Can We Go Back Home?

My mother passed recently and since she passed my mind constantly wanders to thoughts about home … and where that might be now that she’s gone. I embroidered an image of my first home on a block that features in the center of the quilt. I extended the imagery of that home into the surrounding blocks with leaves and roots that overlap them. The quilting in the top half of the quilt follows the lines created by the leaves, nodding towards the expansion that can come from a loving home. The quilting in the bottom half of the quilt tangles and creates lines of the tree roots, nodding towards the constriction of the past.

Constructed with reclaimed fabrics from my family’s lives. Of particular significance to me, the leaves were created using my childhood pillowcase. This quilt was made in Heidi Parkes’ yearlong quiltmaking class.

Dimensions: 43” x 50