SAHRR Prompt 1 Hourglass Block

I love designing in EQ8 (especially using the Symmetry tool where magic happens) and I really love designing in my graph paper notebook (I do love colouring, rather zen-like still at my age), but there is something at another level of magic about designing as I go on the design wall. It kind of combines the magic and zen of the first two. Every time I do a SAHRR, it happens, and it happened in this first round where Brenda of Songbird Designs (I'm linking this post up there) gave us the prompt to add the hourglass block, also known as a quarter-square-triangle, aka QST.  Here is where I am, first prompt complete.

 You may think, okay, magic... and? Because this doesn't look that magical. Well, let me explain.

Cool Cascade

My second of two RSC projects is done!

It lives up to its name there, cascading down the front step in the evening sun! Note: new porch railings and columns. MacGyver has outdone himself, and yes, I'll show before and after once it's complete.

SAHRR Round 5

This week the prompt came from Brenda at Songbird Designs. She asked us to make quarter or half log cabins. For project number one, this really stomped me, but I am so grateful for the other hosts as well as other participants who share inspiration. Here is where this first quilt sits in its fifth round.

I’m not sure what’s going to go between the floral squares so I’ve left it so that I can either incorporate week six prompt there or extend somehow the week five into week six prompt.

SAHRR Week 4

Happy Full Snow Moon! As I compose this post, the name of this month’s full moon is rather à propos since we are waiting for yet another imminent snowstorm. It’s been a lot of winter this year, but that is good for the health of our forests (ticks) and lakes (algae), albeit not so good for summer-loving Sandra.

Here is my glorious joy-filled design wall as of this morning:

SAHRR Numbers 1 and 2, and this year's RSC two blocks

Let me explain!

A Second SAHRR and First SAHRR Update

For those who do follow me on Instagram, you may recall that I had a backup block as my potential centre block, the 2.5" strips blue and green heart block that was a test of one I'd seen floating around on the internet several years ago.

It became the inspiration for the second challenge of Project Quilting, which I named Winter Blues. I hated to put it back in my Lonely Blocks Club drawer. (I love that--it just came to me as I typed.) What if I did what I saw Kathleen of Kathleen McMusing is doing this year: make a quilt that is not a round robin, rather make a block or two each week following the prompt.

Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs

First of all I want to acknowledge Canada's National Indigenous Peoples Day by stating that I acknowledge that I live on traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory. This territory belongs to the Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk and Myaamia Indigenous peoples.  I live on the north shore of erielhonan, the Iroquoian name for Lake Erie which means 'long tail'. I continue to learn and am always grateful for this beautiful piece of Turtle Island.

Well, Kelly Young of My Quilt Infatuation has done it once again. She has published her third book, and this is one I guarantee you will want to have on your shelf. How many of you have leftover chunks of fabric after the top is complete? Yeah, I thought so: 100% of you. Have you used them right away, or, are they languishing in your stash, or maybe even still together (guilty) because they looked so terrific in that quilt that they could probably make a pillow, or bag or some placemats even... How about it you make them into a pleasing quilt back? Well that is exactly what Kelly's book is all about, 30 yes THIRTY quilt back design ideas. I made two from her book.

Soar

I think it was when I made the Postcard from Sweden makeup pouch for my niece that I realized I needed to make a quilt for her niece and nephew (my great-niece and great-nephew!). Both quilts percolated throughout this year.

The wind was a factor today, but I think the billowing effect is a-okay with this airy quilt! Keen eyes will notice Xena sunbathing on the deck behind the quilt.

I've Got the Blues and I'm Happy About it!

Bright blue is this month's colour for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with Angela at soscrappy, and that is just fine, because blue is my favourite colour and it makes me happy! I've finished both of my ongoing  RSC projects for this month. The first one is my hot air balloons.

Aren't they just the best? I didn't make a forest green one for May because I want a bright and lime green one since this quilt is likely headed to a toddler I happen to know.

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'.

Balloon Ride - Scrappy Improv Quilting Book Release Hop

I am super-duper-excited to have been asked by Kelly of My Quilt Infatuation to participate in her second quilt book release blog hop, and to be posting my project on the first day of the hop!

If, (lol, let me change that):  Because you have oodles of scraps, you need, yup, need this book. It will help decrease them, I promise; though, if you're like me, you won't notice the decrease, ha. 

So. Many. Gorgeous. Mini quilts. It was hard, but I finally decided upon the hot air balloon mini, which I've called 'Balloon Ride'. 

Up, Up, and Away!

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.