Fact or Fiction? The Salt Water Taffy Story

Salt Water Taffy quilt block

The tale goes, that back in 1883 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a candy shop owned by David Bradley, was near the ocean. A big storm hit one summer day and the boardwalk and the shops closest to the ocean were flooded. Mr. Bradley's entire stock of taffy (a favourite of the locals) was soaked with the salt water and he figured it was ruined.

Once the storm had cleared, a young girl entered the shop to make a purchase and Mr. Bradley joked that all he had available was some "salt water taffy". The girl bought some anyway and upon sharing it around, others began requesting the new treat called salt water taffy. True or not, the story continues.

The Salt Water Taffy quilt block is an easy five patch to construct. Although salt water taffy actually comes in a rainbow of colours, I chose to use the colours of the beachfront at Atlantic City. What colours would you choose?

I couldn't find any specific quotes about salt water taffy so instead, here are ...

Some thoughts about the seashore.

• I could never stay long enough on the shore; the tang of the untainted, fresh, and free sea air was like a cool, quieting thought.
  ~ Helen Keller


• The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.
  ~ Isak Dinesen


• I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.
  ~ Isaac Newton

<sub>'Salt Water Taffy' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com


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It's all in the family

Auntie's Puzzle quilt block

Today's featured quilt block is called Auntie's Puzzle. This five patch block is an easy one to construct. I choose to make this block (and many other blocks as well) as an uneven nine patch, rather than sewing as five rows of five patches, as I prefer to work with "chunks" rather than several rows. This is just a personal preference so feel free to construct with your own method.

By using 90 degree rotations when placing the block in your quilt you can achieve all sorts of interesting variations.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

And speaking of family ...

• "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."
  ~ Desmond Tutu


• "The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege."
  ~ Charles Kuralt


• "Family is not an important thing. It's everything."
  ~ Michael J. Fox


• "The family is one of nature's masterpieces."
  ~ George Santayana

<sub>'Auntie's Puzzle' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Lest We Forget

Frederick Johnson
1939 - age 17

Each year, at the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month, we take a few moments to remember countless fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters who gave up their lives for their country in one of the many, terrible wars the world has suffered. Around the globe, this day is known as Remembrance Day, Veterans' Day and Armistice Day, but what's in a name?

My dad was a veteran of the second world war. He lied about his age to join the army, but when it was discovered that he was only 17, he was sent packing. Not to be discouraged, he joined the air force as soon as he turned 18 and, as a rear gunner, flew on 21 different missions. His plane was shot down on two occasions, and in one of those crashes he was the lone survivor. These events were the seeds of what was then known as "shell shock", which for him, lasted for the remainder of his life. Today we know this as post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD -- one of the "invisible" illnesses.

Mom and Dad
A love story during the war years

My dad spent over a year in hospital in recovery. During that time he met my mother who was one of the nurses tending to all of the "boys" in the ward of 32 soldiers. After the war, they married and it lasted for over 63 years, until we lost him.

Dad never once spoke to us about his time serving for his country. Any information my family knows is from the few things he would tell my mother over time -- sometimes while babbling and shouting during a nightmare, from which he would wake up shaking in a cold sweat. We, as children, witnessed this many times.

While Dad was in hospital those many years before, one day Mom had offered to stay after her shift to write a letter to his family for him, since he was unable. He told her -- not until over 60 years later -- that he had fallen in love with her that very day, because she was the only one of all the staff in the hospital who treated him as a person, rather than just another patient.

Tyne Cot Cemetery in Flanders Fields, Belgium

Your family likely has a story of love, loss, courage or compassion too, whether it is from long ago or a recent event. I hope you will join me in thanking all of those men and women who fought in any war, or worked tirelessly to care for the wounded. Let us never forget their sacrifices for our freedom.


<sub>Johnson family images © W. Russell
Tyne Cot Cemetery image courtesy http://www.utnrotcalum.org/alumni/FlandersFieldsStory.htm


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Quatrefois -- or Four Times

Quatrefois quilt block

Since my French language ability dates back to high school (let's just say it was a few years ago ... um ... quite a few..) but I was able to guess that quatrefois means four times. (Actually it should really be two words ... quatre fois ... but this is the world of quiltmaking and we take liberties with words.) So, I can only guess that this quilt block was named Quatrefois as some of the patches are repeated four times. (As a side note, this is quite common in quilt blocks, but who am I to judge about what name is given to a block?)

Anyway, one of the patches in this nine patch block could have been constructed differently, using rectangles and flying geese units, but I thought, just for a change, I would introduce you to the "flip and sew" method for the triangular pieces in those patches. The added bonus of this method is that there are fewer seams, thus reducing bulk.

Common phrases we stole from the French

• Crème de la crème: "the best of the best"


• Au gratin: "with cheese"


• Au jus: "with juice (or gravy)"


• Art nouveau: Style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries


• C'est la vie: "That's life"


• Faux pas: Literally, this means 'false step' but we generally use this phrase to mean that we have made an error.


