I made all my children patriotic wall hangings after the tragic, life-changing events of September, 2001. For daughter Kathy and her husband, since they had met and married in NYC, I made theirs from a fabric I just happened to have bought a few years before, of the New York skyline. I reversed the fabric panel on the bottom, so that it looks as if the skyline is a reflection.
Surrounding the panels, I inked the word PEACE in many different languages, altering the font as seemed appropriate. The dove and the Latin inscriptions "In Terra Pax" seemed appropriate, too.
I worked these little quilts up so quickly that fall before Christmas that I failed to take photographs of the resulting quilts. Recently I found this one in the guest room closet. It formerly hung in the study, but after they had the study totally re-done with built-ins along 3 walls, wall space was at a premium, and so this never got re-hung.
Now, with beloved daughter Kathy gone from our lives, I am wondering if her husband would let me have this back? If it's been relegated to a closet for a long time, why not? I don't know if I have the courage to ask him, however.
Here are closer views. I quilted lightly, chiefly just around the major shapes in the panels and then did some "in the ditch" quilting. I hand-blanket stitched around the dove. Some close-ups:
How fine to see a blog posting from the road! I am always asking to buy my paintings back so I understand how you would want that quilt back for many reasons. However, just because something is in a closet or not on display does not mean it is not in one's heart. Some of the most precious things are not put out for display.
ReplyDeleteLinda has a good thought, here. I would probably mention to R. that I saw the quilt, wonder if he still wants it or if I could take it home with me. It is, after all, a great representation of a HISTORIC event and you did a beautiful job of switching violence to peace with a one-of-a-kind print.It definitely deserves to be preserved as a family memento.ss
ReplyDeleteDid you do the stitchings of 'Peace" etc., around the border
ReplyDeleteof the quilt, or is that a fabric?
I love the way NYC is reflected in the layout. I'm thinking one of the kids might want to take that quilt when he or she goes off to college.