Step Into Reading

Artist Statement

Lexi’s love of reading started at a very early age. Her mother read to her and her sister mostly every night when they were young and by the time Lexi entered Kindergarten she could already read. And she never stopped!

When Lexi thought of the theme of the contest, she immediately knew she wanted to contribute a special personal memory. The “Fly Me to the Moon” theme reminded her of her early elementary school days and observing the Apollo 11 moon landing. What a thrill it was to watch our NASA astronauts walk on the moon for the first time.

Lexi was an active participant in the local library’s annual summer book club reading contests. In 1969, the coloring book style reading contest progress sheet, featured a moonwalk theme. For every book read, reading contest participants would receive a colorful moon boot footprint sticker to adhere to their progress sheets. This illustration image has stayed in Lexi’s memory and it is what she has recreated on her quilt.

Lexi’s moon themed quilt is a whimsical walk down memory lane, incorporating her childhood love of reading and the significant historical event in history. The elements were free motion thread sketched and then raw edge appliqued on to a cotton batik background. The quilt also incorporates trapunto, inked color accents and machine embroidered text. Lexi has incorporated moon-themed book titles within the machine quilting.

Materials

Cotton Batik Fabric, Superior Sew Fine Thread, Isocord thread, Fine Point Sharpie Markers, Fusible Fleece and Warm Blend Batting.