Quilts in the Attic

My book Quilts in the Attic: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the Quilts We Love is becoming more of a reality! The book jacket is done and I'm really happy with it. Sorry that I can only share with you the cover, but the jacket isn't available to share. The book can also be pre-ordered on Amazon for $16.32 (32% off the list price of $24.00).  Please "Like" this book on Amazon. (By the way, I learned that Amazon usually edits book description which is exactly what they did with mine. Who knew?) The date on Amazon has already changed once. I don't have an exact date yet when it will be available (I will let you know), and the original time frame was January. Once the book is out, I will be blogging about details, history and stories of the quilts and people I interviewed that are not included in the book.

I am also thrilled that the book will be available in Canada and the UK! I hope you will enjoy reading it.

Here is the description from the back cover: 

FOR GENERATIONS, quilts have both preserved history and furthered artistic innovation, leading to personal and creative discoveries that have changed lives. Quilts in the Attic showcases 30 stories of great quilt discoveries— including masterpiece quilts, fascinating finds, and family heirlooms. From unearthing breathtaking quilts at summer flea markets to finding Grandma’s priceless heirloom quilt hidden away in a box, the stories in this book are both heartwarming and thrilling. 

Through these tales, we learn about Jewish life in South Carolina in the early 1850s and a slave named Rinah, we delve into the 1933 World’s Fair Sears National Quilt Contest, and we travel to France and a twelfth-century castle to track down a unique quilted bed set. The memories shared here show the basic drive in the human spirit to create something that carries purpose and meaning, and they shed light on the works of well-known quiltmakers like Mary Lee Bendolph from Gee’s Bend, Marie Webster, and Ruby Short McKim.

  

Though the makers of the quilts probably did not set out to touch our feelings, longings, and lives, there is something universal in their experiences. Featuring stories from both unknown and famous quilters alike, Quilts in the Attic uncovers the mystery and meaning of the quilts we love.

Description given in the inside front flap:

As both history and art, quilts express the human experience and can lead us to discoveries about ourselves, about the past, and about artistic creation as a whole. Quilts in the Attic features 30 heartwarming stories of great quilt discoveries—from bidding on a breathtaking quilt at an estate auction to uncovering a little-known art form in France to finding and repairing a priceless heirloom quilt. One quilt features a block made by a slave, and another quilt inspires a mixed media artist, but ultimately, all of these stories reveal the mystery of why we love quilts.

 

CREATE with Kari McKnight-Holbrook

When I realized that Interweave's CREATE was happening so close to me, I knew I should not pass up the opportunity. Unfortunately, by the time I got around to signing up there weren't many classes that I was interested in available. I have been playing with fluid acrylics and I love collage so Kari McKnight-Holbrook's class A Fluid Romance. I loved that she provided the option of sending you a class supply list with images. What a great idea! I was shocked at how many students came unprepared. (Certainly takes the fun out of it for the rest of us.) Kari was incredibly generous with her supplies.

I was also fortunate to have a table mate that approached the process pretty much like I did. Let's just try everything and not worry about making something great. I had thought I would do a collage about my adopted grandmother. That didn't seem to work because when I began I went for bright colors (the only one to do so in the class of approx. 25). As Kari would travel from student to student making comments, all she could say about mine was "Nice use of color," and move on. Good thing I don't need encouragement. I also noticed that she spent most of her time talking and spending time with the right (her right) side of the class something I have noticed with teachers and something I conscientiously try not to do.

And while I don't feel my piece is great, I also can't seem to paint over it either. I do want to play more with the different techniques that were used. I see more fluid acrylic collages in my future. I also see myself painting more because I love it. I'm also releasing that college professor who told me I could paint because he didn't like my subject matter. I've also discovered that fluid acrylics work well on fabric! Kari did open my eyes to the wonderful layering that can be done with them and as a quiltmaker I do love layers.

For this piece, I used some of my photographs (Krygyz woman in traditional dress and door from Georgia) copied onto paper, rub-ons (love them), cut up flash card, postage stamp, drawing, model paste, foiling, writing with a Sharpie, stencils, and spray painting with a toothbrush. Kari likes the look of dripping paint. This just didn't appear to me so I choose not to include it in this piece. 

Trying new things keeps me growing. It's also time to release the old demons and spread my wings and fly, fly, fly.

