American Quiltmaking: 1970-2000
Eleanor Levie reveals wonderful tidbits and secrets through quotes, facts and interviews with quilters we all know and appreciate, who are pioneers in the revolution that began in the second half of the 20th century. For instance, Penny McMorris talks about the first time with her TV show audience when she was trying to teach them to use the Electric Quilt software program her husband invented. She had no idea how it worked. From under the desk, out of view of the cameras, sat her husband and together they were able to make it look like she did. The story is delightful. It is anecdotes like these that make this book really special and intimate for the reader. Eleanor taps into designer fabrics and trends as they appeared on the market -- reproduction fabrics, plaids, African prints, hand dyes -- telling us who, when, what, and sometimes the why. This is a fun chapter down memory lane, or was it a walk through my stash? She takes a similar stroll through quilt styles, devoting a chapter each to patchwork, appliqué, and quilting. Not too long ago, my List Serve quilt friends were trying to recall who started or invented the rotary cutter in quiltmaking. This book gives every detail. After reading about it, I don't think I have ever heard the whole story . Here is a hint: it was invented to cut many layers of fabric for kimonos in Japan, and Marti Mitchell wasn't just making templates! Now how about the first wide ruler? I found the book to be full of truly interesting and sometimes astounding information right from the start. Although Eleanor tells the reader in the Introduction that this book can be read in any order they prefer, I chose to start with Chapter One, what I would describe as the social history of the last 25 years of expansion. On the first page, we learn that Irene Preston Miller and her willing, albeit bewildered friends, made an appliquéd pictorial quilt that raised $23,100 through an auction to raise funds to clean the Hudson River. That is a great deal of money for a group quilt to bring in, even in today's quilt market, and this happened in 1972. This quilt is now in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum in NYC. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot and laughed many times. From start to finish, I related. I highly recommend you read this book and keep it on your shelf for reference. It will likely be a college textbook soon, as there is no other book like it. My sense is that it will be reprinted for decades to come.-- --Kimberly Wulfert, PhDEleanor: Your book was waiting for me when I returned from a trip and I've now read, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip thru memory land. You did a masterful job of encapsulating a complicated subject. I'm honored to be included in the diverse cast of characters. Thanks for the book and the return of the slides. --Dixie Haywood --Dixie Haywood