Quilts in the Attic: Uncovering the Hidden Stories of the Quilts We Love - Hardcover

Musgrave, Karen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0760341214 ISBN 13: 9780760341216

Publisher: Voyageur Press, 2012

Synopsis

For generations, quilts have both preserved history and furthered artistic innovation, leading to personal and creative discoveries that have changed lives. In Quilts in the Attic, author and quiltmaker Karen Musgrave presents 30 stories of great quilt discoveries, including hidden masterpieces, fascinating finds, and treasured family heirlooms. The tales in this book are both heartwarming and thrilling, whether about unearthing breathtaking pieces at summer flea markets or finding Grandma’s priceless antique quilt hidden away in a box.

 

By sharing stories from all over the world, Musgrave uses these wonderful works of art to explore the complex patchwork of human history, from 19th-century Jewish life in Southern California to the Sears National Quilt Contest at the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, to a 12th-century castle in France. Each memory embodies the inherent human drive to craft something of purpose and meaning while shedding light on the works of well-known quiltmakers like Mary Lee Bendolph from Gee’s Bend, Marie Webster, and Ruby Short McKim. Featuring stories from unknown and famous quilters alike, Quilts in the Attic uncovers the mystery and significance of the quilts we love.

About this title

About the Author

Spike Gillespie is the critically acclaimed author of several books, including Quilting Art: Inspiration, Ideas & Innovative Works from 20 Contemporary Quilters and Quilty As Charged: Undercover in the Material World. Her work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Smithsonian, Real Simple, Fiber Arts, and many other publications. She lives in Austin, Texas.

From the Back Cover

For generations, quilts have both preserved history and furthered artistic innovation, leading to personal and creative discoveries that have changed lives. Quilts in the Attic showcases 30 stories of great quilt discoveries including masterpiece quilts, fascinating finds, and family heirlooms. From unearthing breathtaking quilts at summer flea markets to finding Grandma s priceless heirloom quilt hidden away in a box, the stories in this book are both heartwarming and thrilling.

Through these tales, we learn about Jewish life in South Carolina in the early 1850s and a slave named Rinah, we delve into the 1933 World s Fair Sears National Quilt Contest, and we travel to France and a twelfth-century castle to track down a unique quilted bed set. The memories shared here show the basic drive in the human spirit to create something that carries purpose and meaning, and they shed light on the works of well-known quiltmakers like Mary Lee Bendolph from Gee s Bend, Marie Webster, and Ruby Short McKim.

Though the makers of the quilts probably did not set out to touch our feelings, longings, and lives, there is something universal in their experiences. Featuring stories from everyday stitchers and well-known quilters alike, Quilts in the Attic uncovers the mystery and meaning of the quilts we love.

Edition details

• Publisher: Voyageur Press
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0760341214
• ISBN 13: 9780760341216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256