Journal of Ordinary Thought

Cover art by Susan Shie, Garden of Haiti

I am making an effort to get out more because I'm far too comfortable staying home. I don't think it is healthy to allow your world to get too small. When I heard that the Fiber Artists for Hope was going to have our quilts on display (they were on tables in the back of the room) at the launching of the Neighborhood Writing Alliance's new Journal of Ordinary Thought on September 21, I decided to go even though getting into Chicago for a 6:30 meeting meant leaving my house at around 4:00 (avoiding rush hour traffic). The drive was uneventful and the Parking Goddess was kind and I got street parking. I was early so I spent some time reading and making notes in my journal.

I knew very little about the organization before attending the event. The NWA offers writing workshops for adults in neighborhood locations of the Chicago Public Library, community centers and social service agencies. Participants' writings about personal histories, everyday experiences and reflections on their communities are published in the JOT.  They also have a wonderful blog called Everyone is a Philosopher which I encourage you to check out.
 

Quilt by Bonnie Smith

The JOT was founded on the propositions that every person is a philosopher, expressing one's thoughts fosters creativity and change, and taking control of life requires people to think about the world and communicate their thoughts to others.

I was so impressed with Hollen Reischer, the JOT's editor. She was warm and encouraging. It was easy to see that she cares greatly about the people involved and the organization's mission. She set the tone for the positive and inspiring evening.

This particular issue is titled Testify: JOT writers on Creative Resistance: Art as Activism. The readings were powerful! I cried. I laughed.  The energy in the room was electrifying. I loved every minute of it and was sad when it ended. I left feeling inspired to continue to make quilts as creative resistance and art as activisim. I also plan to continue to visit their blog often because it is opening my eyes to so many new people and ideas. I hope you will join me.

Fiber Artist for Hope 9/11 quilts

 

Fiber Artist for Hope 9/11 quilts

Peace Fibres

Nearly a year ago, Karen Lohn, a licensed counseling psychologist and fibre artist, stumbled upon my blog during an image search. She offered to pay for use of my images, but I fell in love with her mission and just asked for a copy of her book. People told me I was crazy for not taking the money offer and for trusting a stranger. For me, there is more to life than money and I've learned to simply trust my gut. Yesterday I  her book, Peace Fibres: Stitching a Soulful World, arrived in the mail. A detail of one of my quilts made the cover (the sun) and my quilt, History with No Memory, with part of one of my blog entries is on page 131. The caption reads, "In making a quilt about one of George Washington's slaves, Karen S. Musgrave battled her own dragons. Her blog quotes Stella Adler, "Life beats down and crushes the soul. Art reminds you that you have one.""

Can the very act of working with fiber serve as an avenue toward peace within an individual? This is the question that Lohn answers through a series of thoughtful essays. Serving as a transition from chapter to chapter and tying the book together are Threads for Thought, Connecting Activities and finally Projects. Between twelve chapters, Threads for Thought offers tiny bits of fibre trivia and inspiring questions. Especially poignant is Stitching Through Crisis a story of fibre, friendship, love, life and death. Have a tissue handy.

In Connecting Activities, Lohn has created a wonderful collection of self-care ideas and exercises. She explains that the activities are aimed to integrated mind, body and spirit. Even the questions she asks are thought-provoking like Which fibre characteristic best describes your temperament?    Recommends all kinds of activities including movies to watch. I have now added Threads of Hope, a Canadian documentary narrated by Donald Sutherland, about Chilean women who used their arpilleras in the struggle to find their husbands, sons and fathers who had disappeared. 

Projects offer wonderful suggestions for projects that can be done with family and friends from felting to fabric frames, twig figures to family crests, to batik and braiding.

I LOVE the quotes she choose to illustrate different points. Colors of Creativity begins with Lily Tomlin's quote, " I always wanted to be somebody, but now I see I should have been more specific." Humor always gets me. On the flip side, each chapters begin with a different faiths prayer for peace. Threads of Identity, begins with the Muslim Prayer for Peace, Ripping Out, Resilience has the Buddhist Prayer for Peace, Stitching Through Crises has the Baha'i Prayer, Peace and Yarns of Generativity has the Jainist Prayer for Peace and so on.

I also liked finding out about the different people and organizations making a difference with fibre like I Love a Parade, an organization employing women who are chronically homeless to create high-quality art from recycled costume materials donated by local theaters and parades.

There are seven pages of references, resources and credits at the back of the book. I was fascinated by Kathleen Jenks' website mythinglinks.org. It has very interesting background information on myths and lore regarding fibre connections.


