Spring Equinox, 2017

Day and night are equal in length. It’s a pivotal moment, that will tip the balance of light and dark. 

So even though it still looks like this outside in my part of Pennsylvania:

Soon, very soon, there will be this:

That heart-quickening feeling of a first warm spring day is captured here by one of my favorite poets, Billy Collins. If you’re in a more melancholy mood this spring, see this beauty from Amy Gerstler.
 
I’m continuing to work on a series of narrative paper quilts made of thread, paper, and watercolor. These nine art quilts are based on nine women who, like me, are into art and math/science.

I wanted a way for other people to interact and be a part of my quilt project so I’m making two separate pieces that relate to identity and I’m inviting the public to help complete them by offering answers to two prompts. 

I’ve included a picture of one of the pieces below — a tree. The other will have elements of wind in it. These will be on display at Nurture Nature Center in Easton, PA beginning in late April. I have one prompt related to each piece. Selected answers to the prompts will be quilted into these two pieces later, as leaves for the tree below and flower petals for the wind-related piece.  I’ve already added a few responses (as leaves) to the tree  (see detail, below).
 

I welcome your answers to the prompts, either as a comment to the newsletter or as an email. 

For the tree:

Describe yourself in three words.

For the wind:

I would like to be more ________.

All answers will remain anonymous on the quilt:)

One of the women inspiring the series of nine paper quilts is Chawne Kimber. She’s a brilliant mathematician and internationally-renowned quilter. She’s changing the world with her art. See an example of her stunning work above and more here.  And finally, after eight years in the making, my novel debuts on Earth Day, April 22, 2017! In April and May, I’ll be traveling around with my book talking about how one might pursue a creative life even if you’re not “that kind” of person. Because since I’ve worked most of my life as an environmental scientist, that’s how it was for me. Come to one of these events and if you show up you get a small prize to celebrate spring:)

“Something in the air this morning makes me feel like flying.”

–Eileen Granfors

Thanks for reading! xoxo