A Clean Start

                                             

                                                          A Clean Start

                                         9" x 12"  Jan 10, 2026

for Project Quilting 17.1 : A Clean Slate

I've been participating in Project Quilting challenges for many years, in fact, it's the birth story for this Political Thread blog, because I needed a place to post my completed projects.  So here we are in a new year with a new season of challenges, this week's theme is "A Clean Slate." 

I considered the sense of a fresh start I'm feeling with the inauguration of Mamdani as mayor of New York City. But I just couldn't get off the ground. Part of the problem is that I have other projects on my cutting table and sewing machine, and I'm feeling the pressure of needing to wrap them up.  One of the projects, is actually organizing my sewing space, which is frankly, a mess. I know I'm not alone, so I post this next picture with only a little shame: 

Yes, that's the area beneath my sewing machine.  I can tell you which recent project each bit of scrap fell from, and I know I've been busy.  But it really needs some attention.  I know. I know.  

Rather than simply consider it all trash, I picked up a few of these pieces and laid them on a background, just as they had lain on the ground.  This section here: 

Next I quilted it all down to mimic the threads also laying on the ground.  

I'll leave the edges unfinished, because, honestly, this cleaning up project is unfinished.  But at least this small space beneath my machine is all cleaned up and ready to take on the rest of Project Quilting season 17, and those projects I REALLY have to finish soon. 

I hope you make time and space in your life to start new projects, and also finish up some things this year. 

Oh, and I hope Mamdani makes a difference in NYC, and for us all. 

Peace, 

Paula 

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 

The Elusive Madam President

 

The Elusive Madam President

a mini quilt with applique and embroidery, 7" x 5", Jan 11,2025

For Project Quilting 16.1: Mythical Creatures

For this week's challenge, the theme of Mythical Creatures begs for dragons and unicorns.  However as we approach the inauguration of our 47th president, after an election cycle where it appeared we were finally to have a female president, I have to accept that too many US citizens aren't prepared to elect a woman, regardless of how qualified she is and how Unqualified the opponent is. 

I used this painting by Bria Goeller as inspiration for Kamala Harris: 

as it referred to drawings of the creature Big Foot walking: 

I was ready to welcome a 'Madam President';   to see her inaugurated;  to have a 'First Gentleman' in the White House; to witness a final repudiation of the darkness and ugliness that surrounds the the person who ultimately won the election. But she is, at this time, a mythical creature. 

We'll have to carry on. 

Peace

Paula 

     

Running out of Time

                                        Running out of Time

11.5" x 15",  Quilting cotton, Machine applique, Machine quilted,
Hand embroidered

Completed Feb 26, 2024 for Project Quilting 15.4: Hourglass challenge

Continuing my personal theme of "birds" for this season of Project Quilting, I've done some research on the number of endangered bird species due to climate change and human destruction of bird habitat.  According to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) 

"There are over 10,000 species of birds on the planet, from the largest hawks and vultures to the smallest finches and hummingbirds. Unfortunately, many of them are on the brink of extinction. As climate change and human activity impacts wildlife around the world, it is important that we work to mitigate threats like deforestation and climate change and protect these endangered birds."

For this project, I created small colorful birds and also black birds representing those species we have already lost.  The birds are fused into the hourglass shape, then embroidered to add details.   I quilted the background before adding the hourglass, which is machine raw-edge appliqued. 

Yikes! Swimsuits

 

 Swimsuits! 

6" x 7"   March 17, 2023

paper piecing, couched cord, machine quilting

in response to Project Quilting 14.6:  Conquer a Fear

This is a tongue-in-cheek response to my, and most women's, fear of trying on swimsuits in preparation for warm weather.  

I found an online pieced swimsuit pattern, on the list of free patterns from Moda.  It was traditional piecing, which I translated to foundation piecing because I prefer it.  I also have a challenge from my Stitch Lab at Gotham Quilts to create something using couching, so I made it look like these swimsuits were hanging on a clothesline. 

Thanks to Kim and Trish at Project Quilting for a fun season of challenges! 

The Girls of Revolution Street

 Remembering Mahsa Amini and The Girls of Revolution Street

8" x 9" March 5, 2023

Fusible applique, machine quilting, faced

in response to Project Quilting 14.5: Not a Square

I machine quilted this small portrait with a few wisps of hair escaping the hijab; showing the sort of small infraction committed by women which can result in charges and even death. 

