Goose Dance Finish

Goose Dance is finished! I knew I was going to quilt my fat flowers design with some loops but I decided to add swirls with hooks as well. It was done in next to no time. 

Why do I take a quilt out from under the Bernina where I’ve finished the binding, and throw it around on the ground for photos? 🤷🏻‍♀️ It works!

Goose Dance

I’m just popping in with a quick post on a flimsy finish. I originally started this as leader/ender project several months ago but the past week I decided to just go for it and finish it.

It uses a stack of prints and solids I picked up at Craftsy several years ago. I have a few of those bundles to get into quilts.  I think I’m calling it goose dance because of the wavy back-and-forth effect the blocks create.

The Art of Riding Thermals: Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the first ever Fast and Fun Blog Hop with Villa Rosa Designs.

I was really pleased to be asked several months ago to be a part of this blog hop by Bernie of Needle & Foot. Make a quick quilt? Help out a designer? Be part of a hop? Sign me up!

The hop is based on a bundle of five super-quick quilt patterns. I chose Snow Goose and made it à la Sandra.

You can get all five patterns on sale right now by clicking here. If you are new to Villa Rosa Designs, as I was, then you might want to check out this link, which takes you to their shop where you can find... wait for it... over 500 of these postcard-sized fast quilt patterns. I had to look twice and scroll to a second page to believe my eyes: TWO DOLLARS per pattern. The instructions fit on a postcard. The quilts are super-fast.

Project Quilting 13.6 and Wrap Up

I finished Project Quilting, at Persimon Dreams, made every one of the six projects, and got them linked up on time. I'm pretty pleased with myself. Here is Challenge 13.6 Flying Geese.

I have had the Kona Nightfall for a while with the idea of a quilt background, rainbow colours on it, and haven't done anything about that thought. Until this challenge.

94Quilt Finished

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

Wow, it's been a while since I posted. I've thought about writing an update post a couple of times, but just never did. I do have a finish, a quilt I worked on from July 1 to October 2, making one double flying geese block a day while I read the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action. Not only did I read a Call each day, but I also went to the Beyond 94 website that CBC created, and followed most of their further reading, links to articles, TV shows, other sites and organizations, and literature. I watched We Were Children, the CBC documentary, riveting, heartbreaking, a must-watch for every Canadian, no every Turtle Island dweller, so that means Americans and Mexicans, who are also descended from Europeans.

This is the resulting quilt.

94Quilt: Blocks 88 - 94 and the Flimsy

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one. I made my last geese block on October 2. On October 3 I made the final heart block. The Calls are divided into six major sections, and so at the end of each one, I have made a heart block. Reconciliation has the most Calls within it, though there are several sub-sections. The hearts inadvertently led to me having a nice number of 100 blocks. Some of the blocks are set in the Dutchman's Puzzle setting; others are interrupted by a heart. When I saw this happening, I decided to 'interrupt' the blocks with two columns of geese going in random directions. I wanted lots of movement across the quilt, and a more modern feel to it. All of the hearts are the same fabric (a great one by Benartex, Marbella), and almost all of the reds and oranges are  repeated twice, some three times. The Moda I used for the background is gone but for a couple of small scraps, so that feels good to move yardage off the shelf. 

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

88. Continued support for the North American Indigenous Games.

Complete. 

• In April 2017 the federal government committed ongoing funding ($18.9 million over five years, and ongoing funding of $5.5 million every four years thereafter) both at the community level and to support the Games.
• Dale Tamara Plett of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation in Ontario, was elected the first Indigenous woman president of the 2020 Games which were to be in Halifax, but have now been rescheduled to 2023.

94Quilt: Blocks 80 - 87

Today is Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. I waited one day to post my regular Wednesday 94 Quilt post for that reason. I am hopeful, so hopeful, that we have truly begun the journey to understanding our Indigenous hosts, (because this is their land) and repairing the centuries of wrongs we have inflicted upon them. Lots and lots of small steps have been taken, but many many more are needed to get to the stage where they are not the highest percentage of incarcerated men and women, they are not the highest percentage of children in foster care, no longer a major number of humans dealing with addiction, homelessness, mental illness... 

