@this-is-izy you said you wanted to see my quilt when it was finished and now it is!!! Messily edited my nibling’s name out of the quilt tag on the back but otherwise this is what it looks like.

If we count the date I planned this quilt as the start of “making” it, my second Nibling Quilt comes out to an even one-month project.

My piecing is noticeably better with this one than the last, though I also accidentally sewed ONE purple HST near the “bottom” of the quilt inside-out and didn’t even notice until the whole thing had been quilted. Might reinforce that seam with some thread for the sake of security.

Ellen Morton Littlejohn, Margaret Morton Bibb

Quilt, Star of Bethlehem pattern variation

Whenever I see or hear a piece of art it’s like I have to take a pause and admire it. It’s like the first bloom of spring or first snow of winter. Sure, some of it seems unremarkable but in my eyes I see the love and dedication hidden between the lines, stitches, notes and steps.

Art isn’t easy, it’s so incredibly hard and takes large amounts of time, but those who take part in it no matter their skill level are worthy artists in my eyes. So, keep creating, while some may look down on you there’s also someone out there who will look at your art with awe filled eyes.

Hystercine Rankin (1929– 2010), “Memory Quilt” (ca. 1994), fabric; appliquéd, hand-embroidered, and hand-quilted, 88 x 82 inches.

‘Of Salt and Spirit’ Celebrates the Legacy of Black Southern Quilters

You may have heard of the remarkable quilters of Gee’s Bend, but do you know about the Crossroads Quilters, like Gustina Atlas? Or Hystercine Rankin? Mary Mayfair Matthews? You’re in luck if you have a chance to visit Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South at the Mississippi Museum of Art, which shines a light on dozens of incredible Black Southern quilters and takes a celebratory approach to showcasing their myriad styles and techniques.

All images courtesy of Mississippi Museum of Art

Emma Russell, “Star Quilt” (1978), cotton blend; hand-pieced, appliquéd, and hand-quilted, 81 x 77 inches

Mary Mayfair Matthews, “Folk Scenes Quilt” (1992), rayon, cotton polyester blend, lace, lamé, and buttons; hand-pieced and appliquéd, 86 1/4 x 74 inches