I feel like I actually accomplished something yesterday. I unpicked more tubes to finish the top half of the quilt and the 10 rows at the left are sewn together in 2 sets of 5. I need to sew the last strata to finish the quilt and I got started on that too while I watched the 10 o'clock news.
This is a close up that shows the colors better. It looks so muted in the photo above but it is brighter in real life.
I cleaned out a corner of the basement that I have been wanting to get at for a long time. This potholder was in the stack, made sometime in the 1970's. I actually have a red kitchen now so I'll wash it and use it.
Another thing that was in that corner was old books. These are from 1973-1975. I was in a needlework book club and bought every book that even mentioned quilts.
This group is from 1976-1978. Most of these books are in black and white with just a few color pages in a group near the center of the book.
This gives you a hint of the guidelines I had when I was just starting to teach quilting. This page is about choosing your colors, and it is in BLACK AND WHITE! Now you know how pampered you are with the modern books.
Choosing your fabrics, again in black and white, and those lovely teeny tiny calicoes that were all we could find in the mid '70s.
I really don't want to own these books any more but there aren't many people clamoring to buy them. Libraries don't want them either. The corner is cleaned out and I just have a couple things left to put away.
50 years ago today I had my first child. Gosh it doesn't seem like that long ago.
Congrats on your first time mama anniversary/birthday! I say the same thing everytime my girls have a bday. LOL, I have some old books like that with no color, they're a hoot, huh? I love the quilt up top, beautiful! You're my first blog stop every morning, thank you for posting early, I need my fix with coffee ;)
Yet another wonderful quilt on it's way. I'm not so sure those b/w photos are a bad thing, I often take a photo of the fabrics I'm going to use and turn them into b/w to get values. Works better than me squinting my eyes anyway (grin).
Your Miscellany Day was wonderful! Such treasure troves. Isn't it neat to walk down memory lane? It is way to funny to see the quilting books talk about choosing color and the photos are in black and white. Although that doesn't surprise me. Happy Birthday to your first born!!
I sorted through my old books a few months ago and found the same thing....old....black and white... outdated. I took mine to Half Price Books. I don't recall how much they gave me..it wasn't much, but I figured it was better than nothing. The quilting world certainly has changed! And Happy Birthday to your "baby"!
Granted that today's mags & books are more interesting and inspiring than the older ones, but b/w pictures are suggested to check tonality and placement before you decide on what colors you want in a quilt. Lovely rememberances, however. I am going through my sewing "closet" also..very, very, slowly....
The quilt is coming along and it is beautiful - thanks for the close up picture. Maybe you could do a Bundles for Iraq and toss in a few books? I was planning on putting together a bundle and didn't even think of adding a book until now.
the quilt is lovely - I love all those different colors. I too have more books than I need I try to control myself now and don't buy as many. Happy Birthday to your firstborn! Karen http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I'm loving that quilt, Wanda, great start! I had to laugh when I saw some of your old books, especially the one on speed quilts. I wonder what they considered a "speedy" quilt back then? I know the rotary cutter had been invented at that time.
Well happy special first child day! Those books are a real treasure. The libraries don't want 'em but pretty soon the museums will. Trust me on that score. Your quilt is so neat. I love brown so I was completely swooning over it then when you showed all the colors in it I was stumbling to sit down (reading my PC standing up) and check that out. Amazing, exuberant color this morning!
Yes, I remember some of those books from the early '70s. As soon as I graduated from college I felt I could focus on the goal I set for myself at the age of 2.5--to make quilts. Problems was, books were few and far between--the ones at the library were the originals from the 20's and 30's--and I was the only one checking them out! Several times a year a department store would host a quilting bee of Apostolic Christian women, and I'd go pick their brains. No one that I know of envisioned the quilt industry as it is today!
Love the colors/fabrics in your quilt! Just think, 50 years ago you were in the hospital giving birth....motherhood begins! Two years ago I moved and had to downsize so a lot of my old quilt books went to Goodwill, it is amazing how much we collect.
