My Mother's Red Canoe Quilt

In honor of my mom and some of her quilts, I am re-posting this one from 2009.

This is the all-time favorite quilt that my my mom ever made.  After she died, I asked my dad if I could l have it.  Eventually he said yes, and after he looked at it, he said, "I understand why you like this one."

It was a "Seams Like Murder" block-of-the-month class taught at the local quilt shop in Antigo, WI.  I think the story was set in Glacier National Park, but I could not find anything to link to it.  She finished it in 2004--ancient history according to the internet.   In the class, students learned all kinds of new techniques for piecing, color theory, applique and the creative quilting stitches. 

First Posted in 2009

At the Quilt Retreat (aka Quilt Camp) last weekend, the Saturday program was a Show-&-Share of "Our Mother's Quilts." My mother, Holly (along with Aunt Rosita), got me into quilting along about 2004, though she and my Gramma Pickles got me into sewing when I was in 1st grade (I made a bright orange sun-dress with matching yellow jacket--I wonder where that piece of history is now?) My mother made this 9-patch quilt and gave it to me for Christmas in 2001 (or so).

9-patch is one of the simplest quilts to make. For many of us, this is the starter quilt to learn the basics of rotary cutting and strip piecing. When I took my first quilting class a few years later, she packed me off with the means to make a 9-patch for the relatives in Japan.

At Ma's house on the guest bed in The Glacier Room is my favorite quilt made by my mom :

It has a red canoe beached on a woodland shore as the large center block. She made it with her Quilting Connection Group as a block-of-the-month mystery quilt several years ago. Each block is different. She also had it professionally quilted (at great expense) by a talented professional quilter in Green Bay. [Sorry, I don't know her name.] It was so worth it for this quilt!

Detail of thread-painting by my mom, along with the professional quilting.

Detail of the wonderful and creative quilting the machine quilter did on this quilt.

A close-up of one of those flowers.

Here is one of the border blocks. Every one is different ... I never get tired of looking at this quilt--and I always find something new that I hadn't seen before. It's a real treasure!

Mesmerized: Winter Mindfulness Glitter Calm Down Jar

Winter Mindfulness Glitter Calm Down Jar

Here's  a short video to show it in action.

Relax and catch your breath.

[You can see a bigger view by clicking on the YouTube icon in the lower right of the screen.]

I've been wanting make one of these sensory meditation bottles for quite a while.  Several years ago, I was experimenting with metallic paint cut with water in a spray bottle.  It was mesmerizing--like northern lights to see it swirl!  I would have kept it back then, but I didn't think it would keep very well.   Now I know that it would have been fine.  I just wish I still had some of that paint -- or remembered what it was!

I've even been saving a Voss-look-alike water bottle for just this occasion.  Too bad it turned out to leak.

I am also conscious of the problem glitter causes in the environment.

Blue with silver and white or black sparkles.  Maybe even some snowflakes, stars and sequins. 

The basic ingredients, according to this teacher's instructions are as follows:

Bottle

1/2-inch of glitter in the bottom of the jar (Choose a variety of fine and chunkier glitters.)

Hot water from the tap

Glycerine

2-3 drops dish soap

You may choose to glue the top shut, but since I'm in a household with no kids, I did not take this step.

Oil Slick Textures

On the dog walk the other day, we found an oil slick down by the boat landing. 

Pretty colors; bad for the environment. 

I didn't have my old iPhone, so I used my husband's fancy-dancy newer iPhone.

I takes pictures with that new photo format .HEIC

My old photo catalog and editing software chokes on that format every time,

so other than changing the file format to .jpg, I was not able to edit these in any way.

These are straight outta-the-camera, for better or worse,

which is an exercise in discipline --

I would have at least liked to rotate them to landscape format and done my usual tweaking.

Couldn't even crop them. - So good practice training the eye to see, and frame things in the camera.

Enjoy!

I guess they do kind of flow together in this progression of photos.

Let it be. It is what it is ...

Day at the Lake Quilt is coming along -Top Third is Done - Turtle and Perch Blocks Done

The top half of the top is done and sewn together.  That is a HUGE milestone!

I finished up the top stitching and thread painting last week.   

Trimmed up the blocks and sewed them together. 

I DO love this quilt, indicative of life in Wisconsin's north woods, where I grew up. 

Even now, I live near a lake -- though big and busy to have loons.

Though-- this spring I did see one.  It must have been migrating farther north.

This week, I finished up the top-stitching on the water lilies and the lily pads in the loon block.

Nothing spectacular or innovative.  I just outlined the edges to make sure they would not fall off later.

