Art Quilts By Phyllis

Art Quilts by Phyllis

Why I quilt

I have always loved textiles. They are my paints, my watercolors, my oils. I love honoring the texture and design of each fabric and how the same textile can represent different shadings, moods, light, as you harvest its various facets.

The inspiration for each quilt has been as varied as the finished pieces themselves. My love for Romanesque architecture is the inspiration for the Tournus series. My admiration for Mark Rothko was the motivation for a quilt to a dear friend who was moving across the country, and who also loves the color red. Our move to the North Shore has given me the desire to interpret its rocky coast, vast marshes and beautiful waters in fabric.

Whatever the subject or motivation, I have enjoyed the process as much as the finished product. There is always a pang of regret when one quilt is finished, and then I can’t wait to start the next one.

pvfollett@gmail.com

My most recent quilts

Gloucester in Mourning, 2026
(13” W x 19” L)

On January 30, 2026, the Lily Jean, a fishing vessel out of Gloucester, tragically sank in a brutal Nor’easter roughly 25 miles off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. This tragedy claimed the lives of all on board. On February 1, two days following the tragedy, I visited the Man at the Wheel statue in Gloucester to pay my respects for the lost crew. This quilt is the result of that visit.

Phyllis Follett
Hamilton, MA

—-

This is what democracy looks like, 2026
(17″ W x 13″ L)

My friend Dotty shared with me information about a quilt project launched by a fellow quilter in California. The project is inspired by the AIDS quilt, where quilters from all over the country submitted squares to express their solidarity with those suffering from the disease. Moved by the profound political and civic changes presently taking place in our country, the organizer is seeking to allow fellow quilters channel their connections to the current situation.

The theme of the project is This is what democracy looks like. Dotty and I decided to join forces and creativity in order to submit a square for the project. I was greatly moved by the monks who walked across the country, sharing messages of loving kindness with those along the way. Their colored robes are a quilter’s dream. Their message of we are all different, yet we walk together exemplifies their contribution of compassion to all. Dotty’s white stitches highlight the forward movement of the monks’ journey, led by their dog Aloka.

I had initially thought to do several squares for the project, but after completing the monks, I felt I could do no more.

This is what democracy looks like
Phyllis Follett and Dotty Seiter
Hamilton, MA