Just a few hours old, and we wonder already what direction(s) his life will take...will he be one born to teach? To solve mathematical equations? To create with clay and paint? To discover what has yet to be discovered?
Even while still in his mother's womb, I pondered what his future life might look like as I began stitching a welcoming quilt for him. Of course I wanted to give him the moon and stars. And wishes for a life full of adventure and smooth sailing. A Mariner's Compass quilt seemed so fitting, so I got to work cutting and stitching.
This pattern is a bit complicated, to say the least. With 32 points on the compass "rose" and 8 "fussy cuts" with sailboats positioned to make a circular ring inside, it took a bit of time. Luckily, freezer paper foundation-piecing made the project so much easier. (Pardon the quilter's lingo here.). Good thing I needed to only make four of these blocks!
I also made ten sailboat blocks using the same paper-foundation piecing technique. Then it was time to put all the blocks together and use the tried-but-true-but-painful method of basting the quilt top, batting and backing together on the floor. Thank you, bones, for allowing me to get up from the floor afterwards!!!
Once the basting was completed, it was time for the hand-quilting to commence. However, the
recipient of this quilt made it to the finish line first! Carter Nelson Lindahl was born two weeks ago and he, his mother, his father, his big brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins are all doing well. They look forward to where this life journey may take him and wish for Godspeed along the way!
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| Yes, here we see Carter's wonderful parents. And, yes those are unfinished edges on the quilt. |
noun
1. Good fortune; success (used as a wish to a person starting on a journey, a new venture, etc.)
origin
Middle English: from God speed you 'may God help you prosper'.
