African Star, 68×68 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
My quilt African Star was with me for a very short time. After one of my friends got a new job, I decided African Star was the perfect gift for her. She says it matches her bedroom perfectly.
I love star quilts and the symbolism they represent. This quilt is one huge star as is my friend.
Elephants on the back of “African Star”
Be Bold, 75 x 90 inch quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2015.
My quilt Be Bold was recently sold and shipped to a collector in Virginia. She says she loves it just as the visitors at the 2015 Atlanta Quilt Festival did when it greeted them as they entered the South Fulton Arts Center.
Be Bold is part of my “BE series. These quilts inspire us to take the next step to be better. Other quilts in the series include Be Amazing, Be Fearless, Be Calm, Be Bossy, Be Brilliant and Be You.
I am happy Be Bold found a loving home.
Judges of the 2015 Atlanta Quilt Festival juried quilt exhibit pose in front of “Be Bold”
Star of Mu, 60×60 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
My collection of red and white quilts are part of an exhibit entitled Looking Forward and Backward: The View From My Grandmother’s Porch. The exhibit is at the Atlanta Fulton County Library, 126 Carnegie Way, Atlanta, GA 30303. It will be on display until April 29, 2016.
In addition to my quilts, Aisha Lumumba, Marquetta Bell Johnson and Elaine Parker also have quilts in the exhibit. Their talent will amaze you! Our styles are so different that I am sure you will find a lot to enjoy.
We had a large crowd at the Opening Reception Thursday. Guests enjoyed entertainment by Felton Eaddy and Pamela Diana and cupcakes by India’s Sassy Sweets. We also shared our stories with the audience.
Please visit ovbrantleyquilts.com for purchase information. Use coupon code “library” for an extra 10% off until May 1, 2016. Of course, some of my red and white quilts like Star of Mu shown above are precious heirlooms and are not for sale.
I hope you will be able to see the exhibit. Here is a small sampling of my collection I See the World in Red and White and Joy!
Ancestral Delta Star, 68×68 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
Dreaming of Being the Belle of the Ball, 50×58 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
Give Yourself Flowers Today, 16×21 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
O.V. Brantley with “Disagreement”, 36×48 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016. For sale at ovbrantleyquilts.com
Red and white quilts waiting to be hung.
Audience enjoying entertainment at “Looking Forward and Backward: My View From My Grandmother’s Porch” exhibit.
Give Yourself a Flower Garden, 60×60 inch appliqué quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2016.
I just returned from a fabulous vacation cruising on the Celebrity Equinox for 11 nights. My gratitude meter is sky high! I enjoyed great food, interesting ports of call, fabulous fun with my travel mates and uninterrupted Mommy time with daughter India.
The highlight of the trip for me was visiting South America which had long been on my bucket list. We spent two glorious days in Cartagena, Colombia, but also visited Cozumel, Costa Rica, Panama and Grand Cayman.
Part of the joy of visiting that part of the world is the sheer beauty of it. One of my strongest memories of this trip is that flowers seemed to be everywhere. While I will hold those colorful memories close to my heart, if they begin to fade, I can always turn to my quilt Give Yourself a Flower Garden for a memory jolt of just how good life is.
When was the last time you checked something off your bucket list?
Give Yourself a Flower Garden detail
Give Yourself a Flower a Garden detail
Cartagena, Colombia
My Southside Neighborhood, 63×81 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2014.
Just before the official beginning of spring, we all get the urge to clean up something. We tackle the yard and haul away dead branches. We tackle our closets and donate clothes we have not worn in years. We reorganize our offices and resolve to be better organized.
But what about people? Are we brave enough to discard the negative people in our lives? Are we committed to finding a new job or a new relationship? Remember there is no room for the new until you throw out the old.
What are you throwing out to make room for something new? Are you making your life as green and vibrant as my quilt My Southside Neighborhood?
Strength and Grace, 36 x 36 inch art quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2013. For sale at etsy.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
Honor those who came before. Dream like crazy about what comes next. But above all, enjoy the journey!
My quilts and I wish you a Happy Black History Month!
Dream Like Crazy, 44 x 51 inch quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2012. For sale at etsy.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
Joyful Journey, 68 x 74 inch art quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2013. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
From Africa To Atlanta By Way of Arkansas, 72 x 72 inches, by O.V. Brantley, 2004. My personal Black History Month Memory Quilt.
Three Sisters, 38×58 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2015. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
Four of my quilts were part of the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild exhibit at the Lucy Laney African American Museum in Augusta, GA. The exhibit lasted from October, 2015 through December 31, 2015.
These quilts are now listed for sale in my studio store at Etsy.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts.
Woman’s Work is Never Done, 36 x 62 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2014. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
Joyful Journey, 68 x 74 inch art quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2013. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
Give Yourself Flowers Growing Free, 49 x 62 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2014. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbbrantleyquilts
Be You, 36×36 inch quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2014. For sale at ETSY.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts
I have learned that I am happiest when I am me. (It sounds like a dumb statement, but many people spend a lot of time trying to be someone else). My resolution for 2016 is to continue to be me. That means I will continue to share my beautiful quilts. I will continue to enjoy the rough and tumble of my local government law practice. I will continue to try to be the voice of reason in the room as my mediation skills teach me to do. I will continue to try to be Super Mom and dote on my now grown-up daughter. I will continue to try to be the Best Boss, the Best Friend, the Best Aunt and the Best Grandmother to my dog Justin. All of that rolled up together is me.
Be happy in 2016 being you!
Serene at Sixty, 38 x 42 inch quilt, by O.V. Brantley, 2014.
Waiting to Exhale # 3, 33 x34 inch art quilt by O.V. Brantley, 2011
My quilt Waiting to Exhale #3 was sold and shipped to Billings, Montana. The new owner loves it as did I.
I think I will create Waiting to Exhale #4. I always wonder at the beginning of a new year, “What’s next?’
Each year on the first Saturday in December, I host a brunch for 20 of my closest quilting friends. We call it the “Fabric is Better Than Food Brunch”, and this tradition has lasted for 15 years.
Each year one of the quilters issues a challenge for the next year and gives each quilter one or more challenge fabrics that must be used in the quilt. This year’s challenge was to make a scrap quilt that included two challenge fabrics. Scrappy Treasure was my answer to the challenge. Counting from left to right, the challenge fabrics are # 15 and #26.
Scrappy Treasure is listed for sale in my Studio Store at Etsy.com/shop/ovbrantleyquilts. Visit O.V. Brantley Quilt Studio on Facebook to see pictures of the amazing show and tell at the brunch.
