Dated 1980
Chappaqua, New York
Ardis and Robert James Collection, 2009.039.0065

"Big Blue" was the first quilt made by Ardis James. Completed in 1980, it was a gift for her husband Robert. All of the work was done by hand. The individual blocks were quilted first and then sewn together in a quilt-as-you-go technique.

Ardis and her husband Robert donated the first 1,000 quilts creating the impetus for the development of the International Quilt Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997. From that time on Ardis was closely involved with the growth and challenges of the following years. She served actively on the International Advisory Board, delighted in the growth of the collection, celebrated the opening of the new museum in 2008, and, shortly before her death, attended last spring's symposium.

This month's edition was created in honor of Ardis James, who passed away on July 7, 2011.