With the realization that the top third of the blocks were done and ready to go, I tore off the tear-away stabilizer on the backs, pressed them flat again, trimmed them down and stitched them together!

This is another of those 10+year projects.  Every year, I take it out and make a little more progress.  And then I get tired of looking at it -- in part because it doesn't seem like I'm getting anywhere with it. 

Now I might even have the momentum to work on the bottom half -- the underwater part.

The Turtle Block

Next up, I did the top stitching on the turtle block.  Again, nothing particularly innovative, just outlined the applique pieces so they would not fall off later. 

Here's a detail shot of the turtle block.

And one with the thread choices.

It occurs to me now that a fancy stitch might work well on the perimeter of the turtle shell.

Perhaps another go at it today to add more embellishments?

It was kind of a nice warm-up for the next block ...

Lake Bottom Perch Fish Block

Here's a detail shot of the Perch Fish on the lake bottom.

I really had no idea what I wanted to do going into it.

As I said, the turtle block above was a nice warm-up for something more creative with this fish. 

I started by outlining the edges, more of a utility to hold everything down.

Then I did the eye -- coloring in with thread until it was solid thread.

After that, I decided to use one of the fancy stitches on my machine to highlight the scales on the body of the fish. 

BACK OF FISH

Here is the stitching on the back of the perch fish block. 

I found a stitch on my machine that looked like fish scales.  

THis also gives a better idea of how much additional stitching happens on a focus piece like this fish.

It's really kind of like drawing or painting or coloring with a sewing machine.

Detail spines on fish

I had to consult a photograph to get the spines on the fins right.  I used a washable (brown or green) marker to give myself a road map for the stitching.  The brown should wash out -- but then again, I kind of like what it adds to it.  

Here are all the threads I used on the Perch Fish Block, including for the lake grasses.

Now I can put them away and tidy up the space in me sewing studio. ;-)

Finally, here is a detail shot of a piece of log submerged in the rocks and silt at the bottom of the lake bed.  I used some of my fancy stitches to hold down the edges and provide some texture.

I still have more reeds and lily pad stems to add--which may be easier when the blocks are sewn together to provide some continuity between blocks.

I am happy with the progress on this one today. 

It actually makes me feel like the end is in sight and this will go from a long-time WIP to done!

For reference, the pattern is by Bee Creative Quilts.

I bought the kit from a quilt shop in Houston shortly after a hurricane in 2005.

Other posts about this quilt:

Progress on the Loon Lake Quilt (Iris and Loon Blocks - 2017)

Threadpainting at Lake Lucerne Quilt Camp (Orange Fish Block, Landscape Blocks 2016)

Progress on the Loon Lake Quilt (applique 2016)

Resurrection of Day at the Quilt   (2016)

Let There Be Scraps ... in Colors You Love

Starting a new scrap quilt with leftovers from a few previous quilts (Aidin's and My Mom & Dad's 50th Anniversary Quilt)  in the color palettes I so adore: Blues and purples.

I took 2-1/2-inch strips and sewed them together, then sub-cut them into 2-1/2 inch blocks.
To then be flipped and sewn to make the 4-patches.

I found the basic pattern is "Blue Lagoon" from the book Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Micky Lintott.

You can also purchase the Blue Lagoon pattern by itself from The Quilt Room in the UK as a digital download.

Though -- To be honest, I started this without the published pattern and made some educated guesses as to what I'd need as far as 40 strips paired light/medium to dark with equivalent sashing and cornerstones.  It's not rocket science.

The question now:  Do I make a set multiple blocks the same, or do I mix them up to make it look even scrappier?  I made up a few mixed 4-patches, but then decided to be consistent, and just go with the flipped 4-patch with just 2 colors / fabrics.

This is the kind of thing that would be perfect for Quilt Camp.  Simple sewing, but easy enough to have a conversation with the ladies around you.  And they can weigh in on the creative questions that come up with placement.

Here are some of the sub-cut strips sets ready to be 4-patched.

At present, I am at my parents house helping with end-of-life care for my mom.  I've been spending some time in her very well-equipped sewing room in the evenings while Dad watches / sleeps through his CSI-type tv shows.  We are tag-teaming the care giving.  He can sit with my mom (who is actively dying) for those hours, and I can be off-duty for a little while.  It gives me a break and a chance to recharge.  I get to listen to Goo Goo Dolls, then, too.  At home, I don't usually sew in the evenings after work because I'm tired and I usually end up making some kind of dopey mistake if I sew in the evenings. 

Sashing Blocks
Looking forward to seeing how this one develops.  I have  white-ish fabric for the sashing between blocks.

