Old Fashioned Star

There was a time in my life when I wore Gunne Sax prairie revival dresses. I once made - and wore - a crocheted granny square vest in bright orange and avocado. At one time my favorite pair of pants were purple hip-hugger bell bottoms with a zipper running the entire length of each leg. I used to think my platform shoes made me look taller, but the truth is they only made me trip over my own feet. I loved my Dr. Scholl’s wooden exercise sandals until they broke my big toe. I stopped wearing hoop earrings the first time my newborn grabbed one. I’m amazed the fashion police never caught me. These days my wardrobe is much more subdued. Sundays I wear a skirt, a sweater and a pair of black Mary Janes. Every single other day it’s a T-shirt, sneakers and jeans. It's still a long way from high fashion, but at least I'm no longer a danger to myself and others.

China Plate

Blue and white ware generally refers to white pottery or porcelain with a cobalt oxide underglaze. The oldest and most valuable blue and white pottery is from China or Persia, from as far back as the ninth century. Geometric designs, dragons, cranes and floral patterns have always been popular blue and white motifs. In 1816 the Engish potter Josiah Spode developed a blue and white transferware dinner service called Italian Blue. The center of the plate is a peaceful scene, supposedly an Italian ruin. The edges are covered with a Chinoiserie Art Deco motif. I have a small but growing collection of Spode Blue Italian. Some have back stamps from the 1800's and some are much newer. I love and use them all. I try to follow William Morris’ admonition: “Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

Cup and Saucer

I don’t drink regular tea, but I like a cup of herbal now and then. I find chamomile relaxing, and mint tea can be helpful with an upset stomach. Currently I have in my cupboard Taylors of Harrogate Raspberry Vanilla, and Harry & David Sweet Orange Spice. When I was in school, Grandma used to share a cup of tea with me in the afternoons. Tea won’t be hurried. It forces you to sit and chat. Before you know it you’re sharing all your troubles; the teacher who’s picking on you, the boy who ignores you, the assignment you don’t understand. Grandma’s beverage of choice was Gossip Tea. It was a spicy herbal blend with rosehips, hibiscus, and orange peel. I’ve tried for years to find it, but it doesn’t seem to exist anymore. Google “gossip tea,” and you get all sorts of useless information. But no tea.

Memory

Modern Day Yuppie Blues - Tom Rush

Looking for my wallet and my car keys, they can’t have gone too far;
As soon as I find my glasses I’m sure I’ll see just where they are.
Supposed to meet someone for lunch today, but can’t remember where,
Or who it is I’m meeting. It’s in my organizer somewhere.

Might have left it on the counter. Maybe outside in the car.
Last time I remember driving was to that memory enhancement seminar.
What’s that far-off distant ringing and that strangely familiar tone?
Must be the person I’m meeting calling me on my cordless phone.

Might have left it under the covers. Maybe outside on the lawn;
I’ve got one more ring to go before my answering machine kicks on.
“This is Tom and your call means a lot to me, so leave a message at the tone
I’ll do my best to try to remember to call you when I get home.”

“Tom, this is Gwendoline. I’m trying not to cry
I’ve been waiting for over an hour. I thought you loved me. This is goodbye!”
Well, the voice sounds familiar, and the name rings a bell.
Let’s see now, where was I? Oh well...

Cake Stand

Lemon Drizzle Cake

7/8 cup butter
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
zest 2 lemons

for drizzle:
juice 2 lemons
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8" cake tin and line the with parchment. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add zest and beat another minute or two. In a small bowl beat eggs until combined. Gradually add eggs to butter/sugar mixture. Sift in flour and gently fold into the mixture. Don’t over mix. Spoon mixture into tin and bake 50 minutes. Test the cake with a skewer. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Remove from oven and prick cake all over with a fork. Stir the lemon juice and sugar for the drizzle together. Pour over cake. Cool slightly, remove from tin. Finish cooling on a wire rack.

Boys' Nonsense

My husband and I raised three boys, so we’ve seen our fair share of nonsense. One of our sons was particularly creative about getting into trouble. He once tried to carve his own bedpost into a totem pole. He lit matches under his desk to watch the enamel burn. He split his head open trying to swing like Tarzan from the shower curtain. We love him dearly, but for years we’ve been on the edges of our seats waiting to see what he’ll decide to do next. Today’s block, Boys’ Nonsense, was published in the first catalogue of quilt block patterns, The Ladies Art Company. It looks much more complicated than it is: a nine-patch block with four half square triangles in the corners, four quarter square triangles making up the sides, and one solid square in the middle. Mine is a 9" block, with Darlene Zimmerman's Clothesline Club 30's prints and a Kona Snow background.

