The exhibition examines the resurgence of interest in quilting in the Geeâs Bend community, presenting newly discovered quilts from the 1930s to the 1980s along with more recent work by established quilters and the younger generation they have inspired. It documents the development of key quilt patternsâ”housetop, courthouse steps, flying geese, and strip quiltingâ”through outstanding examples. Organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Tinwood Alliance, Atlanta, the exhibition is accompanied by a publication by Bernard Herman of the University of Delaware, and includes an essay by Dilys Blum, Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In his catalogue essay, Herman compares the works in the exhibition to the structured compositions of Piet Mondrian and Esther Mahlangu, a Ndebele house painter from South Africa. The 65 quilts in the exhibition, all of which are shown for the first time, will demonstrate how the quilters play upon the structure or “architecture” of the quilt to create a work of art that is based upon a traditional quilt pattern while simultaneously creating a visual vocabulary that is stylistically identifiable as Geeâs Bend. New works by granddaughters and great-granddaughters of master quilt makers will be shown, along with quilts from the early and mid-20th century. read more

Instead of stitching, some quilts are tied together with yarn or thread at regular intervals and are referred to as comforters, says Mary Elizondo, co-manager of the Mennonite Quilt Center in Reedley, Calif. A special tool, a long-arm quilt machine, also can quickly and easily create the finishing designs on quilts. Not only can it cover more area on a quilt, it also has rails that roll the three layers (top, batting and backing) together, says Carolyn McCray, owner of Cottage Quilts in Fresno. If you don’t have a quilt, you can find one at many outlets, including specialty quilt stores, craft fairs and department stores. read more

Amish Quilts - Feature bright colors and simple geometric shapes, black is often the background of choice both to contrast with adjacent bold colors and recycle fabric leftover from making clothes. Appliquéd Quilts - Individual motifs are cut from different fabrics and hand sewn onto a solid background creating a bold design. Chintz Appliquéd Quilts - Featuring flower-printed cottons known as chintz (from the Hindu word chitta, meaning spotted), these quilts were typically made by wealthy women since the fabric was extremely expensive. Whole-Cloth Quilts - Typically made of printed cotton, both American and European, the focus being the elaborate quilting design rather than a design made by stitching a variety of fabrics together. Anecdotes , Art Quiz , Education , Mythology , 3D Images , Last Week . read more

Clare’s Home in Elizabeth got early Christmas presents yesterday — something made especially for each of them. A quilting group formed by members of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Berkeley Heights delivered quilts for each of the shelter’s children, who have AIDS and range in age from 2 months to 3 1/2 years. With just nine members, the group manages to make and do nate about 35 quilts a year, according to Romankow, whose husband, Theodore, is the Union County prosecutor. Most of the recipients are in hospitals such as the Valerie Center in Morristown, the Mountainside Children’s Specialized Center and the Paige Whitney Center in Basking Ridge. Clare’s Home for Children will enter the foster care system and some will be placed with a parent. Clare’s Home for Children opened in Elizabeth 20 years ago and, with two locations added elsewhere in New Jersey, has sheltered more than 950 children, from birth to 12 years old, who have AIDS. read more