Persephone Smiles

This quilt was designed for teaching applique with pieces in different sizes, straight and curved lines, metallic fabric, and thread use. The black background shows the radiance of the colored applique is different than it would be on a white background. (Flowers on a quilt are always well received by students.) Participants were shown the sample quilt with nine blocks, then asked to choose a favorite to reproduce. While creating my original quilt, the story of Persephone and her capture by the God of the Underworld flashed by me, so the piece became more than random flowers. As the story goes, Persephone's mother persuaded Hades to let her daughter stay half of the year on earth and go back to the underground the other half. When Persephone came back to earth, the flowers started growing again, and Persephone found a reason to smile again.