For the first time in a long while, my family had a free weekend. With minimal chores and errands to run, I was excited. Midday Saturday, I was inspired to break out a project that had been in storage for a year.
In July of 2023, fiber-based artist Heidi Parkes was the first artist in residence at the Woodson Art Museum’s Glass Box Studio coinciding with the exhibition in the Museum’s lower level gallery, Heidi Parkes: Reuse, Reflection, and Story Telling in Cloth. She inspired our community and the Museum’s staff, including myself, with her slow process of hand stitches that are involved in constructing the quilts surface accompanied by hand yoga to ensure that the maker’s hands are fit for the job. During her residency, I raided my studio for scraps of all sorts and started working on fiber canvases with no intent other than hand sewing. It was not long after her residency that I discovered another reason to create.
Photos of Heidi Parkes working on a quilt and instructing community members at the Glass Box Studio in July 2023.
I have always had a love for fiber arts and quilting. My grandma was the first to teach me how to quilt on her sewing machine and it led to my first major life purchase of a Viking sewing machine the summer between eigth-grade and freshman year. Over the years, between other making practices, I’ve picked up different forms of fiber arts mostly for functional projects of home decor and items to wear. For me, they mostly seem to get done in the cozy winter months. Every once and a while, a fabric has given me grief, and I have resorted to hand sewing. Heidi made me think: why not intentionally make a project from start to finish with hand sewing.
During her artist talk, she discussed the first quilt that she received—a collective effort from family members to make her a quilt. On Heidi’s blog, she discusses the inspiration of the quilt further. My grandma, who taught me to sew, made my first baby quilt. I wanted to hand sew a quilt for my daughter, and fabric was my first purchase for her.
In progress images of the quilt that I picked back up.
I wanted a quilt of all circles—this turned out to be a feat. For many reasons beyond the challenge of the design, the quilt was stalled and eventually tucked away. This past weekend, I dug it out. It was so satisfying. Now eight months old, I had all this insight into my daughter and even more motivation to finish the quilt. I’ve altered the design with other elements and there are only a few more circles to add to complete the composition. In my opinion, it’s much better.
If you’ve got a project on pause, here’s your inspiration to tackle it this winter. Who knows what will come of it.
