Good old technology. How do we do modern life without it? A few weeks back I had to replace my four year old bargain cell phone. Thankfully, I knew the phone was on the fritz and had time to prepare before catastrophe struck. I use catastrophe here in a non-hyperbolic way because it made me realize just how dependent I am on my cell phone. It forced me to recognize the profound power of these devices and how much they have changed my/our world. When my fancy new phone arrived, I was literally startled by all of the default settings notifications and sounds. Suddenly my phone was constantly throwing out alerts in a very egregious, unpleasant manner. It was a bombardment; I was legitimately stressed out by the pings and screen notifications. I had to figure out how to turn that off, and that one, sheesh, and that one too. During this exercise (exorcise?) I discovered just how many apps were tracking my location. Spooky stuff! It took time to tweak the settings, to wrangle the device into quiet submission and assert some control over the phone. Sorry phone, but I am the boss here.
The cell phone experience frustrated me on several fronts. For one, how it is okay that these phones are disposable and expected to last only a few years? The one time we replaced a phone as a teen was when we got a cordless phone. (And what a marvel that was!) Also, it feels nearly impossible to figure out how to recycle the old phone. Second, it forced me to really acknowledge just how much time I spend on my phone, mostly multitasking. I formed a (very bad) habit of mindlessly scrolling through news and social media while I was doing other things, like drinking coffee or eating, listening to meetings or otherwise engaged. I was shoveling information into my brain and absorbing only a fraction of what I was consuming. Not to mention that I wasn’t present. I look around when I’m out in public and realize this behavior is ubiquitous. We’re all hooked! We’re totally connected to our phones and disconnected from reality. Well, I have to pull back from this pace for my sanity and the sanctity of my brain space.
Which brings me to this peaceful, calming quilt. This quilt was lovingly crafted for my pseudo-niece’s best friend who favors a pastel palette. Say that three times! Once again, I began sewing with no final design in mind other than utilizing the pastel fabrics available. The cool thing about these fabrics is that each one has a backstory. I rescued the floral fabrics from another quilt top I made, one that once sewn together, did not jive because some experiments just don’t work out. So with the help of my trusty seam ripper, all of these fabrics will now live their best lives in better, more cohesive quilts. The beautiful periwinkle fabric is ice dyed from my dearest Amanda. The remaining pastel prints are making their second appearance here on Quiltunes and I am tickled that there are quilts connected to one another just by virtue of being made from the same fabric. With these fabrics at hand, my design flowed in a very organic way, one step at a time. Although I had no idea how the design would evolve when I started, I wonder if my intuition was heavily influenced by my subconscious to memorialize the above two pictures into a blanket. The similarities between the scenes and the final quilt are remarkable.
Early in my quilting journey someone said to me that when life was challenging, they always knew the one thing they could control was their ¼ inch seams. She could always turn to fabric piecing and gain some semblance of control during an unpredictable time. I get this sentiment, I too reach for quilting to steady myself. Those ¼ inch seams are something within my power, which as full disclosure, I must credit my ¼ inch guided foot for the extra assistance here. After the great phone reckoning, I recognized that my sewing time is so precious because it is when I can dedicate myself to one thing only. While I’m sewing, I can control my environment, my focus and distill everything down to a task. My creative time is the antidote to my busy workdays full of multitasking and meetings. Allowing myself the time to do just one thing is an act of healing myself in a world full of distractions.
This quilt came into my life when I craved calm, so a large portion was crafted during relative silence. And once I had enough of a reset, the glorious tunes were welcomed back into the workspace with wide open arms. I enjoy many different musical genres, with an eclectic record collection and I wouldn’t have it any other way. If variety is the spice of life, then mine is extra spicy! One of my favorite bands is Radiohead and there were years of my life where I listened to them nearly every day. (Approximately from 1994 – 2004, which is an actual decade.) The Bends is one of my desert island albums, always. Radiohead is massively popular and within the legion of fans, my devotion resides on a lower tier than many. People write PhD dissertations on them! What I love most about Radiohead is their constant evolution as a band, with every album unique from others. While not every album speaks to me like The Bends, there are several that I genuinely love, like the 2008 release In Rainbows. When it was released as a digital album, back when that concept was revolutionary, a friend made me a copy (until I could buy my own official “hard copy” release) and I was smitten. In Rainbows is less overtly political and less beepy/computery than its predecessors. I would not describe the album as calming, instead it’s more sweeping and epic. The album is simultaneously both spacey, compounded by Thom Yorke’s ethereal voice, and grounded with real rocking guitars. How do they do that? Whenever the record makes an appearance in my life these days, it is always deeply appreciated.
It is no coincidence that Radiohead is making its first (but not last!) appearance on the blog at a time when I personally am questioning the role of technology in my life. Radiohead has always been prescient with their music foreshadowing a future that looks remarkably similar to what exists now. A prime example is the track “Fitter Happier” from 1997’s Ok Computer. I mean this track just smacks of the societal ideals we continue to idolize. I could argue this song is even more relatable in January 2024 with the advent of the wellness industry constantly shaming us into maximizing our best selves. This post is named after the song “Reckoner” off of In Rainbows. Again not a coincidence that the lyrics went straight to my soul during my state of tech rumination. Alas, I am also a complete sucker for a big build up in songs, which this song does exceedingly well. Not familiar with Radiohead? Give me a holler and I’ll happily take you on a curated tour.
The thing is that our expansive modern technology is both a blessing and a curse. It allows us to communicate in ways I never fathomed when young, a world with email, cell phones or a blog (!). I can listen to music from radio stations across the globe. (Howdy, Mold!) I can stream PBS shows whenever I want and replay all of my favorite science/animal programs. I can send pictures to my loved ones instantly. I can do yoga at home, along with 500,000 of my fellow earthly citizens. With a few clicks, I can buy stuff that is delivered to my door. I can work remotely full time from the comfort of my home. Of course these are but a few examples of how downright amazing technology is. But, and a big but here, is that much of this convenience comes at a price. We now have the ability to be distracted at all times. We have lost the magical art of letter writing, and handwriting in general. We are forgetting how important it is to be present with one another. Technology has made us impatient; it has allowed people to spew hate quickly and broadly. Algorithms rule our lives and make decisions for us. Every time we search, view, and scan, we add another snippet of data to our digital selves to be sold and then marketed back to. There is so much more to dissect about the consequences of our high tech world. So how do I want to utilize the awesome side of technology while still maintaining my humanity? How can I reap the benefits without causing harm? My concern is not new — fretting over technology is not a modern problem. Remember on Downton Abbey how frightened the Dowager Countess was of electric lighting? And she was right, the advent of artificial light brought about hosts of changes, both good and bad. Alright I’m majorly digressing here. The point is, I seek an elusive, healthy balance in my relationship with technology. At my age and with the rapid deployment of technology into every facet of our lives, finding a way to work with it will be a lifelong challenge. Fortunately I have the coping mechanism of quilting to anchor myself in the present and remember what is truly important.
Quiltunes 