Zulu Queen Reigns in the Nash Family

I love memory quilts. One of the things that makes quilts special are the clues to the lives of our ancestors that they contain. I created a series of quilts called the African Canvas Memory Quilt series to give others a fun way to document their lives.

This series will contain 100 quilts when finished, and Zulu Queen is number 65 of the series. It was a gift to Paula Nash for reasons you will have to visit the African Canvas Memory Quilt web site to find out.

Joe Rickman Gets Bold New Beginning

Joe Rickman was going through some life challenges at the time of my retirement. Joe, who is an investigator in the office, often came by the office to talk quilts and every other thing under the sun. Sometmes he would come by as he put it, "just to make me smile."

I hope when Joe feels challenged, that he will wrap himself up in Bold New Beginnings, calm himself and make the right decision.

Rolesia's Italian Adventure

Rolesia's Italian Adventure went home with Rolesia Dancy. I learned by prowling the hallways that Rolesia really wants to visit Italy. This quilt which is a sampler of mosaic blocks seemed perfert for her.

Rolesian's Italian Adventure is a large quilt that measures 82 x 90 inches.

Strength Through Adversity

Strength Through Adversity was given to Eldridge Morris. Eldridge handled all of the County's insurance matters, and worked closely with me on the settlement of lawsuits. At one time, his staff was housed in our suite of offices so he always felt part of the staff.

Strength Through Adversity measures 60 x 70 inches. It is a pineapple foldy quilt embellished with buttons in the center of the blocks.

Living the Good Life Goes Home with Lisa

Living the Good Life was made for Lisa Brooks. Lisa is on of those employees who quietly goes about her work. Hopefully, this quilt will remind her to take some time off and enjoy life from time to time.

Living the Good Life has a wine and cheese motif and measures 63 x 87 inches.

Awesome African Elephants in My Garden #4 Finds New Home

Awesome African Elephants in My Garden # 4 was chosen to go home with David Ware. The daffodil in the center of the quilt stands tall and strong like David but obviously with a happy disposition. The elephants symbolize strength and the red stars remind us that David is truly a star.

Awesome African Elephants in My Garden # 4 measures 50 x 50 inches. It has a herd of elephants on the back and a hanging sleeve on the back. The quilt is signed and dated.

Other quilts in this 12 part series can be purchased in the Clara Ford Foundation Ebay Store .

Elegant Pink Hearts

I believe that my quilts have healing powers. So I often give quilts to people having medical challenges. Elegant Pink Hearts is such a quilt. It went home with Mildred Schmelz.

I think the back of the quilt is as beautiful as the front. The back of the quilt depicts elegant African ladies who remind me of Mildred. It measures 65 x 77 inches.

Alpha Male (In Touch With My Feminine Side)

Alpha Male (In Touch With My Feminine Side) was a gift for Denval Stewart. The colors of the quilt were chosen with Denval in mind. I wanted black and gold because he is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, but he also has roots in Jamaica. So I thought the quilt should have bright Jamaican colors in it. After the quilt w was finished, I worried that it perhaps looked to feminine to give to a man. I even took the quilt to my guild meeting, and the Brown Sugar Stitchers said they thought it looked feminine.

Nonetheless, I decided to give it to Denval anyway and hoped he would understand. The name of the quilt reflects my anguish over this quilt.

Gossip While You Work #1 Finds New Home

One of my newest creations found a new home during my retirement party. It went home with my long time receptionist Dee Dee Hunter.

Gossip While You Work#1 is part of a four-part series based on the center panel of ladies headed to market. This wallhanging measures 26x34 inches. It is signed and has a hanging sleeve on the back.

Dee Dee swore that of all the quilts given away that night, that hers was the prettiest.

Other quilts in this series may be purchased in the Clara Ford Foundation Ebay Store .

Amils' Commitment

Amil's Commitment was actually a belated wedding gift for Amil Johnson. It is blue and white and bold. It measures 61 x79 inches.

I think the quilt depicts a quiet strength that reminds me of Amil.

Win is What We Do

The first order of quilt business was to unveil the 2006 office signature quilt. Over the years, I had made several signature quilts for the office. The staff seemed to get a kick out of coming up with something original and provocative to say in their block and then to see what others came up with. The actual design of the quilt was always a secret until it was finished.

The 2006 quilt was named Win is What We Do. It has 42 signature blocks that include all staff members as well as India and our dog Justin. It is pictured above.

Quilts! Quilts! Quilts! The Beginning and the End

Finally July 24, 2007, my last day at Fulton County, arrived. Coincidentally, it happens to be my Mama's birthday. I knew it would be a special day.

