Little Cat Quilt

A repair customer brought me some of her other quilts to look at, just for fun.  Here's one of them.

I like it because I like cats.  I also like it because it's signed and dated - 1997 - another quilt that can help document and date fabric colors and styles.  I'm quite fond of finding these and adding them to the online "data base".

More About Conversation Prints

The previous post is about a 1940s hexagon quilt that has opened my eyes to mid-century conversation prints.  Barbara Brackman in her book Clues in the Calico defines conversation (aka conversational) prints as prints with recognizable objects other than flowers.

There are conversation prints from the late 1800s onward.  Brackman distinguishes the 20th century prints as less detailed and having more colors than the 19th century prints.  I would add that they tend to be very whimsical.

While poking around for info on these fabrics, I discovered a book that I think is going on my wish list:  Conversational Prints: Decorative Fabrics of the 1950s by Joy Shih

Here's a look back at some other blog posts of quilts I've repaired that I now realize have some very fun conversation prints:

Russia, the Olympics, and Quilts

Olympics!!!

The outfits of the U.S. snowboarding athletes use a print based on an antique quilt.  While I was peering closely at the snowboard racers on Thursday evening, I noticed a diamond patchwork-like design on their number bibs.  And then, handily, a quilt friend posted an article about that design.  

The "prints" on the diamonds contain references to many, many of the folk art traditions all across Russia.  The design is being used all over the Olympic events, and shows up on the medals as well.

So I began to wonder about the tradition of patchwork in Russia.

Here is the Russian Quilters Association.  Clicking on most of the links will take you to a page with photos to explore.

And the All Russia page shows lots of really wonderful quilts.  I especially love the rendition of Klimt's famous painting "The Kiss".  For some reason I was just imagining the other day how that painting could done in fabric - and poof! - here it is!  I can't find the name of the quilter.

Also, there are lots of cat quilts, which is fun.  There was a specially themed section called, "One Day in the Life of a Cat and Her Friends" at the show which is highlighted.  I especially like this stylized black, white, and brown one called "Family Portrait", by Galena Progonova.

I've always been fond of Russian culture, studied Russian throughout high school, and traveled there as a graduation gift back when it was still part of the USSR.  Also, my anthropology major in college has colored my interest in seeing how quilts and quilting vary around the world.  It's fun to see quilts, especially on the All Russia page, that depict the traditional Russian babushka (which actually means "grandmother", but in English has come to mean her headscarf) and Russian folktales and traditional dress.

I, for one, love to watch the Olympics, even though I'm not a sporty person.  The travelogue segments are the best!  I imagine I'm going to get a lot of embroidering done on my big tablecloth project.  I'll post a status report after the closing ceremony!

Buttons, Buttons, and Cats

Well, here is an actual, completed project using some of the myriad of buttons I have been acquiring.  Yea!

This little piece has a story.  Of course.  My friend Gloria gave me her mom's button box.  Her mom was a super accomplished seamstress, with tons of various skills and talents.  I decided right away that I needed to make some sort of memorial piece for Gloria, to celebrate her mom and her love of sewing.

The Cats Go To A Wedding

I've gotten such nice response to the post about the wedding quilt I just finished, that I thought I'd write up the wedding quilt I made last June.

A long time ago, I'd discovered this really cute cat block while surfing.  http://w1.avis.ne.jp/~miyako/cat.JPG
(To see more of Miyako's work, go to her home page.)

When Emmie and Gordon, who are great cat-lovers, announced their engagement, I just knew I'd found the perfect use for this block.  The cats are even wearing bow ties, so are dressed and pressed and ready to attend a formal event!

I drafted my own templates according to the look of the photo.  I think my kitties turned out to be a bit more pudgy than in the original quilt.