This quilt is a commissioned piece for three sisters who wanted a quilt for their parents’ 40th wedding anniversary. The photos in the quilt are of the parents of the anniversary couple, the anniversary couple as high school seniors, the anniversary couple on their wedding day, photos of the three daughters as children and on their wedding days, photos of the grandchildren at the time the quilt was made, a photo of the family dog and then a photo of the couple from their 39th anniversary. As more grandchildren are born, coordinating pillows have been made to accompany the quilt.
All quilting is done by hand as well as the binding of the quilt. The antique photos were taken to a professional photographer and reproduced and then scanned into a computer. All photos were printed onto iron-on transfer paper and then ironed onto dye cloth. Each photo was then framed in a brown marble fabric. The alternate blocks are hand quilted with a feathered heart in the center and then crosshatched outside of the heart.
Over 300 hours of fine, hand quilting was done by the quilting artist to really make this quilt a family heirloom. The backing is unbleached muslin and the quilt is signed and dated by the artist.
The recipients were thrilled with the quilt and take it with them when they travel to their winter home in Arizona each year. It is a valued quilt that they show to everyone that visits their homes. I continue to hear from them how thrilled they are with this wonderful quilt even though it has been 12 years since they received the quilt.