Laura Bryant, Master Quilt Maker

This year’s Ag & Art Adventure featured artist is Laura Bryant, quilter. The majority of her work is in the form of small to medium-sized wall hangings featuring primitive style appliqué and quilting. Primitive style has been around since the founding of the country. It evokes a country-like, nostalgic feel that is warm and inviting using applique of felted wool on a background of wool or cotton; “folksy” style patterns using earth tone colors and black thread; “button-hole” stitches holding the pattern on the background.

“Penny Rugs” were popular in the 1800’s because they used this stitch on table toppers [called ‘rugs’ in those times] and were often seen with round coin-like applique in the pattern. Contemporary versions of ‘primitive style’ items are in various sizes from small to large table-toppers, small to large wall hangings to standard bed size quilts.

Many patterns are fashioned after the earlier primitive styles using birds, flowering branches, words and letters, featuring earth-tone colors on a dark or light background. A ‘free-hand’ pattern placement is used more than the traditional symmetry placement.

Laura began sewing with help from her mother and traditional educational classes. Embroidery was introduced and she found needlework rewarding and carried it to traditional pillow cases; then crewel embroidery and needlepoint. When counted cross-stitch became popular, this resulted in many projects. She decided to use them in smaller wall hangings adding quilted borders as a frame.

“I get three joys from these works,” explained Laura, “the joy of making the piece, the joy having someone purchase the item, and the joy of giving all my profits to the Historic 1908 Courthouse Foundation to preserve this wonderful building. This is the greatest reward for sharing my work.”

C. Laura Bryant, 2025