I have finished the beading on my postcard quilt for the Take It Further challenge. You may recall that the concept for this month was "What are you old enough to remember?" What stood out in my mind from my childhood was the news about Lady Bird Johnson's vision for the national highways to be planted with native flowers. In doing my research for this project I learned that her vision extended beyond that to "clean water, clean air, clean roadsides, safe waste disposal and preservation of valued old landmarks as well as great parks and wilderness areas." Well, since I'm only making postcard size quilts for this series I had to keep my focus pretty narrow!
I lived in Texas for about 14 years and had opportunities to see the wildflowers in bloom along the roadsides there. My postcard may be a little more densely beaded than I originally intended but honestly, when the wildflowers are in bloom it's solid flowers on both sides of the road!
Here's a side view of the quilt just to give you some idea of the dimensionality of the beads. It's a full quarter inch from the table to the top of the orange bead stacks.I still have to back the quilt and finish the edges. I've never been thrilled with the look of zig-zagged raw edges, at least when I do it. I don't enjoy the process either. I don't have the patience required to get a nice smooth finish! So I'm playing around with ideas for alternative edge finishes. I also still have to back and bind my Gemini journal quilt but right now I'm not in the mood to do either. I think it might be time to start a new project...
This is a truly lovely block Sue- what a tremendous legacy Lady Bird left - so much beauty!
ReplyDeleteThe wild flowers blooming along the Texas highways is a spectacular sight! They harvest the seeds every year and the color is incredible! Thanks for that memory and sharing.
ReplyDeleteit's lovely - I really like your concept and the way you expressed it. The side view is fun!
ReplyDeleteI really love your memory and the way you carried it out. The postcard is exquisite. Connie
ReplyDeleteThis does remind me of the Texas highways.Love the postcard.It is beautiful.What a clever thing to do... from the birdseye view.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful idea and a beautiful piece !
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about the flowers along the roads in Texas. I lived there about 30 years ago and remember them fondly, especially the bluebells. You've captured them well. Clever idea!
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I really like this theme, it is so beautiful to drive down the roads and see wild flowers instead of billboards. I do notice that there seems to have been an increase in billboards in the last few years. Lady "Bird" was a forward thinker and there is a lot that she quietly accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the roadsides in California covered in poppy's and gazaneas. It's so much more attractive than dirt or just grass.
ReplyDeleteYour page looks absolutely beautiful. Like your road too.
Lovely! and the beading is gorgeous.
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You are so creative. I love how this turned out.
ReplyDeleteI'm in Austin - this was Lady Bird's finest contribution - a spectacular and beautiful place her Wildflower Research Center! I used to paint accessories for the gift shop. The wildflowers are, indeed, incredible in years when it has rained enough - we are hoping this year!! Thanks for bringing attention to it!
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