Kindred Spirit:Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist
Moonstone Series, © Deana Hartman

Here is a series of in-process shots as I created and layered meaning in Kindred Spirit. Quite a bit of research/reading went into ‘the cooker’ before I started this quilt to give me a basis for what choices I made as I went along.  Color, numbers, symbols and biblical text all played a role in this quilt as did some of the beading used to layer subtle hints as well. This quilt was created as part of the traveling exhibit “Women of Biblical Proportion” which traveled the country for the better part of 5 years.

Pieced and partial fusing complete.
Note the hand dyed blue-green around the outside resemble the water that John would use to Baptize.  The house is made of hand dyed fabrics as well.  The remaining fabrics are commercial cottons, silk, and other special fabrics.

All numbers in this quilt are  significant.  5 (flowers) and the 7 pots I will add in later pictures within the house. 5 is the number of grace, atonement, life, the cross and the fivefold ministries.  7 is the number of perfection and completeness.  Seven is used about 600 times in the Bible.  Look for additional number layering during the embellishment stages.  I plan to work the number 12 in somehow.  12 is the number of disciples, the number of the Divine Government, and in Revelations, the Holy City of God.*

Quilted
Note, the pots and shelving has been added.

Quilted and couched.
A close-up Elizabeth in seclusion. I studied traditional Jewish homes of that period to take elements that would make Elizabeth’s dwelling more in tune with her era.

Color on the quilt is as important to me as numbers.  Elizabeth is purple.  The color purple is kingship and royalty.  Red implies the spirit.  Both scarlet and purple are parts of the alter and tabernacle from the Old Testament used for ritual sacrifice.  To me they also represent the Old Testament.  I see John as a prophecy bridge to the New Testament and represent that here.  The blue and black night sky also have significance.  Blue means heaven, heavenly authority, from above and Holy Spirit. Black means sin, death and famine.  Both are in John’s future.  I will always wonder if Elizabeth would live to see how her son’s life ends.

Writing from the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah.  Full phrase around the quilt, “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way–“a voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord…’ ”

Quilted and close-up of writing in the house from Elizabeth in  the Gospel of Luke, ” The Lord has done this for me…”

Additional phrase at the bottom of the quilt from the Angel speaking to Zechariah in the  Gospel of Luke, ” He will be a joy and delight to you…”I’ve started to bead the flowers.

Pots have been filled with foods and other plant materials.

Elizabeth before beading begins.

Partial Beading.  Charms added.  Charms include scroll, Star of David, and the Clamshell, a symbol of baptism.

Elizabeth, beading completed.

Flowers, completed.  Charms are going on now.  The bee, or the ‘hive’ was an early symbol of the Christian church.  The butterfly for the resurrection.  The cross with a dove recalls Jesus’ baptism by John.  Other charms not pictured, the torah, a lamp, dragonfly and a tree.

Completed work with details below.

Kindred Spirit:Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist
Moonstone Series, © Deana Hartman