The Raven by Natalia Lashko, Kamienets Podilskyi Khumelnitskyi region, Ukraine
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I am very much connected to ravens. My house is filled with raven art. I even named my house, The Rookery (a gathering place for ravens). You may know that a group of crows is called a murder…but did you know that a group of ravens is called an unkindness?
This raven quilt is one of my most treasured pieces. It was made by Natalia Lashko. She is from Ukraine and for many years has created amazing embroideries using straw - yes… straw! That experience led her to quilting, and fabric... and you can see in this piece how she weaves hand-stitched, turned edge fabric that is no wider than a piece of straw.
The quilting scene in Ukraine has grown significantly in recent years. I saw my first Ukrainian quilt exhibition when I lectured in Moscow in 2012. One part of the show featured the Ukrainian quilts. I love that they are not bound by our traditions, but find great value in exploring and trying new things.
Keep your eyes open… a Ukrainian quilt might just be coming to a show near you!
Detail, click for full view.
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