Jam sandwiches and red lemonade, does this warm the cockles of your heart or make your taste buds shiver? We were reared on jam sandwiches. Well, not literally, but my brother may as well have been. My brother was a picky eater. He ate his dinner ok, but for lunch all he ever wanted to eat was jam sandwiches, white sliced bread of course. My mum was quite concerned about this, but at least he was eating. She made sure all the jam in our house was homemade, strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant and blackberry. He wasn't fussed on the seeds either, so technically our homemade jams were homemade jellies, strained through muslin bags into a basin.
He also didn't like milk, or any dairy. In fact he still doesn't. As a way of getting some milk into him, mum used to mix the red lemonade with milk for him. This suited me too, I loved all things dairy, still do, but I also loved these homemade milkshakes.
Remember these blocks? These were my stash bee blocks from last year. The plan was to make a calm collected red and white plus quilt. When I laid them all out, it just didn't feel right. Not calm enough, not sophisticated enough.
A lot going on in these all individually lovely, but when together a little too shouty for a quiet quilt. So, what do we quilters do when unsure? I cut them up into fours and muddled them all up.
Now I like it. The different patterns are dispersed throughout and the shouty low volume just shouts out loud now and is perfect.
The overall look just reminded me of those long ago picnic, white bread jam sandwiches and the newspaper spread all over the grass. I know exactly where I am going now with these blocks, in fact I would say I am crushing these blocks (red fruit crush, geddit?)
It is absolutely lashing here today, but I will leave you with thoughts of lazy warm summer days, bees buzzing and those strawberry jam sandwiches, sponge cake and milk shakes.
Helen x
He also didn't like milk, or any dairy. In fact he still doesn't. As a way of getting some milk into him, mum used to mix the red lemonade with milk for him. This suited me too, I loved all things dairy, still do, but I also loved these homemade milkshakes.
Remember these blocks? These were my stash bee blocks from last year. The plan was to make a calm collected red and white plus quilt. When I laid them all out, it just didn't feel right. Not calm enough, not sophisticated enough.
The overall look just reminded me of those long ago picnic, white bread jam sandwiches and the newspaper spread all over the grass. I know exactly where I am going now with these blocks, in fact I would say I am crushing these blocks (red fruit crush, geddit?)
It is absolutely lashing here today, but I will leave you with thoughts of lazy warm summer days, bees buzzing and those strawberry jam sandwiches, sponge cake and milk shakes.
Helen x
linking up with Beth Cooking Up Quilts and Main Crush Monday
linking up with Lorna and Sew Fresh Quilts and Lets Bee Social
Dividing the blocks up and remixing them together was a wonderful solution. Personally I was a grilled cheese or grilled PB&J kind of kid. Homemade jams sound delightful!
ReplyDeleteI see your vision. :) Cutting those blocks was just the right thing I think. It is looking lovely. I always loved my grandma's homemade jams, especially on white bread with butter. Yum....
ReplyDeleteThat was the perfect solution to cut the blocks up! I like them so much more! I've never been a jam or jelly girl!! I love a good grilled cheese or tuna sandwich any day!
ReplyDeleteMy son was like that as a boy - it was jam sandwhiches every day in his lunch box!
ReplyDeleteI like the effect. Great idea you had. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteGosh Helen, you are posh... It was jam 'butties' for us .😉 And i loved them, along with banana 'butties'... And yes, you have captured the essence of your reminiscing perfectly. Fabulous idea 😀 hugs to you my friend xx
ReplyDeleteA perfect solution cutting and mixing and a lovely effect. Now I want a jam sandwich, raspberry please.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea Helen and it really does look like jam sandwiches on newspaper and by the way I see you are planning to join Sandra's quilt along.
ReplyDeleteI just played with disappearing 9 patch blocks this week so we are on the same wave. Your re-arranged blocks look great.
ReplyDeleteOh you brave lady you! I am always in awe at those who just cut up their blocks and change them into something else, Bravo! My new motto for this year is 'it's only fabric' (can you believe that? so pretty and I could ruin it). I still like a jam buttie now and again.
ReplyDeleteYou found the perfect solution Helen! I like the look of them all mixed up, it makes the blocks so interesting. My youngest son (who is a grown man now) still loves PB&J, it's his favorite sandwich especially with strawberry jam.
ReplyDeleteI love the way they look cut up and rearranged! Where can I find the pattern for them?
ReplyDeleteIt was courageous of you to cut them up. But your gamble paid off because the remixed blocks are terrific. Paul likes PBJ. I do not want to mix PB with jam. I'd happily add jam/jelly as a layer of frosting in the middle of two cake layers with cream frosting on top.
ReplyDeleteSaw this on Instagram but didn't know the full story until now. GREAT story and even greater courage to cut those blocks into foursies! Brilliant though!!! I would never have thought of that.
ReplyDelete