Smokejumper

I call this Modern style quilt "Smokejumper". As I worked on this quilt, the West coast was engulfed in flames that would burn more than 3,624,932 acres, marking it as the worst fire season to date. Reports of the newly coined 'CLIMATE FIRES' were not exaggerated. Even hundreds of miles from the actual fires, our skies were smoke filled everyday. Living in a forest myself, watching our cedar trees die from summer drought, I am very attuned to the effects we humans are having on the environment and to the very real risk of forest fire.

I draw inspiration for my work from my life and the natural world around me. Color soothes me and a backdrop of gray is not uncommon in the Pacific Northwest during fire season or in the winter months. As I work, the story of the quilt develops, informing my color and fabric choices. This quilt's story is rooted in love, hope and family. Even in a terrible fire season when gray smoke clouds the air, my garden bloomed in a rainbow of color, my family was safe and that smoke provided beautiful sunsets.

I have a nephew who is a Smokejumper. He is a kind and brave soul. So stitched into this quilt are a lot of prayers for him and all fire fighters. These colors represent hope for renewed life, for ongoing love and especially for safety: safety for our firefighters and for the planet that sustains us all.

Here is some history of the Smokejumper Base in eastern WA. Please consider making a donation to this worthy and noble organization.

Across Eastern Washington over the years hundreds of thousands of acres have burned in forest and wildland fires. The Methow Valley is where “smokejump” testing began in the 1930’s. Smokejumpers are specially trained wildland firefighters who provide an initial attack response on remote wildland fires. They jump from aircraft with a parachute, carrying over 100 lbs. of equipment and supplies. Smokejumpers can accessing areas that no truck can enter. Once down, they work to cut fire breaks and provide leadership for extended attacks on wildland fires.

The first Forest Service aircraft, and SR-10 Stinson along with specially constructed parachutes from Eagle Parachute Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania were used to make experimental jumps. The test was to see if firefighters trained as parachute jumpers could safely land deep in the forests of high mountain terrain. After 58 successful jumps in 1939 two operational bases were constructed, one in Winthrop and one near Missoula, Montana. Over the next 20 years bases in Idaho, Oregon, California and Alaska were implemented. Today more than 400 smokejumpers operate out of nine locations in the western US and Alaska. My donation will go to the base in Winthrop, WA.

These people perform the most ENVIRO-PATRIOTIC acts a person can, they put themselves in harm's way to save thousands of lives every year and THEY deserve our support. 50% of the profit form this quilt will be donated to the Smokejumper Program.