Story Quilts
Years ago in discussion with my teen-aged daughter I lamented that my quilts lacked coherent themes. She matter-of-factly pointed out that at the time my quilts were largely geometric or told stories. Sometimes it takes someone else to point out the obvious. I think in pictures. I communicate best in pictures. I record stories in pictures. Though many of my quilts include subtle stories, this gallery includes quilts with more specific stories.
"Noah's Ark" For Aaron (28"x22.5") Created by Mom - Hilary Cannon Anderson. Adapted from "Noah & Friends" pattern by Debbie Mumm 1991. Created February-March 1994, Madison, Wisconsin
"Psalm of Gratitude for Blessings and Talents" (25.25"x25.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson in response to an invitation to write a Psalm. Created June-October 1994, Madison, Wisconsin and Portland, Maine.
"Creation Quilt" (107.5"x20.75") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun January 1994, Madison, Wisconsin Completed in Portland, Maine.
Detail of Seedling "Creation Quilt" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun January 1994, Madison, Wisconsin Completed in Portland, Maine.
Detail of Tree "Creation Quilt" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun January 1994, Madison, Wisconsin Completed in Portland, Maine.
Detail of Mouse "Creation Quilt" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun January 1994, Madison, Wisconsin Completed in Portland, Maine.
"Purple Majesties" (9.5"x11") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun during Applique Landscape sponsered by Cobblestone Quilt Guild. June-August 1995, Portland, Maine.
"Madison Stomping Grounds" (32"x39") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. A map of our Madison stomping grounds. Begun in Madison, Wisconsin. Completed in Portland, Maine.
"To Every Thing There is a Season, Ecclesiastes 3" (27.5"x27.5") Created with love by Hilary Cannon Anderson for Mom. Your favorite passage of scripture portraying the cycle of women's lives. Each part of the scripture is represented. Although each woman faces her own challenges, we share much with each other...like being encircled by Heavenly Father's loving arms. 2 Nephi 1:15, Alma 34:16, 3 Nephi 9:14-15. Created October-December 1996, Portland, Maine.
"Twilight Houses" (27"x27") Bottom left and right house by Hilary. Other seven house acquired by swapping in exchange for tree with birdhouse blocks. Blocks assembled during a workshop by Lorna Clark of Yarmouth, Maine, sponsored by Cobblestone Quilt Guild of Portland, Maine. Hilary Cannon Anderson September 1996-March 1997
"Winter Introspection" (30.25" x 30.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. I made this quilt to get me through the winter after the worst winter of my life. I made light shining out of each isolated house to remind me that light and happiness need to come from within me, even when I feel alone. Inside me needs to be warm, inviting, cozy, and secure no matter how isolated I feel. Created September 1996-September 1997, Portland, Maine.
"LIghting Storm as Viewed out an Amish Window" (23.5"x23.5") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Idea conceived Septemeber 1996 after reading "Plain and Simple" by Sue Bender. Pieced and quilted September 1997-February 1998, Portland, Maine.
"Picasso-esque Portrait of Erika" (18.75x24") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson for Cobblestone Quilt Guild challenge to create a quilt inspired by artwork. This is in the style of Picasso and the colors of Matisse. January-March 1998, Portland, Maine.
"If Lehi Lived in Portland, Maine..." Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson September 1997-November 1999, Portland, Maine.
"If Lehi Lived in Portland, Maine..." Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson September 1997-November 1999, Portland, Maine.
"To the Knight Lover who loves knights. To Jared. Merry Christmas 1999. I made this to look like your knight pictures. Love Erika" (16.75"x14.25") Based on a drawing by Jared, Erika made this for her brother with help from Mom, Hilary Cannon Anderson. December 1999, Portland, Maine.
"Erika by the Sea" (31.25"x31.5") Center designed by Erika and assembled by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Borders added as part of Cobblestone Quilt Guild Border Exchange Fall 1998-Spring 1999. Top completed in Portland Maine. Quilting and binding completed in Bloomington, Indiana.
"January Blues" (36.5"x36.5") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson inspired by January in Maine Jammie Dances. Backing created in Portland, Maine. Applique and quilting in Bloomington, Indiana.
"Fish in Bubbles" (8.75"x11.25") based on Aaron's Sacrament meeting drawing. Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson March 4-5,2001, Bloomington Indiana.
"Tragedy" (8.5"x17.5") and "What Next?" (12.25"X18.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson in response to 9-11 (2001). Created September 12, 2001 and September 13, 2001, Bloomington, Indiana
"Heather's Window" (31.25"x39") First 5 blocks created by Heather Symmes Cannon (Mom) during a Quilt Expo Philadelphia Workshop, September 1999. Completed by Hilary Cannon Anderson. October 2001, Bloomington, Indiana. See also "Morning After Hurrican Floyd" in the Brown Quilt Series
"Joseph-Interpreter of Dreams" (48.25"x19.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Handwoven cloth for each brother. Note different handwritting for each of the brothers. Also note Joseph's "Coat of Many Colors" under his handwoven cloth (in separate photo). Created January 2001-January 2002, Bloomington, Indiana.
