An Inspiring Legacy

Honey Bees Legacy: 2010  (Started: 1999)

Inspired in 1997 by the book "Legacy", Erica and I set out to one day make a Honey Bees quilt.  I used a pattern from Ruby McKim’s “101 Patchwork Patterns” rather than the one used by Talula Gilbert Bottoms.  She had made hers between the years of 1890 to 1910 (so that’s a relief – I was so slow doing mine!).  

We enjoyed the “Legacy” story written by Nancilu B. Burdick about her family, amazed that one woman, her grandmother, could have achieved so much given living conditions in the US at the time.  Barbara Brackman, a tireless author and historian, also offered an amazing array of patterns, historical information and blogs in the Civil War and other genres.  So much to choose from!

I had wanted to do a Honey Bees for ages so Burdick’s book was timely and proved to be motivational. I decided on an antique colourway and as luck would have it, Civil War style fabrics were becoming popular at the time.  Eventually I started making the blocks (1999) and although determined to make a hole in the growing stash, still managed to run out of my chosen prints before completing enough blocks.  So began the hunt for more fabric, or something similar, if I could find it. 

Sadly the colours don't "sparkle" in my photo.  Honey Bees set on point. 
(That's sunlight hitting the quilt not a stain!!)

Erica & I found and shared a rather nice fabric – an antique look was important to me and in Jan-Mar 2000 we got cutting and I had the extra I needed to finish piecing my top.  It took a couple of years to piece it up with all the machine work and hand applique but by 2003 it was basted and ready to quilt.  I didn’t take it overseas with me, so I didn’t finish hand quilting it until April 2010.  (I noted in my diary that I took it to the Randwick Quilters April Meeting.)  Needless to say, Erica had completed hers long before!

I should mention the quilting design which I found in an edition of the Quilters Newsletter Magazine, (a Nov 2003 edition, the design on p.75 is called "Whirlwind - very handy). 

Just for the Record:
Quilt Finished Size: 128x 168cm
Block Size: 12”
Cut in: 1999
Pieced: Hand & Machine Pieced 2001
Basted & Quilted: Started Hand 2003
Quilt Type: Personal Choice
Quilt Finished: April 2010
Exhibited:  Australia Day 2010
Collection: Home# 037
Pattern Name: Honey Bees
Pattern Source: Ruby McKim, 1962 p119
Fabrics Purchased: From my stash
Fabric Design: Antique look
Fabric Style: Cotton
Materials Type: Cotton
Wadding Type: Hobbs Poly Down
Backing: Cotton

Lots of quilting with a pattern I found in
QNM (details above)

Lessons Learned:
My stash was starting to get out of control and I was determined to use it up.  One of the big lessons from this however is that the pattern you choose and the quantity you need rarely match the number of fat quarters left in your stash…  Of course, you can waste hours looking for those missing fabrics, but they’ve long since been discontinued.  Having read “Legacy” we really appreciated how much easier it is for us today.  How lucky are we with shops brimming with treasures that take your breath away?  And masses of on-line options with even more eye candy!  Even so, the bulging stash beckons and in true pioneer spirit, what I have on hand is used.  Of course, that didn’t stop me from adding a few little extra pieces to the collection – just in case I find the time to one day make up those quilts that live in my head.

Debra at Vintage Crafts & More kindly posted this Honey Bee
from Ruby McKim's book.  It's the pattern I used for my quilt.