While visiting the famed Eso Won bookstore in Los Angeles, I was arrested upon seeing one of the most magnificent quilts I've ever seen .... one about 8 or 9 feet tall of a Moor warrior. You've likely seen the poster that inspired the quilt. You gotta understand - this magnificent Moor warrior looked as if he would step off the fabric and defend his family! The Moor is standing on fabric steps and, honestly, you can imagine him lifting his robes so his sandal feet don't trip.I asked James there at Eso Won who the heck made the quilt and he shared that the quilter was a man named Ramsess, who also creates stain glass windows. I had to meet this quilter. A family friend eventually made an introduction for me and I met Ramsess back at Eso Won after Sunday services.
It was great meeting Ramsess in person. What a warm spirit - my iPhone photo here doesn't do him or the quilt justice. Anyway, he shared his technique for making the quilt - for him it is like making a stain glass window, only using fabrics. He has just a regular sewing machine. The quilt is still to be quilted, hanging with safety pins to keep the batting in place. Even the back of the quilt is fine.
Now the kicker - Ramsess just started to quilt in March 2010! Let me put this another way - he just learned to quilt March 2010!
A couple of his quilts will be on exhibit at the William Grant Still Arts Center in Los Angeles as part of the 28th Annual Black Doll show, which opens January 8, 2011. Enjoy!
