Chantal Guillermet – Time #5
Yvonne 1897–1982
For Time #5 the person who inspired me is my grandmother. She passed on to me her love of fabrics and sewing.
Even as a little girl, with the secret help of her father, Etienne, she would alter her dresses when she didn’t like them.
A childless cousin of her father’s ran a fashion house in Paris and offered to take her in, train her, and eventually hand over the fashion house to her.
But my great-grandparents were planning to emigrate to Tunisia and refused.
I’ve often thought she might have been happier, since her marriage to my grandfather turned out to be a disappointment…
All her life, she dressed the entire family, including her granddaughters!
To pay tribute to her, I used only damask and silk fabrics. I must say that they weren’t easy to work with ! I placed them on a muslin background and assembled the composition using reverse appliqué with invisible thread.
I used free-motion quilting and acrylic paint for the cascade of flowers, as well as bead embroidery.
I suspect photos doesn’t show how beautiful this quilt is. Adding little flowers was a great idea too. You are very lucky to have such history of textiles in your family. Good job, Chantal!
A sad story in one way but rich in another. The flowers really pull the piece together; lovely colours.
I really appreciate the work created in memory of your grandmother. The combination of fabrics is excellent, and the flowers—as well as the beads—add a great deal of interest to the piece. The story is quite sad; had she followed up on the offer she received, her life might have been filled with fulfillment and meaningful activity.
A lovely yet slightly sad backstory.
It is easy to imagine that these fabrics were challenging to work with – but you handled them well and created a beautiful design! I really like the small flowers and the beads. A truly beautiful piece!
This is a charming quilt with such an interesting story. I’m sure there are many who wonder “what if…” in certain aspects of their lives. The tiny flower add a touch of femininity to the fabrics used.
What a poignant story of your grandmother, but you have done her proud with your choice of fabrics and patterning. Beautiful work
Although it is a sad story, your quilt is very colourfull. I love the flowers!
Love the composition, the colors and that cascade of flowers is so beautiful and so perfectly executed. Great tribute to your grandma.
A beautiful tribute to your grandmother. The colours are great and I’m sure grandma would appreciate your work.
What a wonderful tribute to your Grandmother, the fabrics are “delicious” and the flower motifs add continuity through the quilt.