Sharing My Flag Quilt, July 4, 2008

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!! May you have a wonderful Independence Day, all of you.....especially our men and women in uniform throughout the world. You are thought of in the kindest and most sincere ways as you give your all on our behalf.
There are not really words to convey the high regard we give to you. We pray for your safety and look forward to the day you return to your homes and families. God bless America!

Several years ago I taught a quilting class in which the students made their own version of the American Flag. It was a great class with lots of enthusiasm. One of my students had a husband who was a fighter pilot in the Air Force. She was making her flag for him. Later, she told me that his flag flew in his plane with him over Afghanistan. That made us both very proud.
Her for making the quilt, me for teaching her to make the quilt. We loved that he took it with him.....and all of us happy that he came back - himself and the flag intact.

I'm showing you the quilt that served as my class sample. The students were invited to make the flag of their choice, either the current flag.....or a historical version. The stars are hand-appliqued, the quilt hand-quilted. The quilt design is the traditional feather design. I thought it sort of made the quilt look like it was being blown in the wind. (Well, use your imagination, ok?)

I had this wonderful fabric for the back of the quilt...all quilts should have a great backing. While making the quilt, I decided to write the Gettysburg Address on fabric and add it to the back also. If you click on the photograph, it should be large enough for you to read the entire address.

I'm pretty proud of this flag/quilt. So, again, Happy Fourth of July and LONG MAY SHE WAVE!!! Pat