Ellen Lindner

West Melbourne, FL

Seeking the Horizon

Seeing the call to “reflect the rich and diverse worlds,” I immediately thought of all the flowers and flowering trees we enjoy in our region. Considering which flower to celebrate, I decided that the Cornus florida would be perfect since it is the state flower of both Virginia and North Carolina. The white flower is normally depicted, but the pink varieties are also native, so I created a stylized blossom which I colored in three ways. The symbolism of the dogwood flower includes purity, endurance, fidelity, and renewal. Some Christians believe that the four white “petals” (technically, bracts) symbolize the Cross of Christ, while the red indented corners show Christ’s blood, and the yellowish green center is the crown of thorns. The tree’s wood is sturdy enough to make daggers; hence the British “dagwood.” The bark makes a brown dye and is used as medicine. The dogwood tree provides beautiful colors, shapes, and textures in every season, making it a wonderful reflection of the abundant life in our region.

I drafted a stylized dogwood blossom with pencil and paper and cut out three from white, light pink, and darker pink solid fabrics. I used Mistyfuse to fuse scraps from my stash onto the three forms, gradating each from light to dark. The flowers were secured with a blanket stitch. Then I used many different threads for free-motion quilting, echoing the petal shapes. I added light and dark leaves to the green background and the words “Cornus florida.” Materials include: cotton scraps; cotton and cotton-blend threads; Mistyfuse.

Janet Acuff Marney: One of my earliest memories is arriving at my Appalachian grandparents’ house “in the holler” after a long car trip. It was night, and I was only four, so I was put to bed immediately. The next morning, I woke up between an aunt and a cousin, as we lay under a handmade quilt with hundreds of tiny scraps of color being illuminated by the morning sun. This is my first memory of a quilt, and it still evokes feelings of beauty, wonder, comfort, safety, and warm family connection. I knew that one day I would make quilts, too. Since learning how to make scrap quilts entirely by hand in the 1970s, I’ve explored and taught a variety of styles and techniques. My taste is eclectic, but most of my pieces contain flowers. I’m currently working on a flower series and an improv series.

https://www.instagram.com/janetamarney