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.