The First Greater Vancouver Homelearners' Great Quilt Project 1996/97

• History of the Quilt

• The Contributors

• The Squares

History

In the spring of 1996, a group of Vancouver area Homelearners decided to combine a budding interest in the art of Quilting with an effort to raise some funds to support the Homelearners' Phoneline. Joan Miller and Elspeth Banerd headed up the project, handing out pre-cut squares in hot pink and teal from fabric donated by Joan Miller and Elizabeth DeBalasi. The squares were to be used as the background for each patch, or cut up and used in the design so that there would be some continuity throughout.

We collected 34 squares and gave a blank to Diana Sandberg (undisputed embroidery queen of the group) to stitch the identification square. There are squares from quilters as young as 6 and from as far away as Edmonton, representing all levels of skill from abject beginner to veteran expert. The only thing in common was that all contributions came from homelearning families.

The piecing and actual hand quilting of the quilt stretched over many months and involved many hands. There was much learning, laughter and bonding over this quilt and the creation of it was truly a labour of love.

The Contributors

Kathryn Alder, Vancouver; Reanna Alder, Vancouver; Elizabeth Ballantyne, Vancouver; Elspeth Banerd, Vancouver; Mika Banerd, Vancouver; Chris Bates, Vancouver; Devon Bates, Vancouver; Maureen Berger, Vancouver; Soledad Bermudez, Burnaby; Elise Boeur, Burnaby; Darren Boeur, Burnaby; Elizabeth DeBalasi, Vancouver; Maura Doherty, Vancouver; Kelly Fitzmaurice, Vancouver; Toni Forbes,Vancouver; Janet Gray, Victoria; Deborah Grimmett, Vancouver; Maureen Grimmett, Vancouver; Shannon Hillinger, Seattle; Jessica Holman, Seattle; Doris James, North Vancouver; Sandy Keane, North Vancouver; Karai Killy, Vancouver; Joan Miller, New Westminster; Patricia Muldowney, Vancouver Catrione Nantel, Vancouver; Louise Newman, West Vancouver; Ginette Nielsen, Buranby; Marge Nordman, Vancouver; Edie Orenstein, Vancouver; Sandy Robertson, Edmonton, AB; Luisa Sanchez, Vancouver; Diana Sandberg, Burnaby; Sonya Sandberg, Burnaby; Solly, Vancouver; Emma Whitney, New Westminster;

The Squares

Comments are from the quilt book, and again,I don't have a write up for every square. The quilt squares, numbered from top, left to right:

1. Crawford-Dale Family (Amber, Jasmine and Chris) "When the quilt idea was suggested to Amber she brought up why she likes being at home and not in school. She loves her soft friends, being in water, and books, books, books. Not being much of a sewer, I was glad her list was not longer. Her name is embroidered on our square in Chinese. The English pronounciation is "amping" and it means security and peace."

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2. Reanna Alder - Reanna's fish "homelearner: swimming free, autodidact, self-educated; getting a do-it-yourself education; home schooler; free-lancer; unschooler....""

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3. Diana Sandberg - masks/unicycle "Circus and theatre are the ruling passions of our homeschooling household. Sabrina rides her unicycle whenever she can - she even took it on the plane with her to visit her grandmother in San Francisco. She works diligently on tumbling, juggling, trapeze and tightwire and aspires to the Cirque du Soleil. Sonja has developed from merely being theatrical - from earliest childhood - through a delight in opera and spectacle to the momentous discovery of Shakespeare, to whose works she is now devoted. She can recite - thrillingly - great swaths of the stuff, and confounds even experienced Shakespearean actors with her latest feat - To Be Or Not To Be - backwards! Ot eb ro ton ot eb...."

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4. Virginia and Maureen Berger- teddy print 4 patch -

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5. Kathryn Alder - World in Pocket - This square has a double meaning for me. It represents my idea of a world of possibilities, and our own family's personal plans to do some travel this year.

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6. Sandy Robertson Sandy and her family live and homeschool in Edmonton. She has contributed three patches to our quilt and her squares were an inspiration to all of us.

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7. Ruth Martin & Family- monogramed squares - I started to quilt last year, 1995, when I took a sampler quilting course with my daughter. I quilted a square called "Patience Corner" because I felt the name reflected our home ... we're developing patience, in our home, for each other as we develop our own styles of learning... I'm patiently waiting for all 4 of our children to decide to be home-based learners...or Stanley and I need every ounce of patience we can get in order to survive ...or? I drew the initials of our names in italic writing (as taught by Elspeth at the X-mas card making shomeschoolers'seminar!), and each member of the family chose their favourite colour of embroidery thread for their initial. - Ruth Elwood Martin, for Stanley, Rebecca, Daniel, Benjamin and Thomas

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8. Willow Seedhouse-cat four-patch-

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9. Chris Bates - sun & fish - "My quilt square was inspired by Sandy Keane's quote (tee-shirts) from the dictionary:

   school² (skool) n. a large number of fish of the same kind swimming together in the same direction.

