Linda Seward
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Quilts 1994 – 1999

The Frog and Turtle Quilt

1999
42 x 33"/ 107 x 84cm
cotton fabrics, collected by friends and family from all over the world, machine pieced, machine quilted and embroidered, embellished with beads, buttons and semi-precious stones

I made this for my brother Jerry and his new wife Jennifer, who were married on July 31st, 1999. When I told them I'd make them a quilt as a wedding gift, they immediately requested a frog and turtle theme, as they have exotic frogs and turtles for pets (and two cats who also feature on the quilt as buttons). Frog and turtle fabrics come in either bright or naturalistic prints, so I decided to make a completely double-sided quilt to accommodate both. The patchwork frog and turtle patterns are Margaret Rolfe designs; a traditional block called "Toad in a Puddle" features on each side. 

​
Collection of Jerry and Jennifer Macho.
Picture
Framed Flowerpots
1998

42 x 36”/107 x 91cm
cotton fabrics, machine pieced, machine quilted, embellished with buttons and beads

This quilt was made for an American friend from my New York days who also married an Englishman named Robert (my husband's name) and is now living quite close to me in North London. These are the colors of her kitchen, and she asked me to make her a wall hanging that would be a bright focal point for the room. Because the design was kitchen based, I used a “Broken Dishes” block along the top edge. I also featured her own Designer's Guild fabric in three sections of the quilt.

​Collection of the Royal Free Hospital
Foursome

1995
​
24” square/60cm square
cotton fabrics, many hand-marbled, machine pieced, hand quilted,
embellished with beads and soft sculpture


I designed this quilt entirely in my head while breast-feeding my newborn son—it kept me sane during those middle-of-the-night feeds! It took one week to piece using a full-size pattern of my own design,
and then two months to quilt and embellish. Soft sculpture faces and pleats add a three-dimensional quality. The hand-marbeled fabric was purchased at Quilt Expo in Karlsruhe, Germany in 1994.
​ It is embellished with beads to add some sparkle. “Foursome” went on a two-year trip around Norway, Sweden, France and England where it was part of the European Quilt Association's “Suitcase Exhibition”. The title derives from the fact that there are 4 quadrants with different things going on in each, 4 bright colors and 4 stars (with soft sculpture faces).

​​

Memories of Days Under the Sea

1994
47 x 54”/ 119 x 137cm
cotton fabrics, hand appliqué, Broderie Perse appliqué, machine patchwork (border), hand quilted, stipple quilted, embellished with beads and coral

I made this wall hanging as a wedding gift for my sister and her husband who are scuba divers.
I had been collecting “fish fabrics” for years while waiting for the right background fabric to come along. I'm afraid that my sister did not find the piece very realistic, as both fresh-water and salt-water fish
can be seen swimming together, which wouldn't happen in nature! It was quilted entirely by hand to create wave-like patterns in the “sea” with stipple quilting to imitate the effect of sand. Beads and
​coral were added for extra texture. 

Collection of Danae and Rick Maxwell.
All quilts, text and images © Linda Seward. 
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  • Home
  • Books & publications
    • Quilting books >
      • Latest: Patchwork, Quilting & Applique
      • Art Quilting
    • Quilt Articles >
      • The Big ‘O’
      • Create Whimsy Interview
      • Crazy Curve Wallhanging
      • Pretty Patches Interview
      • At the Sharp End
    • Bibliography
    • Nature >
      • Fungi
      • Nature Articles
      • Magazine Articles >
        • Fungi Spotting in the Chilterns
        • Professor Richard Fortey
        • Looking for Lichens in the Chilterns
        • Bees
        • Thistles and other Prickly Plants
        • Chilterns Wonderland
        • Yellow & White Flowers of Early Spring
        • Hairstreak article: Silver-studded blue butterflies
  • Quilts
    • Quilt Galleries
    • Galleries >
      • Cricket quilts
      • 2019 to present
      • 2016 to 2018
      • 2013 to 2015
      • 2007 to 2012
      • 2000 to 2006
      • 1994 to 1999
      • For sale
  • Photography
    • Fungi Photography >
      • Fungi Photo Features
      • Rare fungi
      • Best Fungi Photos 2021
    • Nature Photography >
      • 2021
      • 2022
      • 2023
    • 365-day Photo Challenge >
      • 2023 Photo Challenge
      • 2022 Photo Challenge
    • Dog portraits
  • News
  • About
    • Biography
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    • Talks
    • Contact