I continue to learn. Making this quilt while I read, reflect upon, and research each Call and its progress has been another step for me on my journey to truth and reconciliation. The truth. The truth is not pretty, and shying away from it, saying you can't handle it, you don't want to talk or read or hear about anymore of it because it's too upsetting is another act of white privilege. So I urge you to do the right thing: #dosomething @decolonizemyself @pam-palmater Any of those accounts or the hashtag will lead you to educating yourself. Education is the key to understanding our sister and brother humans.

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

80. Establish a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday.

Complete.

• I did not plan this to be the first Call nor that our actual Truth and Reconciliation Day would be the day after I normally have been posting these posts. How very fitting. Higher forces at work.
• In August 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Liberals were going to declare a federal statutory holiday and that the process was undeway.
• A previous private member's bill had been passed in the House in March 2019, but had only passed first reading in the Senate when the 42nd Parliament ended.
• Two dates had been considered: June 21, which is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and September 30, which is Orange Shirt Day. This day of remembrance was started in 2013 by residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad. Ry Moran, director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation said, "It's not just about creating another day off from work or from school. We have to remember and we can even borrow the phrase from Remembrance Day, 'Lest we forget.' If we forget what has happened in the past, just how low we can sink, we are at serious risk of recreating those same issues again in the future.”

94Quilt: Blocks 72 - 79

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Trigger Warning: some of the content in today's post can be disturbing for some readers.

Reconciliation

72. Develop and maintain the National Residential School Student Death Register created by the TRC.

In progress. Projects underway.

• In March 2018, the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) received funding to support the implementation of this.
• In the 2019 budget $33.8 million over three years was committed, beginning in 2019, to establish and maintain this, and provide opportunities for commemoration.
• worth noting this was done prior to the discoveries of several mass graves at these 'schools' in 2021.

94 Quilt: Blocks 64 - 71

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

64. Require publicly-funded denominational schools to teach comparative religious studies including Aboriginal spiritual beliefs. 

Not started.

• The original Call wording specifies "spiritual beliefs and practices in collaboration with Aboriginal elders."
• According to Beyond 94, although there are some schools who do teach this, few were compiled with guidance and input from Indigenous elders. 
• You can read specifics for each province's implementation of this Call on Beyond 94. Again, here is yet another example where education is under provincial jurisdiction, so when Singh continually says he will "immediately implement all 94 Calls," he either has 'forgotten' or 'doesn't know' that education is not under federal jurisdiction, so good luck making provinces do this 'immediately'.

94 Quilt: Blocks 57 - 63

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

57. Educate public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples.

In progress. Projects underway.

The Canada School of Public Service is working on curriculum for federal public servants. (see note on their app below Call 63)

• The "Indigenous Learning Series" is being created in collaboration with unions and "Indigenous learning experts and elders to ensure that the series is inclusive of and informed by Indigenous perspectives."
• There are currently six courses.
• Public servants in the Northwest Territories and Ontario are required to receive Indigenous cultural awareness training.
• Manitoba, BC, and Alberta have all taken steps in educating public servants; details on Beyond 94.

94 Quilt: Blocks 50 - 56

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

50.  Establish Indigenous law institutes.

In progress. Projects proposed.

This is in keeping with UNDRIP.

• Within the 2019 budget is $9.1 million over three years to build an Indigenous Legal Lodge at the University of Victoria, BC.
• In July 2021, just under $1 million over  three years was allocated to Iroquois and Allied Indians and Lakehead University's law faculty in Thunder Bay, ON, towards an Indigenous law institute.
• Also in the 2019 budget was $10 million over five years in support of Indigenous law initiatives. $134 127 has gone to the University of Alberta for the development of the Wahkohtowin Law and Governance Lodge, a partnership between the Faculty of Law and Faculty of Native Studies.

