Gee's Bend pattern?
04-09-2010, 06:47 PM
#11
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: missoula montana
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You can buy the Gee's Bend quilting kits from Windham Fabrics at www.windhamfabrics.com these kits include the pattern, material, cutting/sewing directions.....you can only get the pattern by buying the kit...I don't know the cost of the kits....betsy lou
04-09-2010, 10:36 PM
#13
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Virginia
Posts: 198
I have to at least half agree with butterflywing. Those women used the fabric they had and made the most of it. Some of it came out like modern art and some came out like what you see when women make the most of what they have.
Jois
Jois
04-10-2010, 02:39 AM
#14
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Location: at my sewing machine
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04-10-2010, 05:21 AM
#16
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 98
I would like to add to Chele's comments about the Gee's Bend quilts. They were displayed around the U.S. in various Art Museums as an Expression of Art. Traditional, contemporary and art quilt makers flocked in huge numbers to see them as well as the usual art museum goers.
Each of these groups would view them with a different perspective based on their background. I consider myself an eclectic quilter since I do work in traditional, contemporary and art styles and admire the talented people in each field.
When I saw the traveling exhibit in Boston it appealed to all my senses and feelings about quilting! I think it was and is one of the bridges that can help us feel part of an ever widening group of people who have a common thread (no pun intended!). My hope is that it leads us to better understand and appreciate the common and unique abilities of each other through the message of a quilt.
Each of these groups would view them with a different perspective based on their background. I consider myself an eclectic quilter since I do work in traditional, contemporary and art styles and admire the talented people in each field.
When I saw the traveling exhibit in Boston it appealed to all my senses and feelings about quilting! I think it was and is one of the bridges that can help us feel part of an ever widening group of people who have a common thread (no pun intended!). My hope is that it leads us to better understand and appreciate the common and unique abilities of each other through the message of a quilt.
04-10-2010, 05:26 AM
#17
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Crystal River Florida
Posts: 9,785
Originally Posted by butterflywing
Originally Posted by sandybeach
This is what I found on line:
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quil...ibitions.shtml
The one on the bottom left is called "Bricklayer" That looks like a very easy quilt to make. Just use some graph paper and draw it out, decide what size you want the quilt to be, then remember to add 1/4 inch all around for the seams.
http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/quil...ibitions.shtml
The one on the bottom left is called "Bricklayer" That looks like a very easy quilt to make. Just use some graph paper and draw it out, decide what size you want the quilt to be, then remember to add 1/4 inch all around for the seams.
the ones pictured are not nearly as old as the originals that were thought to be wonderful. the originals were made mostly in the 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. after that money came into the community by way of the. quilts and they started to change. fabric became available and color sense was sharpened.
i couldn't help thinking that if artsy-fartsy people hadn't "discovered" these quilts, they would not be of any significance.
other extremely poor people have made quilts from worn out clothes that were well thought out and with attention to detail. some of those quilts are quite beautiful. but i don't believe that just because something is made by poor people it is automatically lovely or artful or shows any degree of skiil.
the ones that gee's benders are making now are being made for sale and bear no resemblance to the originals. the originals had very few colors and they were simply large pieces put together any which way the fabric would allow. so a pants leg might be attached to a shirt back. etc. on the original gee's bend quilts small (the size of a child's long sleeve) pieces were hardly used. only garment-sized pieces. nor were they the first to do this.
some quilters did try to make the best color and design use of what they had, but they did not have enough of any one color to work with and as much as they might wish otherwise beauty was not big on their 'to-do' list. they had enough on their plates. they simply put together the biggest pieces they could find as well as they knew how, and slept under them.
other than being a statement of poverty, i honestly never understood the fascination with these quilts.
yakkety, yakkety, yak. sorry about that.
Ditter
04-10-2010, 06:49 AM
#18
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: currently central new jersey
Posts: 8,623
they were handstched-and poorly-until money came in, and then they bought machines.
they were not made to look at. they were made to keep warm. an interesting story, but not especially interesting quilts.
there are members on the board who remember grannies taking apart old coats and re-using the flattened out wool to use as blankets. my aunt did that as well.
we didn't then and don't now, think of them as 'art'. we think of them as warm.
and my aunt would shake with laughter to hear this conversation. she would love to sell you her artwork. she can afford blankets now. would anyone care to buy one from her? she comes from an impoverished upstate, ny town where there are no jobs and she's moved on to a better life. does the story sound similar? oh, she's 92 and remembers the bad old days, too.
they were not made to look at. they were made to keep warm. an interesting story, but not especially interesting quilts.
there are members on the board who remember grannies taking apart old coats and re-using the flattened out wool to use as blankets. my aunt did that as well.
we didn't then and don't now, think of them as 'art'. we think of them as warm.
and my aunt would shake with laughter to hear this conversation. she would love to sell you her artwork. she can afford blankets now. would anyone care to buy one from her? she comes from an impoverished upstate, ny town where there are no jobs and she's moved on to a better life. does the story sound similar? oh, she's 92 and remembers the bad old days, too.
04-10-2010, 07:47 AM
#20
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Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Menominee, Michigan
Posts: 914
The original poster may want to google "Denyse Schmidt", too. She is largely inspired by Gee's Bend quilts.
I gotta say I am with butterfly wing on this one. I don't really see the attraction. I've only seen them online, but they didn't do anything for me at all.
I gotta say I am with butterfly wing on this one. I don't really see the attraction. I've only seen them online, but they didn't do anything for me at all.
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