Happy Birthday America!

Like many, we have holiday traditions.  With the 4^th of July fast approaching, I pulled out the bin filled with all the stars and stripe decorations…….’antiqued’ flags, framed needle-punched flag, RWB quilts and pottery, staircase banners, and last but never least……HBO’s 2008 award winning miniseries ADAMS, with its all-star cast featuring Paul Giamatti as John Adams. HBO did a fantastic job, as does Giamatti portrayal of John Adams and Laura Linney as Abigail Adams.  This is a well crafted historical look at events leading up to the Declaration of Independence and the political challenges and personal struggles and sacrifices of our founding fathers. It’s a wonderful look at the diversity of deep opinions within the original 13 colonies as they debated how to proceed, working together to reach consensus. Congressmen and Senators in Washington today could benefit from watching this today.

I like to reflect on those times.  I feel I should.  Each year we re-watch ADAMS  leading up to July 4th......like watching CHRISTMAS VACATION in December.  One of my favorite parts is the relationship between once fellow patriots and adversaries John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (I've always had a crush on TJ) that grew into a respected friendship in their later years.  They corresponded via mail in their later years.  They died within five hours of each other on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. On that day they were the last surviving members of the original framers of our new democracy.…..believing in the principals of LIFE, LIBERTY, and THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

We will celebrate the 4^th with our neighbors, alongside friends and other neighbors gathering on their lawn to watch late evening fireworks display.  Tom takes great enjoyment in putting his pyrotechnic masterpiece together.  The kids will enjoy sparklers preceding the big event…..the dogs will not be so thrilled about any of it.  With all neighbors attending, there won’t be a noise complaint involving the police.

Years ago my quilt group did a quilt challenge….what does freedom mean to me?  We created a wonderful variety of quilts, all expressing our USA pride in one way or another.  I researched quotes that held special meaning to me, and carefully hand wrote them in antique brown ink on tea stained fabric, incorporating them into my design.  A snippet of the quilt is below……

Late July all things Red White and Blue will go back into the bin, tucked away until next year.  Until then……God Bless America……….

“My God!  How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!”     Thomas Jefferson

A rose by any other name............

Every year about this time I anxiously await my flower garden to present a lovely antique variety rose.  Usually only three, in a good year maybe four flowers.  You see, I’m horticulturally-challenged.  Plants come here to die, usually a slow agonizing death.  I have an awful time keeping silk plants alive.  It’s a known miracle if anything resembling green growth lives when I’m involved. 

For some unknown reason earlier this year I decided to grow herbs.  I bought three established plants, and planted basil from seed. All four are hanging on, and I even had to cut the oregano, rosemary and thyme back a bit.  The basil is growing slowly. We’ll see in a few months if they are begging for a new caretaker.  Each spring I pick out geraniums and a hanging fuchsia plant at the local nursery, and the clerk loads them in my car, says goodbye and gives them last rites.  She knows me.

Some people are genuinely gifted in the planting and growing area.  I admire these people.  They instinctively know how to get the right soil, exactly when and what fertilizers to use, and what growing zone they live in.  It’s like they came out of the womb knowing all this.  Not me. But…. allowing myself some credit, conversely, I instinctively know how to create a composition, how to get the light just right and how to paint their plants.  Or give me a quilt concept and I can design it for you. Voila….it’s done!  So while some people are out tending their garden, I am probably in my studio painting, drawing or sewing it.  We each have our gifts!!

But today was my day……the roses (bumper crop of four this year) bloomed.  I love snapping pics to savor later, inspecting to see what creatures may have stopped in to take a closer look themselves.  They looked lovely in the late afternoon sun.

Awhile back I found a tutorial to create stems of fabric roses. I thought I’d capture the excitement of my roses in fabric.  Picking a proper stick from the woods outback for the stem and just the right pink from my stash (having very little pink made the decision easy) I cut a five inch strip, pressed it in half, sewed a gathering line down the middle, refolded, then cut scallops for the pedals and stitched them into place.  Carefully gathering the center thread, then I wrap the tail around the stick end to form a bud, gluing it in place.  I continued gluing the gathered edge around the bottom of the bud until the rose was formed.  I added a small circle of green at the base to finish it off, like mother-nature.  Not bad for my first attempt.  And hopefully this will stay ‘alive’ long after the pink has turned brown and pedals have dropped from my ‘real’ roses. 

