Category: Quilting and Sewing

For years I’ve wanted to play with my Anthem quilt pattern and make a “mini” or smaller block with it.  Now that it’s summer, and July, I pulled out some solids and started playing.  I’d forgotten how quickly these blocks come together, and before I knew it, I had a new idea and several stars to play with.  My mini Anthem block got me thinking about how many patriotic quilts have been made across generations in many countries.  It’s a theme that’s constantly being explored, and yet I’m happy to jump in.  I love these colors and this theme!  A little Independence Day sewing!

I decided on a light blue background, and there are actually two shades of blue in there.  It’s a nod to my Peppermint quilt version, but the blues don’t have quite enough contrast with one another.  It’s very subtle.  And yet, I really like the light blue background instead of a white one.  It makes the white stand out more.  I do think you can see the two blues and their secondary design a little more in the photo below.

To my surprise, I found sewing the narrow strips of red, white, and blue very satisfying.  In fact, I loved it!  Sometimes it feels really good to do something small AND accurate.  I’m smiling as I type because I enjoyed it so much.  I decided to make a large block by sewing four of them together and framing it with more stripes.  Something tells me I’ll be doing more of that.

We had our annual 4th of July breakfast this morning, complete with a flag ceremony and Independence Day trivia.  As a family we talked about the difference between the principles set forth in our founding documents, and the way our government currently functions.  It’s tricky.  It’s also easy to feel disillusioned or cynical about our nation.  But we talked about separating the pure principles of the Declaration and Constitution from the imperfect ways that historical figures and politicians administer in their offices.

I’m grateful for this holiday, a great day to remember and honor our foundation.  I find my heart in harmony with the words of Phineas Richards, who said, “as we have inherited the spirit of liberty and the fire of patriotism from our fathers, so let them descend [unchanged] to our posterity”.  I have inherited great love for the founding principles of our country.

We’re off to barbeque, watch fireworks, and listen to patriotic music.  But you’d better believe I’ll be back in my sewing room making more of these mini Anthem blocks tomorrow!  Happy Independence Day!

American Revolutionary history is a favorite of mine.  I love the lessons I learn from history, love thinking about how it actually didn’t have to go the way it did.  Reading about the lives and decisions of people who were just trying to do the right thing in the moment really inspires me.  I think the American revolutionary war, it’s events and those who played a role, is my #1 favorite subject.  I’m sure I’ve written here before that the 4th of July is also my favorite holiday.  So what does an orange peel applique quilt have to do with all that?

Well, let me share!  First of all, I finished my orange peel applique quilt!  I shared here how long it took me to hand stitch all the blocks.  In fact, I really enjoyed re-reading that post, as I needed a reminder to just keep “stitching” in life.  Second, my quilt is a tribute to Gilbert de Mortier, better known as the Marquis de Lafayette. Legend credits him as the inspiration for the orange peel quilt block.  And the Marquis de Lafayette was an important contributor to the American Revolution.

The legend states that Lafayette was invited to a banquet celebrating the colonists’ victory in the revolutionary war.  After the dinner, the guests were offered fruit.  Lafayette selected an orange, and it is said that he sliced it into four quarters before peeling it.  Afterwards, a female guest picked up his discarded orange peel segments and used them as the inspiration for her next quilt.  Of course, I have no idea if this is true, but it’s a popular legend and it makes me smile.  I love stories like that.  Perhaps I should name this quilt “Lafayette’s Oranges”!

I chose edge to edge quilting in a “feathers forever” design. Melissa at Sew Shabby Quilting, quilted it for me.  It’s got an 80/20 batting in it, and because of all the applique, it’s a heavier quilt.  Although I’m calling it a summer finish, I think my children will particularly love it in the fall and winter.

I used only two fabrics in the quilt top, and both are dark in value.  Not like me.  But I still love them together.  I added a bright pick piece to the backing from Heather Bailey.  I wish I had lots more of this fabric!  It’s fun to have something unexpected in this quilt.  I found some leftover yardage of the solid, and used it for the binding.

Look above the quilt – we have so many cherries this year!  I feel like there are more cherries than leaves.  Right now they’re a bright red – they will ripen to a much deeper color.  We’re excited to eat them!

One definition of “prosper” is to grow or increase; to thrive.  I find much to ponder in that.  In what ways am I growing or increasing?  What does thriving look like at this point in my life?  How can I best help others to truly prosper in more ways than just materially?  I’m curious:  what comes to your mind when you read that definition, those questions?  I pondered these things while I sewed my blocks together to finish another Prosper quilt top.

I shared the quilt blocks individually here and here last summer.  As stated there, my background color is called nocturnal, and it’s an Art Gallery Pure Solids color.  I also used it in my Show Up quilt top, which is the 48″ version of my Serve quilt.  Honestly, I think it’s making an appearance of some kind in most of what I’m sewing lately.  I really love the deep, deep blue.

This 9 block version is a fun lap size, approximately 67″ square.  It will be fun to finish.  Looking at it, I can’t help but feel like each block represents one of the last 9 years.  Darkness framing luscious blooms.  It’s awfully symbolic.

As for the growing I referenced earlier, I have been thinking about how we’re always changing and growing, but who we actually grow to be will surprise all of us in some ways.  Certainly there are things I will always like, and tendencies I’ll likely always have.  But isn’t it interesting to think back to who you were ten years ago – what has changed?  My journey of growth and increase over the last 10 years was a path I did NOT want, but today I’m so grateful for all I’ve learned.  Do I want to live it again?  Nope.  But I am deeply thankful to know what I know.  I know things today that I couldn’t have known without that journey.

 

I guess I learned to thrive on this journey.  Now I feel like another journey is needed, and in some ways perhaps I get to choose it more intentionally than I did the last.  I have a vision for the growth I want; the Future Self I want to be.  But who knows?  While I hope I recognize her, I’m sure I’ll be surprised.  I hope they are good surprises,  and that she is truly prosperous.

Who knows?  Maybe then I’ll make another Prosper quilt top in celebration.