Thread and Timber 2, 26"x26"

The New West: Stitching Grit into Legacy

 Quilted 

These quilted panels mark a return to one of the earliest chapters of my practice as a designer. Before embroidery became my primary medium, I spent years immersed in the language of quilting—its geometry, its rhythm, and above all, its ability to tell stories through fabric. Over time, quilt-inspired backdrops have surfaced in different series, but for the Vintage Western works I wanted to bring them back with renewed depth and intention.

Quilting has always held a special place in American craft. Rooted in heritage and necessity, quilts became more than functional textiles: they were repositories of memory, community, and identity. Each pattern carried its own symbolism, each stitched block part of a narrative that connected generations. In reviving quilt patterns for this series, I sought to honor that tradition while reimagining it in dialogue with the Western icons that anchor the collection.

The panels are constructed from a thoughtful mix of upcycled vintage fabrics and hand-dyed bandanas, each piece stitched into place to form a mosaic of history and reinvention. The Ohio Star—one of the most enduring quilt patterns in American design—returns here as a vibrant backdrop. Its radiating geometry frames the central imagery while echoing the spirit of resourcefulness, artistry, and storytelling that defines the quilting tradition.

These quilted grounds are more than mere settings; they are integral to the work, carrying with them the textures of heritage and the layered voices of those who stitched before. In this way, the Vintage Western pieces become not only images of the West but also fabric testaments to the enduring legacy of American quilting.

26x26x2 inches, framed in acrylic.