Quilt - Applique Patterns with Border c. 1936

This is a quilt, made by Lily Capson sometime between 1855 and 1955. It features hand-stitched applique patterns with a neat border. You know, when I look at something like this, I think about the way we piece things together, not just physically, but how we assemble ideas, memories, or even identities. Look at those star patterns. Each one is made up of lots of smaller shapes, carefully sewn together. It’s almost like life, right? Little bits and pieces that come together to make something bigger, something whole. I'm really drawn to the colors here: the contrast of the soft oranges with the red and green. And, it’s not perfect. You can see the hand of the maker, in all the little imperfections. That’s what makes it so beautiful to me. When I see this, I think about Gee's Bend quilters or even some of the early modernists like Sonia Delaunay, all playing with colour and form, pushing the boundaries. It's all part of a big, ongoing conversation, isn’t it?