In September 2022 Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman was detained by the morality police in Tehran for not wearing her hijab properly.  She was beaten and died in custody.  She is one in a decade's long history of women of Revolution Street (Not a Square ;) protesting the requirement to wear hijab in Iran and other countries. 

"All over the world and throughout history, a woman's body has been the playground of various ideologies and identity politics, and a strict dress code for women has always been a strategy to uphold these political identities.

-Alma Fazeli"

To read the entire essay, click HERE. 

Women and men all around the world protest laws that use religious 'values' to deny women bodily autonomy.  This is a problem everywhere, not just in Muslim countries.  Women (or men, or any gender!) who CHOSE to wear hijab or any other dress style should have the right, autonomy, privilege of doing so.     

Peace, 

Paula 

  

I am a curvy woman

 

Fighting 36-24-36

9" x 9"  February 5, 2023, for Project Quilting: "54-40 or fight" challenge 14.3

hand embroidered, machine quilted

This week's challenge is to interpret this traditional block as explained in this post by Trish Frankland and Kim Lapacek   This is a basic 54-40 or fight block:

I was inspired by the concept of fighting against numbers and know that I've been fighting against the ideal female hourglass form for many years. Even when I was younger I didn't think I had the 'right' shape, and lament now, looking back at photos from those years, that I didn't have good body image.  (oy, what was I thinking?)

So here I am, well past 'middle aged', a woman with an AARP card, and recently struggled with dating again after a long marriage.  My youthful body spent. 

So I'm taking up arms, figuratively, against the tyranny of numbers that we cannot achieve.  I'll never be those measurements again, I'll never weigh those numbers again, I'll never be that age again.  I. am. a. curvy. woman. 

peace, 

Paula 

ps - I'm happy to report I've found a partner who embraces, literally, ALL my curves. 

Pink Tax

Pink Tax

8" x 5", January 21, 2023, for Project Quilting: "Pink Tint" challenge 14.2

machine stitched 'shirt fronts, hand embroidered price tags, tiny buttons, machine quilted

This is my response to the Project Quilting prompt: Pink:  The Pink Tax - "an adorable name for an insidious practice" - is the concept that some items are more expensive when they are gendered for women, such as shampoo, clothing, laundry services, toys. 

I created the front placket for the two halves, then stitched down the 3 pastel tiny buttons in pink and blue.

I found prices for a man's pink shirt and also a woman's pink shirt on a department store website, then embroidered the different prices on tags, and attached them to the tiny buttons, such as you might find on a real shirt. 

The machine quilting says:  "why is this shirt less than this shirt?  Pink Tax" - done with a variegated pink thread. 

The Pink Tax does not speak to all the items of toiletries and clothing which women purchase and men don't 'need' - that's a whole other problem.  This is a quantitative comparison of like to like products, which are more expensive when female gendered.  There are many shampoos and soaps that are packaged for women, and more expensive.  Blue jeans are more expensive in women's sizes.  But perhaps the most obvious is a dry cleaning or laundry service that charges more for women's shirts over men's shirts.  

Here are a few articles on the Pink Tax for further reasearch: 

7 Weird Examples Of How Women Pay More Than Men For The Same Products | HuffPost 

The Pink Tax: How Women Pay More for Pink | Bankrate

There’s A Pink Tax On Women (forbes.com)

I don't need pink calculators or disposable razors.  You'll find neutral colored items in my shopping cart. 

Peace

Paula 

 

Keep Abortion Legal

 

Keep Abortion Legal

6" square, January 6, 2023, for Project Quilting: The First One challenge

hand embroidered; machine quilted

This small piece is my response to the prompt: The First One, at this time following the overturning of Roe V. Wade by the super conservative Supreme Court.   It's my acknowledgement of my FIRST abortion; yes, I've had more than one.   Abortion was not illegal at the time, and should not be illegal now.  Legal abortion recognizes a woman's right to bodily autonomy.  For too long, we've been shamed into keeping quiet about abortion, about menstruation, about all manner of female bodily functions. 

This small section of quilting shows where the small mass of growing cells may have been attached to the wall of my uterus. 