I am a book buyer, too, and have tried, with a measure of success, to slow my intake. There is only so much room, and really and truly - after I read or even just page through some of them I never open them again.
We missed the snow bullet, but we did get the ice.
Great post today Wanda. Another quilt that is stunning. What a difference in the top two photo's. I would have never guessed those bright beautiful fabrics were actually the same as the top photo.
Hearts are always perfect no matter what time of year. And I can visualize it in your kitchen too.
And the books...you make me feel so ~ ~ good to have kept them that long. Don't we all ? I too must get ruthless and get rid of those books that I know are too old to mean anything to any one but me.
Geez Wanda, you must have had your first in your teens!!! P.S. I have at least four of those same older books! If it said 'quilt', I purchased it! I had my own shop in the late 70's and taught quilting - seems like a lifetime ago. LOVE LOVE LOVE the batik piece.
Wanda..... I agree you don't seem old enough to have a child fifty years old....
Love the batiks in the trip around the world.... I agree, batiks are so crisp and lovely to sew on.
I don't know about those books.... they may contain some wonderful forgotten hint.... you need to hang on to them. The cover on "The New American Quilt" looks like an interesting top.
Good Lord, I have most of those books..too bad that they are not worth a fortune! ha ha.. Guess at one time, they were worth a fortune to me. I am going thru my stuff this weekend. I hope I find treasures just like you did.
I use B&W photos to check value placement, so those photos in the book aren't too bad. What made me chuckle tho, was the second one that showed the fabric because the current quilt (which is sold BTW!) has some of those old 1970s calicoes in it.
The colors in the quilt are muted compared to the close up. It really is pretty. 50 years ago for your first child, wow. My oldest is 29 and that seems like a lot!
I've just found your blog this past week and have so enjoyed looking through your many posts, I think I've read almost all of 2010. Love your quilts and other things you've shown, all so lovely. So sorry about all the snow that's come your way lately, you should come live in Wilmington, NC - we've had only 2 inches the entire winter! Oh, and we've got a couple of nice quilt shops and a wonderful guild too.
Congrats on your first time mama anniversary/birthday! I say the same thing everytime my girls have a bday. LOL, I have some old books like that with no color, they're a hoot, huh? I love the quilt up top, beautiful! You're my first blog stop every morning, thank you for posting early, I need my fix with coffee ;)
ReplyDeleteYet another wonderful quilt on it's way.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure those b/w photos are a bad thing, I often take a photo of the fabrics I'm going to use and turn them into b/w to get values. Works better than me squinting my eyes anyway (grin).
those treasures! I expecially like the white-red potholder! Tiziana
ReplyDeleteYour Miscellany Day was wonderful! Such treasure troves. Isn't it neat to walk down memory lane? It is way to funny to see the quilting books talk about choosing color and the photos are in black and white. Although that doesn't surprise me. Happy Birthday to your first born!!
ReplyDeleteI sorted through my old books a few months ago and found the same thing....old....black and white... outdated. I took mine to Half Price Books. I don't recall how much they gave me..it wasn't much, but I figured it was better than nothing. The quilting world certainly has changed!
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Birthday to your "baby"!
Granted that today's mags & books are more interesting and inspiring than the older ones, but b/w pictures are suggested to check tonality and placement before you decide on what colors you want in a quilt. Lovely rememberances, however. I am going through my sewing "closet" also..very, very, slowly....
ReplyDeleteThe quilt is coming along and it is beautiful - thanks for the close up picture. Maybe you could do a Bundles for Iraq and toss in a few books? I was planning on putting together a bundle and didn't even think of adding a book until now.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt is looking great.
ReplyDeleteWanda those Batiks are scrumptious! I like how the quilt is progressing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind taking a few of those books off your hands. I'll pay postage. Let me know.
Happy birthday to your first born. An Aquarian just like me.
The quilt is looking beautiful! Hannah
ReplyDeletethe quilt is lovely - I love all those different colors. I too have more books than I need I try to control myself now and don't buy as many. Happy Birthday to your firstborn!
