In Our Own Words, A Finished Quilt

In Our Own Words. This collaborative project is a celebration of women; of the amazing individual qualities that make us who we are, as well as our strength when we com together as a community. On International Women’s Day, I put out a call, asking women near and far to send me a hand-stitched word of empowerment that best describes them as a woman. The word was to be stitched in black on a white background, 3.5″ x 6.5″. The initial idea was to reference the friendship quilts or signature quilts made by quilters for their friends to mark special occasions. In total, 196 words were collected from across the US and internationally. I received blocks from women in 31 states, and eight countries. The words were then assembled into a quilt where each word was given equal significance. Each word was placed in its own circle, a nod to femininity and the cycles of nature; all of the fabrics used in the quilt are wovens, to represent our soft but unwavering strength; and the courthouse steps design, with the fire at the hearth center, is an homage to quilters past and present and collects all of the individual blocks into one, cohesive unit. Each block is 8″ finished, and there are 14 rows and 14 columns. The quilt finishes at a mighty 112″x112″. It was quilted by the amazingly talented Shelly Pagliai of Prairie Moon Quilts. Below is the list of women that contributed a word(s). I am still adding names to the list where possible. Some of you sent words collected from other women without names, so as I learn more names I will add them here. If you see your name and it is incorrect, you would like to add a name, or you would like to remain anonymous, please just email me and I will honor any requests. Names are listed below in alphabetical order by first name (where available). Alexis Deise Alice Pappas Alyssa Talamo Amy Slear Andrea Tsang Jackson Angela Covelli Ashley Howe Barbara Fisher Barbara Hanaburgh Barbara L. Wright Barbara Ringel Bri Winford Candy Barnes Carman Attie Carol Wood Cass Roberts Cathleen Charlotte Noll Cindy Tonkin Colette Moscrop Colleen Breaux Colleen Haggerty Connie Griner Danice Gentle Darrel Rob Debbie Grifka Deborah Fisher Denise Flowers Devanie Fergus Diana Vandeyar Elaine Westmacott Elizabeth Ray Elizabeth Sovern Emily Nudge Fran Slear Gayla Spurlock Hayley Crawford Heather Taylor Helen Beall Ingrid Duffy Isabella Vitucci Jackie Alvo Jan Brown Jane Stokes Janet Coe Janice Bailor Jen Broemel Jen Touart Jennifer Baker Jessica Picarillo Jessica Skultety Jill Stafford Jill Slear Joanne Simone Julie Tchinnis Karen Daum Karen Daum (for her daughter) Karen Duling Karen Wooley Karin Jordan Kasey Daniel Kate Godfrey Kathleen Baden Kathy Cook Kathy Dunkle Kathy Dunkle (for Amy Smith) Kelly Fox Kim Benes Kim Soper Kimberly Marcus Kyona Nason LaDonna Benes c/o Kim Benes Laura Martin Laura Smith Linda Schroeder Lora Riordan Lorraine Lucas Luz Reyes Luz Reyes (for her daughter Camille) Luz Reyes (for her niece Nena) Luz Reyes (for her niece Sara) Luz Reyes (for her niece Tania) Luz Reyes (for her sister Claudia) Luz Reyes (for her sister Miryam) Margaret Cibulsky Margaret Swan Maria Gardner Marianne Davitt Marianne Davitt Marie Martin Marie Vaccaro Marjorie Miller Mary Wingate Melanie Tuazon Melissa Herboth Micah Bremner Michelle Cain Mindy Ledbetter Monique Disney Nanette LaVerdeiere Naomi Priester Natalie Skinner Neal + Kelly Nicoletta Vallana Pam Poling Pam Poling (x25 for the strong women in her life) Pasqualina Barazza Pat Carroll Rachael Heger Rachel Boucher Rose Harries Roseanna Andrade Roseanna Marzo Ryland Luberecki Sandra Markus Sarah Goer Sarah Hibbert Sarah Jane Pepper Sarah Ruiz Schueson Severine Tompsett Shelly Pagliai Silvia Sutters Steph Skardal Stephanie Zachary Ruyle Tara Celeste Teresa Philbin Theresa Ieonetti Theresa Weiser Terry Dimino Tiffany Horn Tiffany Marshall Tina Craig Turner Renick Valerie Graf Valerie Luberecki Victoria LoFaso Victoria Marie Wanda Dotson Yvonne Fuchs I cannot thank you all enough for sending me your words and your stories. And I cannot thank you enough for trusting me to make this quilt. I share this with you today, on what would have been my grandma’s 101st birthday. Just as we lift one another up with our empowering words, she lifted me up with her love. Her story is my story, her soul is my soul, and her heart is the meaning behind Leland Ave Studios. Please share this post with anyone that you know that may have contributed a word to this project. I am so grateful to you all for your support and your abundant positive energy. Thank you! Photos by the incredibly talented Kathy Hinkaty @hinkkd.