Meet Robin Gausebeck, the artist behind IN FLANDERS FIELDS. Her work took home the 1st Place award in the Miniature Quilts category sponsored by JUKI America, Inc. at AQS QuiltWeek™ – Paducah, Kentucky 2013.
This miniature offers a beautiful commemoration of World War I. Inspired by John McCrae’s poem, In Flanders Fields, this small piece is filled with ornate flourishes of color and symmetry celebrating poppies. Robin wanted to create a remembrance of those who died, while honoring the memory in a beautifully touching way.
One of Robin’s favorite design inspirations come from the art nouveau movement. Always filled with the flourish of flowers and plants and embellished with striking curves, this style is well respected among many quilters. Since this particular period in art history had evolved to art deco, she chose to combine elements from those two styles – contemporary of the war, to create this work.
When asked about the difficulty of working in miniature, she had some sound advice that applies to all of us. Good tools, sharp scissors, and tweezers for placing tiny elements are essential. Time to check to see if a shopping trip is in order!
Watch the interview with Robin below
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae, May 1915
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
