Artist Statement

Jackquelynn Jones

Somehow I come from a family of non-sewers.  I think my grandmother did not sew because her hands were crippled in a fire.  I remember my mother speaking about how  their dresses were made by a seamstress.  I have often reflected and thought that the work I do is a “gift” from my grandmother. Somehow, I always feel her spirit when I am creating.  It seems I have always been “making” something.  I promised myself, as a child, I was going to work my way down the alphabet learning every craft there was.  I guess I stopped at quilting. 

I don’t really remember when I started quilting.  I do remember I used to make appliquéd baby quilts on pre-quilted gingham fabric that I did for friends, baby showers, and on consignment at Woman’s Exchange and Hired Hand.  Then I just stopped!  When I went into teaching I began teaching quilting as part of the Black History curriculum developing Underground Railway quilts with the class.   While tutoring a student the mother began a mother-daughter sewing group with Diane Pryor-Hollander. 

I remember being the only one besides Diane that had any knowledge of putting a quilt together.  Diane encouraged me to attend the Empire Quilters Group and when I retired, quilting became a passion.  Meeting lots of members at Empire, I joined Quilters of Color.  I am moved mostly by the fabrics:  African prints, Batiks and Hand Dyes.  My work is generally hand quilted with metallic threads as my own personal signature.  I enjoy embellishing and now am working on painting on fabrics. I consider myself a “life-long learner,” studying fabric dyeing and wax batiking. Being a member of QCNNY gives me the opportunity to learn and to share.   I consider myself an art quilter, but I admire traditional quilts.  I love the informality of QCNNY.