10/26/2010

Finally......Courage in Corsets

A project that has long been on my list of things to do is a suffragette quilt but it never seemed to firm up in my mind... But recently I received this flyer announcing the opening of a 6-month exhibit at Spokane's museum celebrating the centennial of women's right to vote in Washington State..

What a stimulus it was... What I had always been leaning toward is a quilt showcasing various famous suffragettes whom I've studied and admired... But it was going to be a very big quilt and really just a lot of anonymous faces to most viewing the quilt unless I figured out ways to include their biographies... So instead of showcasing famous suffragettes I've now decided to make my quilt using a lot of anonymous faces celebrating the struggle, determination and celebration of the millions of women in this country and abroad...

I've collected dozens great photos over the years to choose from and am excited to get started...









Don't you just love this one?
And recently a lot of incredible photographs from this era were discovered in the Scotland Yard archives and released by BBC.
So while waiting on my mom at the nursing home I began making notes... My initial thoughts had been all black and black lace but I've abandoned that idea and will use materials similar to those I used on my singer cover (on the dark side and vintage prints) ...and lots of vintage lace. Maybe I could figure a way to use some famous suffragettes in very small cameo-like images...just a thought... I want to include various slogans but especially love "Courage in Corsets" which will be the name of the quilt... It's exciting to have this long nebulous idea finally taking shape..

Several years back just before I stopped doing dolls I became interested in doing suffragettes and did several ... The only one I kept and my favorite was one of Emmeline Pankhurst... I became totally obsessed with it and spent months working on it... I will take some pictures to post of it and the details.

5 comments:

Susan Elliott said...

I LOVE this!! The pics are amazing -- you're going to have so much fun. Have you seen Iron Jawed Angels with Hillary Swank? It was really good and might get you in the mood. Not that you need that. Looks like you already are but maybe you and your Mom could watch the movie together.

Rachel said...

You could maybe use the suffragette movement's colours - green, white and purple...?

Cathy said...

This is a grand idea for a crazy quilt! Your images are outstanding, and it’s a unique and worthwhile theme! What fun it will be to watch you develop this. Hugs, Cat

Marty52 said...

What a cool idea for a quilt, Gerry! I love making pieces that have a theme... my favorite way to work!

Pearl said...

Yes! Iron jawed Angels was my favorite also I watched it over and over, wish they would put it on t.v. again. Looks like your going to have a blast. Have fun, Pearl

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