Caribbean Branches, Part 1, 20 x 30 inches. 2005.

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Caribbean Branches, Part 1

#4/100
2005

When the Underground Railroad Quilt Code Museum opened in Underground Atlanta, the owner needed some quilts to sell. I wanted to help the museum, and the African Canvas Memory Quilt™ series was born. I hoped others would love to own an original piece of fiber art that they could turn into a truly personal piece. After all, art should speak to you.

Caribbean Branches, Part 1 became #4/100 of the African Canvas Memory Quilt™ series. It was the first piece I ever sold.

Out of Africa

Out of Africa is #3/100 of the African Canvas Memory Quilt™ series. I thought this was going to be the last African coin quilt I would ever make. I only made it to use up the African scraps I had left over.

I ultimately decided to enter it in the gift game at the office Christmas party. As luck would have it, one of my best friends won it, and happily took it home. It is not embellished and was truly intended to be a scrap quilt. Out of Africa measures 64 x 64 inches.

African Salvation

When a co-worker returned from a missionary trip to Africa, she brought me a yard of African fabric. I thought the least that I could do was make her a quilt. I chose for the back of her quilt a fabric that had the word “faith” as its focus. I named it African Salvation. It is not embellished, but the fabric purchased on her trip to Africa is in the quilt, and the faith fabric serves as an inspirational reminder of her mission to Africa. It is #2/100 of the African Canvas Memory Quilt series.

From Africa to Atlanta By Way of Arkansas, 72 x 72 inches. 2004

From Africa to Atlanta By Way of Arkansas

The quilt that started the African Canvas Memory Quilt™ series is called From Africa to Atlanta By Way of Arkansas. The quilt was originally made as project of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild. All guild members exchanged African fabrics and made an African coin quilt to show at the guild’s annual tea.

After making the quilt, I thought it would be fun to embellish it. Almost subconsciously, I started adding things that were significant to my life. My Mom’s wrist watch, my sorority symbol, a clarinet charm and a pin that said “India’s Mom” made my quilt special. Once I got started, I couldn’t stop. I still add to it. I love looking at the quilt because it makes me smile.

From Africa to Atlanta By Way of Arkansas became #1/100 of the African Canvas Memory Quilt series. It is a permanent part of my quilt collection.

Future Heirlooms: African Canvas Memory Quilts

© 2005

African Canvas Memory Quilts™ are very special memory quilts. Each quilt is a unique, handcrafted African coin quilt. Different embellishments are added to each quilt to make it a truly one of a kind keepsake for the owner. When complete, there will be 100 quilts in the African Canvas Memory Quilt™ series, and each one will be named, signed and numbered by the quilter.

You can display your African Canvas Memory Quilt™ just as it is, (a hanging sleeve is on the back). Hopefully, the rich African fabrics will speak to you and the embellishments will inspire you. It is much more fun, however, to turn it into your personal memory quilt. Add snippets from your life to the quilt. Here are some examples to get you started: an old “go steady” ring, conference pins, service pins, pressed flowers from a special date, jewels, charms, sorority/fraternity symbols, candle wax from that special date, etc. The possibilities are endless, and each addition will only enhance the uniqueness of your work of art.

Your friends will immediately recognize some of the clues to your life on your African Canvas Memory Quilt™ – but some additions will be your special secret hidden in plain view. African Canvas Memory Quilts™ can be purchased exclusively at the Underground Railroad Quilt Code Museum http://www.plantationquilts.com/ in Atlanta, GA and on EBAY.

Enjoy!