Wildlife rescue centers in Australia and the animals they’ve taken in have found some unlikely allies.
Joeys hanging around. Photo: Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.
Caring for injured Australian fauna requires a very specific supply list, which includes things like marsupial sleeping pouches and mitts to protect burnt paws. These can’t be made out of just anything. It has to be soft, breathable 100% cotton fabric – exactly the type of material that quilters are experts at working with.
NotJustQuiltZ’s aboriginal-designed fabrics at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival in Phoenix.
Jeltje van Essen, owner of Quilt Shop 100 Rozen in Deventer, Netherlands, realized this and recruited a group of volunteers to sew for wildlife centers overwhelmed by Australia’s intense fire season.
Pauline Rogers demonstrates her products at the Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival in Phoenix.
Jeltje’s quilt shop crew in The Netherlands started by making mittens for injured koalas, using cheery fabrics to make their carers smile. They have since moved on to other projects, like sewing wraps for rolling up recovering bats into cozy little fabric burritos (bat-ritos?) that make them feel like they’re snug inside their mothers’ wings.
Bat wraps! Photo by Animal Rescue Freecycle Craft Guild.
The Dutch quilt shop volunteers certainly weren’t the only crafters to pick up their needles to help, however.
Donations of handmade items have been pouring in to the Rescue Craft Co. (RCC), based in New South Wales, which has been sharing patterns and coordinating shipments from around the world.
Nests by Nicole Jarczewski.
In fact, the reason the Netherlands quilt shop group switched projects is because the koalas in Australia are all stocked up on mittens. RCC has actually been so inundated that they’ve asked that people stop sending them.
Instead, they’re requesting veterinary supplies, a select list of crafted items, and monetary contributions to their logistics GoFundMe or other trusted organizations working to help Australia heal.
Photo: Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc.
How to Help Australian Animals (via Rescue Craft Co):
Last year, I went to two days of the Festival – one with my Mom and one with sister-in-law Dinah and friend Kelli.
The first day, we ended up parking in a lot that was actually meant to be for a dog show, which we needed to walk through to get to our Festival.
The second day, I parked there on purpose. We walked past booths of dog stuff and people with impeccably groomed and well-mannered dogs. I really wanted to ask one of them if their dog was available to tutor our little rascal Quijote. But that’s not why we were there.
Walking into the Festival building meant being surrounded by a dazzling array of colors and patterns, handcrafted items, crafty inventions, and big ticket items like long arm sewing machines. It was fun to check in with favorite vendors from the past, meet new ones, and see things I hadn’t before.
Pocket Change Fabric
Here are some of the fabric and pattern exhibitors we saw in 2019, plus their booth numbers at the Phoenix 2020 show. (Info about vendors for tools, accessories, and food is in Part 2!)
Orange Dot Quilts
Patterns
Orange Dot Quiltshas original quilt and bag patterns by owner/designer Dora Cary. I love her bold, modern designs!
The Cottage Rose Quilt Pattern Originals – Deb Eggers of The Cottage Rose created a pattern for a fabric Parcheesi board! You can just roll it up and take it with your for camping or traveling. The kit comes with the game pieces and pattern includes a little pouch to keep them in. She also made some adorable little fabric owls.
Bobbie G. Designs – Embroidery, cross-stitch, and quilting patterns in a shared booth space with More the Merrier. I was drawn in by their cute vintage camper cross-stitch!
Calico Patch Designs – Vicki McCarty is a pattern and MARCUS Fabric designer, who likes to incorporate wool and cotton appliqué into her quilts. Her “Homespun Appeal” pattern (above) was featured on the cover of Quilt Sampler Magazine (Fall 2018). Currently, “Rabbit Patches Runner,” made from a pattern she designed and fabrics from her line, is on the cover of Primitive Quilts (Spring 2020).
Calico Patch Quilt Shop located in Morehead, Kentucky.
England Design – Cynthia England was back with examples of her signature picture piecing method of quilting. True to its name, you can use this technique to make a quilt that looks like picture instead of the abstract shapes you traditionally see in quilts.
#641-642
Fabric
Bear Paw Quilts – Their (multiple) Seattle Seahawks fabrics caught my eye, and, yes, owners John and Shyla King are based in Washington. They had a large cutting board right there in their booth, so you could get exactly the amount of fabric you wanted – whether it’s a ‘Hawks design or not.
Booth #900-902
Elkhorn Quilt Company – It’s always great to stop by and check out what new fabrics and quilts Debbie Dominy has!
