The Very Best of the Two of My Lives: Letterpressed Quilt and Book design.

I designed this book from my great grandmother’s handwritten personal narrative. She was born in a small town on the Cumberland Plateau near Crossville, Tennessee in 1916 and lived in that same area for 90 years. For the first 7 years of my life, prior to her death, I spent a lot of time visiting “great Granny,” and many years after hearing stories about the farm from my grandmother. Like so many other women in the rural south during the 20th century, my great granny, Nola, faced many challenges, including poverty, and not much recognition for her accomplishments. Her narrative; however, is a life of fulfillment and happiness despite the many hardships and sacrifices—and hope for what comes after for her family.

The quilt is designed to complement the book as a visual narrative. I created the back textile design (which is facing the front in the display) as a deconstruction of the book narrative and traditional quilt format, which is represented in the front of the quilt, sewn many years ago by my great, great grandmother.