In our household, we often quote favorite movie lines to convey a big message in a few words. A bit like a secret language, the power of a select phrase can convey a sense of place, a mood, or a personality, and add to the bond of family.
One phrase that’s part of our oft-repeated mantras is “remember me?” spoken in the tone Julia Roberts used in Pretty Woman. You know the scene when she returns to the uppity sales clerk who had refused to help her. Laden with packages from another Rodeo Drive shop, she twirls about and smugly displays her loot. There’s a follow-up line about working on commission and “Big Mistake.” We quote that sometimes, too.
Several years ago, when I was a member of a mini-group of quilters who called ourselves The Basket Cases, we exchanged blocks to make quilts. The rules were: make a 9” basket for each other member of the group, in the color specified by each gal; then make your own quilt with the result. I chose blue (big surprise), as did Mary. Susan asked for red and pink. Dale requested pastels, and Angie’s color was terra cotta.
The single basket block you see here is from one set of blocks I made to exchange. The others I made for them were similar, but with pieced bows at the top, not appliquéd bows like these. I made some of that type in blue for myself, too.
We made the exchange baskets twice and each assembled her own quilt using whatever setting was desired. I had eight baskets from friends (you can find four pairs of similar baskets in my quilt, each pair from one quilting sister) and four I had made.
I struggled with the various shades of blue and the different levels of contrast until I remembered how I love brown with blue. This dark brown polka dot seemed to be the perfect fabric to enclose the group of baskets and serve as a border.
I tried the polka dot as alternate blocks, but the big blocks of color were distracting. So back to the sewing machine. I made six 7” basket blocks, framed them with 1” borders of the brown which acted as sashing, and was done.
So it was time for a title. The brown polka dots reminded me of a dress Julia Roberts wore at the polo match in Pretty Woman. So, Remember Me was the perfect phrase to convey the movie connection and the spirit of the exchange blocks with the Basket Cases.
The photos of the quilt were made on an outing to Auchumpkee Creek. Jim made some photos, I made others.
In this photo, you see the back of the quilt with a tree’s shadow on it. As I often do, I pieced the backing with several blue fabrics.
I did not do the quilting on this one. My friend and longarm expert, Kathy Darley, did a great job putting the layers together.
