Thank you for visiting my shop!
I'm Jennifer Williams, a native of Boykin, Alabama, also known as Gee's Bend, where I grew up and continue to reside. I proudly carry on the legacy of Gee's Bend Quilting, creating a variety of handcrafted items including wall hangers, quilts, and unique cup and T-shirt designs, all made with my own hands.
My passion for crafting stems from a deep love of working with my hands and creating beautiful things. Each of my creations is a testament to the Gee's Bend Quilting tradition, a heritage that spans three generations, and every piece is infused with its own unique character.
Boykin, or Gee's Bend, is not just a place; it's a tight-knit community where everyone knows each other. It's a town where generations grow up together, forging strong bonds and connections. I have vivid memories of my grandmother sitting in her living room, skillfully crafting quilts, and my mother, Sharon also played a pivotal role in inspiring my love for quilting. Her artistry knows no bounds, and she continually fuels my creativity. She'll say, "Jenn, try putting these two colors together!" She's my greatest supporter and a true artistic force. We're dedicated to encouraging others to embrace this craft and keep the tradition alive within our community.
Gee's Bend quilts hold a special place in the world of textiles. While they are part of the broader tradition of African American quilting, Gee's Bend quilts hold a unique and exceptional place in this legacy. This distinction arises from the geographical isolation of Gee's Bend and the remarkable cultural continuity that has persisted in our community. We take immense pride in our artistic achievements and are dedicated to keeping this practice alive and vibrant in our beloved Gee's Bend.
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History of Gee’s Bend
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.
