Clara Angel

I created this series of 7 angels to honor the female descendants of Clara Ford, my grandmother, in my red and white quilt exhibit entitled “Long Time Coming: A Retrospective of O.V. Brantley’s Red and White Quilts” held November 19, 2022 - January 13, 2023 at the Emma Darnell Aviation Museum and Conference Center in Atlanta.

Clara lived and quilted in Crossett Arkansas from December 12, 1892 to May 20, 1966. Her daughter Evora is my mother. Rhonda and LaJetta are my sisters. Brittany and Brianna are the daughters of LaJetta. India is my daughter.

The pattern for the angels is based on Starry Night Hollow’s “peace angel”. The name of each angel is machine embroidered at the bottom of her robe. I added a matching scarf/halo on each angel.

My friend Maxine Moore quilted an angel motif in the background on her long arm machine.

There is heart fabric on the back and a hanging sleeve for easy display. A label documents the quilt. I signed it on the front and added a charm that says “angels watching over me.”