You do not want to miss the Brown Sugar Stitchers exhibit at the Atlanta University Center Woodruff Library. The exhibit is ongoing through December 13, 2013.
The quilts are amazing!
Filed under: Brown Sugar Stitchers, Quilt Exhibits, Quilt News | Tagged: African American quilter, AU Center Woodruff Library, Brown Sugar Stitchers | Leave a comment »
Desert Queen, by Anita Crosby, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.
An exhibit featuring the quilts of the Brown Sugar Stitchers quilt guild is underway at the Norcross Arts Center, 17 College Street in downtown Norcross, Georgia. The exhibit, which features over 60 quilts, continues through August 31, 2013.
Filed under: Quilt Exhibits | Tagged: Anita Crosby, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Desert Queen, Norcross Arts Center, photo quilt, quilt exhibit, quilt show, Thea Crosby | Leave a comment »
Family Tree by Beulah Smiley
This week, all across America, families will gather to share food, fun and fellowship. Shown here is Beulah Smiley’s quilt called Family Tree. Beulah made this quilt for the Brown Sugar Stitcher’s 10th anniversary challenge and then exhibited it in the 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival held at the South Fulton Arts Center. It is a perfect quilt, however, to honor this week of family gatherings.
Enjoy this week of festive food and family.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival, African American quilter, Beulah Smiley, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Family Tree, fiber art, South Fulton Arts Center, Start Your Week with a Quilt, wallhanging | Leave a comment »
The Conversation by Aisha Lumumba
If you are a fan of Aisha Lumumba’s work, you will love The Conversation. It is currently part of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild exhibit at the Auburn Avenue Research Library which will continue through December 11, 2011.
Aisha Lumumba
If you want to see more of Aisha’s work, visit her exhibit entitled Encore which runs November 10, 2011 – December 31, 2011 at the Atrium on Sweet Auburn Art Gallery, Oddfellows Building, 236 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, GA, 9 – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. Elaine Parker’s work is also part of this exhibit. The opening reception is November 18, 2011 at 6 p.m.
Aisha’s work will also be part of the 2012 Atlanta Quilt Festival which opens July 29, 2012 at the South Fulton Arts Center, 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Aisha Lumumba, Atrium on Auburn Avenue, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Brown Sugar Stitchers, The Conversation | Leave a comment »
2011 Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild Donation Quilt
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild will hold its bi-annual quilt exhibit October 2 through December 11, 2011 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, GA. The theme of the exhibit is Not Your Grandmother’s Quilts: African American Quilters in the 21st Century.
The opening reception for the exhibit will be held Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7 p.m. In addition to meeting the quilters, attendees will have the opportunity to possibly win the beautiful quilt shown above.
This is definitely an exhibit you will not want to miss. For more information email bssquiltguild@hotmail.com.
Filed under: Quilt Exhibits, Quilt News | Tagged: African American quilter, African quilt, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Brown Sugar Stitchers, quilt exhibit | Leave a comment »
First President by Laura Sorton
Members of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild will exhibit their quilts October 3 through December 11, 2011 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, 101 Auburn Avenue, Atlanta, GA. The theme of the exhibit is Not Your Grandmother’s Quilts – African American Quilters in the 21st Century.
The opening reception for the exhibit will be Thursday, October 6, 2011. Other activities include a children’s event October 8, 2011 and a holiday event November, 15, 2011.
This is an exhibit you will not want to miss!
Filed under: Quilt Exhibits, Quilt News | Tagged: African American quilter, Auburn Avenue Research Library, Brown Sugar Stitchers, quilt exhibit | Leave a comment »
Brown Sugar Stitchers' President's Quilt presented to Ann Smith, President, 2010-2011.
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild has a ten-year tradition of presenting its outgoing president with a quilt. The presentation is usually made at the guild’s annual tea. This year’s outgoing president Ann Smith, who absolutely loves crazy quilts, received the crazy quilt shown above to commemorate her service. Members of the guild contributed blocks and charms for the quilt.
