Fabric Ode to the Beautiful Cat

Beloved Bastet
mistress of happiness and bounty,
twin of the sun god,
slay the evil that afflicts our minds
as you slay the serpent Apep.
With your graceful stealth
anticipate the moves of all who perpetrate cruelties
and stay their hands against the children of light.
Grant us the joy of song and dance,
and ever watch over us
in the lonely places in which we must walk.

Ode to Bastet

Six months ago I drove for an hour through torrential rains to take a class in collage quilting. The last hand stitches completed the binding today and both Cat and I are quite pleased with ourselves.

My starting point was a pattern by Laura Heine. While Laura’s examples of the Purrfect Cat are whimsically colourful, my quilt was to be an homage to Cat (a.k.a. Hobs) so I brought only black and white fabrics to class. From one, instructor Nancy cut out the large medallion and set it on Cat’s shoulder. Immediately, the unassuming outline captured Cat’s mystical character and I was hooked on this painterly form of quilting. Later the powerful, shielded eyes and notched ear distinguished this feline from all others.

While the cat image came together in a few days, the background took me a long time to work out. I wanted my Egyptian cat in context. Her divine nature made it clear that she should be placed on a pedestal – in this case, a Pharaonic column capital. Taking inspiration from Australian quilter Jenny Bowker, I placed Cat and her pedestal inside the columned hall of an imaginary Egyptian temple dedicated to the goddess Bastet. Finding the right fabrics to shade the columns resulted in my fabric stash growing exponentially. I loved the colour palette of the “Solstice” line of Stonehenge fabrics that came out this year. The hieroglyphs read “Beautiful Cat”.

Once the image was complete, the Caledonia quilter took over with her long arm machine. Helen’s quilting work is an art piece in itself. We discussed some designs and then she made it her own. Mom had the great idea to set regal cats upon nebet baskets, replacing the usual cobra. Thus, appropriately, Cat is the mistress of abundant offerings. The serekh hieroglyph that represented the niched façade of Pharaonic palaces encircles the quilt’s border to signify that Cat is in her realm. Helen's work is amazing!

I couldn’t be happier with the result. Now my fabric ode to beloved Cat has pride of place in the entry of my wee abode. My beautiful cat.

Vineyard Treasures

Every season hath its pleasure;
Spring may boast her flowery prime,
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasuries
Brighten Autumn's sob'rer time.

Thomas Moore, Irish author and composer (and son of a Roman Catholic wine merchant) (1779-1852)

"Corkie" joined the Three Winos on our annual fall tour of local vineyards for the Wrapped Up in the Valley event. The skies were grey and the wind was cold but the ruby treasures of our local vintners warmed our souls.

Twenty Valley's "Wrapped Up in the Valley" passport to great wines and food pairings marks the beginning of the holiday celebrations. I'd opine that this is a fine way to begin a season of cheer.

Once again, the pairings rank superb: mouthwatering and highly complimentary to their vintners' showcase.

"Corkie" (aptly named by my wordsmith S-I-L) has been a bit of bear to create but I am happy with the result. After all is done, he brings a smile. The mom of the soon-to-be-born vintage is a treasure at one of our favourite wineries, hence the inspiration for the fabrics.

The quilting reflects love for child and love of the vineyard's treasures.

May all our souls be warmed by love!

New Year – New Post

The meaning of life is to find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.

David S. Viscott, American psychiatrist and author (1938–1996)

As the first day of the new year draws to a close, I am sipping some of the leftover bubbly – still effervescent thanks to the ol’ spoon in the hole trick. Surprisingly, I am also still effervescent given that I did see the clock tick over from 2018 to 2019. I have not done this in a good many years. While other late night revelers may have been watching the ball drop in Times Square or the fireworks from the London Eye, I was very happily sewing with my glass of Back 10 Cellars Smit*ten at my right elbow.

It has been a very sewy holiday and I have been very content. I set out a few weeks ago to make a comforting lap quilt for a dear lady who is grieving and found myself comforted by its colours and the lines of the Beatitudes worked into its reverse side. Those verses move me at my core and I have fond memories of visits to the beautiful mount on the north shore of Lake Kinnerat so the quilt was a joy to create.

