Fall is my second most favorite time of the year when the blaze of colors combine with the gradual cooling of the weather making almost magical things happen in our surrounds. I love the folklore pertaining to this time of the year where we endure the darkening days, the traditions designed around "why the light goes away" for a time and what it means. From my Celtic traditions stories involve bonfires intended to give light back to the waning sun and concerns for souls who have gone on represented in the triad of All Souls, All Hallows and All Saints days. Anything that puts color into our lives as we await the new growth of Spring interests me. My Quaker heritage taught me long ago that even those of otherwise somber disciplines express themselves using color in one way or another to bring joy into life.

The Pennsylvania Dutch are known for their brightly colored Hex Signs imbued with multi-layered symbolism. Thanks to Zook's Family Crafts - the Hex Place, I was able to find patterns and meanings for many of these signs. After studying the meaning of some of these signs, I decided they could be a very apt canvas for a cozy "protection quilt" quilt we could snuggle under and dream of our children. I chose Hex signs that had personal meaning for me, then surrounded the members of our immediate family with these symbols to bless them and us as we slept beneath the covers. Here are the patterns I copied, traced and amended to create my own embroidery designs, and by adding in a few random Distelfinks (a stylized goldfinch often used in Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, representing happiness and good fortune) the quilt took shape:

Conveys strength, health and long life to all.		Offers a happy life and joyful memories to all mankind.		Conveys abundance in field, barn and home.
		Child Blessing. love and the innocence of God's children.
	Offers health and happiness to all.	A Child Blessing for each of our five live born children.	Proclaims love and friendship.
A life filled with love and romance is offered to all.	Child Blessing. love and the innocence of God's children.	Highlights the importance of a loving, supportive family.	Child Blessing. love and the innocence of God's children.	Joy and prosperity are the key themes of this design.
	Proclaims peace, faith, and trust.	Child Blessing. love and the innocence of God's children.	Proclaims good luck of the Irish.
		Family Marriage Record
Offers abundance and goodwill to all.		Provides piety, virtue, peace and contentment.		Ensures good luck all year.

Next, each square was embroidered using bright colors and tatting thread thru the quilt top and the wool batting, a backing was added, the quilt was assembled and hand quilted, here is the final result:

Here are a couple of close-ups of the embroidery and quilting:

and of the center squares:

The Center square reads:

"Lord, family togetherness is wonderful!
So too, are the things that make each of us different!!!
Help us to be both ...
Together and different in love,
and bless our family with peace."

Fits this bunch and t'is a pleasure to sleep underneath.