Little Red Schoolhouse

I learned to read before starting kindergarten. Mother had a book with pictures and activities for each letter of the alphabet. One page showed a lower case H looking like a chair. You can run in circles until you’re tired, then sit in a chair and pant, “Huh, huh, huh.” You’re making the sound the letter H does: “Huh.” I wanted to go to school so badly I could taste it. Wonderful things would happen there. I’d learn amazing new stuff. I’d meet great kids who were just like me. At the same time I was terrified I wouldn’t learn to tie my shoes before the first day of school. What if I was the only one in the class who couldn’t master the loop and bunny?  Most big steps in my life are like this; a thrill of excitement that things may turn out the way I hope, a thrill of terror that they won’t. I’m usually a little right on both counts. Huh.

Clay's Choice

I guess there’s no way to be sure, but I suspect that the name of this quilt block was inspired by the statesman Henry Clay. I know the block and the name have been around since before the civil war, so it’s at least possible. Henry Clay represented the state of Kentucky in both the senate and the house of representatives. He was a staunch defender of the American military, and he was responsible for a number of reforms that strengthened American industry and the national economy. Clay loved the United States and did all he could to preserve the Union. His headstone reads, “I know no North, no South, no East, no West.” Abraham Lincoln openly admired Clay and his views, calling him, “My idea of a great man.” High praise indeed.

Eddystone Light

Off the coast of England is a treacherous area called Eddystone Rocks. There’s been a lighthouse here to warn ships of the danger since the seventeenth century. Actually, there have been four lighthouses. The first, a wooden structure, was built by a man named Winstanley. He was in the process of adding stone exterior walls in 1703 when a storm erased the entire lighthouse. And Mr. Winstanley. The second lighthouse burned to the ground. The third structure was solidly built, but the rock under it became so badly eroded that the tower wobbled when waves hit. The present Eddystone Light has been standing and shining since 1882. There is a silly sea shanty called Eddystone Light that warns against fraternizing with mermaids. It makes me smile to think of a lighthouse with its very own song, as well as its own quilt block.

Grandmother's Choice

Both my grandmothers were young adults during the Great Depression. They were strong, resourceful women. They were accustomed to hard work. They knew how to grow tomatoes and apricots, churn butter, put up pickles and peaches, bake bread, and make a perfect Sunday pot roast with brown gravy. They developed clerical skills so that they could support themselves and their families. They more than encouraged their children and grandchildren to get a good education. They absolutely insisted upon it. They believed in the gospel and in following its teachings. They’re both gone now, but certain smells can bring them right back to me. Geraniums or tea roses. Fresh raspberries. The scent of rising dough. Jergens lotion. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I’d never known them. And someday, I hope to get the chance to tell them that.

Old Maid's Puzzle

When I was young we used to call unpopped popcorn kernels “Old Maids.” I’ve also heard them called “Widows.” Two of my favorite terms are “Pooped Corn” and “Flopcorn.” I believe they’re caused by a lack of moisture inside the kernel. It’s unwise to chew these hard, brown pellets. I can cite first hand experience here, because I once cracked a molar doing exactly that. I love popcorn, but I’ve had a tough time making it in England. Electric poppers are pretty rare here. Even the local cinemas have their popcorn shipped in pre-popped. When we finally found and bought a popper, we discovered it was more efficient at throwing kernels than heating them. Entertaining, but hardly what we had in mind. By the way, if you do decide to chew unpopped corn, never do it on a Sunday night. That’s the hardest time of the week to find an emergency dentist.

March

I’ve often heard the phrase “the lamb will lie down with the lion,” and was surprised to discover that those words can't be found anywhere in the scriptures. The idea must have come from Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” I find the image of peace and harmony this verse brings to mind very appealing, especially now. I have several friends and family members dealing with distress and upheaval. I want them all to be safe. When I designed this quilt block, I had in mind the kind of weather March is famous for: the fierce, lion-like storms and the gentle lamb days. The month is barely half over, but we’ve already had several of both. I’m posting this with hopes of more quiet days to come.

Irish Chain

Everyone is Irish on March 17, or so the saying goes. A lot of people, Irish or not, will celebrate this day by wearing green, by drinking Guinness or by eating something involving carrots, potatoes, onions and cabbage. I chose to observe the day by making this Irish Chain block, and by remembering my favorite Irish-born author. C. S. Lewis was raised in Belfast around the turn of the last century. As a child Lewis was fond of Beatrix Potter and of Norse, Greek and Irish mythology. You can see their influence in his writing. I adore his Narnia Chronicles, but where Lewis really shines is in his defense of faith. About his homeland, he once said, “There is no doubt that the Irish are the only people: with all their faults I would not gladly live or die among another folk.”

