Inspiration, Part 1

I'm feeling very inspired tonight, and I thought I'd share it with you!

I don't think there are many things more inspiring than a visit to a quilt shop--unless maybe it's a visit to Quilt Market! I was trolling the internet awhile back while Quilt Market was in full swing up in Portland, and I came across a photo on the Fat Quarter Shop's blog, The Jolly Jabber, that caused me to do a double-take. Gee, the woman in the photo sure as heck LOOKED like Lindy, the owner of one of my local quilt shops, Bear Paws and Hollyhocks, but I wasn't certain. Tonight at our Jo's Club meeting, I confirmed with her that yes, it really WAS HER looking over all the goodies at Anne Sutton's Bunny Tales booth. Lindy carries many of the Bunny Tales patterns and usually has at least one Bunny Tales applique class on her schedule. That's Lindy there on the right in the black sweater--that cute flipped up blonde hair was the giveaway!

Tonight Lindy talked to us a bit about all the wonderful things she saw at Quilt Market, and I can hardly wait to see some of these things arrive in the shops. I wish I could have been there!

One of Lindy's favorite new designers she found at Quilt Market is Virginia Cole of Galloping Pony Studio--click HERE to check out her blog. When I saw the books and patterns Lindy brought back, I had to agree. In the past several months, I've been fascinated by altered art and I had some vague thoughts about combining altered art with quilting. Turns out that's exactly what Virginia Cole does! I had to chuckle when I saw directions for making a purse out of a felted wool sweater in one of her books--I felt like I'd been reading her mind! I've only checked out her blog briefly, but I can see I'll have to go back and read more. She even has a blog category for thrift store finds! I think I'll get lots of inspiration from Virginia. As a matter of fact, I came home with one of her books--

Speaking of books, here's something else that's inspired me lately. A few weeks ago, I read Marcie's blog entry about a book her aunt had loaned her called The Quilters. Marcie talks about the book HERE. If you love history and quilting, I highly recommend the book. Back in the early 1970s, the authors met with quilters in New Mexico and Texas. The book is filled with photographs of quilters and quilts and contains the recollections and stories of these women culled from the oral histories the authors obtained. These quilters worked hard all their lives to carve out a home and a livelihood in the early part of the 1900s. Quilting was a creative outlet for many, but it was also a necessity--quilting "for cover" meant making utilitarian quilts out of anything and everything leftover to keep the family from freezing through the long winters. I brought the book to Jo's Club tonight, and Lindy talked about a play that was based on the book. A play? I had no idea! Turns out the book inspired a musical drama; the Broadway production was nominated for several Tony awards in 1985. Apparently it has been performed all over the country, so keep your eyes open--maybe it will be performed at a theater near you!

I love history and since I also love quilts, old and/or antique quilts inspire me! I know I'm not alone; after all, that's what Jo's Club is all about--reproductions of quilts made in the 1800s. One of our members, Elaine, brought a quilt to share with our group and was kind enough to let me take a photo to show you. This is one she recently made, but she was inspired by a quilt she saw in an old book that belonged to her sister. She enlarged the photo and tried to reproduce the quilt as closely as possible, even going to far as to make one of the blocks from a pieced half-square triangle--can you see it? After all, our quilting ancestors used every scrap they had available!

I hope maybe something you saw here today inspired you also. If not, check back tomorrow--I have more inspiration to talk about!