Five years ago this week, Hurricane Irene caused damage up and down the East Coast.

Among the hard hit communities was Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts — where one building was washed away. That building was a quilt shop. At the time, owner Ann Brauer was out of state for a craft show, where she saw a video clip online of her building floating down the river.

Brauer said that even after five years, it’s too painful to re-watch the footage of her building floating away, but Irene did inspire her quilting, artistically.

“I’ve developed a new variation where I’m exploring waves and circles,” Brauer said Monday. “It’s much more organic.”

Three years after Irene, Brauer moved into her new building. It was built in the same location, but elevated “significantly” to withstand something she hopes won’t happen again.