Beauty creates health

Is it art? or is it craft? or...is it BEAUTIFUL? The art quilt organization of which I am a member (Studio Art Quilt Association http://www.saqa.com/) has just been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Congratulations to all who worked on making this happen. This is a step for textile work to be recognized as art.
Ok, what about all those women through the centuries spinning, weaving, sewing for the home? Is it art? Why not? What is this urge we have to fill our environment with beauty? Many of the traditional Amish designs look quite modern. Some quilters like traditional patterns and make quilts to be used on a bed. Some of us improvise with those patterns. At the top of the page is a quilt I made as a wedding present for a designer friend. Who says you can't have red in the bedroom? Having colour and beauty in the environment is the antidote to all the ugliness we encounter in life. Beauty uplifts the spirit. Our bodies and minds are affected by it all. I am sure the very cells of our bodies resonate with harmony of form and colour. Beauty creates health!
These are Roman shades I made for our bedroom. I love the way the light comes through the fabric making it look like stained glass. Brings me a smile each day.