The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Is quilting hard? It seems to be a time consuming hobby. But it always looks like the end result is really worth it.

I sure hope Atlas doesn't leave anytime soon. That would be a rooster who left way to soon.

Well, it's something that takes time to be good at, certainly. When I started quilting in the mid 80's, I hand pieced and hand quilted everything. About five years ago, when I was a moderator here and the staff wanted to do a quilt block swap, I said I didn't think I could commit, having carpal tunnel issues. A sewing machine showed up on my doorstep, a gift from the staff. It was a simple to use one, so I learned to piece on it, but still quilted by hand until about a year ago when I was determined to learn to machine quilt. That, to me, is much harder to learn than all the rest. I'm minimally okay at it, but I've done a lot of practice. I still prefer the look of fine hand quilting, personally, but it takes a MUCH longer time to hand quilt any piece rather than do it by machine.

You hit the nail on the head-the end result. I love finishing a pretty quilt. It's my art. So, I don't consider myself a seamstress (gosh, don't ask me to make you clothing or you'd be very sorry, LOL), but a fabric artist.

 

[getaclue]

Speckled, my grandmother did all her quilts by hand too, until her hands bothered her too bad. She then learned to do it by machine, but would still do some of the tops by hand, when she could.

 

[speckledhen]

Speckled, my grandmother did all her quilts by hand too, until her hands bothered her too bad. She then learned to do it by machine, but would still do some of the tops by hand, when she could.

I completely understand your grandmother. I am an excellent hand quilter and only a so-so beginner machine quilter, though I am getting much better the more I do it. I don't do anything complicated, though I do get more things completed with machine than I ever could by hand.

 

[1muttsfan]

My 84 year old mother still does everything by hand, from cutting the fabric with scissors to hand quilting. She is a true artist and her quilts are unique and lovely.

 

[getaclue]

For several years before she died, my grandmother made quilts for the more immediate members of the family, for us to give out after her death. There were about 25 of them, each with a tag pinned to it with the recipient's name.

Before, during, and after her funeral most of the family members began requesting they be given various things of hers. My dad told everyone that he was closing up her house, and after a proper grieving period, he would give out the various items, as she had instructed.

About a week later, someone broke into her home, and stole part of the quilts, and a few other personal items of hers. We knew it was someone from the family by what they stole, but never did find out who did it. 12 people did not get their quilts.

 

[speckledhen]

For several years before she died, my grandmother made quilts for the more immediate members of the family, for us to give out after her death. There were about 25 of them, each with a tag pinned to it with the recipient's name.

Before, during, and after her funeral most of the family members began requesting they be given various things of hers. My dad told everyone that he was closing up her house, and after a proper grieving period, he would give out the various items, as she had instructed.

About a week later, someone broke into her home, and stole part of the quilts, and a few other personal items of hers. We knew it was someone from the family by what they stole, but never did find out who did it. 12 people did not get their quilts.

How horrible for someone to do that! And so disrespectful to your grandmother! That makes my blood boil. Why does family have to be that way? I just hate it. Lesson would then be, I suppose, to give folks what you want them to have before you go so you can be certain they get it.
I keep hearing that line from the Green Mile when the guy said he was just tired of folks being so ugly to each other. Me, too.

 

[speckledhen]

Hector pics at just over 22 weeks old.
Sing along with me to that old song tune, subbing "rooster tail" for "little dog": Where, oh where has that rooster tail gone? Oh, where, oh where can it be?










And Gypsy and Becca, who is dying herself, are watching over Caroline, who may not be here tomorrow. She is just sitting and breathing deeply, with her crop propped on the edge of the under-feeder tray, hasn't opened her eyes today. But her entourage is around her and I think it's best to let them take care of her as she leaves us. I did say I felt that though Amanda has been second-in-command as long as Caroline has been head hen in there, in spite of being crippled, I think once both her sister, Becca, and Caroline are gone, she won't really be able to be that anymore. I can't see anyone picking on her, per se, but she can't really do what a head hen must do. I do think she is respected (or her "thunker" sure is, LOL). Gypsy is the obvious choice and Gypsy has been sitting next to Caroline all day, her head resting in Caroline's tail feathers. I've seen this over and over, the next in line watch over the queen as she leaves us. So, this to me sort of confirms what I thought about Gypsy.




I was making this, not sure where to go after this round/border, but I was using fabrics I have on hand, though they are spring/summer colors. Just something to keep busy, I guess. It's about 48" square now. Don't really want to go larger than lap quilt or daybed size.

 

[GingersHuman]

Let's compare tails... both just over 22 weeks.

Hector:

Smudge:

 

[h2oratt]

Let's compare tails... both just over 22 weeks.

Hector:

Smudge:

But not the same breed. What breed is the white one?

 

[speckledhen]

@GingersHuman no fair! But, I have Apollo, whose had a tail to envy since he was a young teenager, as most of these do. Hector is, well, "special".