Just in time for Christmas day, I finished a set of fleece-lined shoe bags for S-I-L. Once Dad helped me figure out how to make the grommets, the bags came together gorgeously. Sorry, no photo, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

The next project had me hand sewing the binding of a quilt for my aunt. The fabric reminded me of her lovely gardens and I hope the bright bouquet will be cheery during our gray days of winter. The piece work had been completed a few months ago and then Helen Huburt worked the beautiful quilted pattern using her longarm machine. She finished in time for Christmas so I just needed to finish the edging, which is metres long and requires small stitches to maintain the quilt’s integrity through washings. I never would have thought that I would take so much comfort from working with needle and thread. Yet there I was, sitting in my rocking chair, contently sewing. It’s quite an old-fashioned image and I found myself thinking of and connecting with all the women in my matrilineal ancestry who also took comfort in handiwork.

Last up is a very modern-looking pillow. This is what I was quilting last night and finished today. The design freely evolved as I worked. Thankfully, I like it. ;-)

The unicorn marks the last of the 2018 Christmas presents. It has been a wonderful holiday, full of family, comfort and joy.

I wish all my dear readers a new year full of such comfort and joy, fine friendship and good health.

Onwards into 2019!
(hopefully with more blog posts than in 2018)

The Big Reveal

A friend is like a quilt: designed by heart, pieced in time, sewn by hand, and bound to keep you covered.

I can now share four of the reasons for the paucity of blog posts over the past few months. The quilting I've been doing had to remain secret until presented this week. Now is the time for the big reveal. The teapot and teacup runner mixes Kaffe Fassett and traditional florals.

A panel of Laurel Burch's "Embracing Horses" became the centrepiece for a colourful quilt for a colourful young woman. Helen Hubert, the "Caledonia Quilter", did the longarm quilting matching the quilting design to the curves of the horses.

For the six-footer, I made a masculine panel quilt of stallions and mustangs.

The backing fabric looks like stars so I inserted a series of stars for some extra visual interest. The star block also appears on the front as cornerstones. Helen's quilting design includes cowboy boots, stetson hats, and bucking horses.

The quilts are for an equine family so all needed to include horses. It took some time (years) to find just the right equine accompaniment for the panel featuring Cicely Mary Barker's "Laburnam Fairy". For backing fabric I actually found one with pink (a favourite colour) horses.

A (Fabricated) Christmas Story

Behind every sewer is a huge pile of fabric.

Unknown, but very probably a quilter

Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a little fabric remnant wrapped around a recycled cardboard box and used for display as a fake wrapped gift. It wasn't with the other fabric remnants because it was considered too small. After a couple of years taped to the box, the little remnant was a little dusty and yet someone came along and thought it very precious because, among the thousands upon thousands of meters of fabric in the shop, it was unique. The shop clerks weren't sure they should dismantle the manager's display but took pity on the sewer, who said she just had to have it. While she wasn't quite sure what the little piece would become, she certainly knew just the person who would enjoy it. And so the little remnant came home and joined a big pile of other fabric stored in a closet. Until Christmas. Then the little remnant was measured and found to fit perfectly a tabletop, and so it was quilted and bound with love and given to a very special person.

And that's the story of the little Christmas remnant that became a real present.

The End.

Christmas Isn't Over

When the song of the angel is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
     To find the lost,
     To heal the broken,
     To feed the hungry,
     To release the prisoner,
     To rebuild the nations,
     To bring peace among brothers and sisters,
     To make music in the heart.

Howard Thurman, African American author, educator, philosopher (1899-1981)

As the sleet of our first winter storm beat against my window, I sat in my rocker tonight with Cat curled on the footrest and some hand-stitching on my lap, a Christmas gift that didn't quite get finished in time for the 25th. All is calm, all is well, in my little abode. Advent and Christmas have been heart-warming and I'm hoping to hold fast their messages of building hope, joy, peace and love throughout the coming year.

I did manage to finish the wine carrier with the appliqued Nutcracker before Christmas. Just. Those who sit around me on the daily commute have watched him materialize over the past few weeks but he finally stood tall with some help from Mom. S-I-L has a thing for men in uniforms . . . and wine . . . so I figured this was an apropos gift. ;-)

Flying Firsts

You were born with potential.
You were born with goodness and trust.
You were born with ideas and dreams.
You were born with greatness.
You were born with wings.
You were not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings.
Learn to use them and fly.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Persian Sufi mystic (1207-1273)

On Thursday, the Museum celebrated its first anniversary with a spectacular gala featuring the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma. The atrium radiated glamour and cheer. The staff joined in to celebrate an intense and satisfying year full of amazing firsts. We are truly flying.


And I received news that little Catherine opened her birthday present. Here are the finished quilted blocks. I am told that they not only amuse her for play but also provide a soft landing for spills as she learns to walk.

I am in awe watching her make 'firsts' and at a rapid pace. She has an amazing future ahead of her. I wish her a flying spirit.