Country Roads

Unless you’ve visited England, you really can’t imagine what it’s like to get around. Most Americans know the English drive on the left side of the road. Drivers usually sit on the right side of the car and shift gears with their left hands. It’s not a problem for people who learn to drive here, but it can be disorienting to switch. There are fewer stop lights here, and many more roundabouts. Most roads are very narrow and have no shoulders. In fact, many country roads are so slim that if you encounter another car one of you must back up until you can pull off to the side. A trip of twenty miles typically takes an hour, and a sixty-mile drive will usually eat up two. Unless you get lost, which we nearly always do. We try to bring a bucket and towel wherever we go, because it’s a given that we’ll also lose our lunch along the way.

Devil's Claws

I found the pattern for Devil's Claws in a set of blocks with biblical themes. Some of the other blocks in the set were familiar: Storm at Sea, Star of Bethlehem, Cross and Crown, and Palm Leaves. Others were totally new to me, like Solomon’s Puzzle, David and Goliath, and Joseph’s Coat. All the names evoke stories from the Old or New Testament. I tucked the other patterns away. I’ll probably use more of them in the coming months. This particular block gives the illusion of five interlocking stars. But actually it’s five ordinary squares, four squares-within-a-square, and eight tiny flying geese. While I was stitching it, I had a strong sense of deja vu. It wasn’t until I was nearly finished that I realized I’d made a full Christmas quilt a few years ago that was very similar to this, called Magic Stars.

Birds in the Air

Birds in the Air is a very old traditional quilt block, dating from before the civil war. It is a symbol of flight or migration. That’s a concept I can definitely relate to, especially at this time of year. We’ve mapped out three major trips during this coming year. We’ll be taking a short channel cruise in the early spring, a trip to Utah in the summer, and a visit to Walt Disney World at Christmastime. There will probably also be several small day trips. We’ve talked about exploring Wales, and I want to see the cemetery in Lancashire where several of my ancestors were laid to rest. We keep trying to find ways to get to Italy or Norway, but so far it’s just not happening. It would be sad if we had to move back to the States without seeing the two places we most wanted to visit.

Rosebud

I check facebook nearly every morning as I make my breakfast. I'm an early riser and my kids are night owls. So sometimes I can catch them online and chat for a few minutes before they head to bed. Yesterday, though, I found messages from friends living and vacationing along the Pacific coast. Some of them reported a terrible earthquake and aftershocks. Others had been evacuated ahead of expected tsunami waves. I made these two rosebud blocks while listening to news coverage of the disaster. When something like this happens, a natural first response is a feeling of helplessness. But there are some things I can do. I can donate to a reliable charity that will send help to the affected areas. I can give blood. In fact, I have an appointment to do so later this month. And I can pray for the victims and their families.

Kaleidoscope

This is my first attempt at a Kaleidoscope block. Actually, it’s my first nine attempts sewn together to make one composite. As with most practice blocks, I used tiny scraps left over from several other projects. That way if I completely mess up (it happens a lot, let me tell you) it doesn’t hurt much to toss the results in the trash where no one can see them. Kaleidoscope blocks look easier than they are. The angle involved comes out to be 67.5 degrees. And the piece sizes are often in 16ths or 32nds of an inch. It’s tricky to measure if your ruler is marked out in eighths. Don’t try this block at home, at least not without a template. Even with a one, it took me several hours to construct. I love the results, though. I’m eager to try it again with bolder colors.

Checkerboard

Daddy taught me to play chess before I was ten. That is, he taught me how the pieces move. I liked the knights best. Pawns and rooks were boring. It bothered me that the queen was so powerful while the king was so weak. Bishops were not to be trusted. Again and again I’d plan my strategy, only to have it thwarted by a bishop appearing from nowhere. Grandma taught me checkers, but she liked fox and geese better. My favorite checkerboard game is pyramid. The game is played with only ten checkers in each color, arranged in pyramid shapes at opposite ends of the board. Men may only move forward. They jump as in checkers, but are not removed from the board. The game is won if a player rebuilds his pyramid on the other end of the board, and lost if a player gets “stuck.” Someday I should make a working checkerboard quilt...with a backgammon board on the back.

Pineapple

If you put fresh pineapple in a Jell-o salad, the gelatin will refuse to set. I have no idea why. You always find pineapple at the top of a fruit cocktail can, together with grapes and cherries. Pears and peaches are always on the bottom. I’m not sure why this is so, either. Pineapples come from a bromeliad-type shrub that looks a lot like the top of the pineapple. In fact, if you save and tend a pineapple top, you could in theory grow your own. When choosing a pineapple at the store, pull one of the leaves in the center of the top. If it comes out easily, the fruit will be sweet and juicy. For many years the pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality. The same is true of the Pineapple quilt block. Traditional colors for a quilt made of these blocks is green and red. I chose pineapple colors instead.

