Tree of Life

Want to buy this quilt? You can! Click on the photo and it will take you to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative. The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative (www.AlzQuilts.org) is a national, grassroots charity whose mission is to raise awareness and fund research. The AAQI auctions and sells donated quilts, and sponsors a national touring exhibit of quilts about Alzheimer's. The AAQI has raised more than $552,000 since January 2006.

Materials/techniques.:
• Vintage "Tree of Life" Jacobean wool crewel work on linen
• Polyester felt for batting
• clear nylon thread
• nylon tulle
• 100% cotton slub muslin
• 100% cotton candlewick thread

This piece of needlework was originally done by my Aunt back in the resurgence of crewel work in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Even though the linen is disintegrating it was never thrown away but moved from her sewing room into mine until it found new life in this Alzheimer's Priority Quilt. Alzheimer's disease causes gaps and holes in our memories and minds, eating away at the very fabric of our lives, not unlike the ravages of time upon this piece of linen.

The Tree of Life was a favorite motif of the Jacobean era and also during the resurgence in the last century. The clear nylon thread was used to machine free motion stitch around the motifs to anchor them on the quilt. Other than that, this little 9"x10" Priority Quilt is done totally by hand.