Maura Grace Ambrose is a very special artist who produces hand made and nature-dyed quilts in her own backyard. She is an Austin resident who is continuing old tradition with a modern day twist. First, Maura harvests plants that are later used in dyes. She likes natural indigo because of the subtle elegant shades it creates. When making the quilt, Maura selects solid pieces of fabric, as opposed to patches, and then stitches on her design according to the Japanese Sashiko method, an elegant and very simple stitching technique dating back to the 1600’s. It takes her about 40 hours to complete each quilt. As a true artist, Maura stands by the quality of her work and prides herself on the unique craftsmanship of each piece. “The smells that come from an active indigo vat are incredibly stinky, but I admit I’m now fond of them,” says Ambrose. “I especially love the sweet, earthy smell of the fabric once it dries.”
