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Inspiring Quilting: Elly's blog to boost your creative IQ

Trees with Human Traits

“Aurora,” by Libby Cerullo

Standing upright, their branches like outstretched arms, certain trees certainly take on the spirit of a human being. Quilt artist Libby Cerullo has a really lovely series of trees in diaphanous frocks. Here’s how Libby works–and I trust she will correct me if I’ve got this wrong: A photo she has taken gets transferred to fabric, using a service like Spoonflower. A following stage involves dressing her subject with appliques of chiffon or organdy with a translucence that allows the photo to show through. Makes me want to dance until dawn!

On a recent trip to Denmark this winter, my family and I got many chances to commune with the trees. Covid lockdown prevented us from going to museums or shops, so hikes to various woods and sculpture parks proved to be the cure for our cabin fever. In the cold, damp environs, many of the trees wore skirts of moss. Such wearable art gave the man-made art some stiff competition:

Makes me want to sew and wear a green velvet midi.

Other trees were gnarled and burly, like an old village elder:

Many a tree sported facial features:

These trees resemble a couple who have grown apart…or two people with different outlooks on life:

Human relationships, as expressed with trees, brings us back to two more exquisite works by Libby Cerullo:

“Mother/Daughter,” by Libby Cerullo
“The Lovers,” by Libby Cerullo

How have you engaged with trees as if they were people?

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2 Responses to “Trees with Human Traits”

  1. Thanks for including my work in your exploration and connections with the trees in Denmark. For me, trees are companions, and my reactions to them become self portraits. I am on to making more, but the next ones show another side. Wait and see. And there are some planned that (so far in my mind) are just play. We’ll see. Cheers to spring!! The trees will let us know when it’s time!

  2. Kay Hamman says:

    I love the idea of clothes on trees! I am going to experiment with doing that to some applique trees that I want to put into a quilt top.

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