Inspiring Quilters, Stitch by Stitch
Here’s the first paragraph in my book Butter in the Well that sets the scene for the story.
“Go back to a time when there are no streets, roads, or cars. Imagine there are no buildings, homes, hospitals, or grocery stores around the corner. All of your family’s belongings fit in a small wooden wagon. The year is 1868. There is nothing but tall, green waving grass as far as the eye can see. The scent of warm spring air after a morning rain surrounds you. Spring blows gently in your face. The snort of the horse and an occasional meadowlark, whistling its call, are the only sounds. You are alone on the virgin land of the vast prairie.”
Just from reading those first words, can you feel and see what Kajsa, the young pioneer women, is seeing for the first time? Scared, exhilarated, relieved? Can you imagine the excitement of owning land at age 23?
Now….if you were going to make a quilt from this description alone and the feelings it brought out in you, what colors would it feature and what quilt block pattern would you use?
And…would you choose the same now, as you would have when you were 23?
Please share your thoughts with me!
Comment
I think I would do a crazy quilt without the embroidery because her life is full of uncertainty with lots of blue tones for the vast amt.of sky above her, some greens for the grass all around her, a small amount of soft gold for the seed heads blowing in the wind. Then I'd add a small amt. of red for her heart full of love.
I would definitely incorporate prairie grasses into some blocks, using the pastels of spring. Butterflies, grasshoppers, and birds nesting among the tall slender shafts of the new grasses. Maybe a sunshine block and a rainbow. A medallion block in the middle with a special scene, and surrounded by smaller blocks all carrying out the outdoor theme.
The block I would use is Flowers in the Attic. During that time period I would think that there weren't many fabrics to choose from. I would do it with fabrics from mama, grandma, daddy ect. All the relatives clothes from maybe the old trunk that grandma had.
Hi Theresa. You just gave me the idea of the whole quilt as one big scene of grass to prairie sky...done in batiks maybe?
What an adventure to accomplish! You write so descriptively and I'm sure you have some ideas in mind already. Since I love some art quilt ideas, I don't have a particular quilt block in mind. I would love to see some bright colors for the fields and sky and maybe a sunset. Maybe there should be a day, dusk and night quilt portraying more than one scene. I love all of the suggestions that have been made and I know you will come up exciting for all of us. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Hi Linda,
The first thing (name of a quilt) that I thought of was PRAIRIE QUEEN! Butter N Lilac colors,have always been my favorite. I would like to add a desire: I'd like to read about prairie women, their young daughters,learning quilting and talking about their lives. Much luck for your sucess!
I would be inspired to make a quilt using various shades of spring (young at 23). Those shades being yellow, greens, pink, clear blues, and various flower colors, or tree blossom colors. I would use old log cabin blocks and place them around the outside of the quilt. In the center I would try to make some stars that you see at night using OLD original blocks that are found in Jennie Beyer books. At age 23, I had 2 daughters, being married to my husband for 5 years, so life was bright and beautiful with my new family and the love of my life (I lost him this year of almost 49 years of marriage.) I'd use fabrics that were from family members clothing so that I could remember them each time I used the quilt. I would be looking forward, yet I would also include my past, along with my husbands as well. Trees made from flying geese would also have to be placed somewhere, but it would have to be when you play - so, my answer to you is that I'd use various blocks and various happy colors. I'd TRY to find some happy birds to add by applique, but most of the quilt would be hand done - sewing ALL by hand, including the actual quilting.
MyQuiltPlace.com is brought to you entirely free as a service of the American Quilter's Society. We hope you enjoy meeting one another and sharing your experience and expertise. Enjoy!
© 2019 Created by American Quilter's Society.
Powered by
Badges | Report an Issue | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
You need to be a member of My Quilt Place to add comments!
Join My Quilt Place