Mixed Media Artist

About Me

San Leandro, California
I am a mostly retired Nurse who works enough to pay for a studio and art supplies. I have been making art all my life, with no formal degree-type training, beginning with sewing at an early age. I discovered the JOY of quilting when I realized how much I liked breaking rules and telling stories. Workshops in surface design and art quilting, mentoring and encouragement from quilt artists, discovering the magic of assemblage with found objects, has landed me right in the middle of a mixed media world of art. I have been making my art and keeping it mostly to myself, giving it away only when I felt it was safe to do so. Finally, I was convinced that in order to grow artistically, I had to open up my art world for others to see, to like or not, but to see. Please take a look. Any comments, suggestions are welcome.

Mar 18, 2009

I Remember Mama

Monday Morning 1955

In 2003, Karey Bresenhan began a 3 year project to honor the memory of her mother, Jewel Patterson, in conjunction with the International Quilt Festival in Houston Texas. I Remember Mama: The Hand that Rocked the Cradle began the project, the following year I Remember Mama: My Mother, My Family and Me was shown, both to great aclaim. The final year, 2005, I Remember Mama was open to international competition.

My mother died the first year of the project and I wasn't ready to work on any piece but by the third year I felt ready to take it on. I remembered finding an old pamphlet at my mother's house that gave instructions for her new wringer washer, published in 1930. It had a wonderful picture on the cover that became the inspiration for Monday Morning 1955 . It evoked so many warm feelings and memories of helping mom hang out wash in the backyard . I entered the quilt and was surprised and delighted when it was accepted.

It wasn't until I got a call from Karey Bresenhan that I had won second place that I realized it was a competition! Imagine my surprise... It was a big thrill for me to go to Houston and bask in a little bit of limelight, track the quilt's journey around the world in various exhibits, and two years later, welcome it home. It's hanging in my living room.

8 comments:

  1. This picture is hanging in Aunt Lou's kitchen!!! Love, Mary Lou xoxo

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  2. How was excited was I to see it during it's international tour when it came to Chicago!

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  3. I saw this in person in Houston - it's wonderful!

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  4. I remember seeing this in Houston, and being so impressed with how effective your windy day was. Beautiful!

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  5. Wonderful piece! Saw it in Houston and loved it on sight.

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  6. Carol, I lost your e-mail when I changed computers. Please email me, I started my quilt and wanted to share with you. Patty

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  7. This is a wonderful quilt...i know your mom is proud of you!!

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  8. I have always loved this quilt. I have not seen it in person but only online. It stirs up wonderful memories of my own mother and growing up in the wonderful innocent era of the fifties. You have captured a beautiful scene of mother and daughter. I am glad to see it once again.

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