We might say that this time of my particular life has been about befriending my inner Artsy Cousin. Born Sturdy, trained in Grande Dame where required, cozying up to Artsy takes time. Worth the wait, if it’s a dream of yours.
As you know, I didn’t make these High WASP archetypes up. The Grande Dame exists, the Sturdy Gal is real, and now I’d like to introduce one of my actual Artsy Cousins. This is Linda, my uncle Win’s oldest daughter. She made this quilt.
I think it’s startlingly beautiful. Look at the detail on one of the poppies.
And not to shock anyone’s system too badly, but Christmas does come for some of us every year. Look at this.
The Tree of Life. Those birdies.
Linda has, for the first time, put her work up on Etsy. She didn’t ask me to post about her shop, but she did say it was OK. I have more than one handmade quilt in my house, so does my father, I thought you guys might share our taste.
Now I must go and reply to your comments on last week’s post. Turns out when I gave up weekday posts my comment reply time disappeared. I will remedy that, I promise. Sturdy Gals persist, in courtesy and camaraderie as well as in Becoming Artsy.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.
51 Responses
Linda’s work is gorgeous! Homemade quilts are glorious things, and quilts homemade by people you love are the very best things. (My little sis made us one as a wedding present and it’s lived at the foot of our bed for a decade now.)
@lauren, What a perfect wedding present.
Wow, her work is stunning!
@Leslie K, <3
Impressively beautiful!
@MaryAnne, :)
Wow! I’m assuming she designed that herself? Incredibly beautiful and complex!
@Mamavalveeta03, She modified a design you can see here, http://www.quiltmania.com/shop/en/simply-moderne/600-quiltmania-simply-moderne-n3.html, and I find Linda’s to be leagues more beautiful.
Very nice!
@Roseag, :)
“startlingly beautiful” perfectly describes it! Wow.
@Linda Pakravan, xoxox/the startle of beauty
More power to “sturdy gals”! Linda’s design aesthetic is original and perfectly executed. I bow to those who repurpose textile pieces to such beautiful effect.
@Dawn, I bow too! So well said.
That’s some really stunning work!! Just gorgeous.
@Susan B, :)
Those quilts are GORGEOUS. I particularly love the tree.
@K-Line, Me too!
Wow the turquoise poppy is spectacular!
@Alwaysamom, I’m so happy Linda’s work is being seen and appreciated!
Wow! The poppies are impressive – the creativity, the skill! So much talent here.
@Jane, I am so glad you enjoy it!
Linda is the ultimate artsy cousin. Thank you for sharing her beautiful work, I love the way you see them. She’s made a quilt for each of the sisters for our 50th birthday, lucky us!
@Laura, As are you, in life lived if not in art piece output! And how wonderful that you each have a 50th birthday quilt!
She did! The tree was inspired by Breed’s Tree of Life, and maybe a little Hopi influence.
@Laura, What is Breed’s Tree of Life, if I can ask?
Your cousin’s work is gorgeous! Like K-Line, I especially love the tree of life with the birds, those circles, shapes and colours, perfect amount of negative space/quieter background. Love it!
@Frances/Materfamilias, <3
Very beautiful! I am a quilter as well!
@Jeannine, I stand in awe!
Oh, those are fabulous! I don’t quilt but am fascinated by them, especially Log Cabin quilts and other traditional geometrics. And I love, love, love the pointy-beaked birdies on the tree of life quilt! I wonder whether Linda will be exhibiting at the Houston International quilt Festival in late October/Early November? I never miss it and will definitely seek out her submissions if they are there!
@Barbara W., I don’t know if she is – I will ask her. The pointy-beaked birdies are so cute, they speak to me.
Her quilts are so beautiful,especially the tree of life.
It inspired me to read once again about history of quilt making in North America and around the world (it is very interesting that Sashiko technique goes in this category, too ). We don’t have a tradition of quilt making from different pieces of fabric or decorative stiching, in my country
Dottoressa
@dottoressa, So interesting! I wouldn’t have thought to look at the meta-characteristics of this, and I wonder why you have no quilting tradition!
I used to collect quilts, as did my mother….particularly Amish and Mennonite quilts. Your cousin’s quilts are stunning. There have been times in my life that I wanted to try to make a quilt, but I don’t think I have the patience required.
@KSL, Seems like it would be easy to fall in love with quilt collecting – and tempting to give it a try when you have the basic skills, but I am right there with you on the patience.
Look at the points in the triangles around the edge of the Tree of Life. They’re perfect. The applique is beautiful, but those points…. Mine were always slightly blunted. That is very nice work.
@Allison, Thank you for weighing in as the expert on the panel, confirming what I the amateur just kind of sensed.
Beautiful quilt! I am in awe of those who have the skills and patience to create such time consuming and lovely heirlooms.
Your artsy cousin is definitely talented….thank you for the introduction to her etsy shop.
@Bungalow Hostess, You are welcome. I am in awe too. She has a very lucky family:).
Oh my! I am so honored by your endorsement of my craft, and I am delighted by the compliments!
Quilting is traditionally women’s art, un-commodified, originating in this country with women of wealth and leisure, and evolving into an accessible form of expression on many levels. I’m so pleased to read your followers’ value for this heritage and art form.
Thank you for featuring me here, and thank you to your readers who have been so encouraging!
@Linda, Oh it was my pleasure! I love your work so much, and I suspected the readers here would too. I didn’t realize that quilting began here as a pastime of women of leisure, but of course, who else would have time for such painstaking work?
Those quilts are exquisite, truly works of art. Thank you for posting the photos. I keep looking and finding more details to appreciate.
The Etsy listing has close-ups – it looks like the appliques are re-embroidered?
@Marie, You’re right, I embroidered some of the birds and flowers before attaching them to the backing fabric with more embroidery. Playing with different colors and motifs was fun!
Wow, wow, wow! These are beautiful – the details are exquisite. My aunt is a quilter and the skill it takes is incredible.
@Patsy, Yes it is. Glad you like them!
Wow – these are beautiful!! I absolutely love the color of the blue/green one.
@m, <3
I was sure those poppies were pumpkins. Beautiful work to be treasured forever.
@Sandra, Ha! Actually that would make a great quilt! xoxo
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