Quilt c. 1941

Edith Magnette's Quilt is a geometric composition in red and green, stitched into being sometime around 1853. Imagine the maker, bent over her task: choosing fabrics, cutting shapes, arranging and rearranging them on the surface. Her hands move with intention, each stitch a tiny act of creation. She has built up the surface – a central motif of an eagle surrounded by stars, bold borders of circles and leaves. The whole thing feels carefully thought out and yet also so intuitive. Is the eagle a symbol of freedom, or of something more personal? The stars, do they represent hope, guidance, or perhaps loved ones far away? And what’s the story behind the initials inscribed above? These are all little mysteries embedded in the quilt's pattern. Edith's work speaks to a wider community of makers. Quilts have long served as a medium for personal expression, a way to record stories, memories, and dreams. Quilting bees were social events, spaces for women to come together, share ideas, and support each other's creativity. Edith's stitches are part of that conversation, an ongoing dialogue about what it means to be human, to create, and to connect with one another.