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?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdM7SqdB1RoyqMkNIoHoqeVSPfz0h7uq34jlP-YCE-0g5E-lAPIX_pnG1xBjYtsSUg7ITaUNgQN8C0w8cXShf7B6lArFZ2VuTb3iP9cIAzWcOVPUImCkfkD38QwE-gJw8oua6TcvxcQuDj/s320/ocean-sunrise--ann-brauer--37-x-47-inches.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-yLnBwDErzbWNsdZ7TGVUhAXFtkoq0GjoxH7NndILbnocAFGJSnaUscGkPAp83cLmsVn_iiM5JQgaA2shZkueGkixLLIu-rJfRAyA8DFRn9Y6sj9RyfartDkThdaJk4yUy8MC3EQ6PqB_/s320/thinking-about-tomorrow--etsy1--ann-brauer.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7isMeadYQIzn66KJ1lPuT-6yCFAC6VCF69pyERZmgwSGnqLQH81UA4IWXw-0EcLBSY0ENsbdOsaKNcSVwmx5GPdxDVAffuWEu0CM1Q_mcgySfQumkrvDsW_25llQwRPcOk9OPw1AXL4dl/s320/that-evening-in-July--etsy1.jpg) |
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?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhg11Q7aarUsGO_sw3Jr3uYen22MIaeN42U6hYsDlGAHDMhT4ZkUKtly9VkOR0LcyWHE-g9JBR6nqqxp_zf8rY27cSdOzggDzNW2RPE7lYgRKlNoZzCNFUBzetVNDO_eZ6LndYBHWjD941/s320/one-morning-in-June--ann-brauer-2020--30-x-40-in.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq419BP8ARjQZqH74Cae0t2xGgiO9Qj-NnGoyDGm3QgbpdvZIAifM3ITxV_Ht0oLyobl9KjZ4zzixPQxy4IE_8-_pVbM2JudjGh48gb0gsybx97Ht5UMUfToZlqq_fcfvIGmd7CoL5xhtH/s320/the+clouds+will+lift+24x40+5102.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnf_xTrBQQrA6_pbysVzJuI9r_XhXZXPhuwZzJG0Q4kMD6nYspdif7lQvSOy6FDB70nQm-C4qGWmG9ofiZnHWETrbZLTLOOwUbW2HrjFbCk0Ra7GaGl03XF2V7lkT-p6klrXWOyZvYEdB/s320/20200530+Anticipation+24x40+5134.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzpqnWxUJGA64ckIU4FwQBa4FL7YD9oSsr7c-08D8YvRUrBjEnPRLATMVxsDFjTfhPEYxXMpirm5RRBQEJPjjw7Cdma8VrQ1VAL8G-9R7zhjflThnFsBoXOss3SsKr3dWCUi0FWNq8kFq/s320/the-promise-of-tomorrow--ann-brauer--2020--24-x-40-in.jpg) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMJnyyV5wIBLqkZTCTVBhRioe84XMMoTDCugz63ma98MALlmtzM1Xm6tgsOy65WqEQ-8bKmH-Z_BITPE_GHc9sXsGVXDOCvEpLl_6q-Fd-3ySGYXpGMGsjnK1pEPofsZ4_OMI8LkPYiem/s320/summertime--ann-brauer--quilt-2020--30-x-40-in..jpg) |
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.