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I was a journalist, and a
non-religious rationalist, from my teen years through my mid-thirties. I
started quilting a decade ago to save my sanity during a long illness.
Completely unexpectedly, quilting became something more than a distraction.
It became a powerful vehicle for developing my spirituality, and
exploring my Jewish heritage.
Quilting has a power to enrich people's
lives on many levels. Not least is that it can be a form of prayer or
meditation. Even while the cabinets fill with fabric (!), the creative
process empties and focuses the mind, Grasshopper, which allows us to make
higher connections---to memory, to our best selves, to others, and maybe even to G-d. (Also, to e-bay, for more stuff, and to
i-kea, for bigger
cabinets.)
Both the process and the
product of quilting dovetails beautifully with Jewish ritual and history. As
in most cultures, Judaism involves an abundance of beautiful and
thought-provoking textiles, whether for daily use,
holidays, or lifecycle milestones. Learning
about the history and meaning of these textiles has been
one of the most fascinating and fun parts of my journey.
I also hope you will share your work with
others on these pages. I am most proud of my Gallery pages, which have
wonderful images sent to me by quiltmakers from around the world. Don't be
shy! I'd welcome samples
of your work, and links to your webpage.
I do teach quilt classes and seminars. I also custom-make Judaica and other quilted items for special occasions. It wouldn't hurt to ask!?
And I just love questions and comments!
Drop me a line!
Cathy Perlmutter |
