CAROLYN: "BY SOUTHERN HANDS"
My Granny was a mountain woman with a 3rd grade education. She grew up in western North Carolina in the foothills of the Southern Appalachian mountain range. When she married, her uncle made her an egg basket as a wedding gift. As a child living in Texas, I cherished our trips to visit her. I often went to the hen house with her to gather eggs, which she carried to the country store, along with churned butter, to sell. As an adult, I went to stay with her for a few days when she had breast cancer. At the end of the visit, she insisted on giving me her precious egg basket.
This style of basketry is the most commonly woven basket in the Appalachians. The technique was brought to America from the Scotch/Irish in the 18th century, and was passed down from one generation to another. It is a 4 doz. ribbed basket with a twin bottom that helps prevent eggs from rolling into each other. It is woven with perfectly round oak rods and strips of white split oak.
I made a photo of my basket, now almost 100 years old. I transferred the image to fabric. Then I fused it to the background fabric with Wonder Under. I cut out and applied the eggs in the same manner. I created shading on the bottom of the basket with brown tulle applied with Misty Fuse. Then I stitched around the basket and eggs with a tiny machine stitch. Next, I cut out and fused the coneflowers, a common Southern flower and appliquéd them using a zig-zag stitch. I machine stitched the oak rods, the basket handle and the main oak strips with a hand quilt stitch. I added shading to the eggs with silver tulle. The final step was to quilt the lively background fabric which I chose because it reminded me of colorful fried eggs and because it expresses the joy I felt when I was at my Granny's.
What a wonderful story, how lovely to have been presented with the opportunity to honor your grandmother and the very special basket made by her uncle. I think this is a true "gem" of a quilt, and certainly joyful. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I truly enjoyed this posting. Your basket photo is so clear I thought I was looking at a basket you had woven with fabric, then appliqued to the quilt. Your stitching choices compliment the basket and flowers beautifully and the vibrant background fabric you chose is provides excitement and marvelous contrast. Love it!
ReplyDelete(NM - friend of Alice and Linda)
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful memory and a wonderful quilt. Thanks for sharing!
PS
ReplyDeleteI also gathered eggs during my childhood growing up on a KS ranch. If I'd had a basket as lovely as this one, I'm sure I'd have felt the task as less of an imposition.
Oh, Carolyn, what a wonderful back story this quilt has! The basket is just lovely, and to have captured it so beautifully in a quilt means that you now have two treasures. Your did a fantastic job with your stitchery and the shading, etc. When I read why you chose the lively background you chose, a big smile appeared on my face. Yes, I can "see" those as fried eggs! What a treat for the eyes and the heart!
ReplyDeleteHi Carolyn - What an incredible story. I felt so drawn in to the story, and it helped me appreciate your beautiful work even more. I love the way you created your basket - so much texture and depth. Your use of tulle to create the showing effect is perfect. And.... I love your background ! Kind of reminded me of the book, "Green Eggs and Ham" Bravo ! Kathy
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I feel as if I have been on a trip to visit your grandmother. How touching that she gave you the basket on your last visit. I had never heard about the ribs in the basket separating and protecting the eggs. Fascinating. I appreciated your shading techniques and the witty renditions of fried eggs. That was a heartwarming story and portrayal with the flowers and all.
ReplyDeleteThis an incredibly beautiful and well executed piece. I am in awe of the amazing work you've done with the basket. It is so realistic!!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, loved your story! You had a wonderful story to share and I'm glad you were able to make such a sweet quilt with an actual photo of the real basket. Your quilting is great and I'm glad you told us how you added the shading. It really added depth to your quilt. The background really does look like fried eggs!
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, I loved the story. I grew up on a farm in central Illinois and one of the jobs that had to be done was gathering eggs. Maybe if I had had such a beautiful basket, I would not have minded so much.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful work and beautiful history Mom! I love it! KC
ReplyDeleteThanks Kim! I forgot to add that we used the basket at your wedding to hold the bird seed that was scattered as good luck as you left your wedding reception. We wrapped the bird seed in tulle, tied it with ribbons and placed it in the egg basket for a little helper to hand out to guests. It was our way of honoring and including the memory of Granny P.
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