Spirit of the Artisan – A gorgeous collection of textiles imported from Southeast Asia by shop owner Gale Carson, who maintains a personal connection with many of the suppliers and artisans. Her wares include scarves, bags, tops, patterns, hand-woven Burma batiks, and ornate Hmong collars.
#628-630
Desert Stitchin – Quilts, kits, southwest-themed fabrics, and “desert delights,” which are sets of 2.5-inch color-coordinated fabric strips.
“Brolga Dreaming” by Nambooka + other aboriginal-designed fabricsFabric designs by (l-r) Nambooka, Narelle Kitson, Colleen Wallace + Vanessa InkamalaFabric design “Bush Banana” by Donna Abbots
NotJustQuiltZ – Largest U.S. collection of aboriginal-designed fabrics from M+S Textiles in Australia. The designs are are created — usually hand-painted — by artists of indigenous Australian descent, drawing on their cultural traditions. Artists receive commissions on their work as long as it’s in print (longer than usual in this industry), and many make their living this way.
Shop located in the Historical District of Niles in Fremont, California (Bay Area).
They also have long arm services, embroidery, custom, quilts, notions, and gift items.
Second Chance Fabrics – New and pre-owned fabric, as well as patterns and gift items. You can trade in fabrics from your stash in exchange for store credit. Anyone who sews probably has excess material around, so it’s great that there’s a place to give it a new home, while picking up something you’ll actually use!
Julie’s Sewing Corner & Quilt Shop is located in Miami, Arizona, which is a historic mining town near Globe. Julie and Don Reiman’s shop specializes in unusual, drive-out-of-your-way fabric.
Sun Valley Quilts – Sewing machines, wooden sewing tables, fabric, notions, and a book section. The store is large enough for groups to visit together during events like quilt shop hops and then go to one of the nearby restaurants.
Shop in Sun Valley, Arizona and online.
A rep from The Grace Company was also there, demonstrating their quilting frames and Q’nique line of quilting machines with handles designed for more control.
Traditional Primitives – Missie Carpenter developed a starch basting technique for English paper piecing and has her own lines of rustic quilting fabrics and other quilting products.
The Copper Needle – Shop focused on providing a welcoming, creative environment. Offering fabrics, threads, patterns, notions, Bernina sewing and embroidery machines, and classes in quilting, embroidery, and painting.
The Sacred Heart of Tucson by Alexandra Gjurasic (@lexgjurasic).
February is coming up, which means it’s time to take a moment to appreciate the art around you!
Share photos of your favorite murals (and other art from your neighborhood) by using the hashtag #LocalArtLoves.
Mural by Chip Thomas (@jetsonorama) in Yuma, Arizona.
What’s Local Art Loves about?
Local Art Loves is an annual online celebration of art and artists from different corners of the globe. During the month of February, anyone can join in by using the hashtag #LocalArtLoves to share art they love from wherever they are.
Mural by Jet Martinez in Clarion Alley, San Francisco.
The purpose is to be more aware of the art around you and the artists in your community.
I was inspired by all the colorful walls around Tucson to make murals the focus for 2020. What mural(s) do you love seeing near where you live?
By Isaac Caruso in Tucson, AZ.
FAQs
How do I participate in Local Art Loves?
Take a photo of a mural, post it on Instagram with #LocalArtLoves, and boom! you’re part of this.
Only murals?
Nope! Murals are just a starting point. You can share any art from your neighborhood that you really like.
More ideas: sculptures in the park, paintings in your favorite cafe, street art, exhibitions at your local library, comics, chalk art, mixed media pieces at an art fair…
Yes! Please do! Every year, several artists participate and share their latest pieces or work in progress.
If there are other artists in your community whose work you admire, feel free to tag them and share some of their work too.
What counts as local? What if I’m traveling / not in my hometown this month?
“Local” is wherever you happen to be in the world. How broadly you define your neighborhood is up to you.
Greetings Tour mural, Tucson, AZ.
Can I share more than one piece?
Yes!
What if I’m not on Instagram?
You can also post (and hashtag) photos on Twitter and Facebook – make sure your post is set to public. Or contact me directly.
Mural by Bumble Bee Loves You in Yuma, AZ
Anything else I should know?
Please only share your own photos of the work.
Mention the artist if you know (or can find out) who it is.
Don’t take photos where it’s not allowed. If you’re not sure, ask the artist or venue. While you’re at it, find out their Instagram so you can tag them!
