On November 8, 2016, I watched our US election returns, fully expecting that we would be welcoming our first woman president.
As I watched, I embroidered on this block, with the words of the woman I was sure would be that president.
I was stunned, horrified, and so, so disappointed when things worked out so differently, so cataclysmically wrong.
Disheartened, I stopped working on the quilt for a while but eventually knew that I needed, perhaps more than ever, to finish it.
And through the intervening two years, it’s given me some comfort to work on this. New women leaders have emerged while established standard bearers, including Hillary Rodham Clinton, continue to work toward keeping America America.
I admire Hillary Clinton. Nancy Pelosi. Elizabeth Warren.
I admire Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the other newly-elected women in government, every one of them, and Stacey Abrams and so many others.
I admire the women of Planned Parenthood and the ones who march for women’s rights, and women doctors and scientists and authors and artists, and every woman who has found her own way to say, “I am. I want my human rights.”
And, of course, I also admire the women who have found ways to express themselves when their expressive options were limited. And that brings us to my other quilt-in-progress.
I’ve started crocheting together the fusion squares.
So I settled for a layout that put the all-white squares in the center, with more colorful ones bordering them. I stacked the squares up in order and had a plan, minimal though it was, and tucked all of the squares into a safe cabinet so I could take them out in order, to crochet.
The next day, I found that one of the cats (I’m looking at you, Gigi!) had finagled her way into the cabinet and wreaked havoc with my plan, minimal though it was. The squares were tossed every which way.
So, we’ll just have to wait and see how this turns out!
This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another. If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.
Kathy, Lori, Margaret, Kerry, Emma, Tracy, Deb, Connie, Susan, Nanette, Edith, Sharon, Karrin, and Gretchen
Oh dear. A female cat? But we’ll done for getting back to celebrating a possible better politics.
Yes, a female cat, exercising her feline rights to wreak havoc!
Even if it’s a woman whose opinions and political goals you don’t admire, you have to celebrate the fact that she got there despite everything. Margaret Thatcher. Golda Meir. Indira Ghandi. Benazir Bhutto. They showed it can be done in entrenched, bigoted and misogynistic societies. And now as a shining light of good sense, compassion and leadership, Jacinda Ardern.
Great points, Kate! Yes, all women of strength and character deserve our admiration.
My sentiments exactly! Gigi – you naughty girl 🙂 I am absolutely in love this quilt and am so excited to see how this turns out all put together.
Gigi is quite naughty–it’s a good thing she’s cute and funny, too. It’s been fun, to have two quilts going that are so completely different!
Your Women’s Rights quilt is perfect for working on in these challenging times, I love your fusion quilt too, it looks so peaceful.
They’re really very different quilts and they appeal to me for different reasons. Nice to have choices of which to work on, depending on my mood.
Maybe the cat wanted to get involved in helping you with the design 🙂 You know I love your women’s rights quilt and I think it’s definitely appropriate to keep going in these times.
Maybe the cat’s work will improve the pattern! I do find working on the women’s rights quilt to be encouraging, on days when I feel overwhelmed.
Love both quilts! But the red one is a prize on many levels. Good for you keeping on in the darkness.
They have different kinds of meaning for me, both important, just different. I keep coming up with new quotes I wish I could include in the red quilt . . .
Oh, save the quotes! You could do another, or pillows to match… I know you dread the thought of another, but… 😉
I love our President and our Country. Women have had rights at least since 1920 and before my Grandmother did at the turn of the 1900’s, it just meant that they had to be strong enough to use the rights! I had the right to say “no” when there were unwanted advances! It just meant it took me longer to climb the ladder to a higher grade than those who gave in and said “yes”. I will probably be banned now – just like Twitter does to Conservative voices!
Not sure who would ban you–certainly not I! We share so many values–love of country, commitment to freedom of speech, the admiration of strong, outspoken women, the love of sewing. It’s okay for us not to agree about everything–we can still be pals.
I like your fusion blocks. I’ve seen a couple of these and look forward to seeing how this turns out. I’m another conservative voice, and it’s good that we can both voice our opinions. I didn’t follow Betty Friedan OR Betty Crocker, but found my own way. I can admire you for what you do, without agreeing with you on everything. I wish the politicians would learn how to do that. =)
Oh another Conservative Great!
If you were here, I’d hug you! Such a sensible position–yes, we can like and admire each other without seeing eye to eye on everything. Let’s always remember that!
I love both your quilts and am so pleased you are getting on with both. Cats! They do as they like and we love them for it! My daughter’s cat has taken to scraping her claws down the window when she wants to be let out. 😮
Thanks, Clare–I’m enjoying the work on both quilts. It just depends on my mood, which one I pick up. That same cat wants to “help” me when I crochet . . . .