The next step is to lay everything out on the design wall.  That is one thing my mom does not have, so I'll have to wait until I get back home for the next step.  The work continues ... 

2 Blues: Dyeing Polyester with Rit DyeMore

 2 Blues: Dyeing Polyester with RitMore Dye

 

For whatever reason, my mom (may she rest in peace) purchased this 4-yard bundle of polyester fabric.  (Only $4 at Walmart--That's what happens when the only quilt shop in town closes.)  I'm not sure what she had planned for it as it's definitely not good for quilting.   Maybe she was going to make some pandemic masks?   I'm not sure ...    It feels like t-shirt material--soft and comfortable, so I thought I could dye it and cut it into strips for making rugs.   Hence this post.

I usually dye natural fibers like cotton or wool which use a different set of dyes (Procion or food coloring).  But those won't work on synthetic fabrics.    So I purchased 2 blues in Rit DyeMore, specifically made for synthetic fibers.  They offer instructions on their website. 

First scour the fabric in hot water and soap to wash out any finishes or oils from the manufacturing process.  This will allow it to accept the dye easier.

When it dried, I cut it into 2   2-yard pieces with the idea of dying a mottled piece.  Some of the websites I consulted said you couldn't tie dye polyester, but I was hoping to get some texture at least.

You have to use the stove top method with Rit DyeMore to keep an even dose of heat during the process.

Heat up a pot of water to near boiling.  Add a teaspoon of dish detergent, as this helps the fabric take up the dye.  Add the dye.  FOr dark colors, use twice as much.  I used the entire bottle for each pot.  Then add the fabric.  Let them simmer for up to an hour, then rinse.  

Because I didn't care about an even distribution of color, I did not bother to stir the pot as recommended.  I was hoping for some texture and interest as that would carry through to the resulting rug.

  
This is what they looked like when it was time to rinse.  Still hot.  The sky blue is lovely.  The saphire blue is very dark -- which surprised me -- One wesite said it was not possible to dye polyester a deep color.  It will always come out as a pastel ...

 2 Blues Dyed on Polyester

The sky blue in the picture is washed out, but in real life, it is a nice sky blue.

Well-- They did fade quite a bit, but you can see I did get some texture by not adequately stirring the pot.  Not tie dye, but some variation.

Now to sew them back together and cut them into strips for making a rug that will be soft on the toes. Maybe for the shower / bathtub.

Here's what I have in mind for weaving with a light and dark side:

 For this style, I think I need to have each color wound on it's own ski shuttle, then have them meet in the middle.

This may be more likely what I'll get -- Picture it in pastel.

The first step is to run a suitable warp!

DIY Dandelion Salve

Dandelion Salve

Instead of being annoyed by the dandelions in the yard this year, I decided I would pick them to make a dandelion salve for a healing balm.  Funny how they completely transform into cheery little yellow flowers when you find a use for them!  Thank you, Dandelions!

As I was picking them, I was reminded of a conversation with Christian's cousin in France, Delphine.  She's a physician, so she has a healthy respect for healing herbs and medicinals.  We were walking through a farm field  / pasture in the French countryside talking about the healing properties of dandelions, or "pee-pee-o-lis" (pee-the-bed flower as it's known in France) for it's diuretic properties.  [Sigh!  We were planning a trip to France to see the family later this year, but the Pandemic threw a wrench into that plan.]

I used this Dandelion Salve recipe from Grow - Forage - Cook - Ferment.      It starts by picking the yellow dandelion heads, and letting them wilt for a day.  I laid mine out on a screen in the porch.

Then you put them in a jar, and cover them with oil (I used a mix of Olive Oil and Safflower Oil, because that's what I had on hand).  They sit for a week (or so) to let the medicinal properties infuse into the oil.   Then you strain out the solids, and use the infused oil as one of the main ingredients.

1 cup Dandelion Infused Oil
2 Tsp. beeswax
2 Tsp Coconut Oil (I don't really like shea butter or the smell of it, so I substituted coconut oil)

I did not add any essential oils, though I love the idea of sweet orange oil. ;-)

You simply heat the oils until they are melted together, then pour into your final pots, or jars. 
I used a shorty Mason jar with a re-used Penzy's spice jar for the overflow. 

Now I have some dandelion salve!

What is it good for?
Grow-Forage-Cook-Ferment says, "Dandelion flowers have pain relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, so this salve is good for all kinds of aches and pains.  [This may be dependent on the essential oils you add].  It is particularly good for sore and tired muscles and joints...  [It] is also soothing and moisturizing for dry, cracked, and itchy skin. It would also work well as a lip balm for chapped lips."