appliqué quilt from Pennsylvania

I have not been buying much this fall-- there are already more quilts in my house than I can accommodate, and I have not been terribly inspired by the selection of vintage and antique quilts available at the moment. But this lovely little appliqué quilt from Pennsylvania fits perfectly with an exhibit of quilts I am planning for the spring.

In March, I will be displaying quilts as the featured guest at the 21st Annual Airing of the Quilts at the Milwaukie Senior Center here in Oregon, and all the quilts will include representations of nature; trees, leaves, flowers, fruits and birds. I thought it would be fun to add a new quilt for the exhibit, and this appliqué quilt with leaves was just the ticket. Price was right, and it fits with one of the other quilts, a green and white, 1840s Prince's Feather from Maine.

The new quilt should arrive this week, and I will share more details when it is here. Apparently it has a signature, Minnie Wilkins. The seller thought it could have been made as early as 1880, I'm thinking possibly a little earlier, but we'll have to wait and see. 

a favorite book

"A gentleman tucks his undershirt into his undershorts."

"A gentleman never writes personal letters on his business stationary."

"When a gentleman wears a vest, he leaves the bottom button undone."

These are some of the examples of gentlemen's etiquette in John Bridges' essential book, "How to be a Gentleman" - available through Brooks Brothers.

"If a gentleman wants his guests to leave, he puts the liquor away."

The first time I read the book, I cackled and snorted-- something a gentleman should probably avoid doing in social settings. The book was hilarious, but at the same time, it was riveting. I knew about some of the do's and don'ts but many others were new to me. Even the advice that seemed silly at first made sense in the end, and that made the book even more enthralling.

"A gentleman stands up when he is introduced."

There are several books in the series, one about raising a gentleman, one about how to know the appropriate things to say in various situations, and one about how to be a good host. The original books are small, pocket manual size, richly finished with blue leather covers and gold-edged pages. The rich finish, for me, is part of the gag. There are also more recent, expanded editions available. Every gentleman should have a copy of this book!

NW Quilting Expo: Eye-Popping Modern Quilts

"Churn-Dash 2" by Martha Peterson (with Chandra Wu & Deborah Ferguson)

The Northwest Quilting Expo was at the Portland Expo Center over the last three days, and what a show it was! One of the best in its 14-year history. During the years I have attended, there has been a shift in the type of quilts in the show. There are fewer of the glittery show quilts lavishly quilted and full of crystals; fewer traditional quilts, and more Modern quilts.

Seattle Modern Quilt Guild was this year's guest Modern guild, and I was very impressed with their work. "Churn-Dash 2" by Martha Peterson, an improvisational round robin style quilt made with Chandra Wu and Deborah Ferguson, was my favorite quilt in the show. For me, it represented an updated, elegant expression of Cubism. In a lot of ways, I liked the quilt better than a cubist painting. Crisp and architectural, it sparkled much more than any of the show quilts covered in crystals.

"Reflections" by Carol Parks also knocked my socks off. It was part of the exhibit of quilts inspired by Portland bridges-- a wonderful exhibit with many fine quilts, several made by people I know and admire.

"Plymouth Rocks 1" by SMQG members, quilted by Sandie Holtman

Two quilts made for a Seattle Modern Quilt Guild solids challenge were also among my favorites, and in reviewing all the pictures, I was starting to see a theme among the quilts that really stopped me in my tracks. I was much more interested in the bold, improvisational, geometric pieced quilts than anything else in the show.

"Plymouth Rocks 2" by SMQG members, quilted by Lisa Nolte

"Happy Encounter; Gwen Meets Karla, Karla Meets Angela" by Jackie Benedetti

Another modern quilt that made me swoon was "Happy Encounter; Gwen Meets Karla, Karla Meets Angela" by Jackie Benedetti. Blocks were inspired by and created during workshops by Gwen Marston and Karla Alexander, and Angela Walters did the quilting. Loved everything about it.

quilting by Angela Walters

There were some quilts that were not necessarily modern, but were fresh and new in their own ways. "Tileworks III" by Mary Kay Price was among my favorites. The quilt was inspired by handmade tiles, and patches were painted with shiva oils to suggest the curve of the tiles.

