Magnolia Series
The Magnolia series started with hundreds of photos of the 4 magnolias in my yard. The prehistoric Magnolia trees have always been one of my favorite flowering trees. I am intrigued by the center of the Magnolia flowers, the curves of the stigmas, often lost to the viewer because they are small and the tough seed heads that protect the bright red seeds with their prickly defense.
I began a small quilted 'sketch' as I returned to quilting after years of photography. Beading was the only surface design. The next one began with the lovely deep green and suede-like leaves and grew in size. The curled carpels on the center structure of the flowers have intrigued me as my work began to rise off the surface becoming more sculptural. The size of the work has increased the 'curly Qs' have become looser abstract shapes.
The series has continued with inspiration the hundreds of seed pods dropped from my tree through winter. The contrast between the softness of the flower and the hardness of what is left at the end of the season called to be created. Each piece is constructed separately, tepals (petals) and leaves are quilted, thread painted & appliqued. The carpels are wired and stuffed then hand attached to the base of the flower. Background is quilted and attached to a stretched canvas frame before tepals, leaves, seed pod and flower are hand-stitched on.
Magnolia Grandiflora II:
Magnolia in Blue Canvas
I am intrigued by the center of the Magnolia flowers, the curves of the stigmas, often lost to the viewer because they are small. Many failed battles with the fabric to create these curls lead me to the use of fabric-wrapped wire. I echoed the curls on the petals of the flowers. The most mundane fabrics can come alive when embellished with thread as in the vinyl of the leaves.
Materials:
Cotton, polyester, acrylic, vinyl, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, wood-framed canvas, polyester & cotton thread.
Method.
Machine quilted, raw edge machine appliquéd, machine pieced, thread painted, hand constructed
Magnolia Grandiflora III
Most of my quilts start with a flower or weed in my garden, third in my Magnolia Grandiflora series I delve further into my fascination with this prehistoric tree. I am intrigued by the center of the Magnolia flowers, the curves of the stigmas, often lost to the viewer because they are small. As the work has progressed, they have started to become more abstract. The opposition of the soft, smooth tepals (petals) and hard, sharp seed pods has led me to further exploration as they are now escaping the bounds of the surface of my 'quilts'. Assembling the pieces requires considering how gravity will change the work over time, but I love the challenge.
In 2023 I dismantled this piece to create a more sculptural form.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton, polyester, acrylic, vinyl, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, wood-framed canvas, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora III: Resurrected
Most of my quilts start with a flower or weed in my garden, third in my Magnolia Grandiflora series I delve further into my fascination with this prehistoric tree. I am intrigued by the center of the Magnolia flowers, the curves of the stigmas, often lost to the viewer because they are small. As the work has progressed, they have started to become more abstract. The opposition of the soft, smooth tepals (petals) and hard, sharp seed pods has led me to further exploration as they are now escaping the bounds of the surface of my 'quilts'. Assembling the pieces requires considering how gravity will change the work over time, but I love the challenge.
In 2023 I dismantled this piece to create a more sculptural form.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton, polyester, acrylic, vinyl, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, wood-framed canvas, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora IV
Fourth in my Magnolia Grandiflora series, I delve further into my fascination with this prehistoric tree. Reducing the quilts to a more abstract form as I find the essence of the curled carpels, smooth tepals, and hard, sharp seed pods as they are now escaping the bounds of the surface.
This piece has found its forever home at Bell Architects - 1228 9th St NW, Washington, DC
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
cotton, polyester, acrylic, wool, vinyl, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, wood-framed canvas, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora IV.I
Created in a week due to accidentally entering the same piece in 2 shows. Thanks to the kindness of those who curated the show they allowed my piece to be accepted.
This piece has found its forever home.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
cotton, polyester, acrylic, wool, vinyl, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, wood-framed canvas, polyester & cotton thread.
This piece has found it’s home.
Magnolia Grandiflora V:
The Seed Fitzgerald
Fitz.
With this piece, I embraced the sculptural form wholeheartedly. Magnolia Grandiflora's seed pod is hard & unforgiving when stepped on. That form inspired the last 5 pieces of this series; bringing it to life in a soft medium.
Nick name for F. Scott Fitzgerald
Method:
machine quilted, machine raw edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton, polyester, acrylic & vinyl textiles, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora VI: Zelda the Flower
Zelda.
My quilts have become more three-dimensional over time. With this piece, I embraced the sculptural form wholeheartedly. Magnolia Grandiflora's flower is white but the bees see it in purples and blues. It was a joy to diverge and allow my love of color to flow into a virginal white flower.
Nicknamed for Zelda Fritzgerald.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton & polyester textiles, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora VII: Zelda the Flower
The Magnolia Grandiflora's flower is white but the bees see it in purples and blues.
In Zelda VII I have taken the unconventional colors even further. It was a joy to diverge
and allow my love of color to flow into a virginal white flower.
Created for the No Boundaries Exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, Virginia. This Zelda is only 12” wide & 6” high
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton & polyester textiles, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora VIII:
Fitzgerald the seed.
After the Magnolia Grandiflora's beautiful white flower fades
& the seed pods lose their fuzzy exterior they drop to the ground becoming hard & unforgiving when stepped on.
This prehistoric vessel has inspired me to bring it to life in a soft medium.
Created for the No Boundaries Exhibit at the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
This Fritz is only 12” wide & 9” high.
This piece has found its forever home.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton & polyester textiles, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, polyester & cotton thread.
Magnolia Grandiflora VIII: Zelda unleashed.
Created for the I am Art exhibit at the Council for the Arts in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in the spring of 2021.
I needed something new but was of course out of time.
I had a basket full of leftover curlies, a single petal & a leaf from MGIII that were too large for other work.
I decided to truly let go of the form and have fun with the parts of the flower.
30"wide x 40" high
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw-edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Cotton & polyester textiles, aluminum wire, polyester stuffing, cotton batting, polyester & cotton thread.
Method:
Machine quilted, machine raw edge appliqued, machine thread painted, hand & machine constructed
Materials:
Materials Cotton & other textiles, an old quilt with polyester batting, and thread.
Magnolia X: Jane
(liliiflora ‘Reflorescens’ × Magnolia stellata ‘Waterlily’)