2014 - Quilt

Now towards the end of this year this is my way of looking back: with the star for December I finished the last block for my 2014-quilt. Each of these squares mirrors to me a somehow remarkable incident in a particular month, often it wasn't anything major, but just something I've read, or a trip, or a conversation with someone that impressed me in a certain way. 
My original plan had been to work with plain red and bright natural colors only, because there is such a rich tradition behind such kind of work that I wanted to carry on. On the other hand I wanted to leave traditions behind and do my own designs, using patchwork-technique only. But during the whole process of working on these blocks it seemed appropriate to leave some such "laws" behind and to play a bit more: it's still all individually designed, but there is one block for November with Redwork-embroidery only, the August-block shows appliquéd balls to juggle and in September I wanted to use fabric with a pattern in it and more such little examples where I bent my rules… which is a good thing to do, I think, to bend rules when something better comes up. Something I really wish to learn to do more light-heartedly.

Now the next steps are to add borders, to baste the top with the batting and the backing, to quilt it all, to add a label, to attach sleeves… and to find a nice place for hanging! It will all take time again, I'm working on other things as well, but I'm very pleased to have such a quilt-diary of a year that was important to me.

Merry Christmas!

"Peacemaking calls for courage, much more so than warfare."

Pope Francis

… said that and planted an olive tree, 

together with two other men,

here is the story,

a real good Christmas story:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27754663

If we're destroying our trees and destroying our environment and hurting animals and hurting one another and all that stuff, there's got to be a very powerful energy to fight that. I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.

Ellen DeGeneres

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/joy.html

Well, yes, I love what she says and I do think that quilts will help here, too!

I really like that pattern!

I found it in a quilt that was recently shown by "quilt index" 

as the "quilt of the day" 

- with my App for my iPhone. 

It's such a pleasure to receive a daily greeting 

with a lovely quilt-picture (plus information about it.)

If you are interested go to:

www.quiltindex.org,

it's such a rich source of information on quilts!

I made a mini-quilt with this pattern and sewed it upon a red cushion cover.

Three wise women would have...

asked directions,

arrived on time,

helped deliver the baby,

cleaned the stable,

made a casserole,

brought practical gifts,

and there would be peace on Earth.

--Unknown 

http://www.quotelady.com/subjects/christmas.html

Yes!

And among the practical gifts would have been quilts 

for the whole family of course!

"Think left and think right

and think low and think high.

Oh, the thinks you can think up 

if only you try!"

Dr. Seuss

http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/61105.Dr_Seuss

Oh, I like that quote!!

And one of the "thinks" I thought up  is to have a winter-quilt

which I only use in the months December and January,

and here is it again, 

I like that it's so warm and soft,

and there is a cushion to go with it.

Sweet Voices Ringing From Lands of Long Ago

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,

We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago,

And etched on vacant places

Are half forgotten faces

Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know ...

When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow.

by Emma Wheeler Wilcox

http://womenshistory.about.com/etext/whx/bl_christmas_wilcox.htm

( I photographed the lovely old toys at the City Museum, Weimar, Germany.)