By choice, I live a very simple and frugal life, in part because I am committed to being a full-time artist, and I accept the financial situation that accompanies such a choice. But I also deeply believe in the WWI rationing quote: "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
I moved to Lafayette in 2024, and my little house is, to me, a total miracle. I finally found a place that feels like home after feeling lost for several decades. This community is so supportive of the arts, of the art of neighboring, of the concept of community, and of a slower, older lifestyle. I wanted to make a "Use It Up" quilt to celebrate this wonderful community.
I met so many lovely people while working on this project. I spent an afternoon at Waneka Lake, soliciting fabric donations and chatting with folks. I reconnected with a person who knew my mom 30 years ago. I explored businesses in town I'd never been in before. I got to hear stories of people's weddings, picnics, losses, and everyday lives. I got to learn about my new town.
In these unsettled, scary times, this quilt is a political statement. It champions a life that mainstream America has forgotten about, but desperately needs to return to. This quilt proudly cheers conservation, material sufficiency -- even abundance -- in what we already have, community and connection, the importance of stories and history, and the incredible power of art.
It's not terribly hard to use something up until it's all gone, wear out the clothes and items we already own, make something work that's not quite perfect, or simply do without some perceived need. Our need to live on a life-sustaining planet trumps all other needs.
— Kristen Helen Poppe