Hmmm……
Lovely quilting and the crocheted blocks are so beautiful! Glad Kitty didn’t ruin any…maybe Kitty was trying to find something!😄 of course you know that I don’t agree with your political views but I’m glad in-spite of that we are friends.❤️
The weird thing is that I had put a strong rubber band over the two little knobs or the cabinet doors, to be extra sure no cat could get in. And, yet, she persisted. 😉 Our political views are different, yes, but I think we share certain values that allow us to be friends–I hope we always are!
Well, that’s got the name for the quilt sorted – and it’s a lovely name! This is my favourite of all the pieces you are working on – and I just know it will be spectacular no matter what Gigi has decided. Every time you post about this quilt I wish I lived closer to you!! ❤
What name for the quilt? “I’m Looking at You, Gigi”? i’m thinking maybe the layout will have been improved with her help. If not, at least I have someone to blame! I always wish you lived closer!
You are such a sweetheart!! And Gigi is my favourite cat now!
A list of impressive women, Kerry. I think an essence of them will permeate the quilt when it’s finished. And in the meantime, oh that finagling cat!
That list of impressive women can go on and on–so many women stepping up, all over the world. The cat is mostly very sweet . . . but she does have her naughty moments.
I think I see a parallel process, quilts & politics, going on with chaos and random allocations happening. I suspect that you cat has more sense than…
– Oscar
The cat’s random allocations have fewer consequences!
I am glad you are going ahead with that beautiful quilt. It is quite stunning, and the words of wisdom sewn into it make it unique.
Thanks, Anne. The best part was doing the embroidery and really having the luxury to ponder those wise words.
Oh boy, I just started reading a book called “Women Talking” by Miriam Toews, and your quilt resonates with the themes of that work of fiction about the stiffling of women’s voices. Your cats seem to have prehensile paws to break into cabinets.
That sounds like a good book! I’ll make a note. I had fastened the knobs of the cupboard with a hefty rubber band, to be *sure* no one could get in. I really don’t know how she managed. And I wonder what else she is plotting . . .
Cats are always plotting – it’s quite scary really 😸
Wonderful post, Kerry, for oh so discouraging times. if you want more reasons to admire Nancy Pelosi, listen to the recent podcast of Throughline. https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline To my way of thinking, Nancy Pelosi is one of our greats, a true hero.
Thanks, Laurie–I like knowing you and I see eye to eye on so much. I’m absolutely Team Pelosi!
We certainly do!
GigI persisted and managed to open that door despite your efforts with the elastic bands. And quiet enough that you didn’t even know she was doing it until it was too late. A smart, fonceful female who is determined to succeed. Can’t help but admire her.
She is all that and more! The little cabinet she got into is in our bedroom–I cannot understand why I didn’t hear her. She must’ve been in there, rifling around for a while, too, from the looks of things.
Hello Kerry, You are one of those impressive women yourself! I am grateful for all the voices that encourage and support us all as equals. Beautiful work ( and words) as always, Kerry!
Thank you, Denise! It’s been very satisfying, honoring these women and their wise words.
Beautiful, beautiful quilts!
Thanks! I beginning to feel like I might actually finish both in this lifetime!
Give Gigi a credit as co-designer,but just a small one, because it is your careful handwork that really makes this quilt amazing!
Funny–all I’m seeing, at this point, are the little mistakes I made as I was trying to figure all the steps out. Uneven crocheting (I didn’t know how to connect the end to the beginning), wonky edges on the squares, etc. Part of me wants to start over and apply what I’ve learned. Part of me (the bigger part!) just wants to finish!
They look gorgeous to me, and I’m sure that joining them up will camouflage any little problems there might be. That no one else will ever notice anyway. 🙂
I don’t know which is more beautiful your hand quilting or your crocheting the squares together – it’s a tie I think. 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I have been lamenting my crochet skills these last few days. When I see all the squares together, it’s pretty obvious that I had no idea what I was doing for the first 50 or so!
I love both your quilts Kerry; they are beautiful projects that express who you are. It doesn’t matter to me what our political views are, there are so many things that we have in common, it will take years to explore those topics adequately! 😘
My political views and values are a huge part of who I am. They influence my view of the world in obvious and subtle ways so of course they’re going to turn up here, just like your religious faith consistently crops up in your posts. Isn’t that what our blogs are, after all? Our means of expressing and sharing who we are? I’m glad you and I have so much in common and also that we see some things differently. It’s important to know, respect, and seek to understand all kinds of people!
I count you as a dear friend though we’ve never met, Kerry. I do love that we can be who we are and yet care deeply for one another without reservation!
❤️
It’s going to be magnificent!
Thanks! Right now, I’d be content with “finished.”