Turkey Tracks: “Winter Blue Jays” Quilt
Turkey Tracks: October 3, 2016
“Winter Blue Jays” Quilt
My oldest grandchild turned THIRTEEN in late September.
How did that happen?
Of course I sent him a quilt for his quilt collection.
One of my childhood memories is playing in the sandy, rock-lined paths of my grandmother’s Reynolds, Georgia, garden when some baby Blue Jays fledged. They were beyond adorable, and, of course, I tried to catch one. The next thing I knew, Mama Blue Jay was flying around my head, pulling my hair, beating my head with her wings, and making a terrible racket.
Up here in Maine, I don’t see Blue Jays much in the summer. But in winter, they arrive in flocks at my feeders, and they are so pretty. They like a flat feeder, so I have one for them.
I bought the backing for Bowen’s quilt a few years back because I instantly fell in love with it
I put my childhood story on the label so Bowen would always see my deep attachment to the wonders of nature.
This quilt came out of the four-patch journey I went on two summers ago where I sewed all the two-inch blocks into light/dark four-patches. I also used the 3 1/2-inch strips I had already cut and stored to make the light/dark half-square triangles–with the Easy Angle ruler. ( I use Bonnie Hunter’s stash management system, as I’ve written about many times on this blog.) The block in this quilt is the classic Jacob’s Ladder block–a 9 patch. I had some light shirting fabric that I thought went really well with this quilt for the binding.
The quilt is a classic, like Bowen.
I used a soft blue thread and a gently curving feather pantograph.
absolutely beautiful!!
judith brill
October 3, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Gorgeous! And I’m always partial to blue and white.
quilterkelse
October 3, 2016 at 6:25 pm
Very nice. Love your story, blue jays can be nasty; but they add a nice touch of color on a snowy winter day. I’m sure he will get many laughs out of picturing Grandma being attacked by Momma bird.
Margaret-Elaine Jinno
October 15, 2016 at 7:31 am