My unique Wedding and Memory Quilts are designed to capture and honor important occasions in people's lives such as weddings, retirements, graduations, new jobs, births, sports triumphs, and other events or accomplishments (also see my Quotation Quilts). These quilts have their origins in traditional "signature" quilts (in which people sign a finished quilt with blank spaces), but my quilts incorporate messages written by people sharing the occasion, which are sewn into quilts designed and constructed after the event takes place. Memory quilts also can include photos, objects (e.g., medals, prize ribbons, jewelry), and pieces of old clothing in addition to, or even instead of, messages from others.
There are several ways in which I collect messages. One way is that I solicit messages directly, using a list provided to me by the customer of names and contact information, making contact by email and printing the messages onto fabric using a computer and printer, heat-setting the messages to ensure permanency (the same technique I use for my original Quotation Quilts). Another approach I use is to mail out packets of pre-cut squares and the materials and instructions for guests to write messages on them (including my specially-constructed "toolkit" that I provide), and after I receive the squares back from the customer, I heat-set the squares to make the messages permanent. Whatever method I use for obtaining the written messages, I then sew them into a quilt designed to fit the recipient(s) -- a truly unique keepsake to honor the occasion for years to come!
The proceeds of Wedding and Memory Quilts support a variety of organizations tailored to the quilt theme or quilt recipients.Thus, a quilt made to honor a military veteran would support an organization serving veterans and their families, such as the well-known Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Thanks USA (www.thanksusa.org), which provides educational support to active duty military children and spouses. A quilt celebrating the wedding of a couple who are teachers would provide funds for the Library Foundation (www.libraryfoundation.org), which supports literacy programs in community libraries throughout the U.S. The list of possibilities is endless, and I invite you to think about how you might honor an important person in your life with this special kind of quilt.
Enjoy viewing my Wedding and Memory Quilts!
There are several ways in which I collect messages. One way is that I solicit messages directly, using a list provided to me by the customer of names and contact information, making contact by email and printing the messages onto fabric using a computer and printer, heat-setting the messages to ensure permanency (the same technique I use for my original Quotation Quilts). Another approach I use is to mail out packets of pre-cut squares and the materials and instructions for guests to write messages on them (including my specially-constructed "toolkit" that I provide), and after I receive the squares back from the customer, I heat-set the squares to make the messages permanent. Whatever method I use for obtaining the written messages, I then sew them into a quilt designed to fit the recipient(s) -- a truly unique keepsake to honor the occasion for years to come!
The proceeds of Wedding and Memory Quilts support a variety of organizations tailored to the quilt theme or quilt recipients.Thus, a quilt made to honor a military veteran would support an organization serving veterans and their families, such as the well-known Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org) or Thanks USA (www.thanksusa.org), which provides educational support to active duty military children and spouses. A quilt celebrating the wedding of a couple who are teachers would provide funds for the Library Foundation (www.libraryfoundation.org), which supports literacy programs in community libraries throughout the U.S. The list of possibilities is endless, and I invite you to think about how you might honor an important person in your life with this special kind of quilt.
Enjoy viewing my Wedding and Memory Quilts!
The quilt below is a Wedding Quilt made for a very hip young couple. The messages were written on yellow squares and the wonky black and white frames are tamed somewhat by the yellow sashing in the quilt that sets off each block and its message. The cowhide print border and backing are a nod to their new lives in Iowa, and the backing also has a wide border of black, white, and yellow circles. The quilt measures 60 X 90, and was designed to be versatile -- it can function as a large lap or wall quilt or even a bed topper, and the ink is permanent so it can be washed and dried. Messages for this quilt used the toolkit method described above, in that I sent my special toolkits with detailed instructions to the family, and messages were written at the reception and managed by a member of the wedding party, who then returned them to me; I designed the quilt based on the number of messages I had.
The quilt below is a Wedding Quilt made for a very hip young couple. The messages were written on yellow squares and the wonky black and white frames are tamed somewhat by the yellow sashing in the quilt that sets off each block and its message. The cowhide print border and backing are a nod to their new lives in Iowa, and the backing also has a wide border of black, white, and yellow circles. The quilt measures 60 X 90, and was designed to be versatile -- it can function as a large lap or wall quilt or even a bed topper, and the ink is permanent so it can be washed and dried. Messages for this quilt used the toolkit method described above, in that I sent my special toolkits with detailed instructions to the family, and messages were written at the reception and managed by a member of the wedding party, who then returned them to me; I designed the quilt based on the number of messages I had.
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The Wedding Quilt below (in progress) is being made for a couple with vintage tastes (and a new purple couch!). It features a 19th century French fabric found in a castle in England, probably from a bed hanging, and vintage French ecru lace, both of which I have been hoarding for years, waiting to use in the right quilt. The medallion style of quilt is a very traditional block setting, and the other fabrics used are reproductions of Civil War-era fabrics, including a chintz-like floral purple that is used in the borders and under the lace. The messages on the quilt were obtained using the toolkit method described above, in that wedding guests wrote messages at the reception, they were returned to me, and I later designed the quilt around the vintage fabric and the messages that I had. Due to the fragility of the vintage fabric, the quilt is being designed as a wall quilt (40 X 43), and will be finished with a purple binding and beige backing. It will be hand-quilted around the antique flowers and machine-quilted around the messages.
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The quilt below is a Memory Quilt made to honor a dear friend's mother who had passed away. Her mother had loved music and birds, so (using the electronic method described above) I sent a letter to her family and friends and invited them to send short "tweet"-length messages for a bird- and music-themed quilt. I printed the messages on bright fabrics to pick up the colors in the beautiful bird fabric, and I interspersed the messages with gorgeous hand-painted marbled fabrics that look like feathers. I hand-quilted around each bird and I set off each quotation with embroidery ties. The quilt has a white backing, and it was designed as a very large wall quilt. It measures about 60 X 80 and is currently hanging in my friend's family room.
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