Homespun Quilt c. 1937

Julie Brush made this Homespun Quilt design on graph paper, and I’m already imagining the possibilities of fabric, of texture, of color! The grid she’s drawn becomes a structure for the design. Each little square patiently filled with blue ink. You get the sense of the artist leaning in, absorbed by the meticulous detail. There’s something so intimate about quilt-making. I imagine Julie considering the weight of the fabric, the warmth it would provide. Each shape feels like a meditation on domesticity and creativity. I think of the women in my family and of the many other quilt-makers throughout history, piecing together stories and histories through their craft. The artist’s hand becomes a conduit, translating tradition into a personal expression. It reminds me how artists are always in conversation. Whether it is a design for a quilt or a painting, it's all part of one big, beautiful, ongoing exchange.