"Tileworks III" by Mary Kay Price

detail- "Tileworks III" by Mary Kay Price

Studio Art Quilters Association (SAQA) was another one of the exhibits, and two of my favorite quilts were side by side. "Sahalie Falls" by Amanda Miller and "Rejuvenation" by Jean Wells made quite a pair. Both were improvisationally pieced using textured fabrics in rich earth tones.

"Sahalie Falls" by Amanda Miller 

"Rejuvenation" by Jean Wells

Of course, there were plenty of epic quilts that were not of the modern ilk, and three of my favorites were one-of-a-kind original designs. The "Arizona Centennial Commemorative Quilt" by the Arizona State Quilt Guild; "On a Quilted Breeze" by the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild; and "American Woman (Hippe)" by Kim Diamond and Jo Ann Blade were very special indeed.

The Arizona Centennial Commemorative Quilt

The Arizona Centennial Commemorative Quilt (detail)

"On a Quilted Breeze" 2010, by the Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild

"American Woman (Hippe)" by Kim Diamond and Jo Ann Blade

There was lots to see, plenty of vendors, special exhibits, raffle quilts, and bed turnings of antique and vintage quilts by Latimer Quilt & Textile Center. Kudos to the event organizers and all the quiltmakers on an especially stunning show this year. Can't wait for next year's show!

Generation Q Magazine

Just got my hands on a copy of the latest Generation Q Magazine, and I am happy to be included in the issue. More like elated, considering my lead page head shot is graced by six amazing quilt makers whose work I greatly admire. It makes me happy to see all their faces.

I had to smile when Victoria Findlay Wolfe was one of those happy faces. We were both in Generation Q previously, and more recently showed up on the contributors' page in American Quilter. That was the day I learned to be thankful for being at the end of the alphabet!

The Double Knit Twins :)

in American Quilter

Scott Hansen did a terrific job with the interview, asking some questions I hadn't been asked before. I shared stories about getting started as a collector, the point when I recognized my collection was something more, and what it was like to start making quilts after many years of collecting.

As usual, the magazine has an impressive lineup of articles, and many familiar names including some very accomplished guildmates from Portland Modern Quilt Guild. Get your copy today, for details click here.

Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000

Amazon review of Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000 by Roderick Kiracofe

A few years ago, Roderick Kiracofe and I met through Facebook. There was a page for sharing pictures of old quilts. We were both members. and I was posting a lot of pictures of the quilts of the 1970s. Roderick took an immediate interest in the quilts, and when he was passing through Portland in 2012 he visited my home. We shared a love for quirky, barely-vintage quilts, and I was delighted to learn he was writing a book - "Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000".

my quilt brought back fond memories for curator Amelia Peck

Before the book was released, Roderick sent me an e-mail to tell me there would be a big surprise for me in the book, but he wouldn't say what it was. I just received a copy, and not only is one of my quilts included as a full-page illustration, the quilt was mentioned in the essay "In Dialogue with an Anonymous Quilt" by Amelia Peck, curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. An excellent surprise, and I am honored-- but even without this personal connection to the book I would unconditionally recommend it for anyone who loves quilts and art.

The book will surely be one of the seminal quilt history books of the 21st century, a successful follow-up to "The American Quilt: A History of Cloth & Comfort 1750-1950". It is brilliant, full of vibrant, offbeat quilts, and excellent essays by noteworthy experts in the field of quilts and textiles. Worth reading cover to cover. This book ushers in a new era of collecting, a new breed of collector and a whole new genre of quilts. Perfectly timed, considering how much the new generation of quiltmakers in the Modern Quilting movement appreciate improvisational style. Thank you, Roderick, for generously sharing your quilts and your knowledge, for including quilts from other collections, and for giving us the gift of another amazing, memorable book of quilts.

To purchase the book, click here.

unconventional, unexpected quilts

strip pieced quilt, c. 1960

Today I celebrate the release of Roderick Kiracofe's new book, Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000. One quilt from my collection is included in the book, and I'm eager to get my hands on a copy. As a tribute, here are some favorite unconventional, unexpected quilts from my collection.

strip pieced medallion, c. 1970

pieced and appliquéd quilt, c. 1960-1970

appliquéd and embroidered bed cover, c. 1970

Double Wedding Ring, c. 1970

To find out which of my quilts was included in the book, order your copy today! Congratulations to Roderick Kiracofe on the successful release of Unconventional & Unexpected: American Quilts Below the Radar 1950-2000. Available now online - click here for details.