“Homemaking is surely in reality the most important work in the world. What do railways, mine cars, ships and governments exist for except that people may be safe in their own homes. The homemaker’s is the job for which all others exist.”                                                - C. S. Lewis

1997
32.5”w x 34”h
$575.00

ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Who and what am I? Is it only the artist in me, the occupation that is traditionally male, that has value? Does the traditional work done by all those apron-wearing  women before me hold value? If I reject as worthless the housework, the child-rearing, the holding of families together, what will become of me? What will become of our children, our society?

     This piece began as a challenge on the QuiltArt e-group. Like many of the participants, I had a strong emotional reaction to the assigned subject of “aprons”. Yuck!!! I was in the middle of the “motherhood trenches” with a baby and two-year-old and was totally sick of everything domestic! I had given up all my former dreams to have these kids (a very good choice in the long run!) but hadn’t found a new identity yet. “Mom” as an identity felt like “maid with oatmeal for brains” and it wasn’t fun. Nobody handed me a paycheck. Nobody said “good job.” I didn’t get to go home at the end of the day and relax or have weekends off. I didn’t even get to sleep at night!
     Taking on this challenge helped me to work through some of that antagonism and realize that domestic labors, although unappreciated, were vital to society. The quote by C. S. Lewis really opened my eyes... what I was doing was important. I still look at this every day to remind myself that motherhood is my first priority and nothing else I do will matter if I don’t do my best job here!

Show History

I Remember Mama
International Quilt Festival, Houston TX, 2003

Art Quilts: Narrative Form ( juried exhibit)
Page-Walker Arts and History Center: Cary, North Carolina 2001

Instructors Exhibit: Craft Center Gallery
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 2001

International Quilt  Market and Festival
Houston, Texas 1997

Erie Art Museum
Erie, Pennsylvania 1998

North Carolina Quilt Symposium
 Raleigh, North Carolina 1998

Quilts at the Crossroads
Flint, Michigan 1998

River City Quilt Guild
Fair Oaks, California 1998

San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles
 San Jose, California 1999

Ocean Waves Quilt Fest ‘99
Miami, Florida 1999

Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
Almonte, Ontario, Canada 1999

Palm Beach County Quilt Show
 Palm Beach, Florida 1999