I Believe in Ancestral Angels

Finally I have returned to my I Believe in Angels series. I like to keep my angels close so I have made many angel quilts over the years. So far, I have 8 of these angels on my design wall, each with her own personality.

Most of my immediate family is in heaven, but there is not a day that goes by that I do not remember my grandmother’s quilt frame, the wisdom of my mother, a funny remark from my sisters or the beaming pride of my father. Taken together, my ancestral angels inspire me to make wise choices, to live with joy, to always try to complete my goals with excellence, and of course, to quilt! My memories of my ancestors inspired my quilt “I Believe in Ancestral Angels.”

“I Believe in Ancestral Angels” is created using fused appliqué sewn with a machine blanket stitch. Her dress and the border is purple African fabric which sets the theme for the quilt. I made her hair on my Janome sewing machine using a decorative stitch and variegated thread. After adding the borders, the quilt measures 34X36 inches, a good size for a wallhanging.

My friend Maxine Moore did a masterful job of carrying out the theme of the quilt with a bold geometric pattern quilted into the background of the quilt. I think the quilting pattern really adds a lot to the quilt.

After adding binding, a hanging sleeve for easy display and a label to document the quilt, I embellished “I Believe in Ancestral Angels” with African mask buttons.

I signed it on the front and added a charm near my signature that says “angels watching over me”.

This quilt is one-of-a-kind.

Keep your ancestors close.