Could the gift of creativity be found in her name? Named after a beautiful plant, Pansy means “to be re…membered”. As far back as she could remember she was enamored with the art of quilt-making. More than sixty years later after raising and sending six first generation children to college, she retired and rekindled her passion…quilt-making.
Pansy Payton Brown, 77 years young born into the family of one of the first African American settlers in Pompano Beach Florida, has been living in Fort Lauderdale Florida for fifty-six years. She is the progeny of a long line of quilters. She was taught to quilt by her aunt Gertrude born in the late 1800’s.
Pansy recalls, “I remember my aunt Gertrude telling me while she was sitting on the porch quilting in Pompano Beach, don’t just sit there and look at me, get some pieces from over there and start making your own quilt. And don’t make the stitches too long. You don’t want your big toe to get stuck in a stitch while you are sleeping. I still have that quilt, my first. I was only 13 years old.”
Her first quilt, a traditional multi-colored patchwork made with ancestors clothing from the early 20th century, remains in exquisite condition. Pansy is true to the art of quilting. All of her quilts are handmade and stitched. The average quilt is 8 feet by 7 feet, takes about 320 hours to make and averages about million hand stitches. Whether it is quilt art for the wall, a traditional or contemporary quilt for the bed or a family heirloom, they are all embedded with love, color and her-story. Pansy’s quilt-making experience came full circle when she had the opportunity to display her quilts at the African American Cultural and Research Library, Ft. Lauderdale, FL in August 2007 during a reception honoring Ladies of Gee’s Bend Quilters.
Most recently, she donated a quilt to The Jessie Trice Community Health Foundation. Pansy is quick to tell you that her children cherish and enjoy the beauty of her one-of-a-kind creations but are not interested in learning how to quilt. She remains hopeful though. However, one of her granddaughters, Nailah who is 19 years old, shares her passion and helps piece quilts sometimes and sew it is.
