I’ve made a few quilts over my lifetime: a double wedding ring, simple squares, a picture quilt commemorating the life of a dear friend. I have even attempted to sew a few artistic quilts:  A Dolphin cutting through the waves under a full moon and Klimt’s Kiss.

But None come close to the visual delight of one of my favorite quilters,  Christine Fries. Someday I hope to travel back East and take one of her classes. When I imagine quilts this is what I envision.

Christine takes the beauty of paintings, adapting great artwork to the medium of quilting. Her use of color, texture and design through her fabric and thread choices reveal her individual style as a fabric artist. She has combined a love for Art with a love for quilting to stunning results.

The First time I saw this quilt I was reminded of the lullaby I heard sung as a baby.

The Slumber Boat – Words by Alice C.D. Riley. Music by Jessie L Gaynor. 1898
Baby’s boat’s the silver moon,
Sailing in the sky,
Sailing o’er the sea of sleep,
While the clouds float by.
Sail, baby, sail,
Out upon that sea,
Only don’t forget to sail
Back again to me.
Back again to me.

Baby’s fishing for a dream,
Fishing near and far,
His line a silver moonbeam is,
His bait a silver star.
Sail, baby, sail,
Out upon that sea,
Only don’t forget to sail
Back again to me.
Back again to me.

Christine says, “Part of my joy and fulfillment in quilting comes from being able to communicate, through my quilts, feelings which are hard to convey through words: dreams and true love. I also wish through my quilts to communicate encouragement; The beauty and strength of love does exist! Don’t start to doubt it! Try to realize your dreams, and don’t be afraid. You never know until you try!”

All images are property of Christine Fries