Prairie Skirts

 If you're looking for a great idea for

a small group activity,

here's a good one.

It's called 4 by 4.

Four members bring

4 quilts and talk about 

their quilting journey.

It's a great way to learn new things

about quilting in general,  

get inspired and 

of course, a fantastic way to get

to know your members better.

This week I was one of the 4 

in my Quilt Therapy group

sharing a bit of our quilt history.

This is one of the quilts I brought.

Prairie Skirts

1983

42" X 42"

*Side note:

I just had to take a photo of the quilt as a horse blanket.

One of the funniest requests I had

when I worked at the quilt shop was

" Do you have a quilt pattern to make 

a HORSE BLANKET!"

***

This quilt was made 

 using fabrics from an early line 

of Jinny Beyers when she was just

beginning to design fabrics for VIP.

 

Her beautiful quilts and 

fabric designs were and continue to influence

quilters to explore interesting and creative ways

to use fabrics to create secondary patterns

within the blocks.

Now this might seem

common place,

but with her India-inspired designs,

 monochromatic palettes, 

complicated border prints,

and rich colors it was pretty new for 

many quilters, including me

way back when.

One of my few claims to fame 

was having this quilt included in 

September, 1985

I had seen the theatrical performance

of "The Quilters"

and had used this variation of a kaleidoscope

pattern to represent the movement 

of women's skirts being blown

by the ceaseless prairie winds.

These brave women's lives

were filled both with hardships and joys

and that's what I tried to show.

I hope that one day

you get to be part of a 4 by 4 presentation.

It's good for us to dig back

into our quilt piles

 and rediscover our quilting roots.

You might be surprised

and even impressed to

see where you have journeyed.

Until Next Time-