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Although she doesn't consider herself an artist, Pham Nhu Quynh (41 years old, Hanoi) is considered by her fans to be a work of art. This is because, using fabric scraps and quilting techniques, she transforms them into large, vibrant pieces of fabric, each with its own unique soul and character.
A piece of childhood from "The Little Prince"
Receiving thousands of likes and hundreds of shares from the online community, the 100% handmade quilted blanket named "The Little Prince," created by Ms. Quynh, is not only made with skillful hands but also with genuine affection. Every stitch on this masterpiece reflects her dedication and focused creativity over many months.
Although she doesn't consider herself an artist, Pham Nhu Quynh's works are considered by her fans to be works of art.
This quilted artwork, "The Little Prince," is rendered in a sky blue hue – the color of peace and hope. At the center of the piece is the Little Prince warmly embracing his fox – a very special friend. Even more striking, a keen eye will easily spot a large rose subtly sewn onto each piece of fabric.
For loyal readers and those who have read "The Little Prince" once, certain details are sure to be etched in their minds: some remember the proud rose, others remember the fox and its lesson about the purity of friendship.
Ms. Quynh shared: “For me, the moment the Prince embraces the fox is one of the most tender images. It is both fragile and profound, like an embrace to hold onto all the love that we sometimes find hard to express in everyday life. I chose that image to translate into quilting: each small piece of fabric pieced together, each stitch held tightly, to create a work that can be touched, embraced. This is a handcrafted piece that takes a year to complete from the time it is commissioned, because each stitch is a breath, a patient whisper.”
This isn't the first quilted blanket featuring the Little Prince that Ms. Quynh has lovingly crafted. In 2023, her "Little Prince" creation, with its predominantly yellow color scheme, also garnered considerable attention from those who appreciate quilting art and admire her skills. This piece was born from the idea of the Little Prince and a little fox sitting on Earth, facing his planet at sunset. Not only the Little Prince, but each quilted piece carries its own theme, its own color palette, and its own emotion, all stemming from the artist.
"Falling in love" after life's ups and downs.
Originating from the Americas, quilting is a relatively new craft in Vietnam. Quilted products not only have aesthetic value but also high practical applications, often used as bed sheets and pillowcases with a warm cotton layer, or as decorative wall hangings in living spaces.
Quynh's journey into this art form began around 2013. Life changes stemming from family events and the pressure of caring for young children led her to experience prolonged depression and fatigue.
However, the art of quilting became her savior during that difficult time. While casually browsing the internet, she came across images of quilted baby blankets with bright colors and lively patterns, and felt a special warmth in her heart.
Driven by initial curiosity, she proactively searched for quilting and sewing tutorials from abroad to learn step-by-step. In the beginning, everything was new and clumsy, but finding small joys in the work, Quỳnh and her craft gradually became inseparable.
Her first creation was a heartfelt gift for a friend's newborn daughter: a quilted blanket with a rabbit pattern. When she posted her creations on social media, Ms. Quynh consistently received praise from mothers with young children and began receiving her first orders.
Find yourself through every stitch.
A complete quilted piece is constructed from three distinct layers: the top layer is the fabric surface designed like a painting, the bottom layer is a soft fabric for a comfortable feel, and the middle layer is a cotton lining.
The quilting stitches not only help to secure the three layers of fabric but are also flexibly shaped according to each design, with diverse patterns such as circles, spirals, straight lines, or gentle curves. Combining many traditional sewing techniques from around the world, such as Japanese sashiko and Latin American mola, Ms. Quynh wants her works to be anything but boring or confined to any particular style.
"Although I started out without formal training, I feel I have a talent for color coordination. Each product I create is unique, as I envision the overall image and main color scheme beforehand, then sketch it on paper, and then meticulously assemble the fabric pieces and sew them together 100% by hand," Ms. Quynh expressed.
She added, "I used to think I couldn't be skillful at sewing because when I used a sewing machine to sew pants, I couldn't even finish them; the left leg would slip through to the right leg (laughs). But when I switched to quilting, which is done entirely by hand without any machines, I felt so comfortable and not afraid at all. You could say, for me, this work is like a leisurely stroll."
To date, she has been involved with quilting for 11 years. This journey has also been a significant turning point in Quynh's self-understanding. From a woman carrying emotional wounds, she immersed herself in fabrics, needles, and thread, shifting to a profession she never expected to be so talented at.
Having been creating beautiful works for a long time, Ms. Quynh only thought about making products that her customers liked, vaguely wondering how long she could pursue the art of quilting and even considering changing jobs. Ms. Quynh said: “Twice I decided to quit this work, but I met wonderful customers because they are the kind of people I longed to have. They appeared in a strange way and they are from a completely different world from mine. They cherish me and they love that difference.”
Those customers made her realize that she needed to appreciate the value that handcrafted products bring. Because each item made contains not only the material and form, but also the time, dedication, emotions, and the story of the artisan conveyed through every stitch.
