Honeymoon Trip
Honeymoon Trip is my post for the current art challenge for The Endeavourers. The theme for this challenge is Maps. There we are in that photo, two young things ready for adventuring through life together.
Honest confession – maps have never really been my thing. On the other hand, my husband loves them. So when I told him about this challenge with the theme of Maps, I asked him what I should do. He said I should replicate the Fisher map we used on our honeymoon trip. Fisher Maps – if you have every trekked into the border country of Minnesota and Canada, you may have used a Fisher map, made by the W. A. Fisher Company. They are iconic maps that have been made since 1929. You can read more about the company here.
A little about our honeymoon trip. I had never been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW, but it is usually shortened to BWCA), but I had been KOA camping (comfy camping, with beds and showers), so I figured I knew enough. Ha. Camping in the BWCA is sleeping in a tent, eating by campfire, using a very out in the open toilet (okay, there are trees), and no showers. Hubs had been to the BWCA quite a few times, but this was his first time going in solo, with a new wife in tow.
Years earlier, my dad and my brother built redwood strip canoes, and hubs thought it would be a neat way to honor my dad (who he never got to meet) by taking the canoe on the trip with us. It was a beautiful craft in the water, but it was heavy even before being fully loaded. To give you an idea, hubs made an oak yoke for the canoe, so it would be easier for him to carry. We took it out for a trial run (without packs, etc.), and the yoke broke when he flipped it up onto his shoulders. Hmm. It was so wide at the center that it took up most of the roof on our old Chevy Impala, while other cars were zipping by with two canoes strapped to theirs. But as I said, it was an awesome canoe in the water, so we were determined.
A week before we were to head in, there were news reports of a bear attack in the BWCA – a rare thing. The attack just happened to be in the area where we were headed. Hubs wisely decided that it might be good to go to another lake rather than have me worrying about a bear (not that it stopped me!). When getting approval from the ranger at check-in, she quipped, “If you can make it a week in the BWCA for your honeymoon, your marriage will last forever!” Well, here we are, 30-some odd years later. I guess we did something right.
Upon arriving at our campsite, after paddling through the rain and hilly, muddy, slippery portages (only two, thankfully), we found a little plastic giraffe left on a big rock. Since our campsite was on a point, we dubbed the campsite “Rainy Giraffe Point”. I seriously considered taking that little giraffe with me for a momento when we left, but in the end, left it for the next campers to discover.
Fisher maps are known for their bright colors, a yellow green for the land, and blue for the water. There are topographic markings as well, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to stitch that in on the land. I was surprised to find a piece of Tula Pink fabric I had in my stash – no idea when or where I bought it – that had a design that looked topographical, and in the right color! I love it when that happens.
So I did a rough trace of the lake, just making it kinda like the actual shape. I traced it in reverse on some fusible, and fused it to the blue fabric and cut it out. Even with rough tracing, those little ins and outs called for a sharp scissors. Before I attached the lake to the map, I sandwiched the yellow green fabric, batting and backing and did some quick grid quilting to mimic the latitude and longitude lines on the map.
Once that was done, I fused the lake onto the quilt. I decided to hand stitch around the outline of the lake using Aurifil 12 wt. blue thread, then I stitched in some depth lines, but not exactly like what would be seen on the actual Fisher map – just enough for you to get the idea. Next came marking the campsites in little red x’s – the campsite we stayed at is marked with a heart. BWCA maps come marked with designated campsites, which have a fire grate on site and biffies (toilets) nearby. Campers are only to camp at those specified sites, and they are first come, first served. If all the sites are taken, you find another lake on your route with an open site.
I also stitched in the approximate route we took across the lake to the campsite. It rained the entire way, but thankfully broke long enough for us to get our tent up and attempt to hang our packs. Did I mention that our packs were heavy too? The ropes broke while we were hanging the packs, so we ended up putting the packs in the canoe, and the canoe out in the water (tethered to a tree) and hoped no bear would come into camp. I was beginning to see why the ranger said what she did . . .
