The weekend was filled with two activities I most enjoy:
- spending time with friends
- stitching
Friday
On Fri (8.23.19), three friends and I went to Baltimore (I drove) to see a photographic exhibit of the Women of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. The women are African American quilters who gained national attention in the early 2000s. The exhibit, displayed at the Reginald F. Lewis African American Museum of Art, features the photography of a reknown Baltimore photographer, Linda Day Clark, .
In 2002, the New York Times sent Day Clark to Gee’s Bend to photograph the quilters @home. Gee’s Bend is one of the poorest areas in the US. This current exhibition includes portraits of some of the quilters, their families and everyday life – as well as a display of four quilts (two shown above) owned by Linda Day Clark that have never been displayed before. They are exquisite!
my first Gee’s Bend inspired quilt, 2009 ~ signed by the Gee’s Bend Quilters
I first encountered the Gee’s Bend Quilters in 2009, on my maiden trip to Sisters Oregon. My friend Pat and I traveled there to take classes, especially a workshop taught by them. T’is an experience that has become one of our fondest memories. We returned again for a second workshop in 2011.
Seeing the photos of the women we met, their home life, family (including grand children – and the quilts) was a back to the future experience. I have had all sorts of brainstorms and inspirations about how I plan to proceed and in particular, finish the quilt I began in 2017 – my latest trip to Sister. It will tie in beautifully. Sometimes I guess one just has to wait for the Universe to converge. Stay tuned…
Sunday
Sunday was our monthly Friendstitch gathering, replete with a delicious spread! And the yummiest of desserts: lemon flavored cake and cookies!
Margaret’s needlepointing a cute canvas featuring a dog suggesting a walk? Theresa’s knitting a baby sweater; Michelle, needlepointing a holiday piece (Christmas is 4 months away, just sayin’) and Pat is doing a cross stitch… I think she did all of the spool of thread. I played around with weaving and knitting.
Too soon the afternoon ended and we packed up til our Sept gathering.
T’was a lovely weekend and I’m so grateful to have spent it among and with friends!
Cheers~
Morning Glory Studio 
those are two of my favorite things to do on a weekend, too! I’m sure the Gee’s Bend exhibit is inspiring all kinds of quilting, but I’ll bet what you’r planning for your 2017 beginning’s end is going to be a great one. Your monthly friend-stitching gatherings always look like delicious fun … do y’all keep an album to record the menus and projects?
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So glad the universe is about to converge in a quilt. I once had a package of post cards with quilts from Gee’s Bend. Your once a month gathering for stitching sounds like so much fun.
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I saw a Gee’s Bend quilt show years ago in Atlanta. It was wonderful. All the projects your friends are working on look lovely!
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What a beautiful post. The quilts! the baby sweater, and the stitching projects, all wonderful.
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Oh my – so much her to love. I stumbled on a Gees Bend exhibit in early 2000 when we were visiting Cleveland. And I think you and I were at Sisters that same summer! Also feeling very drawn to some embroidery or hoop stitching of some kind. Thanks for a great post!
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Thank you for putting Gees Bend quilters on my radar! Fascinating! And, your stitch gathering always looks so amazing! What a fun (and delicious!!) weekend you had!
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What a great weekend! I either saw a documentary or read some on the Gees Bend quilters years ago – the quilts are amazing, aren’t they? You know I love your monthly stitching gathering – always wonderful food and wonderful projects. Thank you for sharing!
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