Quilter’s Name: Kathleen Cotten from Gilbert, Arizona
Name of Pattern: Original Design
Name of Quilt: Peace by Piece
Featured Date: 06-12-24
Hi, I’m Kathleen. This is a quilt I made from fabrics collected from 50+ countries; some from my own travels and others provided by friends, family, co-workers and random strangers.
Years ago my niece brought me fabric from Cambodia; pretty but not enough to do anything with. Then friends brought me fabric from Scotland and then I bought some in Hungary. Soon I had an assortment of bits and pieces but didn’t know what to do with them. The idea for “Peace by Piece” grew from the idea that if so many disparate fabrics from so many places could come together and be cohesive, what is stopping people from doing the same? Some thoughts I had while putting this together that apply not only to this project but also to finding common ground with others:
* it takes all kinds …the loud and vibrant as well as the softer, quiet ones. They all have a place to fill.
* be patient
* learn from your mistakes
* there is no such thing as “perfect”
* don’t force a solution
* sometimes the smallest changes can make the biggest difference
* look for solutions, not problems
* be grateful
Some of the fabrics are from my own travels but the majority were contributed by family, friends, friends of friends, co-workers and a few random strangers.
About 50 countries are represented here: Afghanistan, Argentina, Austria, Australia, Bahamas, Bali, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Columbia, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Morrea, Mozambique, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tahiti, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, UK, Uganda, Vietnam.
The amazing quilter I work with, Jill Lilly, digitized Peace by Piece to do the quilting and combined them with an infinity symbol for the quilting. (Detail photo below.)
I didn’t use a pattern but made it up as I went along. I’ve been quilting for about 15 years and currently live in Gilbert, AZ. I get a lot of sewing done in the summer when it’s too hot to go outside!
Thank you!
Kathleen
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Peace by piece is a great quilt. About 20 years ago, I got fed up with my daughters storing their old prom, bridesmaids, homecoming and wedding dresses here. I informed them if they wanted to keep any of them to take it to their home. Nobody took any. So I made Crazy Quilt wall hangings for each and myself . It took 3 years for me to peice and hand embroidery them. But their memories and mine of them hang on our walls. I made most of these dresses and gowns.
Re the 50 country quilt – how did all the different fabrics work together since there were so many different qualities and textures. It seems this quilt could never be washed, except maybe dry cleaned.
What a beautiful story behind your quilt. Such a neat one of a kind work of art!