Gee’s Bend Quilts are Inspiration

Pieced Quilt by Lucy Mingo

The Art Bead Scene challenge is open to jewelry-makers, fiber artists, collage artist, etc. The challenge is to inspire those who use art beads and to see all the different ways art beads can be incorporated into your handiwork. This year's Art Journey #3 is all about the quilts of Gee's Bend. I love quilts and history, so I found the background of these quilts very interesting.

Gee’s Bend, Alabama is the home of one most profuse and creative African American folk art collections by a small collection of artists. The area of Gee’s Bend is like an inland island, surrounded on three sides by the Alabama River. This results in relative isolation has allowed a great tradition of quilting to flourish. There are few places where works by three and sometimes four generations of women in the same family can be found. Gee’s Bend’s art also stand out due to the quilts being composed of bold geometric designs that transform recycled work clothes and dresses, feed sacks, and fabric remnants.

Birds in the Air (1981) by Lucy T. Pettway

The colors in the "Birds in the Air" quilt inspired me to make a yellow and black bee necklace. I combined yellow and black beads to continue the colors of the bee throughout the piece. A red flower made with Czech glass picks up the red in the quilt and adds an additional pop of color.

Boho Bee Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I added chain to give the necklace length and a boho casual necklace. The lamp work bee was made by Marianna DeLuca Wehner. StarGirlJoolz is her online shop.

Bee Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I think this bright bee necklace has a whimsical look. It is available for purchase in my online shop.

Bee on Flower Photo by Good Free Photos on Unsplash

Bee safe and stay well during this Covid 19 pandemic.