Posted by ovbrantley on December 27, 2009

Christmas at Home by Janice Daniel. Photo by India Brantley.
Janice Daniel created a free hand design that resulted in Christmas at Home. The quilt is a pieced and appliqued Christmas tree. Janice included satin stitching and embellishments to add pazazz to this 33 x 36 inch quilt.
Christmas at Home was featured in the 2009 Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Show. It is currently on display at the Helene S. Mills Senior Multi-Purpose Center, 515 John Wesley Dobbs, Atlanta as part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts.

Janice Daniel
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Posted by ovbrantley on December 23, 2009

Gifts of the Christmas Spirit by Rosalind Newell
We are all hoping to find that special gift under the Christmas tree, but the featured quilt in the December 20, 2009 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter reminds us of the true spirit of Christmas. Gifts of the Christmas Spirit was created by Rosalind Newell.

Rosalind Newell
This quilt, which measures 43 x 33 inches, consists of nine blocks of beautifully wrapped packages. On each gift, Rosalind has embroidered a word that reminds us of the true spirit of Christmas. Words on the packages include, love, joy, faithfulness and peace. The sashing between the gifts creates a secondary star pattern.
This would be a great quilt to cuddle up under if you do not receive that longed for gift under the tree. Always remember the reason for the season.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, Christmas quilt, Embroidered quilt, fiber art, Gifts of the Christmas Spirit, Rosalind Newell, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 20, 2009

Woven Christmas Ribbons by Nina Moore
I am sure you are putting the finishing touches on your Christmas gifts. Remember, presentation is everything.

Nina Moore
Shown here is Nina Moore’s version of Woven Christmas Ribbons. It is currently on display at the H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multi-Purpose Center, 2885 Church Street, East Point, GA as part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, Christmas quilt, Christmas Ribbons, Christmas Tour of Quilts, fiber art, H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multi-purpose Facility, Nina Moore | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 20, 2009

The Legacy Quilt-- Women of Valor, 1850-1950, from the collection of the Bremen Museum.
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild received an unexpected treat at their holiday luncheon. Pat Pugrant from the Bremen Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum was on hand to share The Legacy Quilt — Women of Valor 1850-1950. This quilt depicts scenes from the lives of eight extraordinary Jewish women.
If you would like to bring the quilt to your organization, contact sberman@thebreman.org.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: applique quilt, Bremen Museum, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Pat Pugrant, quilt, The Legacy Quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 18, 2009

Prairie Point Pine Christmas Tree by Aleathia Chisolm
There are all kinds of beautiful Christmas trees. Here is a special one created by Aleathia Chisolm. The “branches” are prairie points.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Aleathia Chisolm, Chrstmas quilt, Prairie Point Pine | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 15, 2009

Christmas Joy, by Elisa Woods, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.
Christmas Joy was the featured quilt of the week in the December 13, 2009 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter. It was created by Elisa Woods. This quilt reminds us of the appropriate Christmas spirit by combining Christmas trees with Bible verses.
The quilt consists of four Christmas tree blocks on white or cream backgrounds accented by red sashing. Each tree is made unique by the choice of different fabrics and embellishments.

Elisa Woods
Quotes from the Book of Psalms are pieced into the quilt. The quotes draw you in and force you to examine the quilt closer.
Besides being a pretty quilt, I am sure this quilt brings great comfort to those who have lost loved ones during the year. It is a beautiful reminder to find joy in the midst of sorrow.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, Christmas Joy, Christmas quilt, Christmas tree quilt, Elisa Woods, India Brantley, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 14, 2009

Christmas in July, by Marva Swanson, 2008.
Crystals have been all the rage for the last few years in the quilting world. It is no surprise that they would end up in Christmas quilts.
Christmas in July, created by Marva Swanson, will appeal to all of those who like a little bling in their quilts. The picture does not do justice to this quilt because there are hundreds of red crystals adorn this quilt. It is quite striking when you see it in person.
This quilt is currently part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts at the Helene S. Mills Senior Mult-Purpose Center, 515 John Wesley Dobbs Drive, Atlanta.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, art quilter, Christmas in July, Christmas quilt, crystals, fiber art, Helene S. Mills Senior Multi-Purpose Center, Marva Swanson | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 14, 2009

Christmas Wreath by Laura Sorton
If you want to give someone a quilt for Christmas, all is not lost. You can make what quilter Laura Sorton calls a cheater quilt. Her version is shown here.
A cheater quilt is one that is made from a pre-printed panel. There are many panels available this time of year.
Take a trip to your favorite quilt shop. Pick up a panel, sandwich it, quilt it and voila! You have a quilt.
Remember, when you give a gift, it is the though that counts. The recipient is rarely expecting a masterpiece, and will treasure any quilt.

Laura Sorton
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, cheater quilt, Christmas quilt, Laura Sorton, panel quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 12, 2009

Stars in My Heaven, 83 x 97 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2008. For sale at www.ovbrant.etsy.com.
Today is Clara Ford’s birthday. She lived and quilted in Crossett, Arkansas. Eight of her quilts survived her, and are the inspiration for the Clara Ford Foundation.
Stars in My Heaven was created by O.V. Brantley, Clara’s granddaughter.
Posted in Quilt News | Tagged: Crossett Arkansas, O.V. Brantley, Stars in My Heaven, www.ovbrant.etsy.com | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 11, 2009

Dancing Poinsettias, 45 x 45 inches by Rosalind Newell, 2008. Photo by India Brantley
You should have your home decorated for the holidays by now, but if not, here’s a quilt to get you started. It is called Dancing Poinsettias and was created by Rosalind Newell.

