Sonia Ruiz – Nature #6
Cempasúchil – Marigold flowers
In the last challenge in this series I’m inspired by the cempasúchil flower or marigold. These bright orange and yellow flowers play a key role in the annual Día de Los Muertos. The blooms are used to decorate altars to the dead, known as ofrendas or offerings and Its fragrance is said to attract souls to the Day of the Dead altar. The Monarch butterflies are an important cultural symbol and they represent the return of the souls of ancestors and my loved ones who have passed away.
Materials and techniques – hand dyed cotton bed linen, hand dyed gauze, raw edge appliqué, vintage DMC embroidery floss and leaves from my moms stash, 3 D flowers that I burned the edges so that they would curl, jute tree trunk and stems, Oaxacan yarn, beads, machine quilting, thread painting and hand embroidery
FIFTEEN BY FIFTEEN 
The choice of colours is delightful and very vibrant and compliments your background. The butterflies are a lovely touch leading one’s eye throughout the quilt.
Nice quilt in harmony with the rest of the series.
The 3D marigold flowers bring life and movement and the use of gauze lightness to the whole composition.
A very fitting last in the series. the pop of colour from the flowers and the way you have made them really brings the piece to life. Great work.
Sonia, I love your marigolds! What fabric did you use for this technique? The burned edges are great. The whole composition is beautiful. Lovely!
Thank you Greetje, I used a polyester cotton blend fabric to make the flowers
Thank you for the explanations of the various symbolic images. The 3D effect of the marigolds is very effective.
A great end to your series. The colours are striking and a good link between the flowers and the butterflies. I love the way you have constructed the marigolds.
A lovely feeling of perspective has been created by the decreasing size of the flowers. I like the story of how the flowers and butterflies are tied together in the story. Lovely work
I love the three D effect of marrigolds and your constant use of the cheese cloth in almost every work that you create.
I’m always fascinated by Mexican culture – thanks for explaining the flowers’ connection to Dia de Los Muertos. The 3D effect of the marigold flowers, with the addition of butterflies, brings your quilt to life. Bravo!
Beautiful landscape for el dia de los muertos. So delicate and soft, very sincere and touching. My favourite flower! I love your attention to details and choice of quilting. Gorgeous piece!
Work is invested in a variety of materials. I love the 3D of the flowers, and the color you used to make them stand out in the landscape
Such a beautiful and very harmonious piece. Thanks for your explanation of the symbolism and the connection of the flowers to the Dia de los Metros. The butterflies are a lovely addition.
This piece is such a beautiful follow-up on your last piece. I love your explanation of the Mexican symbolism. Colors and 3D effect of the flowers are splendid. Wonderful work.