Mama Leeds

Hand stitched with appliqué, acrylic paint and inks on eco-dyed vintage linen. The scene depicts Mrs. Leeds and the Jersey Devil.

On a dark and stormy night in 1735, something terrible happened in the Pine Barrens near Leeds Point. The thunder howled, and the wind roared outside. Inside a small house, Mother Leeds was giving birth to her 13th baby. No one knew for sure exactly what happened, but people had lots of ideas.

"Mother Leeds said she wanted the baby to be the devil!"
"The baby was born with a tail, wings, and hooves and flew up the chimney!"
"The baby looked normal but then it changed!"
That night, the Jersey Devil was born.