Hot Flashes

October 21, 2025November 19, 20251 Comment

This is the fourth quilt in my Unmentionables series. This quilt embraces menopause and hot flashes. Unlike the other quilts in the series, the design uses only handwork and an experimentation in creating flames with thread.

My mother, Rhoda Alice, made the appliqué girls on the back from clothes she made for my sister and me. Polyester! And those prints are adorable plus the color combinations were inspired.

Some of the embroidered words are other words for hot flashes. And, some are expressions of how I felt or I was feeling through menopause. My favorite is “Lexapro doesn’t work; neither does standing naked in the snow.” I had a few hot flashes while making this quilt and that’s why it says, “there’s sweat on this quilt.”

On the Blue Side of the Mountain

September 1, 2025September 2, 20251 Comment

Finished in 2024

51” x 64”

This quilt has a history. I have lots of hand-dyed indigo fabric. I learned this technique at Slow Stitching Retreat in Washington, Maine in 2017, hosted by A Gathering of Stitches, and taught by Kim Eichler-Messmer. That fall I hosted guild members at my home, and we dyed fabric. It’s nice to remember those times with those pieces. There are also a few remnants I received from Ana Conceicao, a guild member who works at UFab.

In Summer 2024, I took a hand-quilting class with Heidi Parkes, hosted by the Central Virginia Modern Quilt Guild. I used the middle section of this quilt as my workshop piece. I learned to be more observant about how I use my thimble and my hands. I finished it the week before the election. On Election Day I woke up with the idea to frame it with my indigo-dyed fabric. This was the first time I had used a completed quilt in this way.

I also wanted to manifest a “blue day” for the election. That did not happen, and blue represents sadness but also a community of people who are on the blue side of the mountain with me.

I must give credit to Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson who wrote “Blue Side of the Mountain “ and to The Steel Drivers who performed it. The lyrics are:

On the blue side of the mountain where the sun don’t ever shine. So deep and dark like a hurtin’ down in my heart. Maybe someday they’ll show me some kind of sign.

Parallel Universe

June 4, 2025June 3, 20252 Comments

In January 2021 we were hopeful about COVID-19 vaccines and excitedly awaiting for our appointments. At that time I joined a mystery quilt along called Parallel Universe, created and led by GEL Design. GEL is Gyleen Fitzgerald, Ebony Love and Latifah Saafir.

Several members of the Central Virginia Modern Quilt Guild joined and we agreed to meet via Zoom each Sunday to make the blocks. We didn’t know until the end of the series what the quilt would look like. It was built in sections with great names: Section Six was Outer Space; section five— Milky Way; section four— Star Cluster; section three— Magnetism; section two— dark matter; section one was Big Bang.

The quilt called for 10 different colors. I chose a spring color palette.

I enjoyed creating with Maria, Phyllis, Ann, Kathy, Cheryl, and Candy (sometimes). We learned new techniques and complained a lot. It was a parallel universe because today it feels like it didn’t happen or happened in some other time and place.

I finished the quilt this year and gave it to my brother and his wife.