Introducing Woman’s Work is Never Done #1

Woman’s Work is Never Done #1, 68 X 68 inch red and white churn dash quilt by O.V. brantley, 2025. Machine quilted by Maxine Moore. NFS. Part of the Bodacious Beautiful and Brilliant series.

My new red and white quilt series celebrates women who are bodacious, beautiful and brilliant. I call that the total package. The series is inspired by barn quilts because I am a country girl at heart, and I love barn quilt art.

For each quilt, I imagine one tradition quilt block in red and white that must be very big, so all of the quilts in the series are 68 X 68 inches or larger. But wait, my quilts must always have a message, so i imagine a life message inspired by the traditional name of quilt block.

The first quilt in the series is a churn dash block. For the young and uninitiated, a churn dash was used to make butter when most things were done by hand. It was hard work. So for me, the churn dash symbolizes hard work and the never ending chores women had to perform to keep their families fed and happy. So the title became Woman’s Work is Never Done.

Woman’s Work is Never Done #1 measures 68 X 68 inches. Three historical African women are appliquéd in the center to capture the timelessness of woman’s work. I used fused applique to add the words “Woman’s Work” and “Never Done” and “What she tackles, she conquers” to the quilt. Three borders frame the churn dash block.

The back of the quilt is a black and white African print. There is a hanging sleeve for easy display and and label that documents the quilt.

I signed it on the front and added a scales of justice charm to pay homage to my legal career which I hope I practiced with bodaciousness, beauty and brilliance.

I plan to exhibit this series of quilts in late 2026. I will let you know when plans ae finalized.