Sign Your Work

One of the first things you learn as a quilter is to put a label on the back of your quilt.  It is a good idea if you are entering the quilt in a show.  This way the quilt will get back to you.  But it is also a good idea so those who receive your quilt know that you made it.  

Having a label or some identifying mark on a quilt has helped quilt historians to learn the history behind the quilt and the story of the quilter.  It helps to age the quilt.  And while it is hard to believe it now, your quilt will probably outlast you and wouldn’t you like people in the future to know who made it?

That is why artist sign their paintings and sculpture and it should be the same with any piece of art, even fiber art.  When young girls learn embroidery by doing a sampler, part of the design is putting their name or initials and year it was made in the stitching.  It identifies the sampler as theirs. 

This should be a practice that we all do.  You put a lot of time and energy in what you have made and others should know about it.  You don’t want someone else to take credit for your work.

If you can’t sign the actual work like a painter or sculptor, you can put a label on the back of your piece or stitch your name in the piece.  Some items might be hard to do like with jewelry.  Although if you make jewelry, you could add your initials to the back of some part of the jewelry piece. As I write this I wonder about my needle felting.  I guess I could make a little label to go on the bottom of the felted piece or maybe even felt my initials into the item.

Whatever type of art you do, it is important to give yourself credit for the art work.  Put your name on it by signing or making a label but do it.  Let others know that you created the piece and you are proud of it.  So whenever you complete a piece of art no matter what it is, make sureyou put your name on it.  

©2019 Cheryl Fillion