Ann shared her quilt at the 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival exhibit which was held at the South Fulton Arts Center August 1 -13, 2011. All who saw the quilt were amazed at the intricate workmanship in the quilt.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival, Ann Smith, Brown Sugar Stitchers, crazy quilt, President's quilt, South Fulton Arts Center | Leave a comment »
BB King by Lola Jenkins
Lola Jenkins and O.V. Brantley at Brown Sugar Stitchers Tea
There are only three days left to see the quilts in the Atlanta Quilt Festival exhibit. In addition to the juried quilt exhibit, several guest quilt artists have quilts in the exhibit. One of them is Lola Jenkins.
Ms. Jenkins is an exception quilt artist best know for her portraits. She was recently the featured speaker at the Brown Sugar Stitchers Annual Tea. While in town she left BB King (shown above) behind to share with Atlanta’s quilt-loving public.
If you want to see this quilt in person, visit the exhibit at the South Fulton Arts Center, 4645 Butner Road, College Park, GA. The exhibit closes at 4 p.m.
Filed under: Quilt Exhibits, Quilt News | Tagged: 2011 Atlanta Quilt Festival, BB King, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Lola Jenkins, O.V. Brantley, South Fulton Arts Center | 1 Comment »
The Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum is holding its first quit show on Monday, January 31, 2011 under the Gold Dome at the Georgia State Capitol Building, 214 State Capitol, Atlanta 30334. This is a one day show from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. There are 46 quilts in the exhibit representing all parts of Georgia.
A Mountain of Brown Sugar (shown above) will be among the quilts in the show. It was contributed by the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild and was made by quilters Bessie Barnett, Maxine Moore and Rosalind Newell. All of the quilts will be auctioned after the exhibit, and the proceeds will benefit the Southeastern Quilt & Textile Museum.
Visit the Georgia Quilt Council for more info.
Filed under: Quilt News | Tagged: A Mountain of Brown Sugar, African American quilter, Bessie Barnett, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Georgia Quilt Council, Maxine Moore, quilt show, Rosalind Newell | Leave a comment »
Stargazer by Rosalind Newell
The featured quilt of the week in the November 21, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt is called Stargazer, and it was created by Rosalind Newell. To be precise, this is actually Stargazer #5 because each quilt Rosalind has made for a child at the Carrie Steele Pitts Home for Children has been named Stargazer, and this year’s quilt is the fifth special gift she has made. It was presented Saturday when the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild gathered at the home to present the quilts.
Rosalind Newell
Rosalind understands the importance of dreams, and this quilt imparts the message that no goal is unobtainable. She wants the young man who receives this quilt to know that the entire universe is his to capture. She used celestial fabrics to carry out her theme — stars, moons, suns and even an astronaut.
Rosalind says, “my wish is that every child know the warmth and safety of a loving home where he is given all of the tools to succeed in life. I pray that my quilt is just a part of that rewarding future.”
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Carrie Steele Pitts Home for Children, quilt, Rosalind Newell, Stargazer, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a comment »
Tumbling in Space by Marva Swanson, 2009. Photo by India Brantley.
The featured quilt of the week in the October 31, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter is called Tumbling in Space, and it was made by Marva Swanson. This striking quilt made its debut at the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Show in 2009. Now, after being juried into the exhibit, it is representing Atlanta at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas which opens Wednesday. Marva’s quilt will be featured in an exhibit entitled “In the American Tradition.”
Marva Swanson
This quilt creates an optical illusion by the color choices and the placement of the blocks. They appear to be tumbling in space. Marva added to the illusion of space theme by adding thousands of crystals on the black fabric that is the background of the quilt.
I know this quilt will wow all those who see it in Houston. Congratulations, Marva!
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: Brown Sugar Stitchers, International Quilt Festival, Marva Swanson, Start Your Week with a Quilt, Tumbling in Space | 1 Comment »
Hoop Dreams by Aleathia Chisolm
The featured quilt of the week in the October 24, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week with a Quilt newsletter is called Hoop Dreams, and it was made by Aleathia Chisolm just in time for the beginning of basketball season. Each year the members of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild take time out from their busy quilting schedules to make a special quilt for a child who resides at the Carrie Steele Pitts Home for Children. Hoop Dreams is part of that service project.