Child's Play

We do not stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing.

Author unknown

The newest quilting project is a gift for an upcoming first birthday: soft building blocks. I am having much fun with all the bright, cheery fabric, some selected for the pleasure of their soft plush feel. My inner child is enjoying playing with them as much as I hope little Catherine will.

And of course I have a little helper who also wants to play!

Pioneer Spirit

Without tradition, art is a flock of sheep without a shepherd. Without innovation, it is a corpse.

Winston Churchill, British author and politician (1874-1965)

Sunglasses? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Wallets? Check. Road trip! On what turned out to be the hottest day of the summer, Mom and I headed for Black Creek Pioneer Village and the annual "Quilts at the Creek" art exhibition -- making a detour along the way to check out a recommended quilt shop in the countryside of Halton Hills. Navigational challenges licked, we enjoyed a great outing.

I haven't been to the village since I was a child and so I was seeing it with new, old eyes. Pinned throughout the village, the quilts honoured tradition while bringing out their own pioneering spirit.

The 1858 town hall, traditionally used for the circuit judge proceedings, town council meetings, concerts and other community gatherings made a perfect setting for 'trunk shows' in which a quilter presents their quilting journey illustrated with their numerous creations pulled out like magic from suitcases. Lots of oohs and aahs and inspiration shared. Robert Gutcher's use of machine embroidery amazed all.

This exhibitions has been marked in my calendar since the cold, snowy days of February or March when I spotted an advance announcement. The sun and warmth of July and the show were things to look forward to and I wasn't disappointed. Over 200 colourful and unique quilts lined the streets and yards of the historic buildings. We came away with some ideas as well as some fabric to add to the stash. ;-) I'm already looking forward to next year!

A Scrappy Weekend

When life throws you scraps, make a quilt.

A quilter

Quilters are quite proud of themselves when they use fabric from their "stash", probably because it assuages any guilt for having a closet full of beautiful yardage purchased without a particular project in mind. Using the stash also inherently carries with it the permission to buy more fabric. This is all very logical if you are a quilter. ;-) Mom and I also keep bits and pieces that 'may be useful one day'. Today was one of those days.

I plan to host the quilting ladies for lunch and had the 'bright' idea that I should create quilted invitations -- an idea conceived in conjunction with a recent article about quilted postcards. So I rummaged through my stash and the bag of bits and started making the fronts for what will be 4" X 6" invitations.

The project has challenged my (poor) mathematical skills as I struggled to remember to add in seam allowances and keep the sum total of all the pieces within the invitation's overall size. Even with those frustrations, I couldn't have been happier passing the time creating these little quilts. A few more tops need to be made and then I will layer them with the batting and the invitation particulars that have been printed onto fabric sheets with an InkJet printer. Once finished, they will be nice little mats for the ladies' tea and coffee cups.

Found Treasure

Our most treasured family heirlooms are our sweet family memories.

Unknown

Over the years I have often thought about the little blanket that a great grandmother gave me as a child for my doll. I remember being presented with the gift and enjoying the feel of its soft cotton. I recall sleeping with it simply clutched to my face as it was too small to cover me. I thought it was long gone, along with the other too well-loved toys of childhood; but Mom found the little quilt wrapped in protective paper tucked away in some boxes in the basement. I am so very fortunate that this little sample of my great grandmother's fine handwork has survived. Now I must find a way to display this treasure that is imbued with happy memories of childhood and a loving woman.

♬ Joy is Now in Every Place ♬

Joy is now in every place,
Christmas lightens every face;
now be with us, in your grace,

May the star that shone that night,
making your poor stable bright,
fill our hearts with love and light,

Through the New Year let it stay,
leading us upon your way,
making Christmas every day,

Now and ever may we find
your good news to fill our minds:
peace and love to humankind,
O hear us, bless us, holy Jesus.

Lyrics of hymn "Joy is now in every place", author unknown

In addition to the joy of Christmastide, there is much joy within my little abode as the quilted door hanging is now complete. It has been a work in progress for more than two years and I was determined to finish it for this Christmas. To my reckoning, I met my deadline because it graces my door before Little Christmas.

For me, the panel rings out joy with the angels and the stars in the heavens while the nobility of the camels emphasizes the glory of the occasion.

Just as the hymn urges, may the joy of Christmas fill our hearts throughout the new year so that we extend peace and love to everyone.

Casting the Hook

Chance is always powerful. Let your hook always be cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be fish.