My staff had planned this gathering as a private gathering where I could say goodbye to those closest to me. The guest list had 150 peoople on it! It was held at the lovely State Bar of Georgia building, and the party committee had outdone themselves. Food by Malik was delicious, flowers by Idonia were beautiful, and the wine flowed freely. My friends really know how to throw a party! (June, Judy, Toni and Debbie formed a committee.) My special IT guy Namaar had produced a video of my years in the Fulton County Attorney's Office that showed on wall-to-wall screens that surrounded the room. I still cry every time I watch it.

Again, there was a program. Many friends and former employees spoke. What I remember most is that you never know the impact you are having on other people. I had no idea!

Once the speeches were over, it was time to get to the fun part -- giving away the quilts. At my request, the program was entitled "The Quiltmaker's Gift." My gifts are posted here. Oh yeah, I did say you should see the end from the beginning. Posted here is the first quilt I made for the office. It is called Fulton County Attorneys and hangs in the main conference room. That was the beginning, and now you can see the end.

The Prayer, The Poem and The Receiving Line

My staff decided I must have a public reception to give clients, employees and the public at large an opportunity to say goodbye. So on July 19, 2007, we gathered in the beautiful atrium of the Fulton county Administration Building. In keeping with tradition, there had to be a program.

I received a proclamation from the Atlanta City Council that was delivered by Councilman C.T. Martin. Secretary of State Karen Handel and District Attorney Paul Howard both sent proclamations.

However,what is most memorable to me about this reception is the prayer and the poem. People are still talking about them. I have been a devout Baptist all my life, and I have heard thousands of preachers, deacons, evangelists and even devils pray! But David Ware prayed for me like no other. I actually had him to write it down for me afterwards.

The surprise was the poem. Vernon Comer, aka as the husband of my Office Manager and Santa Claus at the annual office Children's Holiday Party, had not only written a poem for me but he performed it. I had no idea he was a creative genius at Spoken Word! I'll post the poem later. It is call On Your Journey, and I am sure it will inspire a quilt.

After another short speech from me, it was time for the receiving line. I sincerely thank all of you who took time out of your busy day to share my special day. I treasue every hand shake and hug. And don't let me forget the party committee. The food was great, and the decorations were done in my favorite red and white.

At the end of the day, India and I were exhausted, but what a memorable day. How many Moms get to have their teenager share such a special day. I hope it is a memory that propels India to serve others when she makes her life decisions.

O.V. Brantley Day in Fulton County!

The celebrations began on July 18, 2007 with a proclamation by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. I suppose this was the part of the retirement ritual that I dreaded the most, because I knew it would be televised. Even though I have been a public figure all my adult life, I hate being on public display. Go figure.

I knew I would be emotional and worried about getting through my speech. Luckily, I had my two favorite girls with me for moral support and to furnish the tissue. That would be my niece Brittany (pictured in the yellow shirt) and my daughter India (pictured in the blue dress).

The Commissioners all had wonderful things to say about me. I managed to get through my speech, and at the end of it all, Chairman John Eaves declared it O.V. Brantley day in Fulton County, GA!

The good thing about this public display is that I heard from many old acquaintances who watched it on televison or their computers.

Saying Goodbye to Fulton County

July 24, 2007 was my last day as the Fulton County Attorney. They say you should see the end from the beginning, and I had certainly planned for that day. However, nothing prepared me for the out-pouring of love that I received during what turned out to be a three day celebration. More about that later.

I certainly wanted to have a personal keepsake to remind me of my days at Fulton County so I designed Good Things are Happening as a personal quilt memento. The name comes from the slogan that my personal commissioner, Bill Edwards, uses to describe District 7. It measures 47 x 52 inches and depicts the Fulton County logo.

The rest of my planning involved giving away several quilts at my retirement party. Each are featured on this site. However, I could not have known about the love gifts that I would receive. Some of those will be featured here as well.

I guess retirement is right up there with graduation and marriage, so indulge me as I share my big moment.

Brown Sugar Stitchers Hold Annual Tea

The Brown Sugar Stitchers held its annual tea July 21, 2007 at the beautiful Maggianos in Buckhead. The tea affords the ladies to get out of their quilting clothes and make themselves gorgeous. The hats were particularly spectacular this year.

The challenge this year was to make an unusual pin cushion. The creativity was over the top. An extra addition to the program was the presentation of the quilt made by the guild for Pete Williams. Mr. Williams had spent time in prison after being wrongfully convicted. He was recently cleared and released.

Many awards were given and the new officers were introduced and sworn in. Of special note this year was the President's gift to the members. It was an original "corn bag" (aka heating pad) for each of us. I guess she figured the aches and pains are creeping upon all of us.

The Brown Sugar Stitchers honored me by awarding me the "Quilter of Vision" Award for establishing the Clara Ford Foundation and the award for making the most quilts during the year.