Cabin Fever

The Log Cabin is one of my favorite quilt block patterns. It’s such a grateful block; easy to construct but very appealing. It can be made with basic piecing techniques or with paper foundations. It has no diagonals and no Y-seams. And yet there are an infinite number of setting variations. It’s a wonderful way to use up long, skinny fabric scraps. One of the first quilts I finished was a Log Cabin quilt. It was done in scrappy reds, greens and creams with little black appliqued tear drop shapes that were meant to look like watermelon seeds. I’d originally intended to use it as a picnic quilt. But after I sewed on all those little melon seeds by hand, I just couldn’t bring myself to lay the quilt out on the grass and spill mustard on it. I’ll probably do it someday. Maybe. Just not today.

Butterfly

This little six-inch butterfly is a pattern from the 1930's, but the fabric is very modern. I used scraps from a quilt top I made last year for a dear friend. It’s from Moda’s Soiree line by Lila Tueller. I bought a jelly roll to make the quilt top, and all my leftovers are tiny triangles. I’ve been thinking for some time about making a lap quilt or wall hanging out of butterfly blocks, and so I made this practice block to see if I liked the pattern. Most of the other butterfly patterns I’ve been looking at are appliqued instead of pieced, so this one has my early vote. I love to watch butterflies flying. They never make a beeline anywhere, because they don’t use their eyes to navigate. They smell their way along, following invisible wisps of aroma.

Capricorn

Capricorn is the strangest of astrological signs. Sometimes it is depicted as a goat, but more often it’s seen as the front half of a goat and the rear half of a fish. What a sad combination! Goats’ hooves were designed to leap nimbly over rocky hillsides. Fish tails are brilliant for underwater manuevers. But together they could only encumber and frustrate their owner. Today’s block, also called Capricorn, has a similar problem. It’s half eight-pointed star, half checkerboard. As if it can’t quite make up its mind. I’m not completely happy with the way this one turned out. If I’d used a fabric with a stronger value for the star, the checkerboard might disappear. If I’d chosen a bolder color for the squares, the star might be invisible. Instead I used two medium prints, and the whole pattern dissolves into an ambiguous mess.

The Water Bearer

Once there was a servant whose task was to carry water. He had a pot hanging from each end of a pole he carried across his shoulders. One pot had a crack that leaked water so when it reached its destination it was always half empty. The cracked pot was deeply ashamed of its flaw. One day as it was being refilled it apologized to the water bearer. “Replace me,” it said miserably, “With a new pot you’d waste less water.” The water bearer lifted his full pots. As he walked, he pointed out the lovely flowers along the way. “Have you noticed,” he said to the cracked pot, “they only grow on your side of the path? It’s because you water them every day. If not for your crack there might be no flowers here at all.”

“I give unto men weakness that they may be humble...I will make weak things become strong unto them” - Ether 12:27

Christmas Star

You probably weren’t wondering, but there are 297 shopping days left until Christmas. I’ve already started my Christmas shopping. No, I don’t mean my after-Christmas shopping. We always buy cards, ornaments, gift wrap and the like when they go on sale after the holidays. If it’s something that will store well and I know I’ll want it next holiday season, it just makes sense to buy it when it’s 50% off or more. But last week it occurred to me that it will be my turn to give to my oldest sister this coming Christmas, and that the one thing I want to get for her might be hard to find in time to ship. Unless, of course, I buy it now. So I actually started my Christmas shopping in February this year. This Christmas Star looked so complex I almost gave up on it. I’m so glad I didn’t.

Sagittarius

The name Sagittarius means “archer.” It is usually depicted as a centaur with a bow and arrow. It probably doesn’t mean anything, but the archer has his arrow aimed directly at Scorpio. Those born under the sign of Sagittarius (they’re called Sagittarii, but I have trouble saying it with a straight face) have birthdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. New York mayor Ed Koch was a Sagittarius. He was famous for saying, “I’m not the type to get ulcers. I give them.” Mark Twain, another Sagittarius, once said, “Actions speak louder than words. But not nearly as often.” Harpo Marx was also a Sagittarius. He didn’t say much. But his brother Groucho said, “Outside a dog, a man’s best friend is a book. Inside a dog it’s too dark to read.” And another Grouchoism: “Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”

Harvest Star

Ten years ago in Adams County Ohio, Donna Sue Groves painted a quilt block on her barn to honor her quilting mother. Her neighbors quickly joined in and added 19 more blocks to their rural landscape. Now there are hundreds of “quilt barns,” in Canada and the US. On americanquiltbarns.com you can see photos and plot maps to visit them. Most are traditional patterns hand-painted in bright colors on 8'x8' squares of plywood which are then prominently displayed on barns. Others are painted directly on the walls of barns themselves. If you wanted to paint a barn quilt block, which would you choose? A Harvest Star might make sense. It would probably be easier to paint than to piece. I constructed mine with a pinwheel center instead of 45-degree diamonds, partly because I don’t have diamond templates, and partly because I’m not fond of Y-seams.