Lolita Newman's search to find her family connection with slavery moved her to create heirlooms linking her past to the present. She started Stitchin' by the River Studio, a nod to her Cane River, La., roots. Her Freedom Gone quilts are rich in color and history. They depict slavery during the Civil War years, using images in black thread. The seven quilts and six projects bring past stories to life, showing common chores, family life, and slave quarters — and the quest for freedom. She hopes that these depictions warm your heart and stir your soul.