Hopeful Homemaker

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.

I read recently that seeing or smelling flowers triggers the release of dopamine in our brains.  It’s no surprise that there’s a scientific explanation for why we like them so much, but it’s also fun to know that they literally make us feel happier.  Can you imagine a world without flowers?  Even imagined, or artistically rendered flowers?  I can’t.  I’m endlessly interested in them, stopping on my walks to smell, or photograph, or simply observe them.  Sometimes they alone can say what I feel.  On Monday morning we took our girls on an outing to… see flowers.  That’s it.  The flowers were reason enough.  Of course, the overcast sky, cool air, mountain scenery, as we walked didn’t hurt anything.  But still, flowers!  As I said, they’re reason enough.  So I guess it’s not surprising that flower applique and flowers together make me a little giddy.

I told you about my Marian’s flower applique block, and today’s flower applique features another version.  This one with a dark navy blue background made up of itty bitty… flowers.  I love the way the greens and dark pinks pop against the dark background.  I also demonstrated a little bit of broderie perse applique on this block when I added the bird and the butterfly.

These particular flowers were a gift from my daughter, who showed up at the house recently with a mason jar full of blooms she had arranged for me.  Such a thoughtful thing to do, and it made me smile every time I looked at them.  Since my daughter’s wedding last fall, I have increasingly found myself giving flowers as gifts.  I guess they’ve become  part of my love language.  Just like quilting.  Flower applique and flowers – it’s a great combination.

In writing this, I’ve successfully motivated myself to head outside and work in my flowerbeds.  We’ve made good progress this year, but there are years of neglect to overcome in some spots.  I want to plant flowers everywhere, so I’d best get to work!  And then tonight:  applique.  At least, I hope so!