Until next year……….

What to do with a quart of heavy cream???

There’s nothing like 6 days and 5 nights with two very active teenagers to find yourself doing lots of things you normally wouldn’t do.   This past Christmas we gave our young neighbors a ‘child care’ certificate redeemable at the time of their choosing so they could get away for a short trip.  They live in Chicago, so we only get to see them on occasional weekends.  Mom and dad waited until school was out, then jetted off to NYC to celebrate their anniversary.  Since their families live in Eastern Europe, this was a much needed, long overdue respite.  For them at least.  For us, it was a fun, fast paced, dare I say exhausting reminder of how old we really are, or at least how old we really feel. 

Naturally we had similar schedules and demands while raising our family…..but that was a life time ago, when we were a lot younger and recovered faster.  I can’t remember a time in the past decade that I ran the dishwasher more, cooked more, or did more laundry.....in between playing.  Don't misunderstand... both were very respectful and helpful with chores, making their beds daily, clearing plates from the table after each meal and helping with a myriad of things that needed attention, including……

Did I mention this deal included a sweet 7 pound Yorkie named Buddy?  His only detriment was the ease and consistency at which he could disappear behind a small shrub throwing all of us into panic.  During one of our afternoon fishing times, Buddy skipped freely back and forth around the pond, enticed by the fish to wade deep beyond the algae ringed edge.  Suddenly he selected the most inopportune place to hurl himself into the water becoming tangled with a fishing pole line and lures with hooks almost his size.  He’s fine, but to my regret, the kids stood paralyzed as they heard me swear (sh_ _) for the very first time ever, out of complete fear that Buddy was hurt and would need to see a Vet if I could not free him from the mess he’d gotten himself into.  I apologized to both immediately once we removed hair by hair from the hook, and the danger had passed, explaining my bad behavior as simply lack of control.  In the end, Buddy found himself in a warm shampoo and bath followed by a cocoon wrap, cool blow drying and lots of brushing, pampering and baby talk.  He lapped it up. Perhaps he hurled himself in on purpose??

So we spent our time fishing, archery matches, badminton, and some new game that resembles Frisbee golf.  Saturday morning we girls went to my quilt group. They went to garage sales. They taught us to play poker.  Yes, you read right.  We went to church Sunday.  We went high tech bowling (which to us means auto scoring rather than a pencil and blank score card).  I looked hysterical bowling with a cane.  You won’t see those pictures! We showed them the grand Silver Lake Dunes via Mac Woods dune buggy rides. They walked 130 steps up Little Sable Point Lighthouse in order to get a sticker that said they walked 130 steps, then a quick stop at Country Dairy, the best little dairy in Michigan to pick up the best ice cream in Michigan. We emptied the dishwasher 7 times, prepared 18 meals plus snacks, baked birthday cake for Gary, and collapsed into bed around 10:30 each night, us exhausted, them ready for round three or four. 

As make-shift grandparents, we took our responsibilities seriously.  Aside from my momentary verbal swearing, we shared lots of life lessons and wisdom.  I’m not exactly sure how, but at some point we discussed heavy cream, then whipping cream, and finally butter.   Perhaps this came from our trip to Country Dairy.  In this high tech digital age most kids barely know where their food comes from, let alone steps to the store shelf and finally their home.  These kids know alot about food sources, but Sunday after church provided a perfect opportunity for a new lesson.  We were making brunch.  The kids asked if they could have whipped cream on their waffles.  Of course!  I grabbed a quart of organic heavy whipping cream from the frig and hauled out the Kitchenaid stand mixer.  We whipped the liquid until soft peaks formed, then carefully scooped a sizeable bowl for waffles, adding a touch of vanilla. We returned the remaining whipped cream and bowl and continued whipping.  This is the point you need to watch very closely, as it becomes thicker and slightly yellowish.  Watery like milk begins to splatter so we cover the mixer with a towel.  Voila!  Before you know it the butter solids have separated from the liquid whey, and you have amazing butter.  Next we added a dash of salt, then scrapped the thickened mixture into toweling, gently squeezing the remaining liquid forming a soft ball of fresh butter……handcrafted, fresh, whole organic butter, with no scary ingredients that you can’t pronounce.  I explained the only difference between our butter and our colonial ancestors was a wooden churn, a paddle, an full afternoon and sore arms.  A wonderful lesson they both enjoyed figuratively and literally. And, like any quilter worth her salt, I connected this into a lesson about quilt patterns, noting the CHURN DASH pattern which originated between 1800-1849, was named because the center rectangle resembled the butter churn and triangle corners to the dash, or paddle.  Never too busy to think about quilting!

