2010 Quilt Festival Entry

I thought long and hard about what quilt I wanted to showcase for the Festival. My favorite quilt is usually the one I'm working on, but this is about more than favorites. This series of quilts is probably the most meaningful I've made in my short quilting career. Each one speaks to my commitment to pacifism, the reality and necessity of war, the dignity of service, how men and women are changed by war, and how people can make a difference even in the worst situations.

This series began with a challenge called the 'Illuminated Phrase.' We were challenged to make a piece in our medium of choice that illuminated a phrase of our choice. I chose a quote by John F. Kennedy. I was inspired not only by the quote, but by the Alexander Henry fabric that appears in all three quilts. This is 'Building Peace.'

'Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures. And however undramatic the pursuit of peace, the pursuit must go on.' John F. Kennedy Jr.

'Healing' was inspired by my brother-in-law who served two tours as a surgeon in Iraq. He was in the first wave that went into Baghdad. His job including patching up both American and Iraqis. I'll never forget him telling me how difficult it was to save the life of someone he knew was pure evil. Healing speaks to healing not only the body, but the soul.
'Coming Home' was inspired by a conversation that I had with a good friend of mine whose son had just returned from a tour in Iraq. That conversation is burned in my mind....the conflict evident in her face. Her joy that he was home and her fear for how his experiences had affected him and would ultimately change him.
These aren't typical quilts for me, but each quilt seemed to flow from this series of experiences and encounters. They'll always have a special place in my home.