I’m looking out our back window as we speak. A drift of snow fell overnight and the world looks magical. Our old apple tree came with the property and we expect it’s as old as the house itself which was built in 1956, which makes it exactly my age. When we moved here the tree was in dire condition, with branches to the ground and a forest of suckers. It took a few years to get it back into shape and we now enjoy its beauty in all seasons. It even gives us a few delicious, crispy apples every now and then (not a given, given our ‘organic’ practices!).
Our old Apple Tree
I love the shape of this tree. Hawthorns and apples, and indeed many fruit trees, evolved to this wide low shape so that their spring blossoms are easily available to bees. Their graceful horizontal form is also restful to the eye, and I’ve created many pieces with this in mind. Each year provides a fresh take on it.
I will leave you with a bunch of images of my work, some quilts, some framed, in no particular order, relating to the apple and hawthorn, and wish you a beautiful, FRUITFUL New Year!
Apple Seeds 2001 27×31″ Quilted wall hanging
Blue Moon #4 2014 12×24″ framed textile
Faith 2010 30×40″ framed textile
Hawthorn – Red Sky 2003 27×31″ quilted wall hanging
Hawthorn 2014 8×16″ framed textile
Hawthorn with blue memory 2000 14×24 quilted wall hanging
Lifeline #1 2013 10×30″ framed textile
Little Apple #4 2016 6×12″ framed textlle
Little Green 2011 6×6″ framed textile
Mystic Apple 2014 12×24″ framed textile
Small Orchard #1 2016 10×30″ framed textile
Tenacity 2010 16×22″ framed textile
Triumph 2011 30×40″ framed textile
Tree House #3 2016 18×36″ framed textile