The Word of the Year: Connect on Off the Wall Friday

Can you believe I've been active online since 1998?  I've been writing this blog since June 2009.  22 years online....geesh... Honestly, I don't know where the time goes.  I knew the internet  was going to be a game-changer on how we communicate but really not nearly to what extent.  I remember learning how to communicate in my first chat room, joining my first online quilt group, making my first cyber best friend (Julia in AK by way of Nebraska).  I joined quilt block exchanges, millennial charm exchanges, round robins.  If it had to do with quilting, I did it.    It seemed like the whole world was suddenly discovering a way to connect through shared interests.  It was exhilarating and sometimes a bit overwhelming.   

As the internet insinuated itself into all facets of our life, that sense of connection became more and more commonplace.  The novelty of it wore off and I at least take it for granted.  I used to spend hours emailing my cyberfriends, but now I might just take a quick glance at blogs and Quilt Art on Facebook.  I miss my quilt list emails and my quilt group The Crazyquilters. That sense of connection is not nearly as strong.

Then came Covid which only added another wall to us staying connected.  Sure, everyone learned how to Zoom and Facetime but it's not nearly the same.  Little by little, things seem so much more isolated

So I'm bringing back an old tradition.  On our quilt art mail list every year, we would take this week and pick words that would represent the new year.  I  really loved learning what words people picked and why.   This year, my word is Connect.  I am going to make a conscious effort to stay connected in person as well as by email with my fellow artists and quilters.    I don't know about you but honestly, I can't stand trying to communicate in 45 characters or less.  Also, I never bought the idea of Instagram with its instant gratification of images scrolling by.  Don't EVEN get me started about Tic Toc where it seems like an endless rabbit hole of "Look at me, Look at me".  No, this year is about making real connections with real people.

I am going to erase the phrase "Social Distancing" from my vocabulary.  There are ways to be safe without hiding away in your room.  I found the last two years disheartening and lonely.  Enough is enough.  

To that end, I did plan a 5-day art quilting class.  Normally, I would plan Quilting by the Lake and John

Timna Tarr

C Campbell.  But no plans for QBL have been announced and JCC is sticking to its mask, plexiglass, vaccination mandates.  So this year, I'm heading to Marc Adams School of Woodworking.  YEP !! You read that right.  I'm going to go to woodworking school with my husband.  Paul has been going to Marc Adam's school for 23 years now.  Because of it, he's become this amazing artisan woodworker.  Now, Marc is offering other craft classes there including - wait for it - art quilting.

I plan on taking a class with Timna Tarr called Stitched Mosaics.  Although nothing exactly new to me, it looks like it will be fun and interesting.  Plus Paul can take a woodworking class and we can enjoy each other's company on our 29th wedding anniversary week.  Included with the class, are daily lunches and one dinner/lecture.  Not to mention, it's in Indiana and I love the midwest in the summer!  Finally, some time to connect without a screen or plexiglass to interfere. 

The class is still open if anybody wants to come and connect with me!

So What is Your Word of the Year and Why?

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter