Joan C. Rutledge

As a transplant to Virginia whose ancestors arrived from England in the seventeenth century, I have long been drawn to colonial history and imagining the ways those early settlers must have lived. The Historic Triangle (Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown) is a place I never tire of visiting. A couple of years ago, our family took a tall-boat cruise on the York River. This piece reflects the peace, joy, and freedom we felt by traveling on the beautiful waters of the mid-Atlantic, just as those ancestors must have done.

Sun-printed acrylic paint on cotton; hand-painted acrylic; machine piecing and machine quilting; couched silk cord. Materials include: cotton muslin; acrylic paint; silk cord; pieced batik border; cotton/wool batting; cotton thread.

Margaret Duncan Storti: I am a wife, mother, sister, and daughter who began stitching at about eight years old. I made many of my own clothes and designs throughout my teens. In college, I began to explore traditional piecework and quilting, but I always admired those whose textile work was far more art than function. I spent a number of years practicing traditional quilting, but for the past three, I have been exploring the process and elements of making art. I have a long way to go, but I am enjoying the journey. I hope you enjoy the fruits of my journey, too.

Facebook: Margaret Duncan Storti