Quaker Makers

One of the joys during this last year of online worship has been getting a peek inside people’s homes and getting to see what folks create in their downtime. Here is some of what we’ve made - and what it means to us.

Tim

I make retro pixel emojis. These are some bread slices I made for a friend. I find pixel art to require as much problem solving as it does artistic skill. My goal is to communicate the idea with as few pixels and colors as I can.

Summer

I like to dabble in lots of creative adventures from sewing to water coloring, however metalsmithing is one of my current loves. Being able to focus on a project and learn new skills provides me a necessary creative outlet - especially during a pandemic. The process of bringing a piece to life can be both challenging and rewarding, but I love being able to wear and gift to friends my creations with pride.

Halka

Chameleon mural in progress.

Faith

As we (Northside) held a worship sharing in preparation for writing our State of Society Report—via Zoom—this collage was born on my computer table.

Marcy

I made this quilt for my friend’s first baby. Because of coronavirus restrictions, I couldn’t help her care for her baby physically, but I felt that making something for her to wrap him in would be a symbol of love and physical care.

Suzanne

Having participated in two Tsuru for Solidarity fold-ins, I worked at mastering folding Origami cranes and in the process came to enjoy the meditative rhythm of folding. I included cranes in a new year's greeting I created for far away friends as part of my wish for a better, more hopeful year.

Helen

The number 16 took over my imagination after the Laquan MacDonald shooting video was released. I couldn’t get my head around one person shooting another one 16 times. To try and picture what 16 looks like, I made a quilt top with Eva’s help on the satin rosettes poking through the cut-out stars. Someday the quilt top will actually get quilted, once I learn to quilt.

Marie

I've been a baker since childhood, but this winter I've had more time at home to try more challenging bakes. This Swedish cardamom bun was featured in the New York Times and looked appealing as both a baking challenge and a different flavor. I've been able to share some baked goods with friends this winter, and I am so looking forward to bringing treats to meeting again someday in the future.

Lilly

This is Ratt Smith, made to keep my hands busy during remote learning, and named and inspired by friends who I'm watching Doctor Who with.

Kevin

Building this fence around our backyard was how I dealt with the first few weeks of COVID.

Pamela

Last year a friend laid down knitting for awhile, and sent his stash to me. I have used it to make warm winter wear for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in New York City, via the new organization Knit the Rainbow (KtR — www.knittherainbow.org). KtR put out a call for Valentine’s Day donations, including knitted hearts that they attach to every garment so that the young people know someone made it for them with love. At the end of January, I sent off 5 cowls and 20 hearts.

Andrea

This is a Japanese sweet called 'nerikiri'. It is made out of rice flour, sugar, and white beans.The ingredients take a long time to prepare and the designs require much patience. Though I typically hate laborious, slow tasks but making nerikiri is actually quite calming. Eaten with hot green tea, the candy dissolves in your mouth and is supposed to remind you that nothing in this life is permanent, we should enjoy the transient beauty around us.

Sarz

Using Indian silk saris I stitch with silk thread along the design of the fabric itself. The quilts are soft, light, and amazingly warm. In the foreground are some of the quilts I've made during lockdown, and in the background… anyone want a quilt? I'm always looking for F/friends to give them to.

Eva

I enjoy drawing with someone else in mind. Typically, an idea or image will come to me in connection with a person - maybe about something they are going through or maybe just something about them as an individual. I have a set of blank greeting cards, so now I can draw it down and send it to the person!

Beth

This Square Lattice Afghan is the latest pattern I am working as I knit my way through afghans for the many nieces and nephews.