In the midst of planning this year’s special MO print, I had a delightful realization: our studio’s home is celebrating its 130th birthday!
This revelation sent me down a rabbit hole of research, pondering what life was like when these venerable bricks were first laid in 1894, and I found inspiration in spades.
In 1894, only two states, Wyoming (1890) and Colorado (1893), allowed women to vote. It wasn’t until 1919 that Missouri (ahem, finally) ratified the Nineteenth Amendment, making it the eleventh state to do so.
By the 1890s, bicycles were becoming wildly popular, offering women newfound independence. No longer needing to wait for men to give them a lift, women could travel freely, which subtly but significantly aided the suffragette movement.
To honor this history, I included a bicycle illustration in two of our new designs. As a cyclist myself—I adore the sensation of zooming down a hill while running errands—it warms my heart to think about the role bicycles played in the fight for women's voting rights.
Among the many inspiring stories of pioneering women, one really stood out: The cross-country journey of two brave suffragettes promoting votes for women became even more significant with their adoption of a black cat.
The cat had long been a symbol used by the anti-suffragettes to portray women as silly and incompetent, representing the perceived "loss" of a man's role in the family if women gained the right to vote. I find it incredibly inspirational how they turned this idea on its head. You’ll spot a few cats in our prints this year to honor the power of seeing life through different lenses.
Plus, I had a great muse for the illustrations—back in December I rescued an injured alley cat and now I can’t imagine life without him (and his constant chatter!).
A final piece of inspiration from the suffragettes: As women organized state by state, they chose various symbols to represent their cause, often local flowers. I also find great inspiration in the flowers I find around Chillicothe and this year’s prints continue to feature some of these natural beauties.
Without the actions of these pioneering women, our lives would be so much different today. So! This year, I hope you’ll join us in honoring the women who make our lives more vibrant—and aren’t afraid to break a few “rules” along the way.
Hanging in our shop this year is a flag inspired by Mrs. Douglas Reinicker—I couldn’t find her first name anywhere—this flag, adorned with two stars representing the states that allowed women to vote when our building was erected, uses our new designs, and includes a Quilt Tattoo™ to inspire you to embrace opportunities to break the rules whenever you can.
Can't wait to see you in the shop this September and October,
–Amy