I’ll be re-posting #LocalArtLoves on social media throughout February and rounding up highlights here on the site at the end of the month.
My mom likes to throw these big, informal, everyone-come-on-over get-togethers, especially around Christmas. She’ll set out a bunch of food, while Dad gets the firepit going.
One perennial favorite of her holiday buffets is a delicious hot punch with spiced cranberry and citrus flavors. It tastes like the holidays and makes the house smell amazing. It’s particularly excellent for sipping around the fire on a chilly night.
The recipe makes enough for a crowd without requiring a lot of fuss, so you can focus on decking the halls and whatever else you need to do.
Mom makes it (by the gallon) and serves it in her crockpot to keep it hot all evening. She’ll put a ladle and a stack of festive mugs next to it, so guests can help themselves.
Although the title on her recipe card says “cranberry tea,” the tea part is actually optional. Most of the time, she leaves it out. Then you have an equally delicious hot cranberry punch.
Hot Cranberry Tea (or Punch) Recipe
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 cup loose black tea (omit for punch)
3 cups sugar
2 cups orange juice
1/2 gallon cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice (or substitute a 12-ounce can of frozen lemonade and reduce sugar to 2 cups)
10 cups + 6 cups of hot water
Optional: orange and/or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks (for garnish).
Wrap the spices and tea in a piece of cheesecloth or place into a tea infuser.
Steep in 10 cups of hot water for 20 minutes.
Add sugar, juices, and 6 more cups of hot water.
If desired, garnish with orange or lemon slices and cinnamon sticks.
Serve hot.
Makes about 7 quarts of punch. (Invite a lot of people over.)
Mesa’s annual holiday celebration, Merry Main Street, includes concerts, an arts and craft market, food trucks, visits from Santa, and – most surprisingly in an Arizona desert city – an outdoor ice skating rink.
O Christmas Market
While there are Merry Main Street activities throughout the downtown, the centerpiece of the celebration is the 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and market that takes over Macdonald on the north side of Main Street.
What you’ll find here…
Mesa’s official Christmas tree – this is where you can see Santa Friday and Saturday evenings.
Mesa Christmas Market – 30 local vendors selling handcrafted items, food and gifts in booths set up around the Christmas tree.
Most of the time, you’ll only find an ice rink in Arizona inside a large, air-conditioned building. So, the temporary Winter Wonderland Ice Rink installed for the holidays in Mesa City Plaza is a downright novelty. It’s really fun to watch people skating around there, even if some of them are wearing shorts.
Speaking of Arizonans’ winter apparel (or lack thereof), Winter Wonderland just assumes you don’t own ice skates (and you probably don’t), so they automatically include skate rental in the ticket price.
Free Rides
You can ride the mile stretch of the Light Rail between Country Club and Mesa Drive free on December weekends from 5-10pm.
This weekend (December 13-14), there will also be special decorated “Polar Express” light rail trains with Santa, elves, cookies, and singing on board. Pajama-wearing is encouraged. No tickets are required.
Pioneer Park
The weekly Mesa Feastival Forest in Pioneer Park turns into Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest on Friday and Saturday nights during the holidays. Check their Facebook page for updates on the food truck lineup.
Also in Pioneer Park…
The Mesa Farmers Market and Flea will continue to be held in the park on Saturday mornings – with a few extra festive touches like additional vendors and photos with Santa from 9-11am.
Kiddos can ride the trackless Main Street Express Train there for free during food truck or farmers’ market hours.
Merry Main Street’s little train (at its old City Plaza location).
In past years, you could sometimes hear the choir singing outside the LDS Temple across the street. This year, however, the annual Christmas Lights display and concerts have been suspended due to major renovations of the buildings and grounds, which are scheduled to be completed in 2020.
The Space Between
Like a microcosm of the City of Mesa itself, Merry Main Street is a bit sprawling (although it’s gotten less spread out than in previous years).
Activities are just close enough together that you’re not sure you want to wait for even a free light rail ride, but far enough apart that you have time to regret it as you traverse the vast, vacant expanses of sidewalk between things.
How to Merry Main Street
The the best approach might be to enjoy different parts of Merry Main Street throughout the season, instead of thinking of it as all one event. Stop by the food truck forest before heading over to a performance at the MAC. Have an ice skating night. Do some holiday shopping and take some photos in front of the tree (or in the selfie stations or with Santa).
Why not go multiple times? There’s no admission cost, parking is free, and each time the weather will probably be so nice you could wear shorts to go ice skating.
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