Rosalind Newell
Rosalind appliquéd the poinsettias by hand using the needle turn method. The machine quilting was done by Janna Bigelow. It is currently on display at the Bowden Senior Multi-Purpose Center as part of the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts. The Bowden Center is located at 2885 Church Street, East Point, GA.
Now run out and buy some poinsettias.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: applique quilt, Christmas quilt, Christmas Tour of Quilts, Dancing Poinsettias, H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multi-purpose Facility, India Brantley, Janna Bigelow, Rosalind Newell | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 9, 2009
The art work of Lillian Blades is currently on display at the Hammonds House Museum. The exhibit called Eye Sea Reflections continues through January 31, 2010.
Blades is known for her public installations of her art including the one shown here called Quilted Passages. It is installed on Concourse E of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport.
Hammonds House Museum is located at 503 Peeples Street, Atlanta, GA 30310. Admission is free to members and $4.00 for non-members.
Posted in Quilt News | Tagged: Hammonds House Museum, Lillian Blades | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 9, 2009

Christmas Traditions, 73 x 83 inches, by O.V. Brantley 2007.
The holiday season is a special time at the Clara Ford Foundation. There are many reasons for us to celebrate this time of the year, but as founder of the Clara Ford Foundation, I do it because I just absolutely love Christmas.

O.V. Brantley
There are other reasons to celebrate though. Clara Ford’s birthday is December 12. My birthday is January 1. There is food, friends and music everywhere, and the Clara Ford Foundation Christmas Tour of Quilts is underway at Fulton Senior Centers.
What does this mean for you? I will be showing you lots of holiday quilts this month.
Enjoy!
Posted in Quilt News | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, art quilter, Christmas quilt, Christmas Traditions, H.J.C. Bowden Senior Multi-purpose Facility, Helene S. Mills Senior Multi-Purpose Center, O.V. Brantley | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 7, 2009

Jackie's Recipe Quilt by Jackie Jackson-Harvey, 2009.
Most quilters are multi-talented, and the creator of the featured quilt in the December 6, 2009, edition of the Start Your Week With A Quilt newsletter is no exception. She is Jackie Jackson-Harvey, and her unique quilt is called Jackie’s Recipe Quilt.
Jackie is an exceptional cook and loves collecting and trying out new recipes. In fact, her genealogy group has published a cook book. So it seemed only logical to Jackie to include some of her favorite recipes in a quilt.

Jackie Jackson Harvey
Jackie printed the recipes on fabric sheets and then appliqued them to her quilt top. She chose a green gingham check for her background, which matches her kitchen. Hanging tabs on the top of the quilt ensure that she can hang the quilt near her stove so that the recipes are handy when she needs them.
Now that’s a sure fire way of making sure the family recipes survive the generations!
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, fiber art, Jackie Jackson-Harvey, Jackie's Recipe Quilt, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 7, 2009

Carolyn Mazloomi
Carolyn Mazloomi’s new book Journey of Hope: Quilts Inspired by President Barack Obama is due out in April, 2010. You can pre-order it on Amazon for $16.49.
This is sure to be a book every quilter and non-quilter will want in her library.
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Posted by ovbrantley on December 3, 2009

Simple Play, by Aisha Lumumba, 2009.
Simple Play was the featured quilt of the week in the November 29, 2009 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt© newsletter. It was created by Aisha Lumumba. This quilt is part of a wonderful fiber, bead and mixed media exhibit at the Atrium on Sweet Auburn. Each piece of art in the exhibit features butterflies, and the exhibit is entitled Resplendent.
Aisha has captured some of our fondest childhood memories in Simple Play. When I saw it, I was instantly transported to Crossett, Arkansas, having been ordered by my mother to go outside and play until it was time for church.

Aisha Lumumba
The dresses and the socks add dimension to this beautiful applique quilt. Simple Play measures 52 x 45 inches and sells for $6000.00.
Resplendent, which also includes the work of Elaine Parker and Janice Hunter, continues through December 31, 2009.
The Atrium on Sweet Auburn is located at 236 Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. Hours are from 9 -5 p.m. daily. For more information call 404-792-1155 or visit Aisha’s web site.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Aisha Lumumba, art quilter, Atrium on Auburn Avenue, Elaine Parker, fiber art, Janice Hunter, Simple Play, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on December 1, 2009
The Aids Quilts is on display at Emory University in Atlanta today. Visit www.aidsquilt.org for more information.
Posted in Quilt News | Tagged: Aids quilt, Emory University | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on November 27, 2009

Fashionable Feathered Friends, by Bessie Barnett
These girls are ready for some serious shopping. They survived Thanksgiving so they are headed to the mall, but only after they get their nails done!

Bessie Barnett
Fashionable Feathered Friends was created by Atlanta quilter Bessie Barnett.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, Bessie Barnett, fiber art, wallhanging | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on November 26, 2009

Life is Good, 72 x 84 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2002.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: leaf quilt, Life is Good! Be Thankful!, O.V. Brantley, Thanksgiving quilt | Leave a Comment »
Posted by ovbrantley on November 24, 2009

Paranoid Tom by Aleathia Chisolm, 2009.
Paranoid Tom was the featured quilt of the week in the November 22, 2009 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter. It was created by Aleathia Chisolm whose web site is www.eclecticquilts.com.
With Thanksgiving coming up, this colorful guy has a right to be paranoid. Let’s hope that he will be spared.

Aleathia Chisolm
Aleathia appliqued Tom’s colorful feathers and other body parts. She then surrounded him with a colorful pin wheel border. The machine quilting was done by Maxine Moore.
This cute little quilt would brighten any holiday decor. So if you are planning to stuff a turkey on Thanksgiving, choose one that is less colorful.
Posted in Quilt Features | Tagged: Afircan American quilter, Aleazthia Chisolm, fiber art, Paranoid Tom, quilts, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a Comment »