourg, France, in 2017. Isn't it cheerful?

This past Saturday I also gave my first presentation on Zoom, to Courtepointe Quebec, the Quebec Provincial Quilting Association. The feedback was very positive. So I am hanging out my shingle to give presentations again. Do email me at equehl@hotmail.com if you are interested. But please note that I am not currently teaching on Zoom. If and/or when that changes, I will announce it on my web site, here on my blog and on Facebook.

As I write we are in the third wave of covid here in Ontario, and the most restrictive lockdown we have seen since Covid started. We just didn't get enough vaccinations in time before the variants took over. I had my first shot of Moderna on Saturday. Fortunately, because I am turning 60 later this year, I was eligible to receive a shot with the 60-69 age group.

I hope you are keeping well and safe. This past year has been hard on all of us. Brighter days are ahead.

14 comments:

  1. Great to hear from you Elaine. I’m sorry about the depression and anxiety.
    I hope things are going better for you now.

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    1. Thank you Brenda. My first presentation and my first blog post in a very long time. I'd say things are improving!

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  2. Welcome back! As a fellow Ontarian I hope this all ends soon.

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    1. Thanks Stitchin at Home. It will probably take the better part of the rest of the year, but at least if we have our first covid shots we will be less likely to be hospitalized and/or die. But it sure has been a long haul. Be well and safe.

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  3. So good to read your blog again, Elaine!
    You went through a lot and you won the battle, I think with your husband's help.
    Well done and I'm happy to follow you in your new project.

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    1. Thank you Albertina, my friend. Yes, my husband cooked for me every single day that I was in the hospital and brought me healthy food. You would not believe what passes for food in a hospital. I've had great support from my psychiatrist, psychologist and family throughout the pandemic too. And I don't know what I would have done without my friends!

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  4. I am glad you are back! Depression is a nasty illness and one I also suffer with.

    I hope you stay on the positive side of things. Covid has kicked everyone, no one has been untouched.

    Love the coffee cup! I will look forward to see what develops with them....

    Hugs!

    Jody

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  5. Thank you for sharing about your depression Jody. I find I have to work every day to keep the darkness at bay, especially during the pandemic. I've learned a lot of good coping skills in the last year. I am sure you have too. Hugs back!

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  6. Hi Elaine, welcome back! Looking forward to seeing your other Conversations over coffee creations. Take care.

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    1. Thanks Andree. Think I'll have something to post soon.

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  7. So glads to have you back and to have the worst of Covid and your depression behind us. Stay well!

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    1. Thank you Norma. I hope you have fared well during Covid.

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    2. Check out my blog today. I mentioned you and your hosta quilt.

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    3. I love how you've framed it Norma!

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Elaine