   One of the fish (a Homelearner!) is leaping out of the group towards the sun (of knowledge). This was my first attempt at quilting and it was great fun.

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10. Devon Bates - peace symbol - Like Elise Boeur (number 34) I cannot think of anything to say... I was going to make a yin-yang...but it would have been too complicated. - Devon V. Bates (I am a Girl!) Age Eleven (12 in April/97)"

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11. Joan Miller - traditional "hourglass" - My square is called "hourglass" and represents the idea that our homeschooling family never has enough time to do all the things we want to do*. There was a big mistake here - I was supposed to win the quilt! At any rate, I hope you and your family enjoy the quilt for many years - a lot of time went into it. - Joan Miller *renaissance & baroque music,*latin, *gardening; Carl Whitney *poetry, *natural history; Max Whitney *legos, *weapons, *computers; Emma Whitney *poetry, *Shakespeare, *crafts"

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12. Maureen Grimmett - traditional English paper piecing -

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13. Soledad Bermudez - bedroom - When are we doing the next one!!? As I was doing my part and quilt square I loved being able to bring back childhood memories of security and being loved and nurtured, even though I was not homeschooled - I came from what at least was then, a society and school system which as a bit closer to "feeling secure, safe & at home." I have only been homeschooling for a little while and am still in the process of 'deschooling' my son. What I have personally learned in the process of changing from school to homeschooling and meeting all of these extra caring moms and dads who joyfully "sacrifice " some of their freedom, self, etc.....is that sometimes we forget about ourselves being too busy giving. Doing the quilt square brought me a lot of self, personal satisfaction and was, this time, doing something for myself as well. Love from Soledad and Nicolas."

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14. deBalasi-Brown Family - photo transfer - Homelearning is, among other things, a celebration of family and home. By building our daily lives around our home rather than a place that isn't really anybody's place, we learn in ways and measures that nurture us well, so we can eventually go out into our community and nurture others. I am very thankful that our family can live and learn at home and then reach out. - Elizabeth deBalasi - March 5/97

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15. Ginette Nielsen I have had the wonderful opportuntiy to learn quilting techniques with some very talented women over the past year. The hours seemed to fly by whenever we gathered around the quilt. At first I watched much more than I sewed, and was happy to refill the coffee cups. Eventually my confidence grew and my stitch size shrank! My one and only wish for the person who wins this quilt is that they are able to feel the love that was "stitched-in-the-ditches", and the joy and laughter that flowed across the quilt each and every time it was worked on. On to the next project... - Gin - Feb./97

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16. Sandy Robertson

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17. Pat Muldowney - book pile - When the idea of the quilt first came up and I heard that our squares should evoke what homescholing means to us, one of my first thoughts was our messy house! Cleaning up always involves putting away all the books, magazines, newspapers and other papers that build up. The library is such a major resource for us and the children have so much time to read that piles of books are constantly being ferried in and out of the house - a happy complaint. My past esperience with embroidery can be summed up in a few French knots so this was a 'learn-as-I-go' square. I was more pleased with some techniques than with others. Oh well. The Celtic lettering reflects the extensive roots our family has in Ireland. It's my attempt at a version of Irish half uncial script. Pat Muldowney - March 5/97

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18. Maureen Berger - snowy windows - When I set out to design my square I researched quilt patterns because I knew nothing about quilting, yet wanted to do something that reflected it's tradition. I found this design as a fully pieced pattern called "dirty windows" and adapted it to be partially appliqué. The significance of the design to me is that it shows the home as a safe refuge from the elements and the night, but the outdoors is beautiful and accessible, just outside the window. Maureen Berger - age 46

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19. Elizabeth deBalasi this type of patchwork is called Afghani piecework. I do it because I enjoy it and find it beautiful, like learning at home with my family. the accumulation of small strips of fabric into a new fabric is much like the daily routine of our lives - small oten repetitious gestures building us into stronger, wiser and more knowledgeable people. I loved participating in the making of this quilt! It's been an adventure in sewing (machine), hand patchwork, hand quilting and best of all, in teamwork. If you enjoy the quilt a fraction as much as I have, you'll have a lot of pleasure from using it. Elizabeth (age 41) March/97

    
    

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20. Mika Banerd -open book- This was my first square and it took a long time. I chose this pattern because one of the things I like to do the most is read. I also like to sew and knit. This square represents a book of quilting patterns. I also helped stitch this quilt together. I hope that you enjoy this quilt. Mika (age 9)

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21. Elspeth Banerd -cabin- The images on my square are fairly straight-forward - the four 'hearts' representing the four members of our family, and the 'house' symbolic of our home - the hub that is at the centre of our busy lives. (Highly symbolic, since our home doesn't look anything like a little cottage - we live on the 8th floor of a housing co-op!)
    Last July (1996) we were out in our little 21' motor-sailer, putting along between Cortes Island and Comox. I had brought my quilt square with me, hoping to complete it, and I was debating whether I was willing to put in the time needed for the fiddly appliqué on the house. A sudden storm meant we had to tuck into a small bay on Mitlenatch Island for about 5 hours. This unexpected wait gave me more than enough time to finish the appliqué!
    I have had a wonderful time participating in the creation of this quilt. I hope your family enjoys it for many generations to come. Elspeth

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22. Kelly Fitzmaurice -floral starburst- Kelly has been recalcitrant in getting her notes to us for the quilt book in spite of badgering, threats and other forms of coercion too horrible to mention. I will have to just say that she was a hoot to work with and we will probably let her help with the next one. -ed.

