Label
This quilt was made with a variety of commercial cottons. It is composed of raw-edged, fusible appliqué, which was then machine stitched with a tiny blanket stitch using cotton thread. The quilting includes feather patterns in contrasting thread and tiny stipple quilting in a matching thread color. It was done with hand-guided free motion machine quilting. All the elements of the appliqué and the quilting patterns were designed specifically for this quilt.
My grandfather was Swedish, and a few years ago I was able to visit Sweden and see his birthplace. I decided to honor my ancestry by creating a quilt inspired by Scandinavian folk art. I included common folk art motifs such as birds, hearts, berries and tulips. While I have made many, many quilts, this was the first time I made a miniature. The biggest challenge was cutting out the pieces, especially the small berries. When I stitched around the appliqué pieces I often had to do one stitch at a time. I chose my favorite color, turquoise, as the background fabric and was very happy with the color scheme.
I began quilting in my late twenties. I had moved to a new town and joined a women’s group at my church so I could meet new people and find new friends. One of the women was teaching some of the others how to quilt. Both my grandmothers and my mother sewed clothing, and did embroidery, cross-stitch, and needlepoint. I learned these skills from them and it just seemed natural to add quilting to the list. From this beginning, quilting and friendship have always been intertwined in my life. Today, my closest friends are those in my quilting group.
I would advise new quilters to learn good technique, but also to be willing to explore and try new things. I began by making traditional quilts, which I still love, but I also took advantage of opportunities to learn about art, color and drawing. I participated in quilt challenges, which made me think about quilting in new ways, and inspired me to began to create my own designs. Now, I find inspiration in so many things – antique quilts, decorative art, tile patterns, the natural world and more. My daughter once said to me, “Is the whole world a quilt to you?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!”
I am not happy if I go too many days without working on a quilting project. My husband often says, “Another new project?” I hope there will always be one. When I was the mother of young children, and when I was working full time, it was sometimes a challenge to find the time to quilt. But it has always been a priority for me. I try to block out time in my weekly calendar that I reserve for quilting. And I let other things go. My mother used to say, “She’s not a very good housekeeper, but she makes beautiful quilts.”
It is such an honor to now have a quilt at the National Quilt Museum. I was at the groundbreaking ceremony for the museum. I have believed in the importance of the museum’s mission and have been a museum member for many years. It is such as unique and remarkable place. I never dreamed that I would one day have a quilt in the museum’s collection.