Earlier Ruth McDowell quilt in TCQC 12-15-13

This is one of the quilts in Ruth B. McDowell's "Pieced Flowers" book, published in 2000 by C&T.   The design layout is shown and photos of the individual blocks, but a picture of the entire quilt didn't make it into the book.  Ruth put all the samples up for sale on her website in 2004 and I purchased several of them.  


"Hollyhocks on Black & White"  1999  Ruth B. McDowell  19"W x 52"L
Ruth has made three full flowers, four leaves, two partially open flowers and a block of buds at the top.  This is all straight seam piecing.  

 
She chooses fabric more for the value and texture than for the printed motifs.  On the left is the bud block.   Notice that she has added a black zig-zag line that sort of outlines the plant and gives it more definition.  

Here is one of the open flowers which shows the delicate yellow/green in the center and the embroidered French knots that form the stamen.  

And here is a full leaf and a partial one down at the bottom. 

She has used an old Marimekko print on the back.  Their fabrics are slightly heavier than regular quilting cottons, which causes the quilt to lay more flatly on the wall.  Many art quilters have followed her lead and use furnishing fabric on the backs of their quilts. 

Always a nice label.  I have removed her address since she no longer lives there, but I think I will print her website address on the empty spot.   Even with the possibility of Googling her name to find a contact, I think it is best to have something on the quilt that gives a contact for the artist. .