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23. Karai Killy - water,mountains, trees and sky - Well, the whole idea of doing a square for the homelearners' quilt qas a challenge and a delight to me. I had to decide on an image that was more 'painterly' than 'quilterly' because that is the way I think and see. So the mountains, the forest, and the ocean became the images I needed to make because our family spends so much time outside doing stuff int eh elements. I have never done anything like this before, although I love learning by the seat of my pants. Hence the whole thing happened by trial and error, and serendipitously came out okay. I loved the little actual quilting I got to do, and wished there had been more opportunities in my life to participate:the cameraderie and peace was a delight to be a part of. May you and your family share in this peace and cameraderie

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24. Reanna Alder - circle dance - Yes, that IS an alien on my square - Reanna

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25. Annwen Davies -castle- The castle was my second attempt at quilting. Quite different from the 9 square, but just as enjoyable to create. This square represents my children's fascination with knights, castles and medieval battles. This fascination has influenced the books we read, the craft projects we do, the games they play, and now the quilt square. Enjoy!!

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26. Pam Martin - Roses - Pam used a traditional method called "trapunto" where the design is stitched and then extra stuffing is inserted from the back.

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27. Neal Miskin & Sandy Keane -baseball diamond- Our family's obsession with baseball has become almost a trademark...Certainly we have learned much in many different areas through following this passion. This patch is adapted from a t-shirt design that Neal painted, and I decided to use a pattered fabric for the base paths and ball to represent our not necessarily conventional approach to life and especially to learning.

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28. Diana Sandberg -quilt signature- I had fun with this square, though I could have wished for more time! The decision to have a square with the Group's name on it was a last minute one and I madly volunteered to do the embroidery, which as it happened entailed saying up VERY late and neglecting a fair chunk of housework (that was my excuse that week). Ah, the lessons we teach in home schooling...
    Time management - Poor
    Diligence in chores- Inconsistent
    Procrastination - Overdeveloped
    But then....
    Learning as you Work - Good
    Commitment to a Project - Satisfying
    Sharing with friends - Excellent
    Enjoy!

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29. Ella Chesterman FREE!!

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30. Emma Whitney book I made this square because we all love reading so much. It shows the seasons spring to winter. I loved making it and I hope you will like this quilt as much as I like it. Emma Whitney, age 8

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31. Maura Doherty & Pat Muldowney -boat- Maura's square was a joint effort - Homeschooling children learn a great deal from being in on something the wouldn't be able to do on their own. Homeschooling harkens back somewhat to an apprentice model - being involved in something the adult is doing anyway, not because its a subject that ought to be covered. The adult learns something, too, and it's enjoyable. Maura's square only took a couple of hours to complete. Maura said she wanted to have a boat on her square. She drew a picture of the scene. we cut out the hull shape which we decided to make out of the pink fabric, placing a rose in the center. Then off to the fabric scrap box where Maura picked out the rest - background fabric, red flag (slippery fabric - a bit hard to work with). Maura had the idea of making the boat hull a pocket. She thought the background fabric was reminiscent of the sea - horizontal lines, blue water, golden sunlight. I machine appliqued the pieces onto the background and Maura signed her name. All very inexpensive - also typical of homeschooling families. During assembly and group quilting, Sandy Keane quilted the beautiful waves and clouds. Pat Muldowney (thirty-something) and Maura Doherty (age 6)

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32. Sandy Keane -Celtic knot- The Celtic knot design seemed to be perfect for an unschooler - the knot has no beginning and no end, just as learning is seamless and continuous. A pattern emerges out of a seeming tangle (I would have liked to have done a more complex knot to illustrate this better, but I'm realistic about my skill level!) Doing this traditional appliqué technique got me hooked on quilt-making and the actual hand-stitching of the quilt layers pushed me past the point of no return. I have become a dedicated and addicted quilter and am well into my first bed sized quilt for our family. I am grateful to have worked on this wonderful quilt with these wild women stitchers. - Sandy (age 48)

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33. Annwen Davies -nine patch- This 9-square patch was made from fabric scraps I'd been saving to "one day make a quilt...." At the time I didn't bother to see how it involved our homeschooling experience; the boys , 4 and 7 were encouraging; "that looks nice Mum", but uninterested. I was just concerned with learning how traditional quilting was done. Much later it dawned on me that this is part of the homeschooling experience!!

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34. Elise Boeur -world in hand- This is the fifth quilt square I have made. I really liked working on the quilt, and I hope you enjoy it too! Elise (age 9)

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35. Sandy Robertson -traditional pieced patch-

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