Thursday
December 8th.
Feast of the
Immaculate Conception
of Mary
In all the years I have been in association with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth I have met several artists in residence at Nazareth.
The one that left the most lasting impression on me was
Penny Sisto.
Penny Sisto was born in the Orkney Islands off the northern tip of Scotland. As a health worker for the British Ministry of Overseas Development, she utilized her skills as a midwife and aided in health clinics for the Maasai, LuBukusu and Kikuyu tribes of East Africa.
During this time, Penny combined the embroidery, applique and quilting techniques she learned from her grandmother with the beading and collage methods of her African friends.
Ms. Sisto says, “I have little or no formal education, my Granny taught me to sew and read by the soft light of a kerosene lantern at the age of three. The nuns taught me to embroider, the Maasai taught me to crochet, and to revel in color.
"My quits spring full-born into my mind. My task, if you will, is to allow my clumsy hands to make them manifest.
"My granny taught me quilting. Placing square against square in neat stacks to be sewn that night after the farm chores were done. Granny was stern, ‘Stitch and unpick, corners must be squared, and colors mixed dark and then light!’ - Even at seven I rebelled!”
Today, in her Floyds Knobs, Indiana home Sisto continues to do her amazing work.
Penny Sisto was born in the Orkney Islands off the northern tip of Scotland. As a health worker for the British Ministry of Overseas Development, she utilized her skills as a midwife and aided in health clinics for the Maasai, LuBukusu and Kikuyu tribes of East Africa.
During this time, Penny combined the embroidery, applique and quilting techniques she learned from her grandmother with the beading and collage methods of her African friends.
Ms. Sisto says, “I have little or no formal education, my Granny taught me to sew and read by the soft light of a kerosene lantern at the age of three. The nuns taught me to embroider, the Maasai taught me to crochet, and to revel in color.
"My quits spring full-born into my mind. My task, if you will, is to allow my clumsy hands to make them manifest.
"My granny taught me quilting. Placing square against square in neat stacks to be sewn that night after the farm chores were done. Granny was stern, ‘Stitch and unpick, corners must be squared, and colors mixed dark and then light!’ - Even at seven I rebelled!”
Today, in her Floyds Knobs, Indiana home Sisto continues to do her amazing work.
Penny's Mary
Tsarina-America
Penny's work is all hand quilted.
You will find a gallery of her work and her biography on
It is an amazing story.
Her works are so full of soul and suffering that she experienced as a young girl raised by her Indian grandmother.
All of her works are wall hangings. Some are as large as 1/2 of my bedroom wall.
Most I could never afford, but the one above, Peace in the Valley , I was able to purchase at a reasonable price at a gallery in Bardstown.
The cut pieces are quilted on a hand written fabric of the 21st. Psalm
This is my most prized piece of original art and I have many pieces.
Go here for more Marys
Can't resist telling you about her son.
Jeremy Sisto is currently appearing in Law and Order as one of the detectives.
Jeremy's father is a musician in Kentucky and his mother lives in Indiana.
Jeremy Sisto starred as Jesus in the film
Jesus
My most favorite of all the Jesus films.
He has been in many films and on Broadway.
Penny is a wonderful example of putting her faith to work through her hands to help others.
She is as famous for her good works as she is her art.
This sharing of the faces of Mary has brought much JOY
to me these days.
He has been in many films and on Broadway.
Penny is a wonderful example of putting her faith to work through her hands to help others.
She is as famous for her good works as she is her art.
This sharing of the faces of Mary has brought much JOY
to me these days.
