Collecting Modern Quilts

"9-Patched" 2014 by Gerrie Thompson
35" x 47 & 1/2"

With every ending comes a new beginning. My New York Beauty collection is nearly complete, a book is underway, and once the book is finished I will no longer be actively collecting those quilts. However, I will not be at a loss for what to collect. I am very interested in collecting modern quilts.

On Thursday I attended day one of the annual Clark County Quilters show, and as I was strolling down the last aisle before heading home, I saw Gerrie Thompson's "9-Patched" quilt. At first I did not realize Gerrie had made it. Her other quilts, the ones I have seen, were more traditional.

When I looked more closely at the tags, I realized the quilt was for sale, and it was definitely priced to sell. It was a no-brainer for me. I bought the quilt before I left the building. I was thinking about it as I headed toward the door, and there was Gerrie. We went back in to look at the quilt, and I removed the price tag to bring to the front desk- SOLD!

Gerrie and I met at this show last year, and we were both part of the Pacific West Quilt Show in Tacoma later in the year. I have admired her work ever since I first saw it, and I am delighted to include something she made in my collection. The quilt also has a fun story. It was created for the guild challenge, "Not Your Grandmother's nine patch" and the tag told the story about Gerrie's creative process and inspiration.

Gerrie Thompson's "9-Patched" is not the first modern quilt in my collection. Last December, I bought one of Susan Beal's quilts from the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative - #13083, Improv Rays. So, my collection of modern quilts now includes two quilts, and I very much look forward to seeing the collection grow in the coming years.

AAQI #13083, Improv Rays by Susan Beal