I've had a soft spot for turtles all my life. I love watching them, seeming to ponder each move before they actually make it. As I age, I feel a special kinship with these gentle creatures. I make my moves slowly and cautiously now. I am currently working on 11 different quilts. If "slow and steady" does indeed win the race, I feel confident that they will all (and maybe a few more) be done before the end of the year.
First update: The Maine State Bicentennial Quilt (top). Maine was to celebrate our bicentennial in March of 2020, but I think we all remember what prevented that from happening. Pat Burns drafted the design and members of our quilt study group made blocks. I finally pieced them all together last month! This will be used as a teaching tool at the Maine State Museum when they reopen in 2025. The public will get a chance to learn hand quilting as they enjoy two special quilt exhibitions curated by Laurie LaBar.
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The center is our Maine State Seal.
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Eight of my quilts were on display at Skidompha Library in Damariscotta, Maine. My high school was in the next town so I spent a lot of time here in my youth. The area for display if beautiful and I loved sharing the glory with the paper humpback whale on permanent display.
I'm managing to keep up with the weekly "Tiny Nine Patch Challenge, hosted by Taryn Falkner @reproquiltlover on Instagram. Each week we make 10 tiny (1 1/2" finished!) 9-patch blocks inspired by a gorgeous antique quilt. I'm doing mine in the potholder method and if I can keep up the pace, I will have a finished donation quilt by the end of the year.
And, within the eleven projects, there is actually a "finish"! This is a "potluck" potholder quilt that I have been making for quite some time. I just rescued some light strips that were from another ancient project and started stitching in my tortoise like way. After I assembled the blocks it looked a bit forlorn so I added some strippy borders using some of my favorite reproduction conversational prints. It still looked a little bla, so I found some circles which were also leftovers and appliqued them on. The four corner blocks were rejects from my "Bird's Nest Soup" potholder quilt. And, voila! I have aptly named this one, "Bubble and Squeak". My leftover favorite!
Here I am - plodding along.
Hope I can keep up the pace!
Enjoy the day!