::Solstice Picnic Quilt::
Regardless of moving from Fremont we did not break tradition and made it to the Fremont Solstice Parade with children in tow.
I won’t get into too much about the history of the parade, but it originated in a hope to make a better world by supporting the neighborhood and raising funds to end poverty. Roan’s school in Fremont was a grant recipient and in turn able to help school many of the city’s homeless children. The parade is void of anything motorized, highly artistic in nature often with a theme of political protest and really is an all over good time.
It is traditionally led by body-painted bicyclists. This year there were hundreds of them. A great way to show eleven year olds that even painted artistically 99% of bodies look nothing like in magazines;)
Of course we broke out the Solstice Quilt to place on the pavement. This quilt lives in the car and is the most washed quilt we own. One thing I noticed this year about putting something handmade onto the ground was people respected your space a little more. Considering the parade was the largest I’d seen this was a good thing. Once the parade was in full swing and we weren’t really sitting anymore I pulled it back to a less selfish amount of space.
The Solstice Picnic Quilt was the first quilt I ever created in a virtual quilting bee. I gathered 36 scraps of the same color for each participant and had them cut and sew together the postage stamp blocks.
Of course as I discovered when the blocks were returned is that a quarter inch seam isn’t the same measurement to everyone, so I built each block out log cabin style and squared them all wonky with my largest template to the same size.
This quilt was also my first free motion quilting experience. I had a cramp in my calf for about four days after from pressing the pedal and it truly is a disaster if you look close. It was a great practice tool.
House on Hill Road gave me the idea for the ‘rock pockets” on the back corners to weight the quilt so that the crows or wind can’t fly off with it on the beach.
I’ve always loved this out of print Alexander Henry Sun Signs print and fussy cut out Jefe’s, Roan’s and my signs.
If you don’t have a quilt of this utilitarian nature I suggest you make one. Picnics, beach, parade, soccer games, I can’t imagine life without it.
Happy Week Peeps;)
I believe I’ll have furniture in the studio by next week!
Love this!!!
Sarah
Beautiful quilt and nice to know about the parade…
Farida
Wow. Just wow.
Happy Summer!
Love the quilt, including the rock pockets. That is a great idea. My Stepping Stones quilt will be finished at some point and I will put rock pockets on it.
Miss you, Joan
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WOOWW SUPPPER
I love the idea for rock pockets on a grab-and-go quilt! So clever!
You need one or four!
Your so right! When I lay down my beach quilt on the beach to lay on, someone always asks me about it and several times I have been asked if I would sell it!
Your quilt must be spectacular! They have no clue what it would really cost;)
I remember reading about the Solstice Parade when we were preparing to move to Seattle. I couldn’t wait to see it! Unfortunately, my health became such that I can’t really do parades anymore. But! The good news is that since then my daughter has moved out, has found a fantastic fiancé mate for life, and was at that parade on Saturday 🙂 Yay. Haha! Our dreams work out somehow, don’t they? And I love your quilt and I am taking your advice to heart. An excellent idea to have ready in the car and I will remember the rock pockets! The Astrology fabríc is awesome 🙂
Such a happy quilt! It is a beautiful creation and regardless of whether you believe the quilting is good or not I think it is a delightful quilt.
I agree;)
Thanks for sharing the story of this quilt. Think of all you learned in the making of it and how much enjoyment your family has received from it!
It’s all washed and ready for the next adventure.
Wonderful quilt! People were leaning on my camp chair, I am not surprised they respected that space better 🙂
Guess you need to make a quilt?;)
Sew very pretty!!
Thanks! I love it too;)
And I bought myself a technically proper picnic blanket this summer. But you are right, people give more freedom of space with a quilt.
Loved your bit on ‘while she naps.’
Love this quilt and really enjoyed the glimpse of the Solstice Parade.
I love this quilt! You should make a pattern and sell it. I sure would purchase one. You are so talentend.
Thanks so much Dana. Someday I’ll get around to patterns;)
Making a mental note – rock pockets – genius! TTS
nice….