AUBURN - For one local woman, quilting was not only a way to relax, it was a way to immortalize her loved ones in art.
During Sunday's Art=Quilts=Art trunk show, award-winning quilter Ruth Ohol displayed several of her pieces, including some that were made for her grandchildren or in memory of deceased loved ones.
“I wanted to make a quilt of my father's farm,” Ohol said in front of a crowd of more than 50 people at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. “Our farm was one of the most important things in my father's life. I made sure everything in this quilt had something to do with my father. In the process, this became a healing quilt for me because he died suddenly.”
Stitched into the quilt were images of a barn, a farm house, a boat and a 1970's era pickup truck set in a grassy countryside landscape. On the back of the quilt, Ohol used a golden-colored fabric that looked like the wheat that could be found on her father's farm.
Kathie Lewis, of Lyons, said it was this kind of attention to detail and the ability of the creator to put a part of themselves in every quilt that made the art form so special.
“Every quilt you make is a part of you, so you are showing parts of yourself,” Lewis said. “When you give your quilt away or sell it to someone, you are giving that person a part of yourself. That's what makes (Ohol's) quilts special.”
In addition to making a quilt for her father and grandparents, Ohol also made one in memory of one of her daughters and for her mother, who is still alive.
Ohol said she recently made the quilt so her mother could see it while she is still alive.
The quilt portrayed a chicken coupe, which Ohol's mother used to operate an egg business, with each segment of the material representing a particular aspect of her mother's life. The back of the quilt also had a unique chicken pattern that worked its way toward the middle.
“The back of this quilt was also significant just like on my father's, which had the wheat fabric,” Ohol said. “It is called 'Funky Chicken Barn, Eggs for Sale.'”
Almost all of her memorial quilts have won various awards, such as best in show, prompting people to ask about her techniques, said Ohol, who has been seriously quilting since 1991.
Yvonne Jordan, of Aurora, said she was really intrigued by Ohol's machine and stitching abilities which were used to create the nostalgic quilts.
“What I really like about her is how the stuff she makes is not only beautiful, it adds meaning,” Jordan said. “It makes the quilt a nice gift or a hand-me-down because it has so much personal history in it.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“I wanted to make a quilt of my father's farm,” Ohol said in front of a crowd of more than 50 people at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center. “Our farm was one of the most important things in my father's life. I made sure everything in this quilt had something to do with my father. In the process, this became a healing quilt for me because he died suddenly.”
Stitched into the quilt were images of a barn, a farm house, a boat and a 1970's era pickup truck set in a grassy countryside landscape. On the back of the quilt, Ohol used a golden-colored fabric that looked like the wheat that could be found on her father's farm.
Kathie Lewis, of Lyons, said it was this kind of attention to detail and the ability of the creator to put a part of themselves in every quilt that made the art form so special.
“Every quilt you make is a part of you, so you are showing parts of yourself,” Lewis said. “When you give your quilt away or sell it to someone, you are giving that person a part of yourself. That's what makes (Ohol's) quilts special.”
In addition to making a quilt for her father and grandparents, Ohol also made one in memory of one of her daughters and for her mother, who is still alive.
Ohol said she recently made the quilt so her mother could see it while she is still alive.
The quilt portrayed a chicken coupe, which Ohol's mother used to operate an egg business, with each segment of the material representing a particular aspect of her mother's life. The back of the quilt also had a unique chicken pattern that worked its way toward the middle.
“The back of this quilt was also significant just like on my father's, which had the wheat fabric,” Ohol said. “It is called 'Funky Chicken Barn, Eggs for Sale.'”
Almost all of her memorial quilts have won various awards, such as best in show, prompting people to ask about her techniques, said Ohol, who has been seriously quilting since 1991.
Yvonne Jordan, of Aurora, said she was really intrigued by Ohol's machine and stitching abilities which were used to create the nostalgic quilts.
“What I really like about her is how the stuff she makes is not only beautiful, it adds meaning,” Jordan said. “It makes the quilt a nice gift or a hand-me-down because it has so much personal history in it.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