This image shows the two color embroidery technique I have been developing over the years, where I color block the background, then embroider a line drawing over this shape. 

Keep abortion legal to allow women full bodily autonomy.  The number of abortions I've had is nobody's business but my own.  I've also carried some pregnancies to term.  That number is also nobody's business. 

Here's a good essay by a woman who writes honestly and eloquently about having more than one abortion, she speaks to the societal stigma:  "I've had three abortions"  

Minding my own business, 

Peace, 

Paula 

  

Spinning Out of Control

 

"Spinning out of control" - fused applique, machine quilted.  6.5x6.5" 

Created for Project Quilting "Snail's Trail" challenge

The weekly challenge is to use or be inspired by the 

traditional quilt block: "Snail's Trail" - here is a possible layout of 4 blocks by Quilts by Jen: 

The block is made up of a 4-patch surrounded by increasing size triangles. 

I knew that this was not the week to make such a controlled project,  so I colored in a pattern: 

Then cut apart the paper pieces and glued them down in a spiral-type shape, so I could determine if the general spiral was till apparent: 

I intended to paper-piece this in this arrangement,  but the angles were all over the place and I simply didn't have the bandwidth for it. 

Then, because I wanted to use the Steam-a-Seam product sparingly, i arranged all the pieces of the same color Tangram-style to see how much I had to cut.  Look how tight these pieces fit together.  Now I see other arrangements too. 

After cutting the shapes out of fabric, I placed the pieces.  I had intended to stay within the postcard size (4X6")  so the light gray center was cut close to that size.  However this wanted to expand,  which is why there is a different grey behind it. 

Finally, I ironed this all down and quilted with a variegated thread.  

If I was doing this again, I would let these spin out more by arranging the triangles in more extreme angles because I think the color keeps the spiral-shape.  But then I would be more careful with value also, so there would be two light value and two dark value choices. 

This week, my personal life is spinning out of control.  I'll quote feminist theory here and claim that "the personal is political", in that women's personal experiences  "can be traced to one’s location within a system of power relationships."  I'm a strong woman and bristle at the victim-ness of that statement, but I may come to understand this situation in that light.  

I'll be ok. 

You'll be ok too. 

Peace, 

Paula 

 

Greetings from Gatherings

 

"Greetings from Gatherings"  4x6" postcard.  Fused applique, hand embroidery

The Project Quilting prompt "Virtual Vacation"  - where so many responded with images of places they wanted to go once this Covid time is over - brought me to a memory of a my favorite 'place':  a dinner table with a gathering of friends enjoying a meal, a drink and conversation.

This image was such a gathering, hosted at our home in California in about 10 years ago.  I have wonderful memories of this evening. 

So my first task was to convert this to a drawing I could work with. 

 I used various filters on a the "Photo Sketch" app to get to these 2 possibilities.  If I was going to embroider the outline, I may have used this first one. 

Then decided to do some simple shape fusible applique using this as a template: 

Next I traced the simple shapes and made some preliminary color choices. 

This yellow fabric reminds me of the wall color at our home in California.  I made some editorial choices with some colors.  For example, my friend Sam is wearing an orange shirt, although she is in black in the original, because she loves orange.  My friend Adva, although wearing dark blue in the original, is in a grey stripe because that's what she wore when we travelled together to a quilt show. My hair is purple because I always wanted purple hair.  

I assembled this using a lightbox, where I could carefully place the pieces in their correct location.  You can see the tracing under the background in this next image.

I added some plates and bottles of wine to the table, trying to match their approximate location, but this has such a folk art feel, that I'm not too worried about precision.  

Finally,  I embroidered the word "Gatherings" in a variegated orange floss, to match the tablecloth, then arranged the pieces and fused it all to a stiff timtex and a cardboard backing. 

The Covid-19 pandemic has left us all yearning for a return to 'normal', when we can travel at will and gather with friends and family.  As of this post on February 7, 2021,  the USA alone has suffered 462,000 deaths, worldwide the number is 2.3 million.  So many families will experience an empty seat at the table when we can gather again.  From this image alone, we have lost 2 friends: the funny and loving Mark Jason (4th from right) and the amazing, beautiful, brilliant Debbie Salgarolo (2nd from left). Not to Covid, but we miss them nonetheless. Their memories are a blessing. 

Peace, 

Paula 

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