A new year, a new calendar, some people say a new decade. One thing I am sure of. For me, here, it is a new day. I wish all of you a Happy New Year, full of hope and possibilities and magic. I have long made resolutions and kept many of them in my quest to grow and learn. Finish up projects that have been in limbo. Start new projects! Have more fun! Ainsley says to treat ourselves like little kids, have a snack, a warm drink, a snuggle and a rest. Be kind. Smile more. Don't take myself so seriously. Sew more! Eat the good chocolate!
I am finishing up a Hanukkah Star quilt, a little belated but still apropos. It is from a pattern I found in QNM, 12/2000, called Rachel's Star. It is a 29" x 33" table quilt, made with paper pieced diamond log cabin blocks and triangles. Luminous, timeless, classic. I started this little quilt as a thank you gift for a cousin who has helped me with family history for a book I am writing. She, however, is at the age where she does not want any more belongings. So, I sent her a photo and regifted it to my son-in-law. He and some other members of my family and friends are Jewish.
I used Indigo Shibori fabrics designed by Debbie Maddy for Moda. I also used some muslin dyed with onion skins for a curry yellow tone. The yellow diamond centers symbolize the candle lights of Hanukkah. The border was serendipity, as it has snowflakes which are six pointed like the star. Some of the shibori print has six pointed stars as well. Pure grace. For the back of the quilt I chose a fabulous red and chartreuse bird print by Kaffe Fassett.
During Hanukkah this past week, I attended a dinner party with friends and family and found this lovely version of the same pattern:
Historically the symbol became representative of the worldwide Zionist community, and later the broader Jewish community, after it was chosen to represent the First Zionist Congress in Israel in 1897. The Star of David was yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe invested the Star of David with a symbolism indicating martyrdom and heroism.
I have a new granddaughter, Freya Jane Elisheva Donald. She was born two weeks ago, mellow amidst the drama of an emergency cesarean, wide eyed and instantly connected to her parents by their voices and their fierce love for her. She was named after a Norwegian goddess who drove a chariot pulled by two cats. What an image!
Her first few days were spent in the NICU, which was stressful for everyone, but especially her mama. Freya had aspirated meconium and that collapsed both of her lungs. So she had a chest tube and was put on a ventilator to assist with breathing. She was able to breathe on her own in less than a day. Progress was quick and she was allowed to nurse after the second day. Happy mama and baby.
Freya didn't appreciate the hospital schedule, or the expert advice of specialists who questioned mama's intuition and worked valiantly to impose structure onto a baby who only wanted to be held and nursed. As soon as she was taken home and the pair were free to do as they wanted, she settled into her blissful life of nursing and gazing at the nipple mandala emanating from her mama's love.
The parents of this adorable little rosebud wanted to give some kind of thank you to the NICU that helped their baby overcome her tough start. My daughter, being sleep deprived and dealing with her own challenge of a hospital acquired wound infection, treated first with the wrong antibiotic, then suffering an abscess and it's sequelae, wasn't up to her usual creative outpouring, so I offered to provide a little quilt to thank the NICU staff.
I chose this quilt for several reasons. First, the mama with her kittens for a special NICU that cares for so many littles. Second, to give a nod to Freya's story of the chariot and the cats. Third, for some cheerful decor to brighten a place with lots of scary feels. I noticed a number of toddler siblings who could use images that might make them smile. And Fourth, it was completed and ready to deliver. A great reason to keep some extra small quilts on hand.
I wrote my annual New Year's Resolutions which included "to NOT start any new projects." Those of you who are creative types will get that one, the fun, the joy of leaning in for the first kiss of a new project. Finishing just isn't the climax we dream of. It is usually more like a sigh of exhaustion. There, the baby fell asleep after crying all frickin' afternoon and evening.
So, completing my UFOs has been more of shushing the fussy babe, mixed in with "WTF was I thinking when I started this? " As I worked through the projects, I noticed an inner shift. Looking procrastination right in the eyes and winning a staring contest. Small quilt projects only take a day or two to sew, quilt and bind. Even when they need remedial design help they don't take too long.
Here are some lovelies that had been collecting trolls (as they say in Norway, translation: collecting dust.)
