My Body Doesn't Define Me

I never did like sex role stereotypes. People should be able to do the things they love to do without being critized for doing something only men or only women do. And so I made this quilt.

The uterus and fallopian tubes are made from metallic copper lycra. Yes, I have exercise clothes made from that lycra. I quilted the quilt with holographic thread. A fellow quilter introduced me to holographic thread a few years ago, and I'm not sure I could sew without it.

Anesthetic Doesn't Make It Go Away - What my mother said to me

These are some of the hurtful, hateful things my mother said to me and about me.

Don't be like your sister. One in the family is enough

You can't come with us to the cottage. You have to stay home and take care of your father.

You're not the only one in this family.

How come she gets all the boys and all I get are girls?
(This was about her sister in law who kept having sons and all my mother had were girls.)

You can't go to the party. You have to stay home and watch your brother.

You can't get married then. It's our bowling night.

Nobody likes you and you know that's true.

It was so peaceful while you were gone.

As I made the two quilts, I felt the memories growing smaller. Now, they don't seem to be a part of me anymore.

Anesthetic Doesn't Make It Go Away - What I wish I could have said

These are things I wish I could have said to my mother, but it wasn't safe.
The individual tear drops say:

Why won't anyone believe me?

I'd like to hit her so hard her false teeth fly out.

If I'm real quiet, maybe she won't hit me.

Motherhood requires something more than just being too stupid to use birth control.

Maybe if I'd been born a boy, she would have liked me.

Why did you steal the money I got for confirmation gifts?

I tried to kill myself when I was 11.

Art Injury

I pulled a hamstring when I was using the kick wheel in the clay studio, and I made a quilt to commemorate the event. On the right side of the quilt, I quilted "Ouch!" Across the top, "Art Injury." Across the bottom, "Pulled Hamstring." On the left side, "Massage," "Hot tub," "Rest."

Moral: before doing art, be sure to warm up and stretch out.