Greetings! My name is Cheyenne Pettway. I am a proud descendant of the famous Gees Bend Quilters. Gee's Bend, also known as Boykin, AL, is where some members of my family still reside. We are descendants of the enslaved Africans that once worked on the Pettway Plantation.
I have had the honor of watching both my Mom and Grandmom quilt. It brought me great joy to see them work. As a young girl growing up in Gees Bend, I would watch and help them make these wonderful creations. Whether it was snipping cotton, lining fabric, matching fabric, etc., I was there to lend a helping hand.
I started this shop to share our creations with the world. Hopefully it can bring as much joy to you all as it has for us.
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The women of Gee’s Bend—a small, rural, community in Alabama's Black Belt—have created hundreds of quilt masterpieces dating from the early twentieth century to the present. Resembling an inland island, Gee’s Bend is surrounded on three sides by the Alabama River. The some seven hundred or so inhabitants of this small, rural community are mostly descendants of enslaved Africans who, for generations, worked the fields belonging to the local Pettway plantation. Quiltmakers there have produced countless patchwork masterpieces, with the oldest existing examples dating from the 1920s. Enlivened by a visual imagination that extends the expressive boundaries of the quilt genre, these astounding creations constitute a crucial chapter in the history of American art.
Gee’s Bend quilts carry forward a proud tradition of textiles made for home and family. They represent only a part of the rich body of African American quilts, but they are in a league by themselves. Few other places can boast the extent of Gee’s Bend’s artistic achievement -- the result of both geographical isolation and an unusual degree of cultural continuity. In few places across the country have works been found by three - and sometimes four - generations of women in the same family, nor have many works been discovered that bear witness to visual conversations among community quilting groups and lineages. Gee’s Bend’s heirloom pieces stand out for their flair—quilts composed boldly and improvisationally, in geometries that transform recycled work clothes and dresses, feed sacks, and fabric remnants.
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Etsy buyer on Oct 23, 2024
5 out of 5 starsI wanted to get a non-traditional traditional Gee’s Bend piece for my daughter, and this simple staircasey design fit the bill perfectly! Love the use of corduroy and the color scheme.
Cheyenne responded on Oct 23, 2024
Thanks for your purchase an we are glad you loved your piece
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John on Sep 6, 2023
5 out of 5 starsExactly as described, and beyond my expectations. Don't sleep on the younger Gee's Bend Quilters -- they're doing some awesome things with the form!
Cheyenne responded on Sep 7, 2023
Thanks for your purchase an I'm pleased to hear it was very much what you expected
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Candace on Mar 14, 2023
5 out of 5 starsThe quality is superb. This quilt hanging reminds me of when my granny used to quilt when I was little. I have been studying about the Gee's Bend Quilters and I am teaching my art students (all 678 of them) about these amazing quilters.
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Etsy buyer on Aug 12, 2022
5 out of 5 starsHaving visited Gee's Bend in the summer of 2021, I was blown away by the creative quilt making that is a tradition in this area. I am happy to have this beautiful quilt hanging in my school so that I can use it as a learning tool when I teach my young students about Gee's Bend Quilts!
About DifferentGenSamePath
Shop members
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Cheyenne Pettway
Owner
Greetings! I am a proud descendant of the famous Gees Bend Quilters. Gee's Bend, also known as Boykin, AL, is where some members of my family still reside. We are descendants of the enslaved Africans that once worked on the Pettway Plantation.
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ShuNae Williams
Co-Owner, Designer
Hello! I learned to piece at a young age by watching my mom (Andrea) and grandmother (Lorraine). I played an active role in helping them quilt and sew. They would always ask me to help because I was very good at putting colors and designs together.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I freshen up my quilt?
Some of my quilts are older and were stored. The best and easiest way to freshen up your quilt is to take it outside, for about an hour, on a sunny day and allow a fresh breeze to do its magic! Putting it in the dryer with a dryer sheet, or even using a fabric freshener, such as Febreze, can also do the trick.
Can I wash my quilt?
Your handmade Gee’s Bend item requires special care to preserve it for generations to come. As some pieces may be older heirloom items, I recommend testing for colorfastness before washing. To do this, take a damp, white cloth and rub it against your quilt's colored fabrics. If there is any color transfer to the white cloth, washing the quilt may result in discoloration and fading.
If you complete the colorfastness test and there is no color transfer, wash on a gentle cycle using a mild, gentle detergent in cold water; or hand wash by submerging your quilt alone in soapy water, gently rinse, then repeat. No chlorine bleach. Tumble dry, dry on a drying rack, or hang it outside to air dry. Finish with warm iron, if desired.
I noticed a small stain on my quilt. What should I do?
Some older quilts may have spots or discoloration due to their age. Because of its delicate nature, cautiously spot clean your quilt only as needed, as it can remove color that comprises the original style and tone of the quilt that you may not be able to get back. If there are spots that you would like to remove, use a very small amount of a mild detergent and gently rub the area with a white soft cloth. Use extreme care when doing this. If you don't feel comfortable washing or spot cleaning your quilt, consider locating a qualified conservation or restoration service.
Where can I find other Gee's Bend Quilters on Etsy?
You can find links to all the verified Gee's Bend Maker's shops below. Please consider supporting one, or all of us! Thank you in advance!
https://www.etsy.com/featured/gees-bend
Looking for more? Find it on Etsy