Little Butterflies
quilting detail, batik cording inner border
Scrappy Trip Around the World
I like the curry colored inner border. It brings out the other colors.
Backing of the trip; Japan prints, Kitty-San and Butterflies of Kobe by Alexander Henry, and Kaffe chrysanthemums
Lots of straight line quilting was perfect for this modern baby quilt.
The backing flannel is just right, as is the striped bias binding from my sister Pam, and my little tag with a thimble.
"Nacho Pussy" quilt.
It is hard to stay out of the spitting contest on social media when it comes to politics. Such extremes are a phenomenon. The day after the Inauguration, there was a huge protest march that took place on all 7 continents. Estimates gauge the attendance at over 5 Million. The common attire was "pink pussy" hats, to protest the president's comment about his ability to grab pussies. Since I had my own personal tiff with Mr. Thimblepie about the march here at home, I decided in time honored quilter's style, to put my political opinion on a quilt. The result is "Nacho Pussy." What flavor is my pussy? Nacho. It's Nacho Pussy.
5 yr old UFO remade into Cobblestones, with elephant flannel back. Kaffe stripes.
I took myself on an artist's date to McCall to see the snow sculptures and to buy some new fabric. It was a lovely sunny winter day.The sculptures were pristine, and huge snow berms were everywhere. I stopped at Huckleberry Patches to pick up a flannel charm pack I'd won in a drawing and to buy 5 different yards of solids for new, modern projects and to sparkle up my UFOs.
It looks like my resolution is to lean in for more kisses rather than shush the baby.
The original muses were 9 Greek goddesses to whom poets and artists prayed for creative inspiration. To be a modern muse, one doesn't need to be a beautiful deity, but must inspire uninhibited, original creative work. My inspiration comes from joking around, silly stories, crazy prompts, oxymorons, other people's weird ideas, the worse the better.
I'll take an idea, pull fabrics to express the feeling, audition neutrals to create dimension. Then I'll look for patterns. The internet is a wonderful cornucopia of free patterns, I also have a few quilt books for ideas. And then there is my fabric collection, my stash of possibilities.
This project started as a question in my etsy shop last summer. Could I make a Christmas Tree skirt with photos? Not my idea of the best tree skirt, but, yes, I can do that. I didn't hear back from the client for several months. Then, in September I received an email with 7 stunning professional photos of a beautiful, Land's End type family. She wanted a style of classic modern country Christmas. No Santas, angels ok. My muse had arrived.
I found a pattern on a blog I like called Quilt Inspiration. They offer 30 different quilted tree skirt patterns. I found one with 7 stars on point, perfect for my 7 photos. It was designed by Margrit Hall for RJR Fabrics. Slightly larger than the traditional 48 inch tree skirt, this one comes out at 54 inches across.
In early October I attended a Kaffe Fassett lecture on color inspiration. With his ideas fresh in my mind, I chose one of his prints with red and orange flowers, and small turquoise and forest green jelly beans. The orange gives the quilt some nice zest. The rest of the fabric is Moda.
I didn't bother with fastening ties for the skirt opening. I doubt the skirt will fall away from the tree.
Tree skirts make elegant table toppers. Therefore, you can never have too many tree skirts.
The client was happy. Here's her review on my shop: Absolutely gorgeous! I ordered this tree skirt for my parents as a Christmas gift with family photos as a memento for Christmas over many years to come. It is truly beautiful and Jane combined her skill and eye for patterns into a great piece of art that I am so excited to give to my parents. They are going to love it.
I used Indigo Shibori fabrics designed by Debbie Maddy for Moda. I also used some muslin dyed with onion skins for a curry yellow tone. The yellow diamond centers symbolize the candle lights of Hanukkah. The border was serendipity, as it has snowflakes which are six pointed like the star. Some of the shibori print has six pointed stars as well. Pure grace. For the back of the quilt I chose a fabulous red and chartreuse bird print by Kaffe Fassett.
During Hanukkah this past week, I attended a dinner party with friends and family and found this lovely version of the same pattern:
Historically the symbol became representative of the worldwide Zionist community, and later the broader Jewish community, after it was chosen to represent the First Zionist Congress in Israel in 1897. The Star of David was yellow badge that Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe invested the Star of David with a symbolism indicating martyrdom and heroism.