This book is full of wonderful, colorful photographs of art and people. Around the edge of each page in each section is a different colorful fibre! I love the photograph on page 155 of the African woman dancing with her caption "In my dream, soul mates from around the world join me in celebratory dance."

The book is available through her website for $29.99 plus shipping or through some bookstores. Ask yours to carry it. I am.

I am loving this book and am so grateful that I contributed in a small way.

Wishing you peace one stitch at a time and lots of inspiration wherever and however you can find it!

P.S. If you do buy the book, please let Karen know that I sent you. Thanks.

 

The Amazing Marie Z Johansen

When the call went out that the Arts in the Cards group was looking for new members, I decided to throw my hat in the ring (remember feeling the fear and doing it anyway). Being a new member in an established group is never easy. I will admit that it was a little intimidating in the beginning especially when another new member quit shortly after joining. However, the little jewels (ATCs are only 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches) are perfect for experimenting and I love our monthly themes. Each round seems to get better!

I was hoping to find a group that would not only support my efforts to be more creative but inspire me. It is just what the group has done. There is one member, Marie Z Johansen, who definitely makes me want to push on my comfort zone and put a little extra into my work. She is amazing. The back of her ATCs are works of art too. Lately she's been sending them in envelopes that she embosses herself! I love her style. She is caring and giving as well as being incredibly talented. I am happy to be a part of her world and truly wished she lived closer.

Fiber Art Divas Show

The annual Fiber Art Divas show will be held October 22 through 30 at the Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery, 508 North Center St., Naperville, IL. The show will feature one-of-a-kind art incorporating techniques such as art quilting, wool felting, knitting, mixed fiber, silk painting, and more. Items on display will include wall art, fiber sculpture, jewelry, and art-to wear. Several items will be available for purchase.

The show represents the work of the Fiber Art Divas, a local group of fiber art enthusiasts who meet monthly to share ideas and explore new techniques.  Several of the group’s members are award-winning or published artists.  Theme challenges from the past year will be featured along with other work by the artists.

An artists’ reception, open to the public, will be held Sunday, October 23 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Demonstrations of various fiber art methods will be held Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and during the Sunday reception.

Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., Monday 7 to 9 p.m., closed Tuesday, Wednesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m.  Admission is free.

I use to belong to this group and I support the Naperville Art League in their efforts to support all artists. Hope to see you at the reception!

Taking the Leap-Changing Your Story

I was talking with a friend who wants to take a new direction in her life. Change is not easy and while excited about the change, I also felt she was setting herself up failure.  I asked her to describe to me what "taking the leap" into this direction felt to her. I realized that like many people she viewed "taking the leap" as jumping off a 100 story building. Who wouldn't be frightened? So I asked her to tell me how success feels to her or how she feels when she is creating and in the moment. Even her voice changed as she excited share the excitement of time standing still when she is lost in creating art.

I shared with her tell whenever I seem to tell myself a negative story (something that used to happen often), I now try to pause and change the story. I create a positive story that becomes my mantra (repeating it often in my head). Instead of seeing her new adventure as falling off a building, maybe she could image leaping upward and joyously.  Or remember a time when she did something fearful and succeeded instead of all the times she tried something new and failed. Just change the story she is telling herself. It takes practice. I don't know why as adults we think we should be experts or accomplish new skills quickly.

Also the more often we do things that put us outside our comfort zone, the easier it becomes.  After spending $1,500 on a airline ticket to travel to Georgia alone and not knowing a soul was for a a major life changing experience for me. Living fully in the moment, not worrying about what would happen, simply enjoying the ride and trusting the universe (even when my luggage didn't arrive with me) was liberating! So feel the fear, do it anyway and give yourself a positive story. What do you have to loose?

Okay, a couple people emailed me and asked me what I have done lately that pushes on my comfort zone so I decided to answer here.  Nearly five months ago I accepted the second vice president position on the Naperville Art League's board. This position is responsible for hospitality and programs. While I have been a member of the NAL for four years, I was simply a paying member. I didn't participate in any activities so I'm clueless. I know I swore I'd never serve on another board (never say never), but I knew this would be a great opportunity to stretch my comfort zone. It is also like me to go from zero to sixty.  I will admit being frustrated often. It has been worth it. I'm meeting great people and getting to know the artists in my community. I don't regret it.  I even submitted two pieces into the "As the Crow Flies" exhibition and my quilt has gotten lots of positive feedback. It is also the first time I have shared one of my mixed media pieces with the public and now you.