A few weeks ago I wrote about my beautiful experience at the Gee’s Bend Quilt Retreat. What I didn’t write about was the amazing Anne, dear friend to China and Mary Ann and organizer of the retreats.
Yesterday I woke up to the news of Anne’s passing, which feels swift and unfair and like I am not particularly happy with god on a day like this. More and more it seems like the really good ones go before their time, even if I trust that everything is in its rightful place.
Anne pronounced my name Coowwdy in her thick southern accent and loved every single person who walked in the retreat doors. When I would ask her what to do next with one of my quilts she would always say - What do youuuu like Cody? What do you like? Forever reminding me that the best intuitive next step was the one that would come from within me, and would be as simple as what I like. Not what looks cool, more experimental, the best compositional choice. But what do I like?
I had the good fortune of sitting next to Anne during the retreat and she was using a wheelchair so I became her little assistant to find things like extra pins and bobbins and notions buried in her tubs that she brings with her for the gathering. She would whisper to me when she needed to find something and I’d spring into action, competing only with myself for the best time to be the best helper.
Anne assured us all she was fine and dealing with some minor health issues, and I wonder if she kept her cancer hidden from us to protect us because she knew how much it would pain us to know. Anne was a protector, in all the ways.
What I think strikes me the most about Anne was her complete dedication to her friendship with Mary Ann and China, and how much they all loved each other. How Anne created a container for the two of them to show up and be amazing teachers and to rest easy knowing that Anne had everything under control from the ironing boards to the sewing machine rentals to the schedule to checking everyone in.
When we see each other the way these three see each other something spectacular happens. I think this is where we become ourselves. In the witnessing we are bound for glory, bound for blooming. There is no shortage of love, and even if we put barriers on our frameworks, the alchemy of love will have its way.
This is my hope, to weave Anne’s generosity and container making into everything I do. Her absolute love for quilting, the history, the possibility. I want to create spacious containers for my friends to do their most transformative work. I want everyone to live forever and never die and make art until it’s time to go. At our last breakfast together I was sitting with Lukaza and Anne when China walked over and brought Anne her plate of food. I said - I hope our friendship is just like this when we’re in our 60’s and 70’s. Anne said : You will be so lucky.
After the retreat we all left and about twenty minutes later I had a missed call from Anne. I thought perhaps I had forgotten something and called her back. CODY! She yelled. I butt dialed you. Sorry girly. Blessings on your way.
Blessings on your way sweet Anne, may we all be as wildly funny, giving, and filled with light.
I am teaching quilt class THIS WEEKEND April 27 + 28 from 12-3pm EST both days live on zoom :) Recorded if you can’t make it live
THE POETICS OF SQUARES : Quilt in a Weekend
When you sign up for The Poetics of Squares you get a 10% off discount code to order a Maker’s Box with scraps from Conscious Clothing - sign up/order TODAY and it will get to you in time!
It’s true - we are really going to make a whole crib sized quilt in two days together (!!!)
I read The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer last week and it was so good. I thought I had to like her music to read it but you in fact do not. She is an amazing storyteller and writer and I highly recommend.
Just started reading Unmasking Autism and cry and feel seen every few pages - masking is so exhausting and I’ve been really learning to unmask my own neurodivergence these past few months with a new therapist
I had the very cool fortune of being on one of my favorite podcasts - Hurry Slowly with Jocelyn K. Glei and learned so much about myself in the process of listening to Jocelyn’s amazing questions. Name change, becoming more myself offline, and who I am at the mailbox
Open Air Farms right here in Cedar, MI is getting ready for this farmer’s market season and I couldn’t be more excited :) Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter especially if you’re local and want to follow along with farm updates :) Two millennial queers that found a love for being closer to nature in the everyday: that’s turned into farming as a side hustle in Detroit to rural acres and a tiny house in Northern Michigan.
Beautiful newsletter from on desire, intimacy, queerness, celibacy, and so much more
is hosting a 24 hr tattoo raffle and here are the details! This goes to supporting their beloved friends who are currently in Cairo having flown there to aid Palestinian evacuees from Gaza
Book Club starts May 5 and we had a time edit here are the details
LIVING THE ARTIST’S WAY BOOK CLUB
🌱 SIX WEEKS
🕸️ SIX EMAILS
📁 SIX ZOOMS
We begin reading the book Sunday May 5 and check in by threads every Friday and by zoom every Sun starting Sunday May 12 at 8amPST/11a EST followed by 5/19, 5/26, 6/2, 6/9, and 6/16 for 60 minutes
HOW TO JOIN : 📖 Buy a copy of Julia Cameron’s new book Living the Artist’s Way : An Intuitive Path to Greater Creativity or check with your local library
🐬 Become a paying subscriber of Monday MondayOn the sidewalk in LA
My writing playlist
Everything in my heart feels broken but we keep going!
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⌇⋰ Email : info@codycookparrott.com