"Mrs. Edmunds presented A Life in Stitches to a [capacity] audience of 219 attendees at Ballou Recreation Center as a part of its 2025 Black History Month Celebration. When she stepped on stage, she demonstrated clearly her love for quilting by providing examples and facts …  and was so excited to encourage all to share history with their families. The audience stood in awe...."

-  Deloris Crews, Recreation Supervisor, City of Danville, VA

 

ABOUT

"She has a profound message and she has decided to serve, to understand and make transparent the difficulties and challenges of history. To help others understand what they have gone through."                                                                                    - Anna-Greta Liimatainen, Helsinki, Finland 

 

EYE Original Stitches is a passion project dedicated to preserving the legacy of quilt patterns from the Underground Railroad. With Edith Edmunds, 99, as our guide, we aim to share the rich history and cultural significance of these timeless creations.

For the past two decades, Edmunds has rendered artistic interpretations of these patterns displayed as wall hangings, baby blankets, lap quilts, pillow covers and full-sized quilts for commissioned and retail works.

Her solo performance reveals a glimpse of life known only through history books for many today. Her personal stories are especially engaging among school age children who connect concepts of math, art and problem-solving as a pathway to creative expression.

Previously,  Edmunds exhibited at L. E. Coleman African American Museum in Halifax, Virginia and the International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. To date, she has presented Life in Stitches to audiences in Texas, North Carolina and Virginia.

CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION: eyedmunds@gmail.com