The "Good Earth" Quilt - Oak Tree sneak peak...

The "Good Earth" Quilt will celebrate my parents' 40th anniversary.  This oak tree...and roosting chicken...will be part of the large central medallion square.  For the last post, I shared my stepmother's flower cart.

I have to admit that trying to design a large central medallion square (around 30 inches) is a little daunting.  Just trying to find a large, clutter-free work surface in the quilt cave can be challenging, LOL...

My little design brain functions OK on blocks 15 inches square and under, but going over that size is difficult.  Maybe if I had one of those tilting, architect's drafting tables I could really see the block (I'm beginning to covet my architect sister's drafting table that I think my Dad built...but then, I would have to have ROOM for something like that...). 

So, I am designing in pieces, prepping in chunks, then when the glue baste dries I can slide them around the background square until the design "clicks." 

I picked an oak tree because the family property in Alabama is covered with them...all varieties.  And there are chickens, for egg laying.  Their chickens have an elegant enclosure and don't roost in the trees, but I couldn't help myself.  I mean, have you ever seen an antique applique quilt that didn't feature birds in trees?!?  I am standing on the shoulders of thousands of quilting women as I contemplate this medallion.

A few years ago I changed one of Sue Garman's lovely blocks in her "Around the Town" quilt to reflect a 'tongue and cheek' version of a house in Alabama...hey, if you grew up there, it's OK to poke fun, right?  My parents have a large, beautiful log home that they designed and built themselves, INDOOR plumbing, no trucks up on blocks in the yard, and no underwear or overalls drying on the line in the front yard, LOL...just to set the record straight.

OK...shhhh...mum's the word...this is a secret.  My parent's are tooling around in their little RV right now, enjoying a little holiday trip.  They are away from the Internet, not that they are big readers of my blog when they are at home.  I think they assume that there's normally just a lot of quilting blah, blah, blah, not much else to see.

I am hoping to just get the medallion block hand stitched and mailed to them...no WAY I will do more than that before December 8th!  I will just roll it up and tie it with a ribbon with the promise of the rest of the quilt coming later...no shame in that!

In stitches,
Teresa   :o)