Next I attached the label, which I wrote up with a Pigma pen. Then I worked on the silhouette sketch of Rainy Giraffe Point – that little giraffe-ish figure was a bit difficult in that tiny size!
For the backing, I used a fat quarter I’ve had in my stash, just waiting for the perfect quilt. It seemed appropriate. Then I added striped binding, because I like striped bindings.
Here is my little mini quilt with an actual Fisher map, so you can see how close I got to the actual colors. My mini quilt measures 15 inches by 16 inches.
Our honeymoon trip is one of our favorite memories, with so many funny things that happened on the trip. Did we go back to the BWCA? We did, on several more trips. The last one for me was when our kids were little, and that trip has stories of its own. Hubs still goes each year. I’m happy to stay home with a cozy bed, private bath and shower.
Wendy
Current State of Play
32 Comments
Barbara J Stanbro
This is absolutely wonderful, Wendy. I know just what you mean when you reach into your stash and find the perfect fabric, and you wonder where it came from. Quilting fairies, I think. Your story reminded me of something I read recently. I’m not going to get it exactly right, but it was one woman talking to another, and she said, if you can survive a week camping with the guy, marry him on the way home!
Kathy
I love everything about your honeymoon trip! And your quilt is awesome! Fabrics, color, detail! Wow…I love reading all of your posts Wendy. Funny what we do when we are in love, Steve always mentions unloading chickens, cleaning chickens, working in the milk parlor cleaning smelt. And all of our fun fishing trips up north to Leech Lake and Lake Winnibigoshish, and we did set up a tent on a rock and used those trees when needed near the Canadian Border. But we have never been to the BWCA. So good to hear your adventures. And that we still love our hubby’s after all these years and still going strong!
Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
Wow, you had the absolute perfect print for this quilt. It sounds like your honeymoon was a fun adventure. I think the striped binding works really well for the map theme because many roads or dividing lines are dashed or striped on maps, too.
Dorothy
I love this. As for the story/history, you’re stronger than me
Stitchin at Home
What a wonderful honeymoon adventure memory! I like how you had the perfect fabric for your map.
Susan MacLeod
An epic adventure! Sweet quilt to commemorate the event.
texasquiltgal
Just “Wow!”, I am so impressed, and what a great story. That topographical Tula Pink is perfect as well as the backing. Your hubby’s suggestion was also perfect for you to bring to life. Nicely done.
Karen
well that is a trip to remember!
ShelteringHaven
Oh! Oh! Oh! 💗
Tracie
The things we do for love! And this is such a great story and quilt to commemorate it. The Tula fabric is perfect! The Henkels also endured cold, rainy BWCA trips (maybe two together). Brian’s hoping for one more, and I’m in if we sleep in a cabin and paddle out for day trips. Yes, you win Most Noble Young Wife award! Thanks for sharing your story 🙂
laura bruno lilly
Oh such a rich beginning to your lives together! Thank you for introducing me to those Fisher Maps and a slice of Minnesota/Canadian life along with your honeymoon adventure. BTW: the mini quilt is a keeper!
Vicki in MN
I love that story of your honeymoon-anything for love, LOL. Love that photo of you two young ones, You had glasses like I did, big!!! Great project to capture that memory, complete with a giraffe!!!!
Janis Ploughman Altomare
Wendy I LOVE this quilt. It is such a perfect replication of your story! I can’t imagine the size of your canoe once you mentioned the Impala. Yikes that was a big canoe! Where is the canoe now? I wanted to see a picture of it!!
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
What a great story of your honeymoon, Wendy, and I LOVE your quilt representation of it! You really did find the perfect topographical map fabric for the background. I was recently looking at old photos and (from the 80s!) and what struck me was the shape of our eyeglasses back then – you had them, too, I see! Great quilt – and enjoyed your post!
exuberantcolor/Wanda Hanson
A challenge quilt becomes a memory quilt. So neat!
aquilterstable
What an interesting project. I think you handled it very well. Impressive!
