I’m not gonna lie: A box full of colorful fabric scraps led me to look online for “the most colorful mammal.” That’s how I stumbled across the mandrill. Just look at that face! How is this even possible? Sadly, the amazing mandrill is hunted for bush meat and sorely affected by deforestation. Wanting to preserve the spirit of this beautiful animal, I got to work right away. As I was researching the mandrill’s habitat, the dense, tropical rainforests of West Africa, I thought of the paintings by Henri Rousseau, the French Post-Impressionist famous for his jungle scenes. One of his paintings featured a group of small brown monkeys devouring oranges. I decided to “steal” Rousseau’s oranges but hang them from a vine-like plant from the top, next to a palm tree.

This hand-stitched quilt is queen-size, 79 x 85 inches. It sleeps two adults comfortably. The front and back are 100 percent cotton; the batting is 100 percent wool, making the quilt soft and cozy, perfect for cold fall nights. The quilt can be machine-washed and line-dried.

Currently on view at Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. Contact me at sabineheinlein@gmail.com for price.

Photos: Rebecca Krasnik