I've been off line for a while, but I'll come back to that at the end.

Back in 2012, THE AMERICAN FOLK ART MUSEUM dramatically transformed the  NYC Park Avenue Armory's 55,000 square foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall with the installation of 650 red and white American quilts, all on loan from the Joanna S. Rose collection.  It was the largest exhibition of quilts ever held in the city.  This magical and spectacular presentation, yet ephemeral moment was captured in a fully illustrated catalog written by guest curator Elizabeth V. Warren.  It only lasted 6 days.

Although the exhibit is long past, I want to draw attention again not only to the quilts, which are incredible by themselves, but also to the way they were exhibited.  To me, the most extraordinary part is ‘how’ the quilts were displayed.  Transforming the armory couldn’t have been easy. Quilts were suspended  from above, allowing the viewers to see them from beneath, walk around them, both close and distant, hung in a spiral display. Some quilts were folded carefully over chairs highlighted by bright lights.  Some were displayed by conventional museum methods stretched gingerly over easel like displays for closer inspection of the intricate and detailed craftsmanship.  But to my eyes, the show stealer's were those spiral hung beautifies, dizzily hanging over head like a magic carpet ride. 

Quilts tend to be heavy, especially older quilts. Although it’s been two years since the show, I’m still captivated.  How did this method grow conceptually, wondering where the original idea came from?   Sadly, I did not get to attend the show.  I was scheduled to be in NYC for work, but last minutes work plans took me to San Francisco instead. From time to time I search INFINITE VARIETY, THREE CENTURIES OF RED AND WHITE QUILTS, or the Joanna S. Rose quilt collection just to see the images again and again and again.  Maybe you’d like to also…….

But back to the VERY BLUE part.....we stepped away these past days because we lost two dear family members Sunday June 1. Sue and Bob Kammeraad were returning home from a late afternoon motorcycle ride when the careless distraction of a 23 year old driver caused her car to swerve and drive directly into oncoming traffic.  Both were killed instantly.  After more than 45 years of marriage they left this earth together.  We spent vacations, holidays, and birthdays together.  We stitched together and I taught her to quilt, she tried endlessly to teach me to knit (unsuccessfully I might add…..though not her fault).  We enjoyed a wonderful stitch retreat this past March.  A few months earlier we finished a quilt she started for her youngest son, begun about 25 years earlier.  The quilt was a charming red, white and blue trip around the world design.  The irony is not lost on me.  Mourning, I’m now left with memories to carry me thru the upcoming months and years without them.  The photo isn’t the best, but here she is holding that quilt, finally finished, with sister Shirley nearby.  A proud moment for all.........

In memorian.....Susan Kammeraad



Quilters 911

Quilters 911....asking for your input.  But first you need the background, then the question.  You see, my mother gave me this quilt top.  She "thinks" my grandmother made it, but maybe it was my great-grandmother, and she's not sure which side of the family.  But it was someone I am related to.......she thinks. Keep in mind this was in the midst of clearing her home before she went into assisted living, she has dementia.

The top is hand pieced. Pretty cool, eh?  A quilting friend initially thought the pattern was DELECTABLE MOUNTAINS but then I learned it's THOUSAND PYRAMIDS.  I'm thinking I should make a quilt sandwich and hand quilt it, get the thing finished. What do you think??  So that's the first question.

Now take a good look at the top.  It resembles Tennessee or Arkansas, sort of, only upside down. Notice the right side follows the pyramid angle instead of being squared.  It's a little irregular on the left too, but not as bad. I think Grammy was.....well....sipping some hard stuff while she pieced.  Go Grammy!  None of this would be a problem except her borders follow the angle of the pyramids.