So when certain party leaders on the campaign trail say that if they become Prime Minister, they'll immediately adopt all 94 Calls, one sees that this is a grandiose statement, one that leans towards flippant, when we look at what has been started just within this one call! These are huge undertakings, and can't be implemented "immediately" as this particular party leader stated.

There is more information on Beyond 94 on what is going on wrt this Call. The Federation of Law Societies of Canada has an advisory committee which has been doing work on this Call and others to do with law.

94 Quilt: Blocks 43 - 49

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Reconciliation

43. Adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

In progress. Projects underway.

"The Liberal government passed legislation to implement UNDRIP in June 2021. But six provinces officially opposed the legislation, citing concerns that it would impact provincial laws and jurisdiction."

Bill C-15 received royal assent June 21, 2021. Guess what six provinces opposed it and wrote a joint letter to the Prime Minister? Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick. What do they all have in common? They're all led by a Conservative government. Read more at Beyond 94.

94 Quilt: Blocks 36 - 42

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Justice (continued)

36. Provide culturally relevant services to inmates on issues such as substance abuse, family and domestic violence.

In progress. Projects underway.

What is omitted in the Beyond 94 shortened version of the Call is the final phrase: "and overcoming the experience of having been sexually abused."

94 Quilt: Blocks 29 - 35

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

Justice (continued)

29. Work collaboratively with plaintiffs not included in the Indian Residential Schools Settlement.

In progress. Projects proposed.

Some students were 'day scholars', meaning they went home at night after spending the day in those 'schools', and were not included in the above settlement. In June 2021, an settlement was reached in a lawsuit but it hasn't yet been approved by the court. More details can be found on Beyond 94 regarding specific dates of settlements. 

94 Quilt Blocks 22 - 28

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinaabeg (Source: Canadian Encyclopedia) on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Beyond 94 is the CBC-created site that is an ongoing report card monitoring how we are doing with the calls.

To finish off Health

22. Recognize the value of Aboriginal healing practices and use them in the treatment of Aboriginal patients.

In progress.

In June of this year, the Canadian Nurses Association released a Declaration Against Anti-Indigenous Racism in Nursing and Health Care.

Also of note is that the first National Summit on Racism in Nursing and Health Care will take place in November 2021. More details are on the Beyond 94 site.

94 Quilt Blocks 16-21

I acknowledge that I am living on unceded territory of Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk, and Myaamia on the shore of erielhonan, (Iroquoian word meaning 'long tail') now called Lake Erie.

On Monday, July 26, Mary Simon, the first Inuit Governor General of Canada was sworn in. Such a historical moment, it gives me hope for a better Canada.

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

to finish Language and Culture

16. Create university and college degree and diploma programmes in Aboriginal languages.

In progress.

Many post-secondary institutions do this. I had heard of First Nations University of Canada through taking Indigenous Canada last summer. Check out the Lone Star quilts on their About Us page!

94 Quilt Blocks 11-15

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

To finish out the Education section...

11. Provide adequate funding to end the backlog of First Nations students seeking post-secondary education.

In progress. Project proposed. This baffles and upsets me. In 2018 the funding approved was actually less than in the previous two years. Make the money available. Now. Full stop. I do like that it's specific as to the amount which goes to First Nations, or Métis Nation, or Inuit.

94 Quilt - Five More Blocks

The post that explains my 94Quilt project is here.  Since July 1 I've been making a flying geese block a day as I read one of the 94 Calls to Action, its accompanying explanations and progress report, and links that go with each one.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is the main website with a wealth of information.

Section 2 Education

6. Repeal Section 43 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

This is also known as the spanking law, and it "allows parents, caregivers and educators to use force towards a pupil or child as a means of correction, 'if the force does not exceed what is reasonable under the circumstances.'" No progress has been made.

Truth and Reconciliation Quilt Project

TW: Please note that some details in this post may be distressing for some readers. 

