Art In Action: Homespun Art
By DARLA MCCAMMON
Lakeland Art Association
How many of you have or know someone with an old heritage hand-made quilt that has been passed down in the family? Such creative quilting will be on exhibit at many county fairs this summer. Colorful concoctions and mild (or wild) designs will be competing for ribbons and honors all around the U.S.A.
Contrary to what many of us believe, patchwork quilting has been found much earlier in civilizations than the pioneers of America. Archeologists have found evidence in Egyptian tombs as well as far back in the history of China. In the middle-ages quilted fabrics were used for padding in military armor. Bed quilts became popular in Europe during the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. This knowledge traveled across the seas and was brought to America by the pilgrims.
Hand pieced means simply that a design is created with individual scraps of fabric. These scraps are then hand sewn and assembled into larger sections that are then all eventually sewn together to the desired size.
Patchwork means the design is usually random and sizes are assorted. More formal pieced quilts will have a specific plan and design in mind from the beginning.
Hand quilting is yet another step in these works of art. Once all the pieces are handstitched together, another process is begun in which the “quilting bee” became famous. In this step the pieced material has a layer of batting along with a backing added. These additional layers add warmth and sturdiness to the bed covering. Needlework is then used to hand stitch all the pieces together. Some needlework is very simple, but other quilts may show stitching which is itself a work of art with flowers, circles, curves and more stitched into the final product in such a way that it enhances the original pieces.
Modern sewing machines have taken the place of much of this hand work. Computerized models can now whip out intricate designs in much less time but still there are many quilt clubs and others who appreciate the work more if it is entirely hand made. Both have merit. My only objection in my visits to judge art at many of the county fairs is that they often lump both the “hand made from scratch” quilts in with the machine worked quilts in their judging. It seems to me that a special category should be given to those heroic enough to keep up that old and wonderful tradition of making a quilt entirely by hand.
ART IN ACTION MONTHLY CHART – cut and clip it to your fridge! |
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DAY |
DATE |
TIME |
WHERE |
WHAT |
WHO |
NOTES |
Two Tuesdays |
July 12 July 19 |
7p.m. -9p.m. |
302 E. Winona, Warsaw, IN |
Make your own jewelry |
Instructor: Roxanne Coffelt |
12 years or older $65 per student |
Saturday |
July 16 |
10a.m. –noon |
LAA gallery 302 E. Winona Ave. Warsaw, IN |
Take home finished pastel. |
Instructor: John Streeter |
18 years or older $65 plus bring a towel for cleaning |
Monday |
July 25 |
7p.m. |
302 E. Winona |
Special Program |
Call (574)267-5568 for this month’s guest |
Free Speakers and demonstrations |
All month |
Monday – Friday |
8a.m. -5p.m. |
Warsaw City Hall Art Gallery |
Current Exhibit |
Brenda Stichter Abstract Art |
Closed holidays |
For more info: contact artist/author Darla McCammon at [email protected] or website. |