Hopeful Homemaker

It’s no secret that I enjoy applique .  I have a long list of patterns to make, all using applique.  But lately I’ve wanted to make more of my own shapes and try an improv, free-form style of sewing with applique.  I guess this little sand dollar applique block is my first effort.  In all our years of wandering on the beach, my kids and I have become really good at spotting sand dollars.  We’ve found them as small as 1/4 inch in diameter, and as large as a few inches across.  They’re the ultimate treasure.

It feels appropriate to have a sand dollar block somewhere in a quilt.  So I cut some fabric and decided to try my hand at this little shape.  I ended up making two sizes.  I’ll likely play with my idea some more before deciding what to do with it, but this was a lot of fun.

It was also fun to tape them to random little spots for photos.

Here’s the thing:  I want to sew my story into my quilts.  I want them to tell the story of our lives, of my family, of my heart.  This feeling has been a guiding principle for a while now in my quilting, and it just keeps growing.  So this cute little sand dollar applique block is a little piece of that story.  And I can’t sew fast enough.  I’m sure I’ll never run out of things I want to say in my quilts.

I am deeply grateful for this form of self-expression.  It’s art I can wrap around my loved ones, and a way of saying things I don’t always have words for.  Creativity is such an essential part of life.  I am happier, more confident, more content when creating has space in my daily life.  Even if it’s stitching a little sand dollar in fabric.

Happy sewing!

Jennifer

Last week I shared my finished seashell banner , and today I have another, smaller version.  This mini seashell banner was a gift for my mom.  She loves that stretch of beach as much, or more than, any of us.  I decided to see how a much smaller collection of shells might look on a tiny linen banner, and I like it.

I selected shells with more variety for hers, including some rich browns and dark blues.  The long skinny one at the top is my favorite.  I loved finding that shell with it’s tiny hole.  Yet my favorite part of this project was sharing pieces of the beach with my mom.  I’ve felt this compelling wish to somehow preserve all of it, the memories, the treasures, the feelings.  And then to share it with my extended family so we can’t forget.  I guess that’s one reason why my favorite word is “remember.”

Making this mini seashell banner also made me want to make one for each of my kids, but several of them have started their own collection of shells with holes.  Maybe I should give them a blank banner for their own arrangement?  I suppose it would be a great craft for kids to make!  Maybe I’ll plan an afternoon activity for making mini seashell banners.  I’ve also wondered what a teeny tiny version of this might look like.  Or perhaps I should think of an entirely new thing to do with my remaining shells with holes.

As I’ve mentioned before, I love the yummy combination of the shells and the linen.  The soft, cool fabric is a perfect backdrop for these little treasures.  It makes me think I should use more linen in my quilts, too.

Anyway, this cute little mini seashell banner has got me smiling.  Summer is flying by, and I’m determined to gather more treasures in the form of memories before it’s over.  I hope you’re doing the same!

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is the first day of July.  The year is half over, but feels like it just began.  In anticipation of the 4th of July weekend, I’m here today with photos of A Prayer for my Country, a finished quilt.  I love this piece.  It will have a permanent place in my home.


It all began with scraps, castoffs from other projects, and then it grew into something more as I grappled with all the opposite feelings I feel about the state of my country.  So much has happened since, and while some concerns have changed shape, it’s interesting that many have not.  In other words, I’m still praying.

In the middle of the quilt is a very abstract, broken flag.

Melissa custom quilted this one for me, and one of my favorite parts is the tiny star in the blue square below.  So perfect.

That broken flag is surrounded by a more recognizable flag, all made from scraps as well.  This means several different shades of white, and a  few prints found their way in.  I love the wavy quilting in the white stripes, too.

I foundation paper pieced all the stars, and these photos tempt me to start a quilt of just stars.  That thought means I don’t accurately remember how much time it takes to pull off all the little paper pieces afterwards.  (It takes forever!  It’s my least favorite part of paper piecing!)  Still, they’re pretty.  I opted for a binding with two different blues, one to reference each version of the flag, a little red, and a red/white stripe in opposite corners.  I really enjoyed stitching the binding on.

And now for the back!  I added a red stripe at the bottom because the blue floral piece wasn’t large enough on it’s own.  Thankfully, I pieced together enough scraps to add the hanging sleeve.

There’s something special about this floral, though.  Can you see it?

It’s very faded, but this piece is an original feed sack.  It’s stamped “Gooch Feed Mill Company, Lincoln Nebraska”  I did a little research , and sure enough, it was established by Herbert Elmer Gooch in 1908. It feels appropriate for this quilt, a bit of history mixed in with everything else.

Like my seashell banner , A Prayer for my Country is about the broken and beautiful nation I call home.  It’s about our undoing and our making.  I made this quilt with a heart full of sadness and hope.  I believe in a better future as we work together to improve.  We have a marvelous opportunity sitting in our laps, and I hope we use it well.

It needs a label, and I’m working on that.  Still, I finished it, and it’s up in time to celebrate.