ReplyDeleteKaren
http://karensquilting.com/blog/
I'm loving that quilt, Wanda, great start! I had to laugh when I saw some of your old books, especially the one on speed quilts. I wonder what they considered a "speedy" quilt back then? I know the rotary cutter had been invented at that time.
ReplyDeleteLinda
Well happy special first child day! Those books are a real treasure. The libraries don't want 'em but pretty soon the museums will. Trust me on that score. Your quilt is so neat. I love brown so I was completely swooning over it then when you showed all the colors in it I was stumbling to sit down (reading my PC standing up) and check that out. Amazing, exuberant color this morning!
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember some of those books from the early '70s. As soon as I graduated from college I felt I could focus on the goal I set for myself at the age of 2.5--to make quilts. Problems was, books were few and far between--the ones at the library were the originals from the 20's and 30's--and I was the only one checking them out! Several times a year a department store would host a quilting bee of Apostolic Christian women, and I'd go pick their brains. No one that I know of envisioned the quilt industry as it is today!
ReplyDeleteI love that quilt. The batik is lovely. Great work!
ReplyDeleteHappy First Child's Birthday! What lovely treasures you found! I really love that TRW! The batiks look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLove the colors/fabrics in your quilt! Just think, 50 years ago you were in the hospital giving birth....motherhood begins! Two years ago I moved and had to downsize so a lot of my old quilt books went to Goodwill, it is amazing how much we collect.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love the close up of the patchwork.. those fabrics are perfect with each other!
ReplyDeleteYour trip quilt just glows. It is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am a book buyer, too, and have tried, with a measure of success, to slow my intake. There is only so much room, and really and truly - after I read or even just page through some of them I never open them again.
We missed the snow bullet, but we did get the ice.
Great post today Wanda. Another quilt that is stunning. What a difference in the top two photo's. I would have never guessed those bright beautiful fabrics were actually the same as the top photo.
ReplyDeleteHearts are always perfect no matter what time of year. And I can visualize it in your kitchen too.
And the books...you make me feel so ~ ~ good to have kept them that long. Don't we all ? I too must get ruthless and get rid of those books that I know are too old to mean anything to any one but me.
J~MT
Geez Wanda, you must have had your first in your teens!!! P.S. I have at least four of those same older books! If it said 'quilt', I purchased it! I had my own shop in the late 70's and taught quilting - seems like a lifetime ago.
ReplyDeleteLOVE LOVE LOVE the batik piece.
Your Trip Around the World is coming along great. I am amazed at all the snow you have received. I really like your orphan batik blocks.
ReplyDeleteWanda..... I agree you don't seem old enough to have a child fifty years old....
ReplyDeleteLove the batiks in the trip around the world.... I agree, batiks are so crisp and lovely to sew on.
I don't know about those books.... they may contain some wonderful forgotten hint.... you need to hang on to them. The cover on "The New American Quilt" looks like an interesting top.
Have a good weekend.
Good Lord, I have most of those books..too bad that they are not worth a fortune! ha ha.. Guess at one time, they were worth a fortune to me. I am going thru my stuff this weekend. I hope I find treasures just like you did.
ReplyDeleteI use B&W photos to check value placement, so those photos in the book aren't too bad. What made me chuckle tho, was the second one that showed the fabric because the current quilt (which is sold BTW!) has some of those old 1970s calicoes in it.
ReplyDeleteOh Wanda, You bring back such memories. I know I had at least 4 of those red fabrics in your pot holder.
ReplyDeleteThe colors in the quilt are muted compared to the close up. It really is pretty.
ReplyDelete50 years ago for your first child, wow. My oldest is 29 and that seems like a lot!
I've just found your blog this past week and have so enjoyed looking through your many posts, I think I've read almost all of 2010. Love your quilts and other things you've shown, all so lovely. So sorry about all the snow that's come your way lately, you should come live in Wilmington, NC - we've had only 2 inches the entire winter! Oh, and we've got a couple of nice quilt shops and a wonderful guild too.
ReplyDelete