Thursday, March 12, 2020

GATHERING WOOL AGAIN

January is my normal month for all of my medical appointments; and with all of the poking, prodding, x-rays, waiting for lab reports, etc. etc., I knew I needed a distraction project.
I decided on a wool project, as I hadn't done one for awhile.  I find wool easier than cotton to work with no seam allowances and a more forgiving nature.  Just what I needed.

I'm totally committed to Colorado --- I was born and raised here; my family came here in 1876, the year Colorado became a state.  Both of my parents, one of my grandparents, and I were born in the little town of Rocky Ford on the Colorado prairie.  My Colorado ancestors were cattle and sheep ranchers and farmers. Therefore, wool is part of my DNA - I sleep under it, wear it, collect it, and sew with it! 
We've lived in Canon City, Colorado in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for the last 40 years.

I've had in my mind for awhile some crazy quilt blocks with a Colorado theme.

Time to do it!

(STATS:  "Gathering Wool Again", 2020, 24"x24", 4" blocks, wool, machine appliqued, machine pieced, machine quilted.)
Various blocks reference the beauty of Colorado including the Spring wildflowers, the Fall aspen leaves, and the stars over the mountains.

In my signature block, lower right, is a drawing of my current hometown's famous Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.
Colorado state flower - The Columbine and the Colorado state flag adopted in 1911.
 Sunset on the Rocky Mountains
 The U.S. flag in 1876 when Colorado became a state contained 13 tiny stars (beyond my appliqueing ability) around a large center star. 
The lower right block above is a salute to the town of my birth which is famous for growing melons and fields of zinnias for seed.

This was such an enjoyable project that stretched some of my appliqueing and machine sewing skills.  It certainly was the catalyst that helped me through the months of January and February which included 3 weeks of the regular flu with respiratory issues; and then, a skin surgery with a graft.
I'm feeling so much better; but since I'm now at risk, I'm hunkering down in order to miss the current viral infection. 

Hope this finds everyone safe, healthy, and enjoying some time to quilt!

P.S.:  No pattern available -- I just make it up as I go!

I'm joining the following:
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday