(http://a-static.musicload-shop.de/cov/a/230/42/c/5/vx7tp_kdsmezpo6veq7swgtgjherjji4/uncle-tom-s-cabin-harriet-beecher-stowe.jpg)
For me the quintessence of the novel is the line I worked into my quilt: "There is one thing that every individual can do, - they can see to it that they feel right."
Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote this sentence in her "Concluding remarks" and she went on: "An atmosphere of sympathetic influence encircles every human being; and the man or the woman who feels strongly, healthily and justly, on the great interests of humanity, is a constant benefactor of the human race."
I tried to give my quilt an aura of hope and love of life.
I also believe in the great opportunities which lie in communication and cooperation; so I tried to combine some African American elements with traditional European and American ways of quiltmaking.
Furthermore the quilt invites to add some personal items, so that it receives a personal touch, therefore I fixed the three small bags beneath the star.
For anyone who is interested in reading something about quilts and their role in helping slaves to escape with the help of the so called "Underground Railroad":
there are these wonderful books by Jennifer Chiaverini: "The Sugar Camp Quilt", "The Runaway Quilt" and "The Lost Quilter".
I also found useful information here:
http://www.osblackhistory.com/quilts.php
(I found this picture of an "Underground Railroad" quilt here: http://www.google.de/imgres?imgurl=http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/quilts.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.coax.net/people/lwf/QUILTS.HTM&usg=__W0-d4wfI8btuuOUszXbtTOIeSH4=&h=352&w=360&sz=125&hl=de&start=4&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=GQfq2nd7ZZXgMM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3DUnderground%2BRailroad%2BQuilts%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dde%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dde-de%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=-NJsTbiSOYjQtAae7dTLBQ)
