MARJORIE COLEMAN: 
THE LAST HURRAH – PUBLICATION

MARJORIE COLEMAN – THE LAST HURRAH

I have stitched since I was 6 or 7 when my Mother showed me how to stitch a lavender bag for my Aunt in England.

Later I sewed dolls clothes, then my clothes and later, my children’s clothes.

I did a bit of “fancy work” as it was then called, as a pastime, then when my Husband’s university work took us to Louisiana (USA) for a year, I toured museums and saw the story of local stitching and was expanded.

Later, living in Hawaii, I found ethnic quilts.

Why not develop quilts with an Australian theme?

Later still, living in New York my understanding was enlarged by the offerings which the museums and art galleries presented…..I was not eligible to work so my time was my own.

I was off and away.

As time went on I developed smaller and more adventurous pieces….wanting to express an idea rather than a pattern.

And that is where I have ben ever since: showing attitude rather than pattern through stitch.
I have come full circle–from the uncertain fingers of a 7 year to the uncertain fingers of a (nearly) 95year old. Now the same wobbly stitches and stiffly uncertain fingers.

I have probably stitched my last piece.

I miss expressing an idea by needle and thread.