the star quilt
by katie ghost horse

From the Great Plains Indians to the Amish of the Eastern United States, the star quilt continues to be an alluring and magnificent form of art.

The popularity of the star quilt design motif reflects the diversity of these quilt makers who come from various cultural backgrounds. The common thread among these special quilts is one of nature and symbol—the star. These quilts connect generations to one another and to the earth and heavens. Typically, star quilts are created and gifted to individuals for special occasions, making them a gift of high honor. To receive a hand made star quilt is very special.

We create them for individuals who are going through rites of passages such as a birth, marriage or death. We make them for our loved ones who are struggling and/or recovering from an illness and for someone who has made a major life accomplishment such as a promotion or graduation. We also create them as a gift of gratitude for our friends and family who have helped us on some level.

As with all handcrafted quilts, the star quilt tells a story through design, choice of fabric and color. Each one is unique. As we have designed and sewn these quilts over the years, we have discovered magic within the process of creating them. We have discovered insight into our own personal journey and helped others on theirs. Not only have we discovered that these quilts have special and personal meaning to the individuals who receive them, but they also serve as a mirror and teaching tool for the women who create them.

We invite you to join us and learn how to access your inner wisdom.
Through this wisdom we help heal our families, our communities, and ourselves; we are tapping into the ancient art of traditional star quilts.

Through the creation of a star quilt, we will re-remember our Ancestral Grandmothers' knowledge to bring forth our own women’s medicine.
It has been revealed through each star quilt that we human beings come from the star nation.

This is where the Grand Spider Mothers live; they are the ones that hold the knowledge and wisdom of time. Through their infinite wisdom comes clarity, understanding, and healing. The star quilt represents the universe, and within each star quilt is the spider web. From that web the Grand Spider Mothers have spun their cocoon around each legend, myth and medicine to keep them safely protected for us. As we begin to design, create or sew the star quilt together it unwraps the cocoon and reveals these sacred medicines.

Katie Ghost Horse works with autistic children. Her passion for the star quilts and her close partnership with her mother-in-law BJ Red Brown Buffalo Woman in their star quilt project has given so much understanding to pull in the magic of these quilts.

BJ Red Brown Buffalo Woman is a 7th generation quilt maker in her family; her mother and grandmothers 7 generations back have passed down the art of quilt making. She started sewing when she was 7 years old to begin her understand of the women’s medicine ways thru the art of sewing. Thru all these years with each quilt that has been made, she has been giving the gift of unwrapping the cocoon of wisdom and knowledge of the grand spider mothers. From this quilt making it has guided her thru her Native American and European heritage to follow her destiny to do the work of weaving a web of protection for all the children of the world.

[ BJ was featured in our April 2003 issue and a small sampling of her work is shown on the following pages. Come meet Katie and BJ see their work in person the first weekend in October at the Madison County Heritage Festival 9:30 to 4 pm on the grounds of Mars Hill College. - Ed. ]