Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label veterans. Show all posts

Monday, 10 February 2025

We Will Remember Them

 

My father was a veteran of World War II, as were two of my uncles (one maternal and one paternal). Both of my grandfathers were veterans of World War I. So, Remembrance Day is significant for me. In choosing what to make for a November wallhanging, I wanted it to be special. When I saw this particular panel from the Stonehenge Oh Canada line, I felt that they had really "knocked it out of the park". I have liked most of the various Oh Canada lines, but this particular panel really spoke to my heart. 
I made it simple. It didn't really need much added to it because the panel itself speaks volumes. So, I just added some solid black and some of the poppy ombre fabric from the same line. 

It was quilted with the Poppy Feathers pantograph. 
I've kind of gotten sidetracked from my Tortoise Projects, so not really any progress to report there. 
I have completed 2 squares from block 2 of An Alchemy of Stitches. And I'm sorry, not sorry, but those loops on the second square make me think of teats on an udder. My daughter had the same reaction when I showed this square to her. 
I decided to start the Farmer's Wife quilt, since I got the book for my last birthday, using scraps from my stash. These are only 6" blocks, so some of the pieces are quite small. 
There is a website in the book where the templates for the blocks can be downloaded. The annoying thing, however, is that, no matter how small the template, there is only 1 per page. Not only that, but there is a template for every piece. And not every piece needs a template. Many of them are very easily measured with a ruler. And I'd much rather measure with a ruler than fuss with templates. 
I really didn't need to start another project, so I think I will be relegating this to the UFO pile and take it up later when I have more urgent projects finished. 

Sunday, 23 April 2017

On Guard For Thee

Quilter's Connection is a magazine for Canadian Quilters. I don't subscribe, by the way, but I did decide to take part in their Canada Eh? Mystery Table Runner Contest. I'm still waiting for them to post the results, but the above picture is my entry. This is the very first time I've taken part in a mystery quilt. You may remember the mystery crochet along that I took part in, and quit only part way in because I was not happy with the results. But as this was just a table runner I figured I could give it a shot. 
When I chose fabrics for this project, I assumed most people would be using whites and reds, the colours in Canada's flag. I wanted something a little more unique, but wasn't sure what. I looked at various fabrics at my LQS, and finally settled on a red and black combination. This is the colour combination of the poppies we wear for Remembrance Day.  
Without the valour, courage, honour and bravery of our veterans, we might not have a Canada to celebrate. Therefore, I chose to honour those who served as well as celebrate our country with this table runner, especially since 2017 is also the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge. 
The backing is a floral print, reminiscent of poppies.
As far as I'm concerned the "pièce de résistance" is the pantograph I used to quilt this table runner. It's called From the Heart, and quilts the words, "honor, courage, valor, bravery" into the runner. (Unfortunately, this made in the USA pantograph leaves out the 'u' in honour and valour). It was a bit of a challenge to quilt, however, as when following a pantograph, you work right to left, so I was quilting the words "backwards." I had to just think of them as quilting patterns, not words. 
This will make a great pantograph for a QOV.
I named my table runner, "On Guard for Thee," which is a line from our national anthem, for those of you who are unaware. 
When I tried to submit my entry, the website was undergoing revision (or whatever). It seemed like a rather unfortunate decision to update their website on the weekend that the submissions were due. So, I just emailed my entry to the email address on the page that announced their website reconstruction, hoping it would get to the right place... I guess I'll just have to wait and see. 

Someone once said that colours in cell phone pictures are not as true as those taken with a camera. Until this table runner, I hadn't really noticed. The very first picture in this post was taken with my digital camera. It's having issues and I either need to get it repaired or replaced, so I've mostly been using my cell phone. But you'll notice that in the other pictures, the red looks a little pinkish. In the full runner picture immediately above, I did increase the exposure as it was quite dark, but the black flowers on the red fabric look more like dark pink. I didn't make any adjustments to the picture of the background fabric, but the darker flowers, which are actually red look more like a dark coral in the picture. I guess I'd better invest in a new camera if I want my pictures to have true colours. 

Monday, 11 November 2013

We Will Remember Them


 
This is my father. He served in the Air Force during World War II. Both of my grandfathers were veterans of World War I. My paternal grandfather died of complications of Trench Disease contracted during the war, when my father was only 9 years old. 
Remembrance Day has special meaning to me, so I want to take this opportunity to honour those who served, those who died, and those who continue to serve.
I'd like to share some videos in tribute to our veterans and those currently serving. These all bring tears to my eyes.
A Pittance of Time by Terry Kelly. Please don't forget to observe 2 minutes of silence at 11:00 a.m. wherever you are in honour of our veterans.
This is Highway of Heroes by the Trews. Even if you're not Canadian, I'm sure you can appreciate this one. This is how we honour our fallen heroes.
This is a series of photographs of the Highway of Heroes by Sun Media photographer Pete Fisher, accompanied by the ever-tear-inducing Amazing Grace on bagpipes.
For whatever reason, I cannot embed or insert the next video, so I'll link to it:
Bringing Buddy Home by John McDermott.This is a very poignant tribute to those who die in the line of duty.
Finally, one more series of photos of the Highway of Heroes, featuring a song by Lee Greenwood that pays tribute to those who died so that we can live free in this great country of ours.
Poppy & Remembrance
Image from http://www.legion.ca/honour-remember/poppy-remembrance/
Lest we forget.