Loving French Knots

Long, long ago (1984) in a state far, far away (Nebraska) I spent the summer embroidering French knots on squares of plain muslin.  I liked the process, I liked hand sewing, and I liked doing it while I looked at the map of Massachusetts tacked up on my wall.  I spent the summer making knots and thinking about my new life to come,  waiting for Labor Day weekend to arrive and my big move to Boston.

The finished muslin squares were put away and forgotten about for a long time.  When Mom and Dad flew out for our wedding in 1988, Mom found the squares in my sewing room and chastised me for letting them gather dust.  I never thought about it again until 1989, when this arrived on my doorstep:

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You could have knocked me over with a feather.   This was the quilt responsible for me getting in to quilting myself - I didn't think I was capable of creating something that could wind up (with a LOT OF HELP) this substantial.  The label is one of Mom's typical gems - done in left handed calligraphy:  " Candlewicking: by Joan Ciolino, Gloucester Mass. Quilt: by her  Mother, Mary Ann Major, Lexington, Nebraska. 1989."   How absolutely wonderful is that?

We use the quilt mostly in the fall but when we put it on our bed we have to put it face down - dragging your arm across those bumps in the middle of the night is not a pleasant experience.  It still serves a useful purpose, and the other months it hangs beautifully on our bedroom quilt rack. The colors are dated,  the whole thing is tired from many uses and washings, but it's the only thing my Mom and I made together.   In short, it's exactly what a quilt should be.

Check out this new site:  We Love French Knots.  It promises to be an interesting and informative place to learn how to create beautiful heirlooms.  As the weather gets hotter here in Gloucester, I find myself needing portable hand sewing projects I can take to our family room where trusty R2D2 (the mobile AC) makes my life bearable.  Happy 4th of July - I met my husband 24 years ago today.  He REALLY makes my life bearable....

Out of Body Independence

Last night I had the most surreal, authentic patriotic moment of my life.  I was sitting in the family room whipping up another bushel of cherries for my current project and watching John Adams on HBO.  I have such a fascination with this series - and I am (well I was not) a history buff.  This is one series you must see - even if you need to purchase the DVD.   Ever man, woman and child in this country needs to watch this series.  I don't care if you pledge a political party or not, if you have a religious belief or not.  This has nothing to do with that.  Watch this series. You will be humbled, awed, educated, inspired and gain a profound respect and gratitude for what these people did to form this country.

Back to the subject.  There I was, sewing away and watching the founding fathers argue over whether or not we (the freakishly small and weak colonies) should tell King George and the most powerful country in the world to kiss off.  As the program progressed, the gritty and horrifying realities of the Revolutionary War were portrayed with battles, bloodied men, and LOTS of cannons.  About this time the fireworks started going off over historic Gloucester Harbor (the site of the battle of Gloucester in 1775)  and the BOOM BOOM BOOM of the fireworks meshed with the BOOM BOOM BOOM of the cannons in the war.  There I was, watching the birth of our country and hearing the celebration of that birth outside my windows.  Gloucester harbor's  booming cannons of 1775 were replaced with the booming fireworks of 2010.  It was a profoundly moving moment.  I don't think I have ever in my life fully  realized the importance of July 4th until last night.

Happy Birthday, America.  And a shout-out to the founding mothers, too.  Even John Adams admitted he would not be worth his salt without the counsel and wisdom of Abigail.