The History Quilter: Ocean Waves Quilt

Showing posts with label Ocean Waves Quilt. Show all posts

Monday, December 31, 2012

A Last Minute Finish for 2012

Final quilt finish for 2012:

Ocean Waves - front

Name: Ocean Waves

For: younger son

Pattern: Varsity by Jaybird Quilts

Size: XL Twin

Fabrics: Various Kona blues & Kona Steel

Quilting: Echo on each wave and in each diamond

Label: pieced in of my own design

Ocean Waves - back

He loves the ocean, hence the name. Wanted him to have a bit of "sand" so I used Kona Khaki for the label.

Staged on his bed and fully aware this is the last time it will look this nice.

Happy New Year's Eve everyone!

Susan

Saturday, December 22, 2012

With school out I've been focusing most of my attention on getting ready for Christmas but I'll admit to not being all that excited about it. A great motivator though is the excitement of my children on Christmas morning so I continue on...as I like to call my "easing into Christmas" phase. I'm not done with shopping and last night I ran out of wrapping paper but as I'm taking it slow - I'm not worried. The mall will be crowded but I'll just go with the flow as I know things will get done. Some of what I traditionally do and enjoy will come after Christmas this year - I'll send out New Year's cards and make New Year's cookies to give to friends and family.

Crafty wise, here is what I've been working on:

I began quilting Ocean Waves yesterday. This is the quilt for my younger son.

My one handmade gift this year was a request from the MIL. A Practical Bag by Grand Revival Designs.

Made the older son a draft sock with camouflage fabric. Funny - he knew I was making him one but didn't realize that it would be in his favorite fabric till I laid it down and pulled his gaze away from his computer screen. He was pleased.

My Lego train I set up every year somewhere near the tree. This year it is underneath. It has this lovely clicking sound when running which reminds me of slower European trains. Love it.

Found Weck canning jars at Cost Plus World Market and made Salted Caramel Sauce for the first time. Thanks to Debbie for her inspiration! I'll have more on this in another post.

Enjoy your Saturday~
Susan

Sunday, November 18, 2012

History Quilter Podcast Episode 33 100 Wishes Quilts

Happy Sunday to you all,

I'll be headed out to my local farmer's market shortly to stock up on vegetables and fruits for my Thanksgiving "meals" but before that I wanted to share that I recorded History Quilter Podcast Episode 33 where I talk about 100 Wishes Quilts, and it is now available on Podbean, Stitcher Radio and hopefully up on iTunes by this afternoon.

I was unaware of what a 100 Wishes Quilt was until Darla from the Scientific Quilter Podcast and blog tweeted me about it a couple of months back. (Thank you Darla!) According to Dr. Dolly of the Travelling With Baby blog, 100 Wishes Quilts are a northern Chinese tradition given to new babies when they are born. She says, "friends and family shower the beautiful new life with pieces of cloth and their hopes, wishes, and prayers for blessings of prosperity, longevity, and happiness". How wonderful is that?

Here in the United States this tradition is crossing cultures and technology by being picked up in the International Adoption community and online. Adoptive families here in the United States have been collecting fabric and wishes from friends and relatives for quilts to make for their newly adopted children for many years. I found the earliest reference to 100 Wishes Quilts online as of 2005. Dr. Dolly, whom I mentioned above, is currently asking for "good wishes" from anybody in the blogging community. If you are intrigued, as I am, please visit Dr. Dolly at Traveling With Baby to see how far she has come with receiving fabric and wishes for her newest addition to her family.

Darla was asked to participate in a 100 Wishes Quilt by sending a piece of fabric along with a wish/blessing for the new baby. I mistakenly said on the podcast that the 100 Wishes Quilt Darla had participated in, did not have a completed quilt posted online. I was viewing a different website at that time and have no idea if Darla ever saw the quilt she participated in. Darla?

There are many 100 Wishes Quilts images online to view, here is one that I especially enjoyed because I read through the entire history of the adoption process of this family. What a wonderful gift baby Addison will read and understand someday about how her parents wanted her, went to get her and brought her home. Read the journey to Addison here...it's just lovely.

the journey to Addison 100 Wishes Quilt

Gardening:
Newly planted Cauliflower (Cheddar variety) and Cabbage. Yea, I'm going to be picking up leaves every day for the next month or so.

Food:
I talked about what I will be serving for my two different Thanksgiving meals. No links today - I'll have posts about what I make and serve later in the week.

Quilting:
Ocean Waves quilt top made it to yoga class with me yesterday.

Ocean Waves quilt top in shavasana

Bag of goodies I received from Kate Spain after being chosen as a November Newsletter reader of the month. What a treat! Go here to sign up for her newsletter. http://katespaindesigns.blogspot.com/

Kate Spain's Cuzco: jelly roll strips and scraps

It's 8am and time for me to head for the farmer's market. Hope you all have an enjoyable day,
Susan

Friday, November 9, 2012

Ocean Waves: Quilt Top In Progress

Hello everyone,

My days have been very full lately with a great deal of school responsibilities and some life challenges. The crafty part of me has been rather silent lately but recently I had a few chances to get out the sewing machine and flex my crafty side.

I've been working on the Varsity Quilt by Julie Herman from Jaybird Quilts for my younger son. I've got all of the rows sewn up and hope to sew them together and square off the edges sometime this weekend. I've got a few projects I would like to begin soon so finishing up this one for my son is the priority.

I'm now calling it "Ocean Waves" as my son loves the ocean. I plan to incorporate some sand on the back in some form or another. I attempted a photograph in my hallway, but my hallway wasn't wide enough. I attempted a photograph outside but it's so windy out right now, none of the rows would stay down. So back into my living room - not great for color but it's the best I can do. The background color is Kona Cotton Steel, which is grey...I know it looks a bit pinkish here but I promise you it is not.

Ocean Waves - XL Twin Size

I saw a wonderful quote today that went something like this: "When I walk into my kitchen, I am not alone - I bring my mother and my father and every table I've ever sat at to enjoy a meal." Brought a couple of tears to the eyes in a heartwarming way - today would have been my mother's 81st birthday. Miss her.

In honor of my mother here is the painting my father had done of her way back in 1953 when he was stationed on the USS Columbus in the Mediterranean Sea for six months. At one point during his tour of duty, the ship docked in Istanbul, Turkey and he took the photograph of my mother to a painter. Two days later my father picked up this painting of my mother and it hung in my family home until earlier this year. Now it is mine and I love it.

Have a safe and fun weekend,