So the 911 is this......do I remove all her THREE HAND stitched borders, then square the entire top up, then replace the borders?  Or....do I leave it as is, finish with hand quilting and make a wonderful quilt label that explains all this, and about Grammy's suspected afternoon sipping?  I must admit I'm leaning like the border, to leave it as is. This will never make it to a museum, and the story will add some humor.   So what do you think??

Quilters, start your engines!

I mean 'start your sewing machines'!  Yes, I watched the Indianapolis 500 last weekend on and off.  I was rooting for Helio since he was a Dancing with the Stars alumni, and the only one I knew.  But I digress......

A few days ago I asked some of my quilting pals what their BUCKET LIST QUILT PROJECT would be.  You know, that one elusive quilt you'd like to complete before......well, you know, before the featherweight is silent and your needles and thread are covered with dust.  It would be your crowning quilt achievement. The idea has been percolating in the inspiration folder in your mind for awhile likely. Perhaps you've not started because it's a daunting project.  Or you have too many other UFOs in queue.  Once finished, it will be that one quilt you'd grab if you had to get out of your house fast, say for a fire or tornado. 

One by one they began to reply, sharing details, some with pictures saved for inspiration.  One common theme began to emerge.....these were not for the faint of heart.  These quilts were going to take time and financial investment.  Most are steeped in a rich historical foundation from the mid 1800's era.  What a great way to honor our quilting ancestors by recreating their designs today!

What ever our skill level or how complicated these are, the next question is 'when?'.  We are not getting any younger and these will take a lot more time so I'm posing this challenge.........lets get started, today.  Just commit to it. Move it from the back burner to the front, drag it out of the proverbial bottom of the fabric stash and get started.  Gradually and incrementally we will get them done, but only if we start.  We can be accountability partners to keep each other moving forward. 

I added your names and the quilt you have in your mind to the project list on the right.  Periodically I'll check in to see if we started, and how we're coming.  Or you can let me know too.  It will be fun to see our progress.....me included!! 

As a jumping off point, my friend Sally shared this hand appliqued Christmas quilt, a block of the month by Pearl Pereira. Sally said this was "good practice" before she starts a Baltimore Album quilt.  What? ......if this is her practice quilt, I can't wait to see the real Baltimore Album!  Go Sally!!!!!!

Maya Angelou and HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT

Today came with sad news that a most creative and incredible woman has passed away….. MAYA ANGELOU, at 86.  She did it all, poetic command, story-telling, actress, civil rights activist.  She spoke 6 languages.  She was abandoned by her parents, and sexually assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend. She became homeless and a teen mother.  She didn’t speak for 5 years.  Her writing I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS speaks to racism in stark language.  An incredible rich life.  

I don’t believe Maya quilted.  But my vivid imagination allows me to think about the two of us sitting down over a glass of fresh brewed iced tea with a spritz of lemon, and a dash of simple syrup to make it officially ‘sweet tea’, with quilts stretched over our laps.  Thick-rimmed magnifying glasses hang near the ends of our noses, needed to complete the tiniest of stitches.  And we would chat.  Or Maya would chat and I’d listen.  I’d hang on her every word, thought, picking up every scrap of wisdom I could.  We’ve lost a treasure with her passing.

I’m not sure how many acting roles she had, but one scene is in my top 5 favorite movie scenes of all time.  Here's an excerpt from the 1995 movie “How to make an American Quilt”

In the opening scene, the quilt bee is gathered for their weekly get together, everyone welcomes Finn home for the summer to work on her ‘3^rd’ thesis, settling in to work on their quilts.

Anna (called the master quilter, played by Maya Angelou in a soft matronly voice) speaking to Finn:

“The challenge with a quilt like this is that each of the blocks are made by a different hand so I have to bring these different squares together in a balanced and harmonious design.  First we have to find a theme, and for this particular quilt the theme is ‘where love resides’”.

Finn (played by Winona Ryder in an attentive and curious voice)

 “So…what you are saying is that by harmonizing all these different elements you’re kind of creating a continuity in the piece’.

Anna (sounding a bit stern)

 “No, what I’m saying is I don’t want to end up with some damn ugly quilt.”

The bee breaks into laughter…..

May all your round robin and group quilts be balanced and harmonious given all the different hands that constructed the blocks.