When There Are 100
Cotton fabric, machine pieced patchwork, longarm quilting
100” x 234”
2024
Five years in the making, this quilt is a patchwork visualizing every person who served in the US Senate since it first convened in 1789. Each person is represented by a 1” wide strip, cut to the length of their service at the scale of 1 inch = 1 year (of 234 years total): blue strips for men and red for women, then quilted with lines at 1” intervals. As of October 2023, a total of 2,003 persons have served in the senate (including those currently serving); only 60 of them (yes, you read that right) have been women.
Funding for this project was provided in part by the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, the oldest ongoing feminist granting agency in the US and Canada. Grants from the foundation give monetary support and encouragement to feminist writers and visual artists who are women (cis, transgender, or nonbinary). The Fund relies on a volunteer Board of Directors and carefully chosen judges who collaborate in making awards. While other grant sources have come and gone, Money for Women is now in its sixth decade, still feminist and still willing to take risks.
This quilt won 1st Place at Fantastic Fibers 2026 at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah, Kentucky.
Additionally, this quilt would not have been possible without the following organizations and individuals listed in alphabetical order who contributed to supplying fabrics for the project. Thank you SO MUCH!
- Aimee Wilson
- Alisa Beer
- Ann Graf
- Ashley Mears
- Becky Kim
- Beth Gain
- C. Rodriguez
- Dr. Caitlin Brooks
- Candlelight Quilt Guild
- Carla
- Carol
- Christi Welter
- Claudia Craig
- Debra Thompson
- Diane Beavers
- Diane Dewey
- Elizabeth Harris
- Emma Fowler
- Graceanna
- Jan Kato
- Jess
- Jess Bochow
- Joann Fabrics in Fayetteville, NY (especially Pat and Liz)
- Julie Kennard
- K. Schmitt
- Karen Dorey
- Kate Alicea
- Katie Yoakum
- Lindsay Robinson Goode
- Lisa Rhuman
- Lucky Deluxe Fabrics
- Lynne Miller-Deist
- Madison Snell
- Melonie Unger
- Michele
- Michelle
- Michelle Barnhart
- Michelle Kaarst-Brown
- Moriah McLean
- Niki Keating
- Omaha Creative Reuse
- Patty Mace
- Phoebe
- Pink Hippo Quilts
- Rachel Gruber
- Rachel HagEstad
- Rosemarie Sabey
- Sandy Uhos
- Sew What CNY
- Shari Tuttle
- Stephanie Derheimer
- Sue Stred
- Towpath Quilt Guild
- Tracy
- Victoria Vanderlaan
- Xaviera Chambers
- Yolanda Carmona
If you contributed fabrics but don’t see your name listed here, or if your name is listed incorrectly, send me a note and I’ll update accordingly.