Note Joseph's "Coat of Many Colors" under his handwoven cloth. "Joseph-Interpreter of Dreams" (48.25"x19.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Handwoven cloth for each brother. Note different handwritting for each of the brothers. Created January 2001-January 2002, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Bread and Water" (58"x87.5") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Hand-dyed sky. Other background fabric handwoven using hand-dyed threads. Hand appliqued. Machine assembed and quilted. Bloomington, Indiana,
Detail of "Bread and Water" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Hand-dyed sky. Other background fabric handwoven using hand-dyed threads. Hand appliqued. Machine assembed and quilted. Bloomington, Indiana,
"Falling Leaf" (26.25"x23") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Based on a drawing by Erika. Using hand-dyed and painted fabric. September 2001-September 2003, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Tampa Mola" (15.5"X20") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Inspired by Mola quilts of the Kuna people. Designed during our trip to Tampa, Florida May 2003 and based on the flora and fauna observed there. Created May 2003-January 22, 2004, Bloomington, Indiana
"Vibrant" (39.5"x33") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson inspired by artwork by 6th grader Erika in 2001. Created April-November 2004, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Fractured Forest: Fall" (16.5"x14.75") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Begun during an Indiana Heritage Quilt Show workshop led by Katie Masopust March 3, 2005. Completed March 15, 2005, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Geometric I: Jared's Flag" (25"x 26") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Inspired by folded paper creation made during church August 5 by Jared (age 12). Machine pieced and quilted August 7-10, 2007, Bloomington, Indiana
"Yeast" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. After looking at many photos of yeast as seen through a microscope, I made an abstract composition inspired by the photos. The various yeast cells are not in scale with one another, but all relate to the kind of yeast Erika studied her senior year of undergrad and during her second lab rotation during her first year of graduate school. She asked for something to decorate her apartment walls (like maybe a quilt) about three weeks before Christmas. I started this a few days before Christmas but didn't actually finish until the end of April. Created December 2012-April 2013, Bloomington, Indiana. In the ECA Collection.
"Piecing Myself Together" (43"x53.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson using cyanotype prints on white fabric and photography on fusica dyed fabric. Created as final project for IU Photography course Spring 2006. Created March-May 2006, Bloomington, Indiana.
Back of "Piecing Myself Together" (43"x53.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson using cyanotype prints on white fabric and photography on fusica dyed fabric. Created as final project for IU Photography course Spring 2006. Created March-May 2006, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Stitching" (9"x11") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson using cyanotype blocks created as part of IU Photography course Spring 2006. Embroidered 2010. Assembled and quilted 2017, Bloomington, Indiana.
Back of "Stitching" (9"x11") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson using cyanotype blocks created as part of IU Photography course Spring 2006. Embroidered 2010. Assembled and quilted 2017, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Creative Energy" (43.5"x32") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Inspired by Henri Matisse Jazz series in celebration of our Wedding Anniversary. Completed February 13, 2011, Bloomington, Indiana.
"Batik VIII: Encircled" (14.5" x 14.5") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Inspired by the round chapel in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Columbus, Indiana. My Mom and I took an architecture tour of Columbus Indiana. There is a lot of interesting architecture in Columbus, Indiana! However, when we walked into the chapel of this particular church I was totally blown away! I loved the roundness, the light, the airiness, the simplicity, all of which added up to incredible beauty. Created October 25, 2012- December 5, 2012, Bloomington, Indiana
"Bouncing and Swirling" Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Created in response to short story "The Cellist Who Played in Space" by Chanel Earl and in response to "Cellist in Space" Ben Taylor's musical response to the same story. March 6- April 11, 2013, Bloomington, Indiana. In the Earl Family Collection. (Click on the image to read the final version of Chanel's short story)
"Juggling Balance" (24"x16.75") Created by Hilary Cannon Andreson. Inspired by Carrie Newcomer's explanation of her new song "The Speed of Soul" December 4 & 7, 2012. Created December 8-July 8, 2013 Bloomington, Indiana.
"Batik V: Phases and Cycles" (34.75"x25.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Corner blocks are lino prints created as class example for Pinnacle School 8th and 9th grade project. The block represents the process of coming to end of the Pinnacle Phase of my life. Sunrise represents my sense of hope as I head off to new adventures and start a new phase of life. Life is full of phases and cycles. Created May 2012-September 17, 2012, Bloonington, Indiana.
"Lightning" (12.75"x19.5") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson Created in response to Artists Circle challenge to create artwork inspired by "Weather". Bloomington, Indiana.
"In the Beginning...it was Good" (16.5" x 29.75") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson. Inspired by a jar of buttons Mom gave me just after her diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. Giving away the jar of buttons was her first step towards letting go. Created February-April 2015, Bloomington, Indaiana.
"Batik IX: Abundant Phineas" (19.5" x 15.25") Created by Hilary Cannon Anderson using Hand-dyed and batiked fabric, June-August 2017.
"Casa Loma Vista" Designed and created by Hilary Cannon Anderson Inspired by the triangle window in the couryard wall of my brother's family's New Mexico home and by the painting "In the Patio, III" by Georgia O'Keefe. December 2022. Bloomington, Indiana.