Turning 3 common building blocks into Chaos

 

Chaos

 mini quilt  9" x 10"  February 9, 2025 

For Project Quilting 16.3: 3 Common Blocks 

For this week's challenge, we were encouraged to work with 3 common quilt blocks, the foundation of our craft. For example a 9-patch, or an Ohio Star, or Log Cabin, any 3 blocks. However, my mind is full of the chaos in the 3 branches of the US Government in the 3 years weeks since the inauguration of #47.    

I knew about a common block called Courthouse Steps, a log cabin variant, that could represent the judicial system.  Then I did a search for blocks that could represent the executive and legislative branches of government.  Using the very useful treasure that is the Quilter's Cache online source for quilt blocks, I used the alphabetical list to find Road to the Whitehouse and Rotunda.  

I drafted each one so they would be about the same size, and use the same size strips.

 

Then I made the 3 blocks in analogous colors of blue, teal and green:

I thought I would use the method for disappearing 9-patch, which cuts a 9-patch into quarters and creates a new block by rotating the pieces and sewing back together, but after cutting the Rotunda block this way, my possible cuts on the White House block was looking much too controlled.  So I made random diagonal cuts on the White House and Courthouse blocks.  Then randomly sewed them together to get the mini quilt in the top photo. 

Finally, I cut a long 1/2" strip of red, and trimmed the end to look like the tie of #47.  This long red tie is often used in editorial cartoons and other images to represent him. 

Rather than square this up, I trimmed it all at these odd angles, further representing the 'not business as usual' moment we are in.  

What a mess. I'm exhausted by the pace of the disruption in all branches of government, which is the point.  And we haven't seen the worst of it I'm afraid.  Luckily there is some small pushback by some legislators and some judges, but I'm not sure it will hold.  I hope it does. 

Take care of yourself and your family.  Watch out for your vulnerable neighbors. We are going to need each other. 

Peace, 

Paula