It all began with one quilt "ocean sunrise" and a decision I had made a few months ago to use it for an ad I was running. After all it was a cheerful calm quilt that made a statement and that would fit in so many locations. Indeed, even before the ad ran I had sold that quilt. OK--I could make other variations on the theme. Why not?
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ocean sunrise--37 x 47 inches--ann brauer 2019 |
Then of course my life and the lives of everyone else got turned upside down by the pandemic. I was depressed and feeling lost for the first week or so. Should I make masks--there was a definite need for them but my sewing machine was not right for that project.) Should I make political quilts about the virus and deal with my fears that way? Then as luck would have it, the promoters of the craft show where I had run the initial ad decided to use the internet to support their artists. (Thanks
Paradise City.)
And soon I got a phone call from a wonderful woman who needed a bit of cheer. After some discussion I agreed to make her a smaller version of "ocean sunrise." What a relief it was to have a purpose. I called this quilt "thinking about tomorrow" to relay the optimism that we can indeed make it through this. At least that is my hope.
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thinking about tomorrow--32x48 inches--ann brauer 2020 |
The ad also resulted in a customer needing "that evening in July." I was on a roll. A series was being born.
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that evening in July--quilt--Ann Brauer--40 x 40 inches |
Next was another custom order "one morning in June" to hang in a specific place among other lovely works of art. Don't you love the colors?
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one morning in June--Ann Brauer 2020--quilt--30 x 40 inches |
Oh so many designs danced through my head. All I could do was snag one from that nether space and start sewing. Most of them I made smaller so I could finish them more quickly. The object was to tell a story then move on to the next one. After all I had a purpose.
There was "the clouds will lift" about that break in the storm where there is just the hint of sun to give you that feeling of hope.
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the clouds will left--24 x 40 inches--ann brauer 2020 |
"Anticipation" was a dance of light in the sky just before the sun--or is it the moon--rose. What fun I had playing with these shapes.
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anticipation--ann brauer 2020--24 x 40 inches |
"The promise of tomorrow" is just a happy quilt. Don't we all need to be happy sometimes.
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the promise of tomorrow--24 x 40 inches--annbrauer 2020 |
And "summertime" is my most recently finished quilt. The one that tries to capture the warmth and comfort of the sky on that perfect day in summer.
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summertime--30 x 40 inches--Ann Brauer 2020 |
A series was born. Indeed I know there is more to come as I am piecing the next quilt in the series which I think will be called "the edge of autumn"--but you will have to wait to see that one. What fun to see these quilts all together--too bad they take so long. And beyond that--there are so many more quilts I want to make so stay tuned. I usually post them on my Etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop and frequently add them to my Instagram posts. And now my studio is open--or should I say OPEN--if you happen to be in Shelburne Falls.