I find people are awed and inspired by Evora’s Earth so I thought I would give you a short history of this quilt. As do many of my quilting stories, this story begins with my friend Rosalind Newell (Roz).

Roz saw a quilt made from this pattern in a quilt show, and immediately fell in love with the turkeys. I don’t know why because Roz is from New York, and she is not an “outdoorsey” person. Nonetheless, she decided she had to make this quilt, and in keeping with her personality, she insisted her friends accomapny her on the journey.

Roz tracked down the maker of the quilt who happened to be Ann Ewald. (The creator of the pattern is Dot Collins). She convinced Ann to teach us how to make the quilt, thereby  committing us to a year-long course of quilt study. So for the next year, eight of us assembled in Ann’s church once a month to learn how to make this quilt. (The class members were Rosalind Newell, Elisa Woods, Maxine Moore, Laura Sorton, Sharon Hodge, Brenda Wade, Yvette Artis and me). At the time we were all beginners.

Well, you can’t spend a year with someone without forging a bond, right? So at the end of the class I decided we should all celebrate and show our quilts at a brunch at my house. This brunch came to be known as the Fabric is Better Than Food© brunch because I don’t cook. (You have noticed there are never any recipes on this blog, haven’t you?)

That brunch, held on the first Saturday continues to this day. New quilting friends have been added, but the core group remains and would never miss the reunion brunch under any circumstances.  The Clara Ford Foundation Quilters Advisory Board sprung from that core group of friends.

Also, continuing true-to-form, at that first brunch, Roz decided we should make a friendship quilt. We all had to make a block from what I think was the first “breast cancer” fabric. My Purple Cure is the result of that exchange and hangs in my home today.

So now you know the story of Evora’s Earth. Now I have to finish the new friendship quilt Roz initiated. I hope to have it finished soon, and I can’t wait to show it to you.

My Purple Cure, 54 x 54 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2002.

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