How are all of you doing right now? How are you feeling?
I’ll start:
- I am anxious and trying to keep my level of worry at a manageable level–a challenge, for sure. I am worried most for my friends who are in the medical field and on the front lines of this. They are a husband/wife team, a doctor and nurse at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, working with children with cancer–another vulnerable group besides the older population. These little ones have compromised immune systems, and are vulnerable to something of the likes of COVID-19. My friends reiterate what our surgeon general bluntly said this morning: please stay home so we can flatten the curve and not overwhelm the healthcare system.
- I am quarantining alone with no family nearby (and I’ve got this and I’ll be fine), but sometimes the anxiety gets to me. But I have been creative with FaceTime, etc., art journaling, making masks (more on that in a later post), walking Clarence to visit the horses nearby, and it all *so* helps. If you are quarantining alone, email me–pokey@craftingalifellc.com, and let’s communicate!
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I am worried for all of us who run small businesses or are independent contractors. This is an overwhelming punch to the gut and it’s hard to breathe. We don’t know how this is going to play out in the upcoming weeks/months, and I have 1) cancelled all retreats for the foreseeable future at my place, but 2) extended the deadline for teacher applications for Craft Napa 2021 with a new receive-by date of April 30th, 2020. I am totally planning on hosting Craft Napa 2021. We all need something to look forward to, right? I am going to meet with the hotel soon (once they are back in business, they are closed for now) to discuss the contract and particulars. I think it is fair to say we all want some extra cushion and safety measures in place for this next round.
In the meantime… One thing I thought to do while we all do our best to stay home: I thought it would be fun to do an Instagram LIVE from my art barn to share what I am making, and then invite someone who is watching into the video/ split the screen to show what they are making and interview them. Do you want to play? I hope so…this could be a fun way to connect and share what we are making right now. I am going to try doing this tomorrow (March 24th) at 1:00 PM Pacific. This will be through my own account on Instagram–Pokey Bolton.
So let me know how you are feeling and what you are doing in the comments section. I’d love to hear from you!
A picture of Clarence a couple of days ago visiting Fellow, a very sweet horse in my neighborhood:
Until my next post, be gentle with yourselves, and stay well,
~ Pokey
Hello. Pokey and Clarence,
Thanks for sharing your daily walk photo…
Remember…you are never alone….
My kitty has learned English lately, so we are conversing non these days! I’d put her on a leash as I walk solo round and round on the track…put said she’d pass,
My mother always said…look back ten years from now…puts it in perspective!
the quilting world, OBVIOUSLY, is the most comforting place to be at these times. peace….much love
Hi Pokey,
I think your idea is a great one for showing what you are doing as well as connecting people.
I have created a meditation, which addresses how we can release fear and move into the natural state of peace and create our art from a peaceful inspired consciousness. If you would like me to send it to you, I have my e-mail listed and you can let me know. It is free for everyone.
I think it’s a great idea! I would have to check what time it would be here and figure out the Instagram live thing,
Pokey, thank you for your posts here and on Instagram. They make me happy, help me feel semi normal and encourage me to get out in nature! It really helps! Plush your place is such a beautiful nature space 😍! Also 👍👍in the Instagram post from your barn.
Your post reminded me to just breathe…….
I am sheltering in place in my barndominium in middle of my 8 acres of woods. I am 15 miles from town and enjoy the peace and quiet.
As a 65+ widow raising a 12 year old grandson, our biggest concern is online schooling with sporadic WiFi. His 27 year old sister and her 3 year old daughter left Houston to shelter with us in the woods.
My elderly mother next door rounds out our little tribe. If my daughter was still living we would have 5 generations.
My huge master en-suite/quilt room is my refuge.
I would love to follow you during this time.
Actually nothing has really changed for us except grandson leaving & returning on the school bus.
We leave the woods once a week to forage.
Pokey, there is an old quote which I love dearly and it’s worth remembering – “be not afraid, you are not alone, you are loved”
Not on instagram a lot ( never been on live ) but will look you up and make more of an effort. Also I’m always on email.. Take care Pokey, things will work out, you will get through this as we all will, and never forget, we are here for you.
These are anxious times, and art and crafting are helping me to ride it out. It feels like after 9/11 in many ways. I have sewn 15 tote bags for future gifts. I’m now working on making Baby Yodas as stuffed creatures. Inbetween sewing masks for friends. They are not sterile, but maybe ok in a pinch?
Cheering you all on. Thanks Pokey for being a lantern in the storm. I’m a cancer survivor. I’m staying far far away from this COVID mess I hope.
Thanks for your post. It is comforting. We all must take this one day at a time. Three of us here, me and my husband, and my adult son who landed here in November due to pending divorce and the very expensive housing in California. We are doing okay. Luckily the house is big enough that we all have our own spaces when we need it. I retreat to my art/sewing studio, although I have been unable to do anything creative for now. Just busy work, organizing, putting away. EPP is about as artful as I can manage. Here’s to better days for all of us.
Thank you for your inspirational post. So glad to hear you are well. Yesterday, my 70 y.o. friend and I started sewing masks, hoping to be a part of the Facebook “Million Mask MayDay” effort going on. We were practicing getting the easiest mask done and will next be trying the barrier and filter masks. We were thinking it would be a great project for a group of friends to do together. Alas, that can’t happen. I wish I knew how to ‘do’ Instagram, but I don’t. We met you several years ago, either in 2011 or 12 when you came to Cincinnati for the big quilt expo (when it left Chicago for 3 years). We loved your chat. Stay safe and well. (I have been strongly advocating online for small businesses when people mention the ‘bailout’ being proposed. I have so many artist friends who depend on their skills for their livelihood and it bothers me endlessly that there has been no mention of how YOU ALL are supposed to get paid. They want to bail out the large corps and offer small businesses a loan? Something very wrong with that scenario.