Kate
A very fun mini quilt and equally fun story that goes with it. Congrats on making it 30 plus years.
Rochelle Summers
Congratulations, Wendy. What a wonderful quilt and story to go with it. The fabric, the design and that little giraffe! Although you don’t say, I’m sure hubby must have been pleased with the final results!
Sara Fridley
Although I grew up in Minnesota I’ve never been to the BWCA, which is a shame. I would hear all about it annually from one of my cousins who did frequent camping trips there. You’ve really captured the Maps theme with a fun interpretation. Love the story of your honeymoon trip.
The Joyful Quilter
OMG, Wendy!! What an experience AND a fabulous little quilt to commemorate it!
Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
What a great quilt and quilt story, Wendy!!! You went to the BWCA for your honeymoon?!!! So adventurous!!! Love the photo of you young’uns!!!
rl2b2017
Hi Wendy! This is the best post ever. EVER. Look at the fabulous picture of the two of you. I can see all the love in your eyes and your smile is exactly the same. Even your dimples are the same. I’d say your a pretty darn good sport all the way around, and BigJ is a keeper. One week definitely told the tale on longevity in your relationship. I’d have made it one day . . . zero nights. HAHA! I love your project but the story is priceless. {{Hugs}} a bunch! ~smile~ Roseanne
Jocelyn Thurston
I so enjoyed reading this post and seeing that special photo. Yes you two were meant for each other that’s for sure. Your mini quilt is perfect and now a special memento of happy beginnings!
Laura
Love, love, love the terrific photo of you and the Hubster!!! So fun to read this post, too! You brought back many camping memories for me and, as a matter of fact, my Hubster and I are planning a camping trip late this coming summer. I am excited to go! We will be tent camping…hopefully us old folks can still handle it. Ha, ha! Your mini quilt is a great keepsake of your honeymoon! 🙂
Eva
Same opinion like all the others here. Such a good idea and super performed. The hand stiching makes it perfect. I love it in the meantime as well. And such a great story. Yes… if you survived a camping week… mary him. .. this is a perfect sentence. All crisis you did together shows if he is Mr. Perfect.
And don’t worry about the glases … they are “in” today, to have exactly this size!!
Everything comes back in the fashion szene!!
Love to read this episode of your live. Fischer maps… I googled – we have them here as well.. before Mr. Google comes… yes.. yellow and blue…. “Falk” they are called here. And I always love to have a map if I am on a road trip in a foreign country. Old fashioned. But without loaded mobil, or whatever reason… it is always good to have a map on hand. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. Brave girl you was to do this camping!! I never have the experience to canue and camp…
Quilting is in my Blood
I really enjoyed reading this post, and I love your improv map mini quilt. It captures the essence of you young honeymooners.
Needle and Foot
I hope this quilt hangs in your house forever. It represents the start of a wonderful family!
Such a great idea for the challenge prompt Wendy.
For my honeymoon back in 1981, we also camped. It was a lot of fun and we did encounter a bear, twice! We were up in the Jasper/Banff area in Canada. Like you, I am no longer a huge fan of camping. But in my twenties, it was a fun time. 🙂
Janine @ Rainbow Hare
This is a fantastic quilt and such a lovely story. I really enjoyed reading your post 🙂
Kathleen McCormick
Your Honeymoon Quilt is wonderful! So nice that Fisher maps used bright colors and you were able to use that wonderful piece hidden in the stash. The back too is perfect. What a fun quilt to make and so many wonderful memories stitched into it. Camping is not my thing, maybe glamping, so like you I would be staying home!
Helen
I love this so much! It sounds simply awful… and completely wonderful! What a memory and story! The little quilted piece is just perfect… just perfect.
marissthequilter
What a remarkable honeymoon. Your telling of it had me rivetted. I am glad you have immortalised it in this beautiful quilt.
P.S. I was relieved that the bear did not come knocking at your tent flap
Carol Andrews
What a lovely way to commemorate a very special trip.