The Atlanta Quilt Festival posted a call for quilts that interpreted the theme Getting Into MY Good Trouble — Continuing the Legacy of Congressman John Lewis. The call made me reflect on what issue would make me an activist instead of a spectator.
I always loved school and was a good student. I love books and fill my home with them. Growing up in my little small town, it never occurred to anyone that an armed person would enter the school and kill indiscriminately. Unfortunately, now it is all too common. Learning active shooter drills instead of music, history or mathematics is not the way we want our children to grow up. This is NOT NORMAL.
So my response to the call is March For Safe Schools. I tried to create an idyllic school filled with happiness and learning. I think the message of this quilt is clear, but I added my trademark words to emphasize the point.
To create March For Safe Schools, fused machine applique elements are placed on a cream background with writing and mathematics elements. The background carries out the theme of the quilt, and the school themed border with the cute bookworm is the perfect ending for the quilt. Can you believe I had all of this fabric in my stash?😳
After it was machine quilted by Maxine Moore, I hand embellished the quilt with buttons and crystals. I love the chunky crayon buttons in the window. They bring back happy memories.
The back of the quilt is a red, blue and yellow African fabric which coordinates with the quilt nicely. There is a hanging sleeve for easy display and a label that documents the quilt.
I signed it on the front and added a charm that says “March On.”
This quilt is one-of-a-kind.
The exhibit premiers August 2, 2024 at the Atlanta Quilt Festival.
A good education is the foundation for a fulfilled and happy life. We must create a safe environment so that students can learn without fear.