• Joie de vivre: "joy of life"


• Fait accompli: a "done deal"


• On ne change pas une équipe qui gagne: (I'm guessing that this translation is a "Yogi-ism") "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."


• Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup means: "Eat well, laugh often, love abundantly."

<sub>'Quatrefois' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Did you know the source of these quotes?

Cain and Abel quilt block

The Cain and Abel quilt block is a five patch block, so named because it is built on a 5 x 5 grid. However, I find it much easier to construct the block as an uneven nine patch, but that is simply my preference. Many people sew five patch blocks in five rows, so this is really a choice. The block is simple because it uses only the two most common patches in quiltmaking -- the square and the half square triangle. Colour choices are what will make your quilt a different work of art.

Not Shakespeare and not clichés,

• "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."
  [Ecclesiastes 3:1]


• "The truth shall make you free.
  [John 8:32]"


• "Let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
  [1 John 3:18]"


• "The ear tests words as the tongue tastes food.
  [Job 34:3]"

<sub>'Cain and Abel' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea ....

This song was in my head recently, so I had to create a pattern.

By the Sea quilt block

The last gasp of beautiful weather is upon many of us, as autumn tries to hold off from the first flakes of snow. So, I thought this would be a good time to have you reflect on those hot summer days ... By the Sea. I chose colours for this quilt block with blue skies, sand, surf and sunset in mind. This block is a perfect choice for a beginner quilter as it uses only the simplest of shapes in quiltmaking - the square and half square triangle.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

Thoughts of summer and seas

• For one swallow does not make a summer, nor does one day; and so too one day, or a short time, does not make a man blessed and happy.
  ~ Aristotle


• Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountain and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books.
  ~ John Lubbock


• The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.
  ~ Jacques Cousteau


• All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.
  ~ King Solomon


• I once sang "Summer Nights" from Grease at a bar in Melbourne with John Travolta, who's a good friend of mine. He looked cool singing the part of Danny - sitting in an armchair, smoking a cigar - while I got stuck playing Sandy.
  ~ Hugh Jackman

<sub>'By the Sea' quilt block image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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Geometry and Algebra and Quilts ... oh my!

Chevron Stripes quilt block

I have always been one of those nerdy types who love math. So, drawing, scaling and making quilt blocks has never been a problem for me. Go figure  ... (okay that is my little stab at humour).

I am always more intrigued by patchwork blocks rather than applique blocks simply because I like all those shapes working together. (I must add though, that I really admire those quilters who have mastered applique, since it is such an art form in itself, and one I just don't have the patience to master.)

Chevron Stripes quilt

The Chevron Stripes quilt block is one of those interesting blocks that utilizes only one geometric shape -- the half square triangle. At first glance it looks rather boring -- but that is where the fun begins. By making a bunch of these blocks and then playing with rotations of the block, you can come up with all sorts of interesting quilts. I have shown you one here and a second in the quilt block pattern to get your imagination working.

And speaking of imagination ...

• "To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."
  ~ Thomas Edison


• "Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative."
  ~ Oscar Wilde


• "When forced to work within a strict framework, the imagination is taxed to its utmost and will produce its richest ideas."
  T. S. Eliot

<sub>Images © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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"Get your kicks on Route 66 ..."

My brother and his wife are currently on a once in a lifetime adventure trip in and about Arizona checking out all sorts of desert areas. Driving along a desert highway (Route 66 perhaps?) to travel around the state takes you to many fantastic sights. The most famous site in Arizona is the Grand Canyon.

Desert Highway quilt block

I was at the Grand Canyon many years ago, and remember how glorious the colours of the stone were. Depending on what time of the day you were witnessing this splendour, there are all sorts of variations of oranges and purples that just took your breath away. I think you can guess why I chose these colours for my version of the Desert Highway quilt block.

The circular focus in the centre of this block reminded me of a blazing sun looking down on the colourful rock formations. However, don't let my choice of colour scheme hinder your creativity. Whatever colours you choose will be stunning in your own version of this quilt block.

Download the free quilt block pattern.

Thoughts on Deserts and Adventures

• One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.
  ~ William Feather


• A desert is a place without expectation.
  ~ Nadine Gordimer


• Anytime I feel lost, I pull out a map and stare. I stare until I have reminded myself that life is a giant adventure, so much to do, to see.
  ~ Angelina Jolie


• Sadly, it's much easier to create a desert than a forest.
  ~ James Lovelock


• The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.
  ~ Oprah Winfrey


• Life is either a great adventure or nothing.
  ~ Helen Keller


• Someone asked me, if I were stranded on a desert island what book would I bring... How to Build a Boat.
  ~ Steven Wright

<sub>'Desert Highway' image © W. Russell, patchworksquare.com

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