A History Lesson...

I was asked to compile a brief description of the various blocks and the meaning and history of each block. 

Log cabin (Center squares) quilts have been sewn in the United States since the 1860s. Each square block is a piece of quilt history in itself. The block is a representation of an early log cabin home that was being built on the wide expanses of the prairie. The log cabin quilt pattern history of meanings is: The center block of the quilt is usually red or yellow, this represents the fire in the hearth. The light strips on the log cabin pattern square represent the sun shining on the eastern side of the log cabin. Likewise the dark strips on the log cabin pattern indicate the shady side of the log cabin.

Together these simple fabric strips are stitched in a precise manner to form a complete picture to those who understand what the color and materials represent. Now you know the log cabin quilt pattern history of the exquisite log cabin quilt itself and why it came to be such a cherished part of quilting history and daily life back then. The log cabin quilt still remains a popular quilt pattern today. It represents: Home, Warmth, Love and Security.

The trees are representative of life.  I chose to use include Aspen leaves  represent the changing seasons of life.

A remarkably simple block, a basic Flying Geese block (the border - triangular shape) consists of a larger triangle (the goose) surrounded by two smaller triangles (the sky). Flying Geese blocks are usually made so they are twice as wide as they are tall. Choosing fabrics with enough light-dark contrast is essential to make the geese stand out against the background of sky. If the goose fabric is dark, the sky should be lighter; on the other hand, if the goose fabric is light, the sky should be darker.  

Check out this lesson from Geese. http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/stories/inspirational/geese.shtml

The Bears Paws (Corner blocks) - Each paw consists of a square, edged with saw tooth little triangles with a smaller square at the corner. The darker colored triangles in the saw tooth section represent the claws of the bear. Sometimes the paws are set in different directions to give a fresh look to the main block.  What became each claw in the Bear's Paw quilt block had it's beginnings as the sawtooth border used on early American quilts.