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Saturday, October 27, 2007

New Quilt

"Indian Summer"

Along the line of smoky hills
The crimson forest stands,
And all the day the blue-jay calls
Throughout the autumn lands.

Now by the brook the maple leans,
With all his glory spread;
And all the sumachs on the hills
Have turned their green to red.

Now, by great marshes wrapt in mist,
Or past some river's mouth,
Throughout the long still autumn day
Wild birds are flying south.

-- William Wilfred Campbell (1860-1919)
Born at Kitchener, Campbell was known as
the poet of the Great Lakes.
He was the author of Lake Lyrics, 1889.


I had to memorize this poem in about Grade 4 . Is anyone else out there familiar with it? I think many Canadians my age may have had to learn it in school too. When I thought I might do a quilt for each season to go with the morning and night one, it popped back into my head.



I have the first two lines done and I think I may stop at the end of the first verse. I'll see how I feel about letter making by then. I have a feeling I'll be over it for awhile. Because there will be such a large area with letters I'll probably just put a couple of borders around it, but you never know with these quilts. It may lead me somewhere else altogether. It would also be a good prospect for a landscape quilt with the words around the border.

11 comments:

meggie said...

I was not familiar with that poem. But thanks for publishing it, I enjoyed it.
Great idea with a new quilt.

dot said...

You have been busy. A great poem. I don't think I have ever heard it before. I like it.

Tonya Ricucci said...

be interesting to see what direction this takes. love the letters. Poem isn't familiar to me, but lovely.

Lynda said...

Not heard of the poem personally, but the words are great. (Like spaces between the letters, I think, better than not - well, it works so well here!)

Libby said...

I've not heard the poem either, but it sure brings out a lovely mental description.

ForestJane said...

I think it'd look great as a border around a maple leaf type quilt, in lots of autumn colors. I'll keep watching to see what you do with it!

Finn said...

Hi Joyce, what a lovely poem *VBS* I'm not familiar with it, but love your idea. It is, however, a LOT of letters. I'm sure even one verse would make a great quilt.
Love your thrift store fabric finds...those polka dots are a treasure, and you did good with that orange fabric...the apron is darling.
What a lucky find on those thimbles. I don't use metal ones either, but if I see them, I buy them *VBS* Must be part of the quilting sickness we have *S* Hope life is being good to you. Hugs, Finn

Cher said...

nope, never heard that poem before-it will make a lot of letters indeed!
I do see red trees as part of that quilt..but, whatever you end up doing I am sure it will be great.

Judy said...

I am not familiar with that poem, but it is lovely.
What about doing a photo transfer of the poem.....you could handwrite it, scan it into your computer and then do an inkjet transfer onto fabric. Just a thought.

Pam said...

Well - I am a Canadian - about your age (maybe a bit younger) and I don't know that poem. Maybe because I grew up in B.C. Although I did live my 15th year in Winnipeg.

It is a really nice poem, it has such a lovely sound to it when read aloud. It will make a great quilt.

Love the Sunshine quilt - it looks great even without the curved sky and it will be much easier to hang.

Rosalyn Manesse said...

Yes, I remember it! We really learned to appreciate poetry when I was a kid. I lived in Nova Scotia then. And I think you are very ambitious to make it all in fabric. I love it.