Magnolia

It is my favorite time of year when all of the flowers begin to bloom and the air is warm(ish) and filled with bird song. No matter where I’ve lived, or what the previous winter entailed, I’ve always excitedly awaited the arrival of spring. After the dark and the cold, I relish every springlike moment. Spring is a vitamin infusion — I need to absorb the beauty of all the various flowering plants and trees. I am continually in awe of flower bulbs that lie dormant all year, only to emerge exactly when you need a lift the most. There is so much hope in spring!

Besides daffodils, I live for the moment the magnolia trees bloom for I unequivocally love magnolias. I have been warned that they make a frightful mess, but despite this, I ache for my own tree someday. In my imagined dream yard, I will lie down under the magnolia for hours every spring day. On a quilt, of course! Until then, I am fortunate that there are many other magnolias in my vicinity so that I can admire their glory from the sidewalk or the car. Magnolias are magnificent while managing to be simultaneously both calming and boisterous; every one impresses me deeply. I am also very fortunate to not experience seasonal allergies as that would definitely subdue my overenthusiasm for all things in bloom.

Once the magnolias bloom, I feel myself begin to emerge from my winter hibernation. Watching the trees bud and leaf out reminds me that dormancy is necessary. The daffodils teach me that you bloom after you rest and retreat. Nothing can be continually vibrant. Yet while rest is a necessity, it is also damn time to get out from under the quilts and be outside. Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, our springs are also populated with some crazy weather too. Up here there is the perennial question: is that stuff swirling in the air cherry blossoms or hail/snow? Usually, it is both. Spring here is often quite fleeting and if asked, I believe the majority of us would vote to extend the season.

The only downside to the great magnolia bloom is that whilst obsessing over their beauty, I often get a song in my head that I don’t like. Since I’m sharing this on the world wide web, I will not disclose the song because it is beloved by millions of people. I just don’t happen to be one of those millions. This year when said song made its annual appearance during my magnolia stalking, I decided it was high time to find a better song about my favorite flower. There is a lyric by the Revivalists that goes “She’s a very pretty girl, with a magnolia smile” but nah, that’s not enough. There is also the amazing band Magnolia Beacon, whom I adore, but what I seek is a magnolia anthem. To resolve my dilemma, I queried “songs about magnolias” on the old internet. Drats, all these years I’ve let that other song take up valuable headspace when I could have enjoyed J.J. Cale’s Magnolia instead. Talk about an aha moment. Life is too short to have bad songs stuck in your head.

Now to go with my “official” magnolia song, I have also sewed up a magnolia dress. This is the March pattern by Helen’s Closet, a dress with pockets (which should be a requirement for all dresses!) and it was quite a challenging make for me. I discovered the fabric at my local sewing boutique Sewn, where I also sewed the majority of the dress in classes. I am still very much a novice when it comes to clothing sewing and therefore I seek projects that are both useful and skill builders. During the making of this dress, I learned new garment construction skills like gathering and pocket construction. Although there is a lot of overlap between garment sewing and quilting, there are enough differences between the two to make each a unique practice. The more clothing I sew, the more confident I become with pockets, necklines and cuffs. This dress is a departure for me in both style (oversized and bohemian) and fabric (palette and print). It is the only thing like it in my minimalist closet. This dress is celebratory and it makes me happy.

Another non quilting project I recently completed is a backpack. This project was a real puzzle at times, and not because of the pattern but because I’ve never created anything like it before. It is the Making pattern by Noodlehead made from deadstock Carhartt canvas, including a lining and foam, so it is heavy duty. This backpack represents my first 2 zippers, straps and project using such thick materials. The interior lining is bird fabric I’ve had for years and it really is the cutest backpack ever. The dimensions make it the perfect size for all of my cozy travel accoutrements, essentially my “Linus blanket” (my beloved quilt from super pal Lisa) and 3 library books. I believe in using everything I own, however this pack is precious and will not be used for hiking or mushroom hunting. Especially not with those white canvas straps! This cutie pie pack will hopefully remain in a more pristine condition that any of my other gear.

I believe that sewing garments and bags benefits my quilting and vice versa. They are both technical challenges and compliment one another nicely. The next time I sew curved pieces in my quilts, I will have an advantage because of the sleeves and necklines I’ve sewn on clothes. It is also a great exercise for me to create with materials that are not simply cotton or linen. A goal of mine is to make more quilts out of used clothing, so any practice I get working with finicky fabrics will benefit these future quilts.

C’mon spring, the Pacific Northwest is ready for your appearance — and please stick around for more than a few hours at a time. We are all Vitamin D deficient and need some warmth to defrost. Stop teasing us and stay awhile. I’ve got a celebratory dress I’m ready to wear without thick tights, boots and a puffy jacket and also a special bottle of local gruner vetliner wine I’m ready to enjoy in the backyard. Spring, if you come visit us, I promise you will be greeted with millions of smiles and laughter. While we await a full day of 60 degree warmth, keep the magnolias blooming.

Songs listened to: The Revivalists Up in the Air; JJ Cale Magnolia; Lukas Nelson Magnolia (cover); Iron & Wine Magnolia (cover). Album listened to Magnolia Beacon The Tim Robbins Sessions.