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NON-CHUCK-BILL My siblings share Celtic heritage, a love of cats and musical talent |
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A woman in our hometown--Antrim NH--had three sons. When she wanted to recall a name, she went through them all "Skeeze-Bob-Dude." I've been waiting many years to put that euphonic cadence into play.
Non: Nancy Isabel, b. 1946
Named for Frank Sinatra’s Nancy with the Laughing Face and our mother. Although the oldest, she was never bossy when we were growing up. She has traveled all over the world, was a publications designer, and raised her family in Scotland. She is a very witty and private person.
Named for Frank Sinatra’s Nancy with the Laughing Face and our mother. Although the oldest, she was never bossy when we were growing up. She has traveled all over the world, was a publications designer, and raised her family in Scotland. She is a very witty and private person.
Key to fabrics and findings:
- Bobbin, Quilt, Scissors, Thread, Treadle Machine: Sewing for decades, a professional quilt maker.
- Books: Graduated from the Nancy Drew mysteries of our youth to reading approximately a book a day
- Boston Cityscape: Born in Boston, went to college there during the time of the Boston Strangler
- Compass, Explore More, Map: A world traveler to five continents and 29 countries, from New Zealand and Nepal to Turkey and Cuba.
- Doughnut, Hot Dog, Ice Cream, Pizza: An indifferent cook and a lover of sweeties, claims to be allergic to vegetables
- Flamingo, Flip Flops, Hawaii, Seashell: Lived in New Hampshire, Scotland, Upstate New York, and Vermont, but prefers warmer climes
- Hammer: Can construct and repair many things, worked with Habitat for Humanity
- Heart: Two children, one in the States, one in Scotland with her two grandchildren
- Music: Gifted with a lovely voice, prefers to sing in en masse, always in it for the fun
- Sign Language: Taught art at a school for deaf students in Ghana in the ‘Peace Corpse’
- Tartan: McClure and McLean
Chuck: Charles Albert III b. 1947
Named for his father and grandfather. Born less than a year after his sister, he was my best friend growing up, although we were opposites, he being very athletic and an indifferent student. A very droll and private person.
Named for his father and grandfather. Born less than a year after his sister, he was my best friend growing up, although we were opposites, he being very athletic and an indifferent student. A very droll and private person.
Key to fabrics and findings:
- Acorn, Birches: A great lover of the great outdoors, has spent most of his life in NH
- Baseball, Football: A loyal fan of Boston sports teams since he first idolized Ted Williams
- Books, Notebook Paper, Pencils: A high school media specialist (FKA librarian), a voracious reader with eclectic tastes
- Boston Cityscape: Born in Boston (Dawchestah)
- Cannon Mountain Tramway, Skis, Snowflakes: At age 76 he says “Heck, I can still paddle a kayak and ski fast so…”
- Compass, Hiking Boot, Map: Always up for an outdoor adventure
- Hamburger: As a child, he never ate hot dogs, peas or cake. Our grandmother spoiled him with pie for his birthday
- Heart: Lives close to his two children and five grandchildren
- Music: Blessed with a beautiful bass voice but a reluctant performer.
- Owl: A very wise and well-educated outdoor person.
- Stars and Stripes: Served in the US Army during the Vietnam era
- Tartan: McClure and McLean
Bill: William Byron b. 1961
Named for his grandfathers, William Nichols and Byron Butterfield. Our caboose brother, he is the most like me, goofy and outgoing. A lifelong prankster with many interests and a project always on the go.
Named for his grandfathers, William Nichols and Byron Butterfield. Our caboose brother, he is the most like me, goofy and outgoing. A lifelong prankster with many interests and a project always on the go.
Key to fabrics and findings:
- Applause: A talented comedian, musician, and singer, he has performed in Greece and Spain and at Carnegie Hall.
- Bees, Hens, Peas, Radishes: He and his wife keep bees, chickens, and gardens on their small farm.
- Birches, Compass, Mountains: He misses nothing, always ready for a tramp through the woods to discover something new
- Boston Cityscape, Trumpet: Studied performance trumpet at Berklee College of Music.
- Boy Scout: Earned the rank of Eagle Scout, is now a Bald Eagle
- Cards: Plays pokah-pokah, notorious for noisy games of Pit at Camp Bitch-A-Lot
- Dog: Has had a series of Labrador retrievers and terriers
- Flag: Studies history and genealogy; on the Fourth of July he and a compatriot dress up like Paul Revere and read the Declaration of Independence
- Hamburger: How many has he grilled in his life? The best cook among the four of us
- Heart: Two sons, two stepsons, five grandchildren
- Tape Measure: Has built two houses and worked on numerous other projects
- Tartan: McClure
Construction Details:
This was a brain teaser which I laboriously worked out on paper before constructing: how to make a design based on eighths into a pattern based on sixths? And how to show my siblings’ commonalities as well as their unique qualities and experiences?
Folded Star contains an eight-pointed star. Because I have three siblings, I started with a six-pointed star, each point being 60 degrees (red chicken wire folded back). The red bars divide the area into three equal spaces. A circle of 12 Folded Star triangles quickly gives way to the less-exacting Pine Burr.
I chose the outer buttons and triangles to reflect each sibling’s personality and the outermost binding to incorporate the colors of those triangles.
This was a brain teaser which I laboriously worked out on paper before constructing: how to make a design based on eighths into a pattern based on sixths? And how to show my siblings’ commonalities as well as their unique qualities and experiences?
Folded Star contains an eight-pointed star. Because I have three siblings, I started with a six-pointed star, each point being 60 degrees (red chicken wire folded back). The red bars divide the area into three equal spaces. A circle of 12 Folded Star triangles quickly gives way to the less-exacting Pine Burr.
I chose the outer buttons and triangles to reflect each sibling’s personality and the outermost binding to incorporate the colors of those triangles.
Copyright Jane McLean, 2023