Aleathia Chisolm
Aleathia hopes the recipient of her gift is a basketball fan because she has chosen a basketball motif for her quilt. The focus fabric in the large squares shows players who are truly at the top of their games. The basketball border completes the basketball theme of the quilt.
There is no way to cuddle under this quilt without having Hoop Dreams.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Aleathia Chisolm, Brown Sugar Stitchers, carrie Steele Pitts Home | Leave a comment »
Jars of Plenty by Vanessa Brown
The featured quilt of the week in the September 26, 2010 edition of the Start Your week With a Quilt newsletter is called Jars of Plenty, and it was created by Vanessa Brown. This small wallhanging needs no explanation. We are all familiar with canning — taking the excess from the harvest and putting it away for a rainy day. Like quilting, canning is no longer a lost art. It is enjoying a renaissance.
Vanessa Brown
Obviously, Vanessa picked her fruits and vegetables when they were at their absolute peak. The colors are vibrant in a way that only nature can capture.
These jars are patiently waiting on a shelf until the day they are needed. Before they arrived on that shelf, they were seeds, sprouts, flowers, fruit on the vine, harvested and finally canned. After enduring all of that, these Jars of Plenty are beautiful and ready.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, fiber art, Jars of Plenty, Start Your Week with a Quilt, Vanessa Brown | Leave a comment »
First President by Laura Sorton
The featured quilt of the week in the Septeber 19, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter is called First President, and it was created by Laura Sorton. For several years Laura fretted about the fact that each president of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild had been presented with a quilt at the end of her term except one. Nancy Franklin, the co-founder and first president of the guild did not receive a quilt. When the guild celebrated its 10th anniversary recently, Laura decided the time was right to fix a longstanding injustice. Thus, First President was born.
Laura Sorton
After making the quilt from a pattern that evoked historical overtones, Laura painstakingly signed the name of each member of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild on the quilt. There are approximately 60 names on the quilt. To make the quilt even more of a special memory quilt for Nancy, Laura also embroidered the name of the guild and the occasion in the center block.
Quilts are most special when they tell a story. This quilt will continue to tell its story for centuries to come.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: Brown Sugar Stitchers, First President, Laura Sorton, legacy quilt, memory quilt, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a comment »
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild will participate in the Fall Folklife Festival today at the Atlanta History Center from noon to 5 p.m. The quilters will conduct quilting demonstrations and share some of their quilts.
Join the quilters for an afternoon of fun.
Filed under: Quilt News | Tagged: Atlanta History Center, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Fall Folklife Festival | Leave a comment »
Pearl Cleage, Evelyn Lavizzo, John Lewis, Monica Pearson and Rev. Cynthia Hale shown with their quilt.
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild held its 10th anniversary celebration Saturday, July 17, 2010 at The Pecan Restaurant in College Park, GA. Elisa Woods was the chairperson of the anniversary committee and and the vision behind the extraordinary affair.
As part of the festivities, five community leaders were honored for their years of service in their respective fields and subsequently featured in the July 18, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter. They are Monica Pearson, news anchor, journalist; Pearl Cleage, author, playwright; John Lewis, Congressman; Cynthia L. Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope; and Evelyn Lavizzo, Executive Director of Carrie Steele Pitts Home. Each of the honorees received a quilt made especially for them. So this week we feature five quilts and the people who received them.
Elisa Woods
All of these people, no doubt, have received many awards over the years, but you could just tell that receiving a quilt was different and special. They were each visibly moved, because as everyone knows, a quilt is the ultimate love gift.
There were many other quilts presented during the joyous celebration including the president’s quilt, the quilt for the first president, and the challenge quilts made by guild members. Most of these quilts will be available for your viewing delight at the 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival, being held at the South Fulton Arts Center, August 1 -13. Please plan to visit the festival for a visual feast.
Filed under: Quilt News | Tagged: 2010 Atlanta Quilt Festival, African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Cynthia Hale, Evelyn Lavizzo, John Lewis, Monica Pearson, Pearl Cleage, The Pecan Restaurant | Leave a comment »
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child by Nicole Blackwell
The featured quilt of the week in the June 27, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt is truly a special quilt. It is called It Takes a Village to Raise a Child and it was created by Nicole Blackwell. Nicole made this quilt for her nephew Khari Travis Grayson who was born in January.
