Past Glory

Sometimes a really, really damaged quilt is still incredibly beautiful.  This is one of those times. 

The quilt was sent to me for assessment and my thoughts about what to do with it.  It has much fabric damage, both faded colors and lots of tattered, dangling, and missing fabric.

A Joyful Dresden Plate

 

I love this quilt!  This is especially notable because the era and colors are not among my favorites.  What pleases me so much is the full-out exuberance of the fabric choices.  The wild (for a background) print makes the whole design dance.  This quilt makes me smile!

At some point in its history this Dresden Plate quilt was probably thrown in the washing machine. The wool batting (which may have come from the family's sheep) ended up with lumpy and uneven shrinking.  Also, that wild background fabric is unsuitable for the washing because it was very, very lightweight, almost as light as a voile.  Apparently, two borders had already been cut back.  The remaining two borders were very badly torn, as were 3 large areas in the body of the quilt.  

After a Long Absence....I'm Coming Back!

It's been a loooooong while since any activity here on my blog....  Here's what's coming up:

 

To do right now: 
I've started a newsletter.  Sign up here.
I'll be posting twice a month, with fun little tidbits about antique/vintage quilts, quilt repair, art quilts, and newsy items.   The second post will be up in a day or two.  Sign up now to get it hot off the presses!

To read the first post, you can access the archive here.  
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In a couple of days:
I'll be posting a new quilt repair story here on the blog.  This one will be about a fun Dresden Plate with a tale of matching fabric and learning a new technique.
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In hopefully a short while:
I'm nearly done making a video demonstrating fabric identification with burn testing.  Two former workshop students and I have encountered something that appears to be new to quilt history study.
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Start planning now:
My annual quilt repair and care workshop is coming up in January 2026.  
Email me to be added to the interest list.  
Full description is on my website.
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Other news:
I am finishing up an unusual repair.  It's a contemporary, artist designed wall quilt.  I learned some new techniques for this one, too.

I'm also working on another major art quilt.  

Summer, my favorite season is coming to an end.  I'll miss sitting in my outdoor office, for sure.  But for now, I'm spending every moment outside that I can!  

 

Quilt Repair Tales - Saving History One Quilt at a Time

 

On May 3 and 4, I’m participating in the Global Quilt Connection’s Sampler Platter program.  I’ll be joining 17 other quilt teachers, who’ll be presenting short programs demonstrating the topics we teach about virtually.  Both guilds and individuals can register, and the presentations will be recorded and available for a few days after the weekend.  I did this last fall, and it was super fun - a wide variety of topics to learn about!

Here’s where to learn more and register:
https://www.globalquiltconnection.com/samplerplatters

This time, I’ll be presenting “Quilt Repair Tales - Saving History One Quilt at a Time”.  This spotlights a name-inscribed quilt made in the 1890s that I researched to learn more about its history.  I have lots of tales to tell - interesting stories about the people named on the quilt, the repairs I made to the quilt, and the journey the quilt and I have had from having it gifted to me to being part of a weekend gala bringing the quilt back to its home.

This block has the names of Rev. John D. Pickles, his wife Elizabeth, and daughter Helen.  I was lucky enough to contact a descendant who provided this photo of the family!

 

 

 

 

There are many other blog posts that share information on the research I did.  Start here and then follow links to many aspects of what I learned.  Enjoy!

 

Gaia Speaks

Late one winter night, I was walking in my neighborhood park, thinking sadly about how wantonly we are treating our beautiful planet. These words then came into my mind:

I have love for you
Love each other
Go slow
Be kind
See the Cycles
Be of the Planet

I knew I needed to make this experience into a quilt. 

I am a woman of European descent, born and raised along the shores of Lake Michigan.  I have a degree in anthropology and archeology, which has taught me the beauty and value of living in a multi-cultural world.  I am more and more sure that the wisdom held by indigenous elders and teachers around the world is key to our future, and I am grateful to them for speaking out.  They are all telling us to honor the planet herself and also all the beings who live here with us.  Our “western” culture, as it is generally called, has long abused and claimed ownership of all of Life, with a capital L.  The planet is alive.  The planet is beautiful.  The planet is generous.  The planet needs us to acknowledge that we are a part of Life.  We need to “Be of the Planet”, as Gaia is saying on my quilt.