Smooth Sailing
I was gifted this sailboat quilt from a group of women I knew when my middle son was born, and it is a treasured memento of a very challenging time. These women were part of a quilting bee I had joined in 1992. They were encouraging and “taught me the ropes” of quilting (1). Now that I look back, I appreciate the insights and wisdom they offered, both with quilting and with life. I suspect the focus on boats and nautical imagery when decorating that son’s childhood bedroom was inspired by this quilt.
My middle son was born at 35 weeks, critically sick. He spent a month in the ICU, and I (also critically sick) dealt with daily trips to a hospital an hour away, the care of a two-year-old, and the stress of the unknowns of his illness. His health was “touch and go” (1), but thankfully, he recovered, due to the recent introduction of a lifesaving drug, the amazing care he received and his own strength. The impact those weeks had on me, my husband, and our approach to life was significant.
I became a stay-at-home mother, a process that was both incredibly rewarding, and extremely challenging. As a single income family, I followed in my mother’s footsteps, doing all the designing, painting, wallpapering, and sewing for our home. And, like my mom, I hunted for vintage furniture to renovate, scouring antique stores, flea markets and “rummage sales” (1). Mainly because we couldn’t afford the cost of new, but also because I had absorbed my mother’s taste that “old” things were so much better made.
Once we began to renovate our current home – and boy did it need renovations! – I picked a nautical theme for my son’s bedroom, and off I went with the theme. Some of the wonderful finds have moved on to his adult home, though the watercolors have stayed behind on the walls. (I wrote a prior blog about some of these treasures: https://www.ericasheirloomquilts.com/ericas-heirloom-treasures/a-smack-of-jellyfish)
This large watercolor was the first I picked up at a flea market. Unsigned, undated, and professionally framed in Racine, WI. The back has a sticker saying “Shirley Psiones”, though I suspect she was the owner paying to having it framed. Mainly because nothing on the web indicates Shirley Psiones (1925-1995) from Racine was an artist. The imagery reminds me of fishing vessels in Canada or Maine. Though the sandy beach the boats are resting on does not track with those locations so it remains a mystery, but a lovely one.
This watercolor also makes me think of Maine or Canada, though it has no obvious identifying feature. It also lacks a signature or date. I love the way the artist makes it clear it is winter, with the gray cold water and grayed buildings in the background. The snow is piled up in the foreground, and even along the edge of the boat. The detail of the icy drips along the mooring rope adds to the chilly atmosphere, as does the reflection of the sailing boat in the cold water. We know it is chilly, the water is calm, and the boats are hunkered down for the winter. Except for whoever thought it a good idea to go for a sail in winter. I have never attempted to paint in watercolors (or in much else for that matter) but I understand it is difficult, requiring speed and a delicate touch. This artist was a master.
This unsigned, undated watercolor was also a flea market find. But it is safe to say we are no longer in North America. I sense we’ve moved to the Mediterranean Sea, likely Greece. Note the ancient ruin up on the hill in the distance. And the colors of the water! This is not the Atlantic Ocean of the other works. Greens, rich blues in wonderful rippling waves. The colorful boats are reflected in the water, adding a sense of movement from the boats rocking on their mooring lines. Offsetting all that color is the background hill – done in grays, with a soft pink sunrise tinting the sky. The bamboo frame is great – likely dating the work to the 1940s. Oddly, Google Image found a near identical painting, down to the shape of the hill with the ruin on top (https://www.ebay.co.uk/). The piece is for sale via eBay in England, and identifies it as a “Greek school” work. Mine is a much better version, but I am curious how these works came to exist.
My final boating watercolor is a more recent purchase from the thrift store. Signed “Bookmyer” but undated. No obvious identification via Google search for the artist, nor any clue about the location. Other than to say it is a well-done piece with two sailboats racing in a stiff wind around a wonderful large red buoy. While I love the depiction, I confess I was not one for sailing as a child.
Each summer my father would charter a large sailboat and take some of my siblings off on a week’s sail along the east coast. I did not participate in these as motion sickness and sailboats are not a good combination. However one year, when I was college aged, I did join the crew. That particular sail included a sister and all 3 brothers, and we battled through a hurricane. “By and large” I was useless - I had to stay “above board” otherwise I was significantly “under the weather”, and not able to keep down a “square meal” (1). Definitely not something I would care to repeat. Like ever. Choppy water, small boats and hurricanes are a bad combination for those struggling with motion sickness.
I do love the majesty of large boats, and will always recall the astonishing parade of “Tall Ships” during the bicentennial celebration in 1976. This was actually known as “Operation Sail” which is a non-profit still in existence (https://opsail.org/). There were 16 multi-mast sailing boats in service to various countries, all fully rigged and under sail. Interestingly, in 1986 I was working at a bank in Manhattan, when another sail boat honor parade was arranged. This one was for the Statue of Liberty, celebrating her 100th year, and saw 24 large vessels sail into the NY harbor. It was remarkably hard to concentrate on our training program when the view of the East River out the window was competing for our attention. According to a NYT article it was the largest procession in memory of these majestic boats. Howard Slotnich, the director of Operation Sail which organized the event, said ''We're giving a party, and we've asked the nations of the world to come to the party… In 1976, we asked them to come and celebrate our birthday. This year we are asking them here to thank them for what they have done for our nation.'' (2)
Our country was founded by immigrants, from many places around the globe, the majority of whom arrived here by boat. The Statue of Liberty represented a beacon of hope to many of them during a literal rough passage. Their reasons for arriving varied: political, religious, economic. I can’t say all our ancestors all arrived with hope as many, those enslaved particularly, had a much different journey.
My ancestors, however, did arrive by boats, between the 1600s and the 1880s. Their goal was to start over with “a clean slate” - a nautical term we all use without realizing its origin: “ A slate tablet was kept near the helm [of the boat] on which the watch keeper would record the speeds, distances, headings and tacks during the watch. If there were no problems…, the slate would be wiped clean so that the new watch could start over with a clean slate.” (1) Those people who ventured across oceans to build a new life all did so with the goal of creating a better life for their progeny.
And as I connected with older women through a quilting bee, and was supported through the rough seas of a critically ill newborn , I’ve realized how our lives are impacted by people sharing our journey. Those friendships may have dissipated over the years – the women retired, moved away, passed away. But their kindness and advice buoyed me up (1) during a significant crisis. Thankfully my son weathered that storm successfully. Life is not always smooth sailing, but filling our lives with supporting friendships, art and love offers a wonderful way to sail through life .
(2) https://www.nytimes.com/1986/04/08
(1) https://spiritofbuffalo.com/nautical-resources/nautical-phrases-and-terms/