Ovid, Roman poet (43 BC – AD 17/18)

Mom and I presented my uncle with the fish quilt today after having a hilarious time photographing it beside the lake. This is another one of our shared works and I think it turned out beautifully. It began with the inspiration of a "loudmouth bass" (as opposed to a large-mouth bass, as I know them) pattern by Mckenna Ryan and grew from there. My uncle, an avid fisherman, appreciated that he finally caught a pickerel.

Sew Fun!

A day patched with quilting seldom unravels.

Unknown

Mom and I enjoyed the day at the Hamilton Quilters Guild biannual quilt show, being inspired by the beautiful creations on display, the demonstrations of new techniques and, of course, the vendors with their I-don't-know-what-I-will-do-with-it-but-I-must-have-it fat quarters. A friend, who is an inspiration with her program to bring comfort to people in long-term care facilities through gifts of lap quilts, displayed one she made for herself. "Pickles" is a favourite cartoon and hers is a quilt that brought a smile to the face of every quilter.

An Interpretation of the Truth

Do not tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.

Mark Twain, American author (1835–1910)

Further to my last post, I now present my very own original creation, entitled "Rainbow Trout". While working on this applique, I often thought back to the fish sculpted on the tombs at Saqqara and the artists' accuracy that enabled scholars to identify the numerous species that graced Pharaonic dinner plates. While I take heed of Mark Twain's wise truisms and hope that there are not a lot of fishers among my kind readers who might question the veracity of my depiction, I am satisfied with my fabric interpretation. So undaunted I dive into deeper waters. Stay tuned.

Applique Anodyne

I am certain that a Sewing Machine would relieve as much human suffering as a hundred Lunatic Asylums, and possibly a good deal more.

Margaret Atwood, Canadian author in Alias Grace

When I can, I enjoy sewing after dinner. I find it very relaxing to concentrate on the stitches. The cares and stresses of the day are forgotten. A new project that Mom and I have undertaken has me learning how to applique. While there is room for improvement (always), I am quite happy with the results of this first attempt. The bass, completed this evening, arises from a pattern by McKenna Ryan called "Something Fishy". Beautiful batik fabrics provide such a lovely palette and now I am going to try my hand at 'painting' my very own applique fish. Stay tuned.

Ford, Farm and Friends

Friends and quilts are great
No matter how they are put together.

Unknown

I had a wonderful vacation with friends at their farm set among the rolling hills of central Alberta. I brought along a quilt that I had made. The small 'windows', framed by barn-board fencing fabric, contain chickens, cows, horses, pigs, and a house that is strikingly similar to their home.

I spotted the Ford and barn panel at a stitchery show two years ago and knew immediately who would enjoy it. (His truck is a GMC not a Ford, but he'll forgive me.) I hadn't worked on it since things like a job and home renovations filled my spare time so when the opportunity arose to visit the farm, I  worked a little frantically to complete the project with help from Mom, who stepped in to sew the binding. May it bring warmth and comfort for years to come.

Adventures with Pooh

As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.

A.A. Milne, English author and playwright (1882-1956) in Winnie-the-Pooh

Mom and I had tea with the newest member of the family, who did a honey dance on her new quilt that Mom made for the little one (with me honoured as "design consultant"). Both she and it are beauties. No doubt her lively spirit will take her on many a grand adventure.

Here's the full quilt out in garden on Sunday afternoon. To me, the colours are as delectable as a honey pot (strangely, I seem to 'taste' beautiful things) and the dragon-fly quilting motif is joyful. Well done, Mom!

A Friendship Quilt

A quilt for a friend says what words cannot.

My apologies for the scarcity of posts over the past few weeks. Besides the Monday to Friday commute and work routine, my weekends have been a blur of activity with shopping trips for necessary odds and ends to bring the flat together, ever so slowly.

But I did have the pleasure this week of meeting up with a good friend for dinner and giving her the quilt that I made to wrap her in cheery florals. Kaffe Fassett's fabrics are over the top and inspire outrageous positivity. Life blooms in technicolor even in the greys of November.

Little quotations* are scattered throughout the quilt's garden. Considering that I completed the quilt at the end of August with the intention of delivering it to its intended in early September, this quotation is particularly appropriate: True friends are never far apart . . . maybe in distance, but not in heart.

*For anyone looking for similar quotations, check out the numerous options available at Block Party Studios.

Day Off in Lieu

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

Francois de La Rochefoucauld, French author (1613 - 1680)

What a wonderful day I enjoyed in taking a Monday off work to run necessary errands in the morning and revisit my quilting buddies in the afternoon. Somehow,  having the opportunity to relax on a work day, to join friends to quilt, felt more salubrious than a weekend. I am restored. So tomorrow, it's back to work. ;-)