Advent
Christmas-Easter
Pentecost
Ordinary Time
Linda and Steve Agnello are well-known for their volunteer service to the Guild, most recently taking on the role of Co-Chairs of the 2024 Georgia Celebrates Quilts show. But like so many of us, their sewing world is bigger than ECQG.
Linda and Steve have created stunning liturgical banners for their church, St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church in Dunwoody. There were four banners for the seasons of the Church: Advent, Christmas and Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time. When Linda said yes to making a new banner, she thought she’d be making one banner the size of the previous one. Soon, though, it became clear that two banners were needed and they turned out to be 8 feet long! And, of course, banners for the other three seasons came next. As part of their research, Linda and Steve were inspired by the work Pamela T. Hardiman, a quilt artist from Connecticut who had created liturgical pieces they liked.
Each banner that Linda and Steve created is a different design, but all reflect the light pattern from the stained glass window. For Pentecost, a dove spans two separate panels. For Christmas and Easter, the banners bring light into the space with the array of white and off-white fabrics. The blue of Advent meant those banners needed some lightness, too, so Steve and Linda inserted the contrasting color to represent the four Advent wreath candles. The Ordinary Time banners are certainly not ordinary, continuing the diagonal rays within the green horizontal piecing, interspersed with narrower panels imitating the stained glass window. Because of the new size, Steve designed and built a new hanging system, too. Fortunately, there is space at the back of the sanctuary for the banners not “in season” to be hung and displayed, so the Agnellos’ work can be admired up close and all year long.
Linda and Steve Agenello
Leaf Quilt
Steve Agnello
Heron Quilt
Though they have both had a hand in other quilts, this project required a new level of collaboration. Steve recalled that they often lacked the vocabulary to explain their ideas. Initially they might think they disagreed about something but discover that they were just explaining it differently and were actually in agreement. For example, when discussing fabric, Linda referred to the lengthwise and crosswise grain, and Steve called it the strong way and the stretchy way. Guess which one majored in clothing and textiles?
So how did this all begin? Linda learned to sew from her seamstress grandmother, and she began making quilts sporadically for her children and grandchildren. With both of them retired, Steve began helping Linda with the long arm quilting, something she found difficult due to her multiple sclerosis. Steve likes the idea that between them, they can say “we made this!”
It was a lucky day in 2015 for ECQG when Linda attended the Georgia Celebrates Quilts show and joined right away. Steve volunteered with the Quilt Show soon after and joined the Guild a couple of years ago. Linda especially enjoys her bee group and Steve, the newer quilter, is wowed by the work shown at Show & Tell each month and the ability to talk with the makers of those quilts. And they both agree that volunteering is a great way to make new quilting friends.
This is one installment of Who We Are, a monthly series in the Basket Bulletin newsletter spotlighting ECQG members and giving them a chance to tell their quilting stories.