This year I didn't really celebrate Canada Day, though I love my country and am usually proud of what we stand for. However. We have a lot of nasty, outright horrific history along with our shining history. We ran residential 'schools' for our First Nations peoples, and forced their parents to send their children, as young as THREE, to these boarding 'schools' which, we have known, but are now finally having to face it publicly as a nation, were anything BUT schools. Rather, they were indoctrination centres, funded by the government, run by the Catholic Church, along with, to a lesser degree of involvement, Anglican and other churches. Indian Agents went around rounding up the children, often by force, and the RCMP enforced all of this. I learned a fair bit about these 'schools' last summer when I took the Indigenous Canada course through the University of Alberta, and also did some extended reading on the subject. The U of A course is a MOOC, a Massive Open Online Course. It is free, eye-opening and mind-blowing, and everyone, but especially white people, should take it, no matter where we live. These 'schools' were not unique to Canada; the US had boarding 'schools' as well, for the same purpose as ours, to commit cultural genocide. I did not learn, nor did I teach when I was a teacher, the true history of Turtle Island, currently known as Canada, America, and Mexico. 

What is the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada? Briefly, from June 2008 through December 2015, after six years of research, thousands of interviews of residential 'school' survivors, and over a year of compiling and writing, this commission released their multi-volume report. Within it were 94 Calls to Action. Six years, later, Canada has fulfilled a dismal amount, though many are in process. Many require a lot of work, sweeping changes to education, for just one, and admittedly, some cogs of government do move at a glacial pace. CBC has a great website tracking the work being done, Beyond 94.

• 14 Complete
• 23 In-progress (Project underway)
• 37 In-progress (Projects proposed)
• 20 Not started

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation continues the TRCs work. With another discovery of a mass amount (751) of unmarked graves last month, this time on the Cowessess Nation, in Saskatchewan, Chief Delorme was asked if Canada should cancel Canada Day. He said he wasn't about to tell anyone what to celebrate or not, but he did suggest that every Canadian make the point of reading the Calls to Action. This is the least any one of us can do; after all, educating oneself is key to growth and understanding.

And real change.

Mystery Quilt Progress

I had these done (finally) mid-week last week, but just never got up a post.  Here are my geese for Step 1 of Cheryl's Mystery Quilt-along at Meadow Mist Designs:

I  played a little after trimming them all up:

 I was rather amazed at the designs one can make just with a flying geese unit!

All I did was add 4 more units to the corners of the star block

There is a name for the block that is formed in the centre here...I think...

I like the squares that you get when you fill in the side gaps with another unit.

If you rotate those units from the previous photo, this is what you get!

As a kid, I LOVED my wooden mosaics; I've been a quilter longer than even I know...

In the end, yesterday I decided to lay them out all nicely for a proper shot. I got half of them all laid out, and then Bella got involved and mussed a bunch up.  I shooed her away, fixed them back up, decided that half of them laid out, all pretty, was good enough, and got a quick photo.

I'm looking forward to the next step!

Sunday night I tested a block for the Fabri-Quilt New Block Blog Hop we are in for my dear friend, Julie, at Pink Doxies.  It is a great one!

Head on over to her blog to get the instructions (no special rulers required, yeah!).  I even did it without a compass...think I may have got rid of my ancient um, 40-year-old math set.  Love this block.  Then again I do love the sun! My version is with my own stash fabrics, and of course, for a little more shine, Sulky Holoshimmer for the top-stitching. ;-)

Check out Cheryl's post today at Meadow Mist Designs for about 15 more brand spanking new blocks complete with tutorials.  If you want to get in on the Mystery Quilt you will find the tab for that there too!
If you missed yesterday's line-up for the New Block Block Hop, check out Yvonne's post.  My block is here! There's a fabulous giveaway on each host's post for oh, 3 yards of fabric...
For another 30 or so blocks, and more giveaways (Fabri-Quilt has been so generous!) on
Wednesday you can visit Stephanie at Late Night Quilter.
Thursday you can visit Terri at Childlike Fascination.