Doll Bed Applique Patchwork Quilt c. 1937

Beverly Chichester made this Doll Bed Applique Patchwork Quilt. I imagine Beverly sitting and stitching—the hours of labour, of love, of care that must have gone into each square, each design, the soft fabrics pressed, cut and sewn with patience and precision. There's a beautiful sense of improvisation in how the quilt is made—the arrangement of the squares seems almost random, yet it all comes together so harmoniously. Each block is its own little world, a unique expression of Beverly’s imagination, mixing familiar imagery with her own idiosyncratic vision. A bird, a flower, a horse, a heart, a basket—each rendered with vibrant fabrics and careful stitching. I wonder what stories these images held for her? The stitches are visible, each one telling a story of its own and her hand is present in every detail. Beverly must have been in conversation with other quilt makers and artists across time. Quilting has such a tactile and personal quality, embracing ambiguity and allowing for multiple interpretations. It's a deeply human form of expression.