Modern Quilting Snippets: How old are "modern" quilts?

So when I was preparing a talk on modern quilting recently I asked myself the natural question "Who started calling quilts 'modern'?". I know when I first heard the word "modern" in relation to quilts. It was The Modern Quilt Workshop by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr. I checked that book out from the library so many times. But were they the first?

While pondering this question, it so happened that I had just developed a crush on a new book, The Quilter's Album of Patchwork Patterns, by Ginny Beyer. This book is great. I got into a library habit with this one too, then I broke down and bought it.

In it, I found a reference to this, the Giant Dahlia Quilt. Its pattern was originally published in 1933 in the Des Moines Register with the following wording:

"Here is a modern design for the woman of today who wants to create a quilt that is new and different and will go down in quilt history as one of the new designs for 1933. You will enjoy making this treasured heirloom for the years to come."

Giant Dahlia Quilt

Fanney Shackleford

1940

West Virginia

73.5 x 79"

Photo from West Virginia Department of Archives and History

I found that quilt photo on the Quilt Index and then contacted the West Virginia Department of Archives and History for permission to use it. There was some problem with the film when the photo was taken so the top portion of the quilt is cut off. But can't you just see that uploaded to the Fresh Modern Quilts Flickr group? I'm smitten.

Another "modern" reference I found in Ginny's book was the Modernistic Star, published in 1931.

Modernistic Star Quilt Top by Tim Latimer. 

I also read Barbara Brackman's book ("read" standing up and in two minute increments between my toddler's dangerous and destructive acts) Making History: Quilts and Fabric from 1890-1970. In there she mentioned a magazine called Modern Priscilla (published from 1887-1930), that included, among other things, patchwork patterns. Interestingly, Barbara makes a point in her book that quilts of the past several decades have been affected by cultural shifts in the reaction to the influence of modernism. I tell you, Barbara Brackman is my dream quilter date right now. I would love to ask her about a hundred questions!

So anyway the concept of "modern" and quilts have gone together for 80+ years at this point!

Thanks for all the thoughtful responses to my other posts in this series. A lot of you have your blogger profiles set to "no reply" which is tormenting me because you say such interesting things I would love to reply to you but your email address is not available to me, so I can't. If you want email replies to your thoughtful comments (or if you ever want to, say, win a blog giveaway from leaving a comment) you can Fix It!

Modern Quilting Snippets: artist unidentified

I'm going to ask you how old you would guess this quilt is and I want you to look at the photo and think about it and don't peek. The answer is right underneath so really think about it before you read further.

Pieced Quilt

Artist unidentified

Probably New England

1820-1840

Wool

92 x 84 1/2"

Collection American Folk Art Museum, New York

Gift of Cyril Irwin Nelson, 2005.11.11

Photo by Gavin Ashworth

I found this quilt on the American Folk Art Museum's website. I went there because it was the folk art nature of quilting that originally attracted me to quilting and I was preparing a talk on "modern quilting". When I saw how very old the quilt was it really surprised me. 1820? Wow.

There are a lot of striking quilts in the American Folk Art Museum's collection but I decided to show you the one above, possibly because I'm totally self absorbed and it reminded me of a quilt that I had made:

Cascade 

Christina Cameli

Portland, Oregon

2011

cotton

65 x 80"

My potential narcissism aside, isn't it interesting to see these two quilts, made at least 170 years apart, having so much in common? The dark background, asymmetry, sense of downward motion, generous use of negative space? It can be easy to talk about recent shifts in the practice of quilting, "not your grandma's quilts" and all that. But here's a quilter who lived and died before my grandmas were even born, and our quilts have a lot to say to each other. I feel a connection to this unknown maker.

What I think is also really intriguing is that this graphic top quilt predates the modern art movement altogether. That is significant, and a point I will come back around to in a future installment. But for now, just think about this quilter, working generations ago, in a world far less abstract than the one you and I inhabit. Somehow she decided on five columns of red diamonds hanging in black space. How? Why? Kind of fun to think about.

Go big or something

I started this with a 9 degree wedge ruler:

I don't know how it's going to turn out, which may mean it turns out living in a box instead of being finished. I have a good feeling about it so far though! The plan is 80"x80" and about 5 circles. This is the biggest of the five, about 45" across.

I also got this idea that I should try designing fabric again and I entered a design in the Fabric 8 competition at Spooflower. I would be pretty excited to make the semifinals and if I do you'll definitely know because I'll start begging you to vote for my design (but in a really charming and not embarrassing way. promise.)

I also hear tell that I'm going to be a guest on Mark Lipinski's podcast "Creative Mojo" on Wednesday 12:20-ish pm PST. We've talked on the phone twice and he's already called me "sweetie" a dozen times. I can't wait.

Modern Quilting Snippets: Valerie's Quilt

This is the first in a series of posts, just thoughts and images I want to share on modern quilting.

I saw this quilt in Houston at the International Festival of Quilts last fall. I was taken with it. Google assures me that it's won a bunch of awards, so I know I'm not the only one.

The quilt was made by Valerie Mullally. The photo is hers and used with her permission.

Its name is the best part: "Dear Jane, Welcome to the 21st Century".

So clever. Did that make you smile a little? It did for me. I think that's because Valerie is telling us something, quilter to quilter.

I think she's telling us, the world around us is changing and so quilting is changing too.

Maybe this quilt is even challenging us a bit. How do you feel about how the world is changing? How do you feel about how quilting is changing? And especially, what kind of quilts are you going to leave behind you to tell your story?

Thank you for creating this lovely quilt Valerie, it is spot on in both concept and skill. I feel changed a bit by seeing it.

I'd love to hear your comments on what Valerie's quilt evokes for you.

Portland for the win!

In some sort of cosmic Portland karma vortex, the winner of my giveaway (of Portlander Violet Craft's fabric) is Elsa. This is awesome because Elsa lives here in Portland too and is a fellow PMQG member. She made this beautiful and summery 241 tote and did an Instagram giveaway that I won. Now a few weeks later I get to give her supplies for a new bag! Isn't that cool?

Portland has been really gorgeous lately. A lot more appointment cancelations in our clinic as people stay out and enjoy the weather. The rain returns tomorrow, which happens to be when I give my once-in-a-great-while FMQ class at Modern Domestic. So if you're in the area and are ready to do indoor activities again you should come join me.

Thanks to everyone who said congratulations and nice things about the bag and the book. My email got really confusing with those hundreds of comments so there was no responding, but I read them and appreciated you saying so. See you soon!

Giveaway Day: I'm in Quilts and More!

Hey everyone! Happy Giveaway Day!

Months ago I submitted a quilted tote bag to Quilts and More and they accepted it! It's in the issue that's out now, the Summer 2014.

I made the bag with Waterfront Park by Violet Craft and Cotton Couture solids in Clementine. My giveaway is a copy of the magazine and the fabric needed to make my bag. I've even got the right amount of strap for you here. All you need is batting and thread! And the willingness to try free-motion quilting. And I know a really good free-motion quilting book if you need one (wink).

The giveaway is open to everyone all over the world. It will close on April 16 apparently it's May, so how about May 16th? To enter please just let me know your favorite color right now. I'm in a colorful mood today.  The giveaway is closed and the winner is #125 Elsa! Thank you all for sharing your color love and congratulations and the nice thoughts about my book too. 

Log Cabin Quilting and Creativebug Giveaway

Do you know about Creativebug? I spend very little time online these days and so I only heard of it last week when my friend Susan Beal told me her new 4 week class, Log Cabin Quilting, will start this week at Creativebug. She sent me pictures for her new class, it looks so sweet and very Susan. If you're wanting some log cabins in your life you should check this out! (Susan is clearly meant to teach this class because she wrote Modern Log Cabin Quilting).

I got to try out the website and I'm thrilled. The thing I love about it is that it is subscription based. You pay by the month and watch as many classes as you want in that month. I noticed Natalie Chanin, Brandon Mably, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner, Kathy Doughty, so many classes that caught my eye! I think this subscription idea is a great model and really budget friendly. The clincher for me is that they have a phone app. I tried it out and it's pretty good. 

I'm happy to report that I get to give away a 3 month subscription to Creativebug just in time for one lucky duck to enjoy Susan's class that starts May 6th. So this is a flash giveaway. Leave a comment below telling me the last person you hugged. I know I'm such a pollyanna about my giveaways but I really do like hearing about the good things going on in this world. I'll pick a winner on May 6!

The winner is chosen! #3, Betsy, congratulations Betsy!