Dogwoods
This pattern is Springtime in the Ozarks, taken from the Great American Quilts book. I don't remember exactly when I first saw it, maybe late 2002. I immediately fell in love with it and knew that I would someday make it. This one was going to be time consuming, and required a significant amount of fabrics. Something about it made me think of my dad. I didn't immediately think "this will be my memory quilt for him," but it did make me think of him from the first time I saw it. Over the course of time, I decided that this was undoubtedly my quilt for Dad. There was too much in it that reminded me of him. More on that in a minute.
Upon reviewing the list of materials and admiring this quilt in the book, I knew that the fabric for the flower blocks is what I should watch for. I searched continually and kept an eye out, for over three years, for the perfect dogwood fabric. I even purchased the three yards needed at one point, then decided it was too pink! Not long after I came across some fabric that, even though it wasn't what I had in mind, it would be perfect for the quilt.Once I had that neatly rolled on a bolt, I began searching for the blue. My guideline for theblue was obvious for me. It was the color of my Daddy's eyes! It didn't take very long before I found the perfect blue amongst some christmas fabric. I purchase the six and a half yards I needed and rolled it up on the bolt. And so it goes that I continued to acquire all I needed to begin the quilt by the end of 2006. I had spent most of that year making my grandchildren's quilts for their Christmas, so this would be my first project of 2007. Being as it was in memory of Dad, I would try my best to make it as perfect as I could.
The blue background makes me remember how purely blue Dad's eyes were. The dogwood flowers are closely similar to a peach blossom. Hence, my choice of a more peachy color for my flowers. He loved peaches, and after he passed away, I planted a peach tree in his memory. The cardinal perched in the center reminds me of a few things. One is that while growing up, we always has numerous cardinals in and around our yard. that's probably why they are now one of my favorite birds! Secondly, Dad would always buy my mom some type of porcelain bird figurines on special occasions. And, of course, feathers, which will always be a sign from Dad. The tulips don't have any particular sinificance other than they are one of the first signs of spring, the season in which Dad died. I can remember that awful March day, and as spring approached, I can also remember it was comforting to me to see the life coming back after a cold winter season.
It took ten days to complete the applique center. There are 22 pieced blocks with 36 pieced in each one. It took five days to complete those. The outer borders are applique - taking seven days to complete. This quilt is hand quilted with crosshatch in the center, a chain in the small border around it. There will be tulip echos between the large flowers and a blossom label that will read 'Daddy's Hands'
Lord willing, I will finish it this year!!