Nicole says she was “inspired by the large ‘village’ of folks that have come together to support this amazing new life.”
Her quilt includes contributions from over thirty (30) loved ones (parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends). Twenty-six (26) of the participants contributed one square each, based on a letter of the alphabet. Messages of love include “B – Believe in Your Dreams”, “G – God’s Gift of Love”, “I – I Am a Blessing”, and “N – Notice the Little Things.”
Nicole Blackwell
Also a part of Khari’s village are some friends who walk on the wild side. There are two hippos, a tiger, a giraffe, a monkey, and a turtle who have come to see the quilt and meet the new baby.
Piecing, appliqué, and stenciling techniques bring this quilt to life. The special messages will bring comfort and joy to little Khari for years to come.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, It Takes a Village to Raise a Child, Nicole Blackwell, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a comment »
Hearts and Houses by Rosalind Newell
The featured quilt of the week in the June 20, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter honors Ms. Ollivette Allison, an extraordinary woman who passed away recently. Before joining her fellow angels in heaven, she left an indelible mark on this world. For over 59 years, she worked at the Carrie Steele Pitts Home, becoming its executive director in 1976. During that time she personally touched and impacted the lives of over 6000 children.
Soon after its formation, the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild adopted the Carrie Steele Pitts Home and its children as its primary service project, thanks to member Rosalind Newell. Each year, the guild made quilts for the children so that they would have something special to call their own.The joy of making the quilts for the children and the gratitude of the children receiving them became a remarkable partnership over the years.
Rosalind Newell
The featured quilt is called Hearts and Houses. It was a group project organized by Rosalind to help raise funds for the Carrie Steele Pitts Home. It did indeed bring a substantial price for the home. Other quilters who helped Rosalind make this extraordinary quilt are Maxine Moore, Bessie Barnett, Cathy Johnson, Marva Swanson, Nina Moore and O.V. Brantley.
Hearts and Houses is truly a special quilt — not because it is beautiful, but because of what it did to help others.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: Bessie Barnett, Brown Sugar Stitchers, carrie Steele Pitts Home, Cathy Johnson, Hearts and Houses, Marva Swanson, Maxine Moore, Nina Moore, Ollivette Allison, Rosalind Newell | Leave a comment »
The Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild will celebrate its 10th Anniversary July 17, 2010 at the Pecan Restaurant in College Park, Ga. at 11:00 a.m.
As part of that celebration, the guild will honor the following honorees: Monica Pearson, news anchor, journalist; Pearl Cleage, author, playwright; John Lewis, Congressman; Reverend Cynthia L. Hale, pastor of Ray of Hope ; and Dr. Evelyn Lavizzo, Executive Director of Carrie Steele Pitts Home.
Tickets are $50.00 per person and are still available. Details of how to purchase tickets can be found on the Guild’s website.
The Guild will also raffle the lovely dolls shown here made by Martha Dudley and Mattie Eley. Tickets are $5.00 each for a chance to win both dolls.
Filed under: Quilt News | Tagged: 10th Anniversary, African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, Congressman John Lewis, Cynthia Hale, Evelyn Lavizzo, Monica Pearson, Pearl Cleage, The Pecan Restaurant | Leave a comment »
On the Course by Rhonda Barrow
The June 13, 2010 edition of the Start Your Week With a Quilt newsletter was the Father’s Day issue. The featured quilt is called On the Course by Rhonda Barrow. It was the perfect quilt to honor our fathers.
Rhonda Barrow
This small quilt which measures only 14 x 16 inches is a small replica of where many Father’s Day dreams come true — the golf course. It is a landscape quilt that is created free form in the mind’s eye of the quilter. It was appliqued and quilted by Rhonda.
On the Course was part of the Brown Sugar Stitchers’ 2009 Challenge to interpret the theme The Many Facets of African American Quilting.
Filed under: Quilt Features | Tagged: African American quilter, Brown Sugar Stitchers, fiber art, On the Course, Rhonda Barrow, Start Your Week with a Quilt | Leave a comment »
Clara Ford Foundation 