My mother and her sister, who was 9 years younger, died 33 days apart from each other over the winter of 2021/2022.

The symbolism of the cross stitch embroidered baskets of flowers at the top and bottom of this textile painting represent the appearance of them growing up in a loving home, but in fact, it was very emotionally and physically abusive. They coped in different ways their whole lives. As adults they had opposite religious and political beliefs which are represented in the appliquéd monoprinted fabric in the center and edges of the embroidery.

I found the embroidery at my mother’s house when I emptied it after she moved into assisted living a few years before she died. I don’t know if she made it or if someone else did.