I was recently given a book of random quilting information and have been having fun going through and looking at web sites listed in it. This one stunned me, though. I had no idea such a mammoth project had been undertaken (okay, so I live in the boonies!) and am now trying to figure out how to get myself to the Olympics so I can see this quilt for myself. Has anybody actually been to see this quilt in person? I'd love more pictures!!

http://www.quiltofbelonging.ca/home.htm

be sure to check out the block-by-block section

That's amazing! I was browsing through the photos of it being made, and I thought my eyes were decieving me, surely that was a kiwi in one of the blocks? :shock:

A bit more looking and sure enough...

http://www.quiltofbelonging.ca/listing.php?Listing=4015

New Zealand is featured! :D

On the page about making the quilt it says that when this quilt was made, there was at least one person from every country in the world living in Canada; 193 blocks for countries!

I love how New Zealanders are described "New Zealanders are resourceful, helpful and extremely polite. A common thread that binds the entire population is its love of sports, and pride in their healthy, active way of life." This is now how I will think of you.

All I can say is WOW!

Resourceful? Yes. Helpful? Absolutely. But "extremely polite"? Not a phrase I would have used! LMAO

I would love to see this quilt in person, what an amazing feat, and what a stunning idea. It will be a treasure for hundreds of years, what a legacy!

I've seen this quilt while visiting Vancouver 2 years ago, it's just awesome. there's a book on sale in that museum that describe everything from the first tought of it's creation through the final stich. I regret not buying it.

I was going to post about it closer to the Olympics in case anyone from the board was going, because it's going to be on display in Vancouver during the Olympics.

The Quilt of Belonging was made in the next county over from where I live, and some of the ladies in my Quilt Guild helped to stitch it! I've attended a presentation by the designer / project co-ordinator, and seen the quilt in real life when it was on display.

If you ever get the chance to see it, do. It's truly amazing. It's not a traditional quilt (there's no batting), each individual block is appliqued onto the backing - but the individual blocks, and the overall design is awesome. Not only is every country in the world represented (and Esther, the designer, actually tracked down someone from each county who was living in Canada - luckily we're pretty close to Ottawa so she was able to contact the Embassies of many countries) but so is every Native tribe / group in Canada. In many cases the blocks were hand-made by individual immigrants using precious fabrics from their homeland. In some cases the representative of a country would sit down with a local quilter and design the block, perhaps also providing some traditional fabrics, and then the quilter would create the block.

The USA block is a gorgeous combination of a log cabin block and a traditional cross-stitch sampler.

I think there are pictures of each block on the website.

And if you're lucky enough to be going to Vancouver for the Olympics, be sure to go see the Quilt of Belonging while you are there!

Jan

Wow from here, too!!! That one would sure keep a person warm......or LOTS of people warm!

BTW, Barbara, LOVE your avitar! Rather like the doe I had looking at me the other day.... :mrgreen:

i think I have seen it on t.v. on one of the quilt shows,don' remember which one,but it is awesome

Hi

I have just returned to the UK from a holiday in Canmore AB and whilst there i found the most amazing quilt shop.

Funny enough there was a lady in the shop who mentioned this quilt and something about the Olympics.

So i'm dead jealous a beautiful quilt shop and the Olympics and now this beautiful quilt.

:D