It's time for the November Color Challenge and just like all the other months, this is a beauty, especially since this flower is one of my absolute favorites!
To play along, go to Jen's blog for the block pattern and instructions.
You won't be disappointed!
November - Yellow - Black Eyed Susan
Black Eyed Susans are said to symbolize encouragement and motivation.
So how did this flower become known as "Black Eyed Susan?"
No one knows for sure, but legend has it that it all comes from an Old English poem of the post-Elizabethan era, written by John Gay (1685-1732).
All in the downs, the fleet was moored,
Banners waving in the wind.
When Black-Eyed Susan came aboard,
and eyed the burly men.
"Tell me ye sailors, tell me true
Does my Sweet William sail with you?"
There are several stanzas, explaining that her William was on board, "high upon the yardarm", and quickly scrambled down for a fond farewell with his lady love. It seems he was off to the high seas, but promised ardently to be safe and true:
Though battle call me from thy arms
Let not my pretty Susan mourn;
Though cannons roar, yet safe from harms
William shall to his Dear return.
Love turns aside the balls that round me fly
Lest precious tears should drop from Susan's eye.
It certain seems like William has motivation to return safely to Susan, and he is encouraging her to be strong in his absence. I like this poem!
While it appears that the British may have appreciated this beautiful flower first, it has become a popular garden flower here "across the pond." Due to its gold and black colors, matching the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore, the Black Eyed Susan became Maryland's state flower.
The flower is still revered today. The winners of the Preakness (an American flat thoroughbred horse race held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland) are awarded a robe of Black Eyed Susans instead of a horseshoe of roses.
 |
War of Will, 2019 Preakness winner
Photo from the Washington Post 6/4/19 |
Back to the challenge -
Here are my fabrics - a solid light yellow from my stash and a fat quarter of Sunshine Starlet from Blank Quilting. (I've been using fat quarters from the Starlet line for each month and I'm still happy with my choice.) I'm thrilled that I've been able to use stash fabric for my solid every single month!
I love to see all the units of a block sewn together and ready to be laid out and sewn together to create a finished block. It motivates me to sew. :-) This month is simple - half square triangles and squares!
The completed block! As usual, I just love how the Starlet fabric sparkles.
Just like every other month, I've sewn the original block plus a second block that has the opposite or different fabric placement.
It's a subtle difference this month, but it can make a big difference in a final quilt layout.
Check out these other bloggers who made blocks this month, and be sure to come back to see what we create next month!
