My regrets are that I haven't been able to post as often as I'd like. I haven't made as many quilts as I'd like this past year either, but life happens and gets in the way sometimes. It's a new year in blog land, so my hope is to do better this year than last, to hear from more of you than before and mostly to continue to have fun.
Now...let's talk about cotton. You may not know this, but a lot of cotton is grown in Arizona. We pass cotton fields daily. Cotton looks like snow on the road when it escapes the cotton picker. It is illegal to grow cotton in the city of Montgomery, AL or so I've been told. Yes, I've lived in two states that are cotton producers.
This is what cotton looks like in the early summer.
And here is a closer look. The sun was very bright that day!
A few weeks ago, it looked more like this.
And this. Note the mountains in the background. Those are the San Tan mountains. They would be dwarfed by the Rockies, but isn't it cool to see cotton and mountains in the same photo? This is farm country out here!
Yep, there are cacti, too, but not in the fields!
I love the look of the cotton boll. A few years ago I made angels from cotton bolls. They are really cute. They were in a kit I bought somewhere -- don't remember where I found them, but they go on the tree every year.
This is my favorite photo of a cotton boll. They are such a nice soft tan color, but they are hard and "pokey" as they are dry at this point.
Then, these guys show up to do their job.
After the cotton is picked it goes into one of these. They are called modules. I mistakenly called one of these a bale, but was quickly corrected by a FB friend who is a cotton farmer's wife. She should know!
The family name is spray painted on the side of the module and each family hopes to have a LOT of these. After they are stored this way, they head to the cotton gin before becoming our favorite thing. You know cotton batts and cotton fabrics to make QUILTS! Sometimes I pass the fields and quietly call them quilt fields!
So there you have my version of where quilts come from. Of course they have to pass through many hands before the final stitch is taken, but Quilts and other Good Things grow in Arizona. Friendships grow here and in blogland as well.
Thank you for visiting. Stop by any time! Don't wait until the next blogiversary! Leave a comment to let me know you were here. I love hearing from you!
Until next time friends,
Lois
5 comments:
This is JoQuilter checking in. It's a blog fun? After my first year I had my blog printed as a book. Can't remember the name of the company right now but I hope they send me another offer. I figure it's my quilt diary. Keep up the good work and blog when you can.
I live in Alabama and we have cotton fields also. I see all the little bits left and think there could have been some more fabric.
Jo, what a good idea. I have seen other bloggers mention the book idea. If you find out, let me know. Dortha, we lived in AL for 4 years and my sister has lived there for many years. I agree on all those little bits left. Maybe we should gather them up and make "found" batting!
When Mom and Dad lived near Monrow, GA they took me to visit a cotton mill. It was fascinating to see those modules taken and broken up and made into thread and then grey goods. I love visiting factories. I'l love to see the printing process.
Lorinda, When we lived in AL we went to a museum that had all of the equipment and